Take a seat, buckle up, put your hands on the wheel, and set off with a specific goal: In this article, prospective entrepreneurs can explore a business idea to drive off: become self-employed as a chauffeur. In view of the increasingly individual forms of mobility and increased attacks on the taxi trade in Dubai & UAE, commercial passenger transport seems to be a promising market. However, before self-employed drivers can release the handbrake, there are a few things to consider.
Also Read: Best Tour Packages for Dubai
In this respect, formal requirements in the passenger transport business and differences to the taxi business must be observed, including rent a car with driver in Dubai. This article will deal with the most relevant framework conditions in order to successfully become self-employed as a chauffeur. Right from the start, when planning, the market and especially the customer’s point of view must be considered: why should customers join this chauffeur service and what demand in terms of mobility does the business start-up address? Of course, at the beginning of the planning stage, there is nothing wrong with dealing with a related business idea: becoming self-employed with a taxi company.
Anyone who wants to become self-employed in a passenger transport business should carefully study the legal regulations right from the start. Above all, the competition and similarity to taxi companies can become a problem depending on the orientation of the business idea. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the market situation at the location must be carried out at the beginning. Who should be chauffeured or are there no local offers for this business idea? A careful calculation of costs and income is an absolute must when starting a business, because unused vehicles cost a lot of money, but without being able to bring in income in the truest sense of the word.
By their very nature, self-employed drivers compete with taxi companies. In UAE, the Arabic term chauffeur does not necessarily sound to a person who professionally transports guests in the vehicle. The choice of words is a conscious differentiation from the taxi driver, which of course also has an impact on the orientation of the business idea. Since the taxi business is much regulated and the competition is high in many locations, self-employment as a chauffeur should move customers in a different way. Think of an exclusive limousine service to provide guests with an exceptional transport service for special occasions. In recent months, the startup company Uber has repeatedly made headlines. This rental car service, which can be booked via an app, is attempting to break up the taxi monopoly in UAE. Taxi companies naturally protest against this threat, so Uber’s service was initially banned in Dubai. However, a temporary injunction was lifted a short time later, so this bookable mobility alternative is finding more and more fans in many cities. Declining revenues from taxi drivers in many locations show that customers are open to new forms of mobility and that the taxi is not seen as the sole form of personal passenger transport. Anyone who wants to become a self-employed chauffeur should consciously stay out of this great power struggle on the market and find their own profitable niche in the market and occupy it strategically.
In any case, it is important to have the competition and the possibly changing framework conditions in the passenger transport industry on the screen. The case of Uber shows that a new basic order can soon be created that opens up attractive and future-oriented options for many new business orientations. In any case, individual mobility solutions will become more important in the near future, especially in metropolitan areas. Statistical surveys and forecasts assume that the number of local passenger transports will increase significantly by 2022. From this, it can be deduced that many potential customers for a chauffeur service are willing to do without their own means of transport as long as a reliable mobility solution is available. Individual mobility solutions are more in demand than ever, with the event character definitely moving into focus for this business idea.
Based on the event character mentioned and in clear differentiation from taxi companies, it is important to make the business orientation completely clear with the business plan. Which target group should be driven whereas a self-employed chauffeur? And even more important: Which customer wants to be chauffeured to which individual destination at the location? How should orders for the chauffeur service be won and which vehicles are suitable for the business orientation? If you want to set up a limousine service including your own chauffeur for special life events, you naturally have to target a completely different target group than a taxi company. Compared to the taxi, potential customers do not stand on the street; they have to book the chauffeur service beforehand.
Once the target group has been determined and a high-demand location with the highest possible purchasing power has been found, the vehicles must be considered. How many vehicles are necessary? Which vehicle types suit the business orientation and target group? It is in the nature of this business idea that the vehicles and insurance make up a large part of the fixed costs. It is therefore necessary to calculate exactly which conditions are most advantageous for the business model in the long term. Apart from the purchase, the focus is on leasing offers, as this alternative offers the greatest financial flexibility. Overall, the business plan for self-employed drivers must have a clear timetable specified and make the profitability of the business model recognizable. Only if this is the case will potential lenders, investors, or business partners (other shareholders) participate.
The business plan will be convincing if it shows strong unique selling points. In this respect, the business model must hit a nerve of the times or an individual customer’s need. Anyone who wants to become self-employed with a limousine service as a chauffeur will have to market their business with an unusual event character. For example, the focus is on bridal couples who want to be driven to the wedding ceremony in proper style and then taken to the celebration location. Which customer would want to take a seat in a taxi for this occasion? With such an event solution, customers are offered two added values at the same time: On the one hand, thanks to the chauffeur, they can make themselves comfortable and reach their destination without stress. On the other hand, a historic vehicle can provide an unforgettable flair and also act as a wonderful photo motif.
