The Runner

Family Office Services

What is a Runner?

A Runner is a logistical support professional positioned between the Family Office, the private residence and many additional destinations. Their primary responsibility is straightforward but essential: physically moving items where they need to go; securely, efficiently, and without drawing attention.

Whether transporting documents, assets, wardrobe, equipment, or time sensitive materials between locations, a Runner reduces strain on senior staff by absorbing day to day logistical demands. In well structured environments, this role is often central to the proper functioning of an estate team, allowing each department to operate without interruption while leadership remains focused on higher level priorities.

Those interested in the services of a Runner, may also like to explore the role of the Personal Assistant.

To learn more about working with a Runner or to begin the placement process, we invite you to connect for a consultation.

Core Responsibilities of a Runner

This is an active, movement based role. A Runner spends much of their day going between the family office, the residence, vendors, appointments, and secured locations.

Responsibilities often include:

  • Running errands and handling time sensitive requests

  • Delivering documents and confidential materials between locations

  • Transporting wardrobe, packages, equipment, or personal items

  • Managing pickups and drop offs so senior staff don’t have to step away

  • Responding to last minute needs with steady follow through

  • Carrying out each task with discretion and professionalism

Their job is simple in concept: make sure what’s needed shows up where it should, when it should. In practice, they keep the entire operation moving. The right Runner, or team of Runners, allows everyone else to work at their highest level, without distraction or delay.

Questions and Answers

  • Often, yes. Runners may transport documents, financial materials, personal items, or other sensitive assets. Discretion, professionalism, and trustworthiness are essential to the role.

  • Often, yes. Throughout larger estates and active Family Office environments, the volume of movement between locations can justify one or more full time Runners.

    Depending on lifestyle, and overall operational scale, some teams maintain multiple Runners to ensure continuous coverage and prevent logistical bottlenecks.

  • Not always. In many ways, the Runner role can serve as an entry point into private service, though it is certainly not entry level in the conventional sense. The position requires maturity, judgment, and a demonstrated capacity for responsibility, whether through prior professional experience, structured environments, or relevant education.

    For early career private service professionals, it can be an excellent foundation role. When performed well, it builds trust, operational awareness, and exposure to the standards expected within high functioning estate and Family Office teams.

How to Hire a Runner.

If you need one Runner, you likely needed two yesterday.

At The Grocery Store, The Anti-Agency, the process begins with a brief conversation about when and where your operation needs additional movement and support. From there, the role is defined and a discreet search is conducted to identify candidates who are reliable, efficient, and trusted.

The Grocery Store places Runners across major residential, metropolitan, and resort destinations:

  • Southern California, Los Angeles, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, and surrounding communities

  • Northern California, San Francisco, Atherton, Palo Alto, Woodside, and the greater Bay Area

  • Florida, Miami, Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and neighboring coastal areas

  • New York City and New York State, the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, SoHo, TriBeCa, Chelsea, Brooklyn, the Hamptons, and the greater Tri-State area

  • Connecticut and nearby regions, Greenwich, Stamford, Westchester, and surrounding communities

  • New England, Boston and surrounding areas of Massachusetts, as well as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard

  • The Midwest, Chicago and surrounding areas

  • Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Maryland and Virginia

  • Texas, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and other major cities

  • The Pacific Northwest, Seattle and Portland

  • Resort destinations, Aspen, Colorado, and Jackson Hole, Wyoming

  • The Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu, Maui, and the North Shore

  • Nationwide, with select international placements

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