Job as a courier / messenger?

I've a friend who does it just as a gap between him being made redundant and him riding around the world with his missus in a month or twos time, and have heard from other couriers, the pays not great at all, it's tedious and dangerous, certainly nothing to work towards, just a job if you can't get anything else. Don't get me wrong, i'd love to ride my bike all day, but it's just like a macdonalds job i guess? Not dissing couriers either cos most of the ones I've spoken to are safe as houses, just it's a basic job with a basic wage.

You are certainly being disrespectful and "dissing" couriers. On top of this you don't know what you're talking about and you're chatting complete and utter shite.

Please don't listen to the likes of Hippy, Fat Pants or MrSmith. These people are not in the position to give out advice as jontyponty has pointed out and I stand by him on that.

If you are enthusiastic, like riding your bike, do what your told (unfortunately that's what the job entails) and just get on with it. With, or without, experience you'll make a good living far more than minimum wage. Things do get bad and the current time is no exception but there's still work there to do.

As for it being like a job in Macdonald's. If you work like I mentioned above you're looking at between 300-500 for a five day week and the longer you do it the more it stays towards the higher end. You can make more, although rare, it happens.

As long as you're there to work and not just hangs around and do backward circles in parks and street corners you'll earn. Be prepared for punctures so they don't become a problem and constantly maintain your bike. I've not always been the best at the two things. They are the main thing that costs you money while couriering. If you never break down, pick up and deliver jobs in a reasonable consistent time and know where you're going then the job will have its rewards.