New York package delivery services employ at least half a dozen different methods, including bike messenger, overnight delivery via truck or plane, overnight delivery by the postal service and good old foot messenger. Unfortunately, there's no Pony Express anymore.

If you work in New York, there are dozens of New York courier services to pick up parcels at your office and get them anywhere in the boroughs by bike or car. If you need a small package sent anywhere in the world, it's done via a cargo or freight service. Businesses in other parts of the country can contact nationwide companies with Manhattan offices that offer NY small package delivery. For fast, professional New York package delivery, look at the following choices:

1. For quickest results, choose a New York messenger service that has office-to-office hand delivery.

2. If you're out of town and need something in a client's hands quickly, a national courier service with New York offices may be your best bet.

3. For small package delivery in New York that can wait a day or two, go with national shipping services-or the post office.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose a bike messenger New York courier service for delivery from one New York office to another

The sheer number of courier services in New York can boggle the mind of a businessman new to the city. Every office in the city that never sleeps seems to have a Rolodex or database full of NY courier services. Most offer a variety of services, including delivery by bike messengers, car or freight.

I recommend: Use Breakaway Courier Systems if you need a package delivered fast. Breakaway delivers by bike messenger, on foot, or by vehicle and has a special delivery time frames and rates, including "as fast as humanly possible." Contact Quick One if you're in NYC and need something delivered to Wall Street or Midtown lightning quick, since they specialize in these areas. They have rates by zone and also deliver by car to Long Island.

Call a major overnight shipper for Small Package Delivery in New York

While there are plenty of New York courier services to choose from, sometimes, a large national service proves to be the best bet, especially if you're in a pinch and not familiar with a local NY courier.

I recommend: Go FedEx when you need to get a package there quick and don’t have time to search for other NYC courier options. Many Big Apple firms use FedEx for New York package delivery, even though local couriers are available. Call from your office for pickup or drop off your small package at a FedEx/Kinkos in Manhattan. Contact DHL for cheaper rates and similar service.

Find a New York messenger service with nationwide offices

You'll occasionally find a New York small package courier service that's part of a larger chain with branches in many cities. These courier companies offer the same Manhattan specific services out of their Big Apple offices as small NYC-only offices do.

I recommend: Call A1Express, which operates nationwide, with courier and freight services to New York from other cities as well as New York based couriers for quick delivery in the Big Apple. Check out USA Couriers for delivery to and from New York by freight, plane or courier.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Develop a good business relationship with one or two New York package delivery services to ensure you'll get last minute service in a bind. While most courier services are professional, if you get to know a company's couriers on a regular basis, they'll be more likely to go the extra mile for you.