How to set up a Post Office in your pub

With the high amounts of cash and administration involved, setting up a post office is not as straightforward as just any old shop.

First of all, Post Office Counters will run police and credit checks on applicants. Similar checks will also need to be carried out on any subsequent job applicants.

"At first you're on a six-monthly trial and they monitor what you do and how much you take," says licensee Jean Senior.

"We have to provide a lot of the security, such as the door, which is solid metal, and the locks, which are £280 each. Post Office Counters provided the alarm.

"We were too small to have a screen, so they provided a counter with a safe built in.

"You've then got to build all your shelving. It cost us about £7,000 to set up at first, but then the Post Office paid us back about half for the counter, so all-in-all it cost us about £3,000."

Post Office Counters insures staff working in the post office, so, provided the extra security is properly in place, there should be no impact on the overall employer's liability premiums for the business.

There are, however, extra staff costs, unless you can find the person power in your existing structure. "I have someone who works half a week and I do the other. She'd worked in a post office before so knew a lot of it, but I had to go away for two weeks' training. It was quite scary because it was a long time since I was at school. It was full on. You forget what it's like. You then have to take an exam and you have to get 90%."

The standard is so high because a post office deals with around 250 items and there is no room for error when people's incomes and bill paying are involved.

The rewards are in making your pub an even more important part of the local community ­ and of course some extra revenue.

"You get commission on certain goods you sell and bill payments and pensions," says Senior. "The more you can sell obviously the better it's going to be."