The world is shifting towards shared mobility. According to a McKinsey survey, at least 30% of respondents indicated that they will use shared mobility more in the coming decade while 46% would replace a private vehicle. This, in turn, has created an increased demand for taxis all over the world opening new opportunities for entrepreneurs to get experience in the industry.

Furthermore, with the tremendous surging demand for simple and reasonably priced mobility solutions, launching a taxi business stands among one of the most sought-after options. However, growing competition, coupled with the rising expectations of customers, leaves an extremely crucial question open: how to start a taxi business successfully? 

In this blog, we will take you through a step-by-step guide on how to start a taxi business and stand out from your competitors.

Process to Start a Taxi Business

1.Conduct Market Research

Before starting your taxi business, analyze the market trends. This will significantly increase your success rate. Here’s how to conduct thorough market research to set a strong foundation. 

• Understand your Audience

Understanding your target audience is crucial when you decide to start a taxi business, as it will shape your business strategy. Whether you’re focusing on daily commuters who need reliable modes of transportation, tourists seeking convenience, or corporate clients searching for professional and scheduled services, each audience requires a tailored approach.

For instance, if your taxi company operates within a city, you are likely to have most daily commuters as your frequent customers and you would focus on ensuring that you provide the best rides to them at the cheapest price during busy hours. However, if you are operating in some tourist spot, offering multilingual-speaking drivers or guided city tours could be an added advantage to you. Understanding such needs helps in refining your offers and hence marketing strategy to fulfill the expectations of your target audience appropriately.

• Competition

The taxi business is already saturated with a number of big players. Moreover, local competition is also on the rise, making it mandatory for new entrants to navigate the market trends. Understanding the pricing models, service offerings, and customer feedback of players like Uber or Lyft will allow you to start a taxi business strategically.

For example, if your competitors like Uber are charging their customers much lower but compromising on customer service, you could differentiate your taxi business through a superior customer experience, well-trained drivers, cleaner vehicles, or added services such as in-car Wi-Fi. This can turn out to be your USP, which might help point out the gaps in the market and create offerings that differ significantly, attracting customers for quality over just low prices.

2. Develop a Business Plan 

Now that you’re already done with the market research, developing a robust business plan will be your next step. Here are a few methods to ensure that you are on the right  track with your business plan:

• Service Offerings

Start by defining the kind of services you will offer your customers. Determine whether your taxi business will run as an airport shuttle, on-demand ride, or corporate contract. This will help you cut time and costs by focusing on one niche only. Moreover, you can also describe the type of rides you will offer and special features that could set you apart from the competition.

• Revenue Model

Deciding this will give you an outlook on how to generate revenue. You can decide on questions like, will you charge standard market fares, have a price surge during peak hours or rainy season or you’ll go ahead with fixed rates. 

Our suggestion will be to first gain the trust of your target audience and then start with other business activities. Establish a reliable reputation in the market in terms of service delivery, pricing, and other factors, and then decide firmly on the revenue. 

3. Licensing and Regulations

When you start a taxi business, ensure that all the legal formalities are up to date. This will ensure compliance and will also serve as a shield in case you face any issues in the future. Here’s how you can ensure complete legal compliance:

• Taxi Operator’s License

Before operating a taxi business, it is mandatory to obtain a proper taxi operator’s license. You can obtain the same through the local authorities. The requirements may vary according to the location you are in. 

For example, in New York City, the Taxi and Limousine Commission governs such licensing. Your taxi vehicle would be put under very tough tests, and your driver vetted in detail before licensing him. Without such a license, operating your taxi business would be illegal.

• Vehicle Registration

Apart from the taxi operator’s license, you need to register each of your fleet vehicles for business use. The important point to note here is that the process of registration of your vehicle for business purposes will be different from that of your vehicle for private usage. It will thus attract a different fee, and, of course, also have to pass through a periodic inspection.

• Insurance

Adequate insurance coverage is a must-have before you decide to start a taxi business, covering both the driver and the passengers. A major factor differentiating it from your regular auto coverage is that it offers higher coverage compared to the former. 

You can also opt for liability insurance to protect your business from suits. If you are going to employ full-time drivers, then opt for employee cover as it will cover you and the workers in case there is injury or disease resulting directly from work.

