Express courier. Direct.
Also overnight.
x25pronto Switzerland takes goods direct to the destination. Small loads go by car. Larger loads go by van or Van XL. Direct, express and overnight trips run Monday to Sunday when a slot is free. Free times are shown in the booking calendar. This keeps the plan clear.
Cost model: How to calculate pricing for regional courier agreements
A practical guide to pricing regional courier contracts in Switzerland. Includes fixed costs, variable costs, break‑even and sample calculations for Zurich, Bern and Basel.
Quick answer
Calculate the contract price by summing fixed monthly costs, estimating variable cost per delivery, then computing the break‑even per job and adding your target margin. Below is a step‑by‑step method and concrete Swiss city examples.
1. Define scope and service levels
Start with the contract scope: service area (e.g. Zurich city, Canton Bern), delivery windows, expected volume and special services like hand‑to‑hand delivery. Set contract length and billing frequency. These affect fixed cost allocation and expected utilization.
2. List fixed costs
Fixed costs include salaries (base pay, employer contributions), vehicle leasing or depreciation, insurance, office costs, dispatch IT and administration. Example items: monthly vehicle depreciation, rent, and a dispatcher salary.
3. Calculate variable cost per job
Variable costs depend on the trip. Common items: cost per kilometre (fuel or electricity, wear), parking fees, driver time per stop, consumables and extra handling. Compute kilometre cost and per‑stop time cost.
4. Estimate utilization and volume
Estimate average orders per day/week in the contract area. Include peak days and empty runs. Utilization rates strongly influence break‑even.
5. Break‑even and pricing formula
Break‑even per job = (monthly fixed costs / expected monthly orders) + variable cost per job. Then add your target margin (e.g. 10–20 %) and a buffer for risks or exceptional runs.
6. Sample calculation: Zurich, Bern, Basel
Illustrative numbers: monthly fixed costs 12,000 CHF; expected orders 1,200/month → fixed share = 10 CHF/job. Variable cost ~8 CHF/job (km, time, parking). Break‑even = 18 CHF. With a 15 % margin the offer price ≈ 20.70 CHF per job. Rural regions raise variable costs due to longer distances; dense city areas reduce distance but raise parking and stop time costs.
Frequently asked questions
Which fixed costs matter most for small fleets?
For small fleets, vehicle depreciation, base driver wages, insurance and dispatch IT are the biggest fixed items. They drive monthly overhead.
How do I account for empty runs?
Estimate the share of empty kilometres per job (e.g. 20–30 %) and include that in your kilometre cost. Or increase your variable cost line by the same percentage.
When is a flat rate per job better than per‑km billing?
A flat rate simplifies billing and works if job profiles and distances are stable. For highly variable routes, including a kilometre component is fairer.
How to validate pricing before full rollout?
Run a pilot with limited volume and clear KPIs (cost per job, on‑time rate). Use the pilot to validate assumptions about utilization and costs.