View Full Version : Buisness or pleasure?
July 25th, 2001, 09:22 AM
Dear limo operators,
As some of the regulars will know by now, I have asked many things and thanks to all of you for your replies.
But whilst I struggle to write up the business plan and get all the figures to add up, I still find it almost impossible to workout the following:
1.How many hours a week do you expect a "120" to work ( I appreciate that the U.K must differ from the U.S, but is it only thurs/Friday/Saturday?)
2.Business or Pleasure, I am not a black belt in karate and have decided that Stag nights and booze cruise could be a problem area, so have considered the corperate market balanced with weddings etc to be the way forward,but with the current strained look on Alan Greenspans face lately, I wonder if the corperate sector is about to fade away?
Thanks in advance
Bob the brit
July 25th, 2001, 03:47 PM
We do all types of service but our corporate area is about 80%. We do not run cheap so so that will usually discourge the hard core abusive and distructive drunks. However if a stretch call comes at 11pm- 12am on a saturday night from somebody that has been sucking them down all that time, we won't send a car.Usually if a chaufeur starts a night before they begin drinking he should be able to control them later on as they have established a repore.
But you are right about stretches mostly running for the weekend, you will get some dinner and birthday type runs during the week also, how is the funeral business there? Another direction for limo use.
July 25th, 2001, 06:02 PM
I'm also still in the works getting all
of the details ironed out before I
really start the business. I live in a
relatively small town with only around
20-25,000 people. I'm looking for and
creating new target markets, considering this area has never had a limousine
service my ideas will be very new to
them. We have a single white stretch
10-pak, it's not the newest but it
doesn't matter too much since there is
no competition to compare with and the folks here aren't made of moolah anyway. http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_razz.gif
We're going to work with the hotels in
the area and service weddings, reunions
festivals, concerts, birthdays, and
night out's on weekends. I will be
contacting the casino for charters
during the week. I'm thinking about
childrens b-day parties for day time
activities also. What kid wouldn't love
a stretch limo pulling up to their home
to bring them and their friends to their favorite roller dome, and pizza parlour! (I'm still working on feesable rates for that one) We may be doing airport runs
even though it is 100 miles away.
You just need to get creative, give
people a reason to use your business.
Find your target markets, figure out
what they need, how to meet those needs, and have the most fun doing it. It
doesn't hurt making them feel like they
recieved a special discount either, (everyone wants a discount these days!). Your best advertisement is word of mouth and how much they enjoyed your service. http://limos.infopop.cc/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif Good luck!!
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July 26th, 2001, 07:24 AM
The LCT September Fact Book which includes about 30 pages of statistics about overall companies, fleets and internal business matters answers all of the questions that Bob the Brit and many other start up operators are posing.
I urge you to read it carefully and use the information to set forth good business plans for 2002. We'll post more data on our website--lctmag.com as well.
July 26th, 2001, 08:04 AM
Checkout the new issue of Limo Digest. It is their annual fact book. It seems to have the most complete information about the limousine builders and suppliers to the limousine industry. Also it has some interesting statistics about the limousine industry. I'm glad to see Limo Digest got the numbers right of the true limo operators in the country. I always new there were way more operators than LCT claimed. Thanks Limo Digest for doing your due diligence.
Wade Randolph
July 29th, 2001, 11:58 AM
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wade Randolph:
Checkout the new issue of Limo Digest. It is their annual fact book. It seems to have the most complete information about the limousine builders and suppliers to the limousine industry. Also it has some interesting statistics about the limousine industry. I'm glad to see Limo Digest got the numbers right of the true limo operators in the country. I always new there were way more operators than LCT claimed. Thanks Limo Digest for doing your due diligence. Last fall I let this issue slide, because I couldn't believe the stupidity of the responses. AS a member of the LIMOUSINE INDUSTRY COUNCIL, I can no longer remain quiet. Maury Sutton was the publisher of LCT 1986-1989. I was his research assistant. In 1983 Maury says we had 4-6 thousand operators. In 1987, Maury had six thousand paid subscriptions, over 10,000 operators, easily. In 1989, there were 12-15 thosusand operators. Check the LCT's from 1993-94, see how they adjust the figures. Remember, LCT made the industry!! Never forget that!! The fact that they callCAREY crying if I say anything should not matter!! TY BOBIT made and shaped the industry!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. Sutton ( THE WIZARD ) can be reached at csutton@ucla.edu or 1-310-379-4510. Ihave watched this industry grow since 1976, I will no longer put up with any bullshit about the numbers. DEAN SCHULER
Wade Randolph<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Dean Schuler
July 30th, 2001, 03:44 PM
Some of the issues you will come across while starting to this type of home based business is whether to purchase a used vehicle vs. new, how do you run a service, how do you increase tips or just whether or not this type of home based business is for you.
Now, you could just go out and purchase a vehicle and wing it or you could just give up on your dream of owning your own business.
My experience in transportation began when I drove limousines for 2 years in North Carolina. Now I have my own service based in Asutin, TX. Im doing $3000 a month in revenue. I would like to give you advice on this type of home based business.
Now, doesn't it make sense for us to have a conversation?
http://www.keen.com/AdvisorAaronB