4. Hiring Drivers

Once you have built a solid foundation, the next step is to hire and train reliable drivers. Your drivers will be the face of your business, so it is essential to check the following details to make sure you are aligned with your customers:

• Driver Credentials: Ensure that your drivers have a valid commercial driver’s license and that they meet any specific local regulatory requirements. 
• Clean Driving History: You can have a thorough look at the driving history of your employees to look out for any criminal records or major accidents. This will help you trust their skills and you can even mention their credentials in the form star rating on your application.’

Once you’ve assembled your driving team, make sure to provide them with essential training that goes beyond the basics. Equip your drivers with soft skills like customer interaction, service delivery, and other essentials. Emphasize the importance of politeness, patience, and effective communication to enhance the overall customer experience. Additionally, prioritize safe driving techniques by offering training on defensive driving, navigation, and strict adherence to traffic regulations. Lastly, you can equip your drivers with the knowledge of how to use technology efficiently. This includes familiarity with taxi apps, GPS navigation, accepting ride requests, and handling payments smoothly. 

5. Build An Online Presence

A presence in social media can take your taxi business to new heights. According to Forbes, on average a person spends about 145 minutes per day on social media. This indicates the active role that social media can play in your business transformation. Moreover, building a web or mobile application can give your customers a tailored experience. Here is how can ensure an active online presence. 

• Develop a User-Friendly Website

Developing a user-friendly website is what makes a business take off, especially if you’re looking for user engagement. A well-designed website showcases your expertise and attracts the right user base ultimately generating revenue. Let’s take a look at how a good website can help your business achieve its set goals:

• Booking System: An aesthetic website with an online booking system makes it easy for customers to schedule rides.
• Information Hub: You can provide essential information like driver details, pricing, and discounts to your customers to maintain customer loyalty. 
• Mobile Optimization: If you can provide a mobile application to your users, it leads to effective customer engagement and personalization. For instance, apps like Uber ensure effective user engagement on their mobile applications by showing wait time, driver details, easy app navigation, and so on.

You also have many alternatives when going for your mobile or web application. For instance, you can either develop a mobile application or even collaborate with existing ride-hailing services. 

Here are some trending app ideas for your taxi business that will help you provide the best services when you start a taxi business:

• Ride-Sharing and Pooling App: A ride-sharing service like Uber Pool connects travelers who are going in the same direction. This enables them to cut down on overall costs and ensure sustainability as well.
• Subscription-Based Taxi Services: These apps offer various subscription plans for regular commuters.  For instance, Lyft’s Ride Pass charges a user every month while giving discounted rides. This not only builds long-term customer loyalty but also builds a positive brand image. 
• Corporate Taxi Booking App: Corporate Taxis operate specifically for business purposes. These apps enable employees to travel for work-related matters in a hassle-free manner. For instance, Uber Business companies set up one centralized account by which riders book rides instead of creating individual accounts for each one of them. 

• Social Media Presence

A reliable social media presence can enhance your brand image and exposure. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and X can help you reach a larger audience and nurture customer loyalty. Moreover, you can also collaborate with influencers who can enhance your business reach via word of mouth.Here are some more technical details about how you can use social media to your advantage: 

• Engagement: Engage your customers on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with timely updates promotions, and question responses.
• Paid Advertisement: You can utilize targeted advertisements to reach your targeted customers and increase brand visibility. 

While it is important to market your taxi business effectively, it’s not at all essential to complete all the steps all at once. For instance, at first, you can have a few people to manage your social media presence before going full in and having an in-house marketing team.

6.  Launch and Operations

Now that you’re done with all the preparatory phases, it’s time to launch your taxi business and manage the operations. 

The long-term success of your taxi business will depend on continuous optimization and maintenance of your operations. To achieve this, you can track key performance indicators (KPIs) including revenue, driver performance, and vehicle maintenance. You can easily do this by leveraging technology for improvement and uncovering cost-saving opportunities. 

Conclusion

Starting a taxi business and making it a success can be two very different things. Many businesses fall apart because they do not take care of customer-centricity and technology. The most customer-centric approach that you can take is,  understanding and directly addressing the needs and preferences of your riders to ensure they enjoy an easy, enjoyable ride from booking to riding. Moreover, engaging in active interaction with feedback and appropriate improvement will build trust and loyalty in your clientele and encourage repeat business and positive word-of-mouth.

Furthermore, integrating technology into your taxi business can make you stand apart from your competitors. And, by integrating we do not mean just building an application. You have to make sure that your application is easy to navigate, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing. This will save your customers time and encourage them to collaborate with you further. You can also partner with us when you start a taxi business, to ensure an effective tech integration and build a user-friendly taxi service application.