As a young driver, car insurance prices can run into the thousands of pounds, particularly if you're lucky enough to drive something sporty or unlucky enough to have a few driving convictions.
Either way, if the old paper round or similar isn't paying well enough to keep you up to date on your car insurance premiums, it's probably time to look for a new job.
You may not need to look very far, however. Delivering papers is not so far away from delivering milk or sandwiches, or any one of a dozen other professions that come under the heading of 'roundsperson' - and it's a trade that boasts very attractive wage prospects.
And just as Hoot takes care of all your young driver car insurance needs, so we've taken it upon ourselves to provide you with the following introduction to this varied and rewarding trade.
So what does a roundsperson do?
Roundsperson is the collective term for anyone who delivers and sells goods to the general public, usually out of a van. Thus it covers jobs like milkman and mobile sandwich or ice-cream sellers, among others.
People in this profession are usually either self-employed or franchisees to a company which supplies their goods and takes a cut of the profits.
Hours are flexible, but must be tailored to suit customers' needs. For instance, there's little point trying to sell sandwiches after lunchtime, or ice creams in mid-winter. Roundspeople typically work between 40 and 48 hours a week, though the job can be part-time or seasonal depending on the product to be sold.
Am I the ideal candidate?
Reliability is the key to success as a roundsperson - you've go to stick strictly to your route and timetable day in, day out, particularly where establishing customer loyalty is important.
It's important to enjoy dealing with the public, but equally you've got to be comfortable spending long periods of the day (travelling between stops, loading goods and setting-up) on your own.
Numeracy and money-handling skills are vital to a roundsperson and the amount of cash involved is greater than you might think - a day's takings can run into the thousands for some. You'll also need basic book-keeping skills to record your profits and keep your franchisor happy, if you have one.
Besides all that, an intimate knowledge of local roads, businesses or beauty spots is required. You'll need to be fit and able (loading and unloading vans is hard work, particularly first thing) and any night owls or other late sleepers generally need not apply.
What qualifications do I need?
Other than a clean driving licence, formal qualifications are generally not required to become a roundsperson.
Companies and franchisors who employ them generally ask that applicants be over 21, and some require a C1 licence (needed to drive 7.5 tonne vans). The cash-handling element means that a good Maths GCSE grade or similar will benefit you considerably as an aspiring roundsperson.
If you're working with food (hotdogs, ice creams, doughnuts, etc) basic food preparation and hygiene qualifications would be an advantage, but they're not essential in every case. Franchisees can expect to receive training in this area from their supplier.
Will it make me a millionaire?
Probably not - but a roundsperson's wage is certainly not to be sniffed at. Average yearly income ranges from about £10,000 to £18,000, with some earning £20,000 and more.
The salary for a self-employed roundsperson or franchisee obviously varies according to how many hours you put in and how well you know your market. The time of year is also significant in most cases, so you can expect a few lean months and a few extra-lucrative ones.
Further info
For more information on franchising in the UK and a list of industry-approved suppliers, visit the British Franchise Association (BFA) website at http://www.thebfa.org.
There's a wealth of online help for those wishing to run their own business, but for starters try the Government's Business Link site, at http://www.businesslink.gov.uk.
If you'd prefer to work directly for a particular company (your local dairy for instance) look them up and ask for an interview - or put your CV out with the empties.
Try young driver car insurance from Hoot
It's the highlight of every morning in the Hoot offices when our sandwich vendor pulls up outside, and in recognition of the great job roundspeople do we're offering you all a truly outstanding rate on young driver car insurance.
Hoot can afford to offer such great savings because of the unique way we market our product.
Whereas most other cheap car insurance companies insist on spending millions of pounds on TV commercials and other media, we leave all our marketing up to you the customer, through word of mouth. The money we save this way is ploughed right back into our motor insurance premiums - that's what keeps them so cheap.
So for young driver car insurance at an unbelievable price, just click below.