On Monday, a new local company, Delivery Dudes, LLC, officially opened their phone lines for business.
The idea for the company came from seniors Josh Friedman, a finance major and Doug Slenker, a marketing management major, and was first conceived around a month and a half ago. Since then, the idea has become a fully licensed, official company. "There are a bunch of little hurdles with starting a business," Slenker said.
Delivery Dudes began as a learning experience for the two roommates. They were tired of the same standard food delivery options and decided to try and start something new.
Through the advice of Chris Giles, a Business Law Instructor at Tech, and the Counselors to America's Small Business (SCORE), an online consulting website that offers free and confidential business advice, Friedman and Slenker were able to begin making their company official. SCORE helped them walk through the process of obtaining a business license and also gave them useful advice on starting their own business. "I've got high hopes and they have my best wishes," Giles said.
They also contacted the Health Department to get full approval.The business provides delivery for over 40 restaurants around campus including fast food, Starbucks, Italian, and Chinese. Students living on-campus and off-campus alike can call Delivery Dude's and they will pick up the food and bring it directly to the customer's door. In recognition of health issues, the guys are unable to deliver raw meat or sushi.
The company also has a method of payment that works best for college students running a company out of their apartment. For cash payments, delivery charges are only four dollars on top of what the cost of the food is.
Delivery Dudes will also be accepting credit cards in which delivery will cost $5. There is a seven percent bulk order surcharge for orders over $20 and a $10 bulk order surcharge for orders over $50. Tipping is optional."We work for the customers," Friedman said.
Their hours of operation are open to change due to demand, but the company already has a tentative schedule.
Delivery Dudes will accept calls Monday through Wednesday the from 5pm-12am. On Thursday and Friday they are open from 5pm-1am. Saturday phone lines are open from 12pm-1am and Sunday phones are open from 12pm-12am.
With their new business, Giles and Friedman hope to benefit not only students, but also businesses in the Blacksburg area. "Food options can be limited," Friedman said. "We offer new options for delivery," Slenker said. Drivers for the company are friends of Friedman and Slenker who will be on call for students during open hours.
The two owners are also looking to pass the company on to a manager to continue the business in the following years after graduating this spring. "For people who have a good idea, there is no reason why you can make it work," Friedman said. More information about the company, its hours, or the available restaurants can be viewed at www.deliverydudes.net.