How do I check a bike courier company’s rider pool and bike equipment?

Begin with the people. How many riders work regularly, how many are occasional, and who covers the busiest hours? Ask how they are paid and engaged, and let your lawyer tell you what that means for a buyer. Ask whether any ride for competitors.

Speak to a few riders alone. What do they like, what annoys them, and would they stay if the owner changed? A rider pool that complains about pay or dispatch is a pool that may leave. Inspect the equipment. Look at the bikes, lights, locks, bags and weather gear. Ask which are company-owned and which belong to the rider. Equipment that is mostly personal is not something you can count on keeping.

Ask about maintenance and safety. Who repairs a bike, who pays, and what happens after an accident? Ask whether the company has a written policy, and what insurance covers. Finally, check how the work is spread among riders, since overdependence on one or two is a risk. Ask how new riders are onboarded and how bikes are cleaned and checked before shifts. A short, repeatable routine for bikes and riders is a sign that the pool can grow without the owner doing everything personally. Jot down what you learn as you go, and take it to your adviser before deciding.

Key takeaways

• Get the rider list with tenure and how each is engaged.
• Separate company-owned equipment from what riders own.
• Ask riders directly whether they would stay.