The best way to charge customers for local delivery is to start with your actual delivery cost, then decide how much your business will absorb. A flat fee, a delivery charge based on the address, or delivery included above an order threshold can all work. The right choice depends on your margins and the orders you send.
WTM Logistics provides business courier service in Alberta with quotes you can review before making a promise to your customer. Build the offer around the delivery being purchased, not an assumed cost for an average parcel.
Request a quote for your typical deliveries, including the collection point, destinations, packed sizes and service level.
Separate the courier charge from the customer-facing price
Your courier quote is a transportation cost. What you charge your customer is a commercial decision. A shop might pass that cost through, absorb part of it to win an order, or include it in a higher-value purchase.
Keep packing materials and your own order-preparation time visible in your calculation. Otherwise, a delivery offer can appear profitable while leaving those costs unaccounted for. Compare like with like: local scheduled deliveries and urgent intercity jobs should not share a fee simply because both contain one box.
Choose a model customers can understand
| Model | Where it can fit | What to check first |
|---|---|---|
| A fixed local delivery fee | Similar parcels within a clearly defined area | Whether your cost varies substantially across that area |
| A delivery quote for each order | Changing destinations, dimensions or deadlines | How the customer approves the charge before dispatch |
| Delivery included above a threshold | Orders with enough contribution to support delivery | Margin after packing and transportation, not sales value alone |
A hybrid can be practical: a published fee for a defined local service, with a separate quote for bulky items or addresses outside that zone. Make the boundary clear before the customer orders.
Test the numbers on a real basket
Consider an illustrative order with $60 left after product and packing costs, before delivery. A $20 courier charge and a $10 customer delivery fee leave $50 before other business expenses. Absorbing delivery completely would leave $40. These are example figures, not WTM rates.
Run the same exercise for a small basket, a typical basket and a bulky order. That helps reveal which orders support the offer and which need a different delivery charge.
Use shipping history rather than guesswork
The WTM Customer Portal keeps quotes, payments, invoices and shipment history accessible. Use your completed deliveries to compare what you charged customers with what transportation actually cost.
Recurring shipments qualify for WTM’s 10% recurring-shipment offer. Funded credit accounts can receive up to 25% off eligible services. Treat the applicable offer separately when calculating costs; do not assume the discounts combine.
Should every customer pay the same delivery fee?
Only when that fits the service area and shipment pattern you have priced. A different destination or larger package may require a different arrangement.
Can I quote delivery before the goods are packed?
Provide reliable packed dimensions, weight and piece count. Update the request when the final shipment changes so your customer-facing fee still covers the job.
Make delivery part of a sustainable sales offer. Call 587-316-2639 and price your business’s actual shipping pattern with WTM.
