How to Start a Limo Service
A limo service can be a very profitable venture. You get to provide your customers with some of the best experiences of their lives by driving them around the city in sleek limousines. If you’re thinking of opening your own limo car service company, then here are the things you need to keep in mind in order to get your enterprise up and going.
What you need
A� Limousine
A� Driver
A� GPS
A� Maps
A� Business plan
A� Permits
A� Liability insurance
A� For-hire livery insurance
A� Entertainment devices
A� Website
A� Contracts
Step 1: Getting a Vehicle
Of course, the first thing you need to do is to rent or purchase a car for your limo service. As a beginner, the best thing you can do is to rent a car so you can trade it up as your business expands. Do be sure to check the leased car to see that it meets safety standards. Have your rented car cleaned and reupholstered to meet the needs of your clients.
If you have the money, lease two types of cars – one for airport services, and another for events such as promenades or weddings. If you’re just starting out, you don’t necessarily have to get a limousine right away. You can begin with any type of vehicle as long as it’s capable of transporting your clients to different parts of town.
Step 2: Obtaining licenses and permits
Like any other business, your limo car service will need permits such as a business license, liability insurance, and tax identification number. Some cities require additional licensing for limo car drivers or for-hire livery insurance, so make sure to check up with City Hall for all the documents you need to get your business going. This can take a few weeks, so work on your company’s structure as you wait for these licenses.
Step 3: Pimp your ride
Limousines are rented for the comforts and perks they bring. Devices such as a TV, DVD player, even Internet router should be installed in your limo. While you need to have all the entertainment devices at hand, remember to stock up your car with maps, or better yet, a GPS system for easy navigation.
Step 3: Networking
As a new company, an important thing to do is to network with other limo car services in your area. Contact small businesses and introduce your company as the new limo car service in town. You can try to set up mutual referral systems and offer your cars for their services that require a fleet of limousines.
To get more customers, it’s recommended that you join organizations such as the National Limousine Association to boost your exposure. You can also rack up more clients by communicating with wedding facilitators, event planners, convention professionals and other individuals.
Step 4: Advertising and Marketing
Apart from networking, advertising and marketing are important components to make your company known throughout the area. You need to create a professional company website that provides the rates, images of limousine interiors, and feedback of customers.
Opening a limousine car service can be hard work, as you need to put everything into place to make it work. By following these steps you can start a profitable limo service that will thrive for decades to come.
