Private Hire Operator

[notsoshortie]

I've been in IT most of my working life until 18 months ago when I was made redundant from a well paid job. I'm now 42.... After being made redundant I decided to turn my back on IT and retrained to become a self employed mortgage and insurance advisor. Unfortunately pasing my exams coincided with the onset of the current credit crunch so business has been slow to say the least.... fantastic timing on my part ! I'm now looking at options to suppliment my income without having to return to IT (or any other office related work) with the possibility of this becoming my main source of income. What I'd like to know is whether anyone has any experience of setting up a Private Hire (Taxi) operation aiming at the corporate end of the market and the pros and cons involved not to mention any suggestion on how to gain regular business. I am aware of the licencing and the difference between Hackney carriage and Private Hire. Any opinions whether negative or possitive would be most appreciated.

[helpmetoo]

approx where will you be based geographically?

[notsoshortie]

Surrey / Hants border so it's fairly affluent area. Would be looking at airport runs and also the possibility of longer distance for corporate clients on on a day rate (ie someone has an all day meeting in Birmingham. Rather than catching the train or driving themselves they are offerred a door to door pick up and drop off service). I'd be looking to use something like a Mercedes S class.

[helpmetoo]

if you are flexible and give an exceptional service it is possible to earn good money,

the big problem for any start up is that as a one man band when you reach the critical point between being confortably busy and over stretched,

i dont advise paying to 'be on a circuit' because the prices will be skimmed and you will have to pay out in the hope of some good work,

a better way is to get acquainted with another small but good outfit in your area in order to benefit from picking up their overflow and more importantly you will have someone you trust to cover your overflow and so retain your client,

customers in this game are a fickle lot, you can give exemplary service for years and if it goes only slightly wrong on one occasion its bye bye,

get your private hire licence and then your operators licence, which allows you to take bookings, and if you are going to run an s class ask your licencing officer if they allow luxury end cars to be unplated, you will still have to compliance the vehicle but being a clean car on the outside helps the image,

it is ludicrous in london where brand new rollers used for ad hoc chauffeuring have green licence badges displayed front and back,

good luck , get yourself an electronic point of sale machine for cleared card payments and dont start off too cheap as it will be difficult to jack up your regulars,

i was a ph operator for 6 years in kent and now run the transport for a london hedge fund having been head hunted by a regular customer,

getting regular business is all about image, their is almost no requirement these days for full chauffeurs uniform but a nice suit, shirt and tie is a must, i would get a simple but quality brochure produced not showing prices,

[helpmetoo]

a method i used to get new customers was at a face to face meeting offer a trip to say london or an airport on the provision if they are not satisfied there is nothing to pay,

unless you mess up totally you will get your price and maybe something over and a customer who by his action of paying is confirming his approval.....so you have got yourself a regular!