Taxi Cab Company
Taxi! Starting Your Own Taxi Company
If you have a valid driver's license and a car, you might have thought about how easy it would be to hire yourself out to drive your neighbor's around. It isn't quite that simple, though. There are things you need and certain legal restrictions involved.
Legal Requirements
Check with your local license board (or the licensing board of the area you wish to cover in your service). Some states will require a minimum age, regardless of the legal driving age in the area. For instance, even if a 16 year-old can hold a driver's license, the local age for driver's for hire is often 21.
No matter what your age and if you meet the legal restrictions for being able to drive others for a fee, your city will likely require a business license to participate.
Your Garage
If you only plan on having one car in service with yourself as a driver you can probably save on costs by operating out of your own home. If you expand to have more than one car and other drivers you will need to consider renting or buying an appropriate garage space.
Equipment
Even with just one car you will need a base to unit radio system that allows you communication for phoned in appointments and emergencies.
You will need to pay for tower use so that you can bounce your radio signal between yourself and your home base. This will allow you a greater coverage area and distance possible.
A car is seemingly a no-brainer but you will need the right type of car. A two-door is not an option. Any type of 4-door vehicle or SUV will work well as a taxi but you will need to have it fitted with the above mentioned radio, as well as a safety glass divider with slide opening. Unfortunately it is not a safe world and while it is not required it is not a good idea to forego the expense of having the divider installed.
Your car will need to be equipped with a reliable meter to assure both yourself and your customer's that the fee being charged is accurate. The device should be plainly visible to the rider in the back.
Credit Payments
Make arrangements with your bank to be able to accept credit cards. This will greatly expand your customer base since more people pay with credit cards than carry cash. You will have to fill out an application and a fee will be charged for each transaction but it is worth the added expense in order to get more customers.
