The Errand Company is a personal shopping and task-running service that handles grocery runs, retail errands, bill payments, and appointment logistics for Oklahoma City residents who lack time or mobility to manage these tasks themselves. Unlike a general handyman or house cleaner, it specializes exclusively in out-of-home errands and in-store shopping, making it distinct from broader home-service providers in the market.
The Errand Company takes on recurring and one-time errands across grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores, and service locations throughout Oklahoma City and surrounding suburbs. Typical assignments include grocery shopping with a provided list, picking up prescriptions, returning items, paying bills in person, picking up online orders, shopping for specific clothing or household goods, and scheduling or attending appointments on behalf of clients. The service does not include housework, yard maintenance, or jobs requiring tools or physical labor beyond carrying and organizing purchases.
The Errand Company charges by the hour, with rates starting at $25 per hour plus mileage reimbursement at the IRS standard rate. Most single errands (one or two stops) run $35 to $50 depending on distance and complexity. Recurring weekly or biweekly grocery shopping typically costs $40 to $75 per trip, again depending on store count and list size. Clients provide shopping lists, payment methods (a physical card, app-linked account, or cash reimbursement), and delivery instructions. A first-time consultation call runs 15 minutes and is free; after that, clients are charged for time spent.
The service requires at least 48 hours' notice for scheduled errands, though emergency requests are sometimes accommodated at a $10 surcharge. Clients can track errands via text or photo confirmation of receipts.
The Errand Company faces indirect competition from grocery-delivery apps (Instacart, Amazon Fresh) and general personal assistants. Instacart is cheaper per transaction (service fees range from $2 to $10 per order) but requires customers to do the selecting themselves and works only with partnered stores. The Errand Company charges more but offers human judgment, the ability to visit any retailer in the city, and personal shopping for non-grocery items. For clients who need both grocery and pharmacy pickups, appointment driving, or returns to stores without delivery partnerships, the hourly model is more economical than paying per-app errand.
Larger concierge services in Oklahoma City (typically aimed at corporate clients or high-net-worth individuals) charge $50 to $150 per hour and bundle errands with lifestyle management; The Errand Company undercuts that significantly and operates on a per-client basis without long-term contracts.
The service suits working parents with inflexible schedules, senior residents with limited mobility, people recovering from surgery or illness, and professionals traveling frequently who need Oklahoma City tasks handled remotely. It also appeals to clients managing multiple properties or those without reliable transportation.
The service does not make sense for customers who prefer app-based shopping where they control every item selection, those on extremely tight budgets who cannot absorb hourly labor costs, or those living in far-suburban areas where mileage reimbursement becomes prohibitive.
New clients begin with a phone or email intake: sharing the errand type, delivery address, payment method, and any special instructions (preferred brands, dietary restrictions, store preferences). The Errand Company's staff member confirms availability and estimated time, then completes the errand, photographs receipts, and delivers items or reports completion via text. Payment is due within three business days unless standing arrangements exist.
The Errand Company operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Saturday availability for an additional $15 surcharge. The business has no physical office; all interactions are by phone (405-555-0147), email, or a simple online booking form on its website. Mileage fees apply to any errand requiring travel beyond a 3-mile radius from downtown Oklahoma City; clients in Edmond, Norman, or far northwest OKC should expect longer turnaround times and higher reimbursement costs. Verify current hours and rates before booking, as holiday schedules and staffing sometimes shift availability.
For Oklahoma City residents juggling job demands and family obligations, outsourcing errands to a local, hourly service eliminates the friction of fragmented apps and the cost premium of high-touch concierge services. The Errand Company fills a practical middle ground in the city's personal-shopping landscape.
