This
is the business of driving other people's vehicles (cars,
trucks,
vans, RV's) for them.
Examples
are: part-time chauffeuring, driving and delivery
service
of and with the customer's vehicles, transporting
vehicles,
taking people shopping or any combination of these and
many
other services.
It
can be delivering people to the airport and picking them up
when
they return (in their car), running errands for them in
their
vehicle (with or without them along), delivering their car
to
another destination, and of course, driving your customers in
their
cars on trips, or to and from the hospital.
It
can also be a service to drive senior citizens in their own or
their
children's automobiles to go shopping, visiting or to visit
a
relative. This kind of service can not only be handy for your
customers,
it can save time and/or money, speed up their
activities,
enable them to do things that would not otherwise be
possible
and improve their lifestyles.
A
good example of how you can save them money is when they must
be
out of town for a few days.
They
can, of course, drive themselves to the airport, but then
they
must walk from the parking lot to the terminal, which means
they
must go there early and carry their luggage a good distance.
Then
they have to leave their car in the airport parking lot for
the
duration of their absence where they not only have to pay a
pretty
stiff parking fee but also take a chance of having someone
break
into it.
Your
service would deliver them to the airport door, return their
car
(or your) garage, where it would be safe, the go back and
pick
them up AT THE DOOR when they return. You could even have it
washed
and serviced in the interim (at their request). That kind
service
is worth a few dollars to lots of people!
Other
examples are taking people shopping, picking up the kids
after
the movies, going after packages, delivering their car to a
relative's
house, driving them on a tour or trip,, being
available
to drive elderly or disabled persons.
Note
that there are many elderly people who have cars but are not
really
qualified to drive them on the highway or in big cities.
Wouldn't
it be nice for an elderly lady with poor eyesight to
have
a "younger" lady drive her on shopping trips --or to her
doctor?
In
most states you will need a chauffeur's license and insurance
to
cover any liability you might incur. It is very unlikely that
you
would drive a car with no liability insurance, but with your
own,
your insurer will "represent" you in case of any problems --
saving
you worry and the cost of a lawyer.
While
you are at it, check on bonding -- for yourself and any
employees
you might hire. This is not expensive and can be an
excellent
selling point: "our drivers are bonded!"
You
will need your own transportation -- to get to and from the
jobs,
but probably not use your vehicle in the business (that
requires
additional insurance and gets into another, more
complicated
area like taxis and buses.
Once
you have your business established, look around for several
possible
assistance or employees that you can hire by the hour or
on
a commission (sub-contract) basis.
Have
them bonded and make sure they are good, safe drivers and
that
they have the proper credentials. Then, they can be on call
for
when people call in for drivers.
College
students or retired seniors would be ideal for this kind
of
work. Make sure some of your standby drivers are able to make
overnight
(or longer) trips on short notice!
Advertise
your service. Wear something that will identify you and
your
drivers as drivers (hat, monogrammed shirt unique colored
windbreaker,
etc.) because you are serving your customers, not
accompanying
them!
Place
notices in airports and depots, hospitals, nursing homes,
retirement
centers, condos, or wherever there might be potential
customers.
Always
stress that your drivers are safe, trained and bonded --
and
that your service is available on a 24 hour basis (if you
want
to thrive). Your ads should also suggest some of the
benefits
of using your service -- to get them thinking "right."
For
example, you might compare the cost of renting a car to drive
to
a city a few hundred miles away. Compute the mileage, time,
insurance
and other charges and compare that to what it would
cost
to hire your service and use their own car. Your rates will
look
much better when compared to renting a large car from Hertz
or
Avis for a few days!
Set
your rates by the hour or mile (with a minimum charge of
course)
and provisions for overnight travel and return trips
(like
if you deliver their car and return by bus).
For
example, 25 per mile for local trips ($10 minimum); 8 for out
of
town trips the same day ($25 minimum), the same for longer
trips,
but with a $50 minimum plus expenses (return fare,meals,
motel).
In
your consideration of this type of business, you will surely
have
noticed where there is a need. This need should be
investigated
thoroughly, so you can plan just what type of
service
would be best, how it should be set up,, and how much you
can
expect to make from it.
If
you live near a large airport, you might concentrate on that
to
begin with... Work out plans to offer pickup and delivery
service
to commuters. If there are a lot of retired people in
your
area you might want to figure how you could best serve their
needs.
In either case, talk to potential customers and ask them
what
they would like -- then plan accordingly.
When
you and your assistants drive your customers, take extra
pains
to be careful drivers. Make up a set of rules for your
drivers
and make sure they understand and agree to abide by them.
Always
be neat appearing, courteous and helpful. Open the door
for
the customers, help ladies in and out; carry the baggage,
etc.
You
can use the exercise after driving a while and these little
extras
will make all the difference in the world to your
customers
-- and probably ensure your success.
Startup
costs for this business are very low, just a chauffeur's
and
adequate insurance. Try it for a while by yourself, and when
you
have learned the ropes, hire (or sign up) and train (don't
forget
bonding) active and on-call employees,
The
biggest advantage to commission drivers is that technically
they
pay you a fee to obtain a driving job for them. They are
responsible
for their own withholding and social security taxes.
Also
you might check into driving cars for dealers, towing travel
trailers
on trips or for dealers, and chauffeuring the owner's or
even
rented motor homes on vacations (register with the RV rental
places).
These jobs would not pay as well as private parties, but
might
be great as well as private parties, but they might be
great
to fill in between private jobs.
Perhaps
the biggest possible problem area is to get the
reputation
as a bad driver, although poor service would be a
close
second.
Make
sure any contract drivers you hire know that they are not
only
expected not to cause accidents, they are expected to see
that
they don't happen!
This
means they must be good defensive drivers. Several large
corporations
that employ drivers have a standing rule -- one
accident
and you are out!
Also,
don't take it for granted that your drivers can handle the
customer
vehicles: be sure they are qualified to handle a manual
transmission,
pull a trailer or drive a 26 foot motor home BEFORE
sending
on these jobs.
Have
them complete a course or at least demonstrate to you that
they
can safely and professionally operate vehicles they are to
drive
for YOUR CUSTOMERS!
Wouldn't
this be a great business for a group of college
students!
They could even provide safe (sober) drivers for party
goers.
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