Business Ideas

There are several types of business that one can start that involve driving other people’s vehicles. One could become a part time chauffeur, run errands for clients using their vehicles, or move vehicles from one point to another. These services can also be combined in any fashion you choose and others can be added.

One of the most common businesses involving driving other people’s vehicles is transporting them from one place to another (chauffeuring). You may contract to take a client to the airport in their vehicle, return it to their home until they return and pick them up at the airport upon their return. You could contract to run errands for them using their car, or you could drive clients on trips, including to and from a hospital.

 

One good service that is very popular is driving senior citizens in their own or their children’s cars when they need to go shopping or want to visit a friend or relative. Offering this type of service could improve the quality of life for some elderly people by giving them back a certain amount of freedom that they had lost because of not being able to drive themselves anymore.

 

One way to market your business would be to advertise taking people to the airport to save them time, inconvenience, and money. Individuals would have to drive themselves to the airport ahead of schedule, find a place to park their car, walk from the car to the terminal carrying their luggage, and pay a high fee for the amount of time their car spends at the airport during their absence. They also have to worry whether or not someone will break into their car.

 

If they hire you to drive them, in their car, you can deliver them right to the terminal entrance at the proper time, assist them in getting their luggage inside or turned over to a skycap, and take their car back to their home where it can remained parked for no fees. Then you can pick them up at the airport in their car and return them home when they come back to town. In the mean time, you could have the car washed and detailed (at the request of the customer).

 

Most states require you to obtain a chauffeurs license and take out liability insurance on yourself to protect you in case of any accidents. Having your own insurance provides you with cover in the case of problems of any sort.

 

Another thing you may want to look into is getting bonded. This can be a very strong selling point for your business. If you can advertise your business with the statement, “All our drivers are bonded,” people will take you more seriously.

 

Another consideration is the need to wear something, a hat, a specific color and style of shirt, or anything you decide on that will mark you as an employee/contractor. After all, you are working for your clients, not accompanying them when you drive them. Any employees you hire will need to adhere to the same “uniform”.

 

Advertise your service. You can put notices up in airports, bus or train stations, hospitals, nursing homes, or anywhere else there may be potential clients. Your ads should stress that your drivers are safe, well trained, and bonded. You should also point out that your service is available 24 hours a day. Another point to include is a suggestion of why your service would benefit people.

 

You could, for example, show a comparison of the costs of renting a vehicle to travel out of town for a weekend including insurance and incidental charges versus what you would charge to drive them on the same trip in their own car.

 

You can set your rates by the hour, or by the mile. You should have a minimum charge for those short trips that would not be worth your time otherwise. You should also include provisions for overnight travel and return fares if you deliver a car and have to take a bus or plane to get home. One example rate schedule could be $0.25 per mile for local (in town) trips with a $10 minimum; $0.08 per mile of out of town trips that return the same day, with a $25 minimum; $0.08 per mile for longer out of town trips, with a $50 minimum plus expenses (meals, motel rooms, return fare if trip is one way)

 

If you have been thinking about this type of work, you probably already have a good idea where you can find customers. You should conduct a thorough investigation to determine what sort of demand for your service will exist and how much you can reasonably expect to make at the outset.

 

Remember to provide the little extras, and make sure that any drivers you hire do the same. You should have a clearly defined set of rules for dealing with clients and make sure your employees follow them as well. Always maintain a clean, professional appearance, be courteous, and be helpful. Opening doors for clients, assisting the ladies entering and exiting the vehicle, and carrying luggage can provide you with a little much needed exercise after driving for a while and create a lasting impression on your customers that will lead to repeat and referral business.

 

This type of business can started up with very little initial investment. A chauffeur’s license, insurance, and bonding are really all that is needed to put you in business.

 

The two worst things that can hurt your business are getting a reputation for having bad drivers and providing poor customer service. You should make certain that any drivers you hire are qualified and able to handle the vehicle they will be expected to drive before sending them on that job. A person who can not drive a standard transmission or handle a 30 foot RV should not be sent to do so.

 

You should instill in all of your drivers the knowledge that safety is their responsibility. You do not just expect them to avoid causing accidents, you expect them to avoid being involved in accidents. Many large corporations that hire drivers have a simple policy, one accident and your fired.