A kick-Start Guide to Passenger Transportation Business
By
Avantika Shergil
|
Jan 19, 2023 |
Logistics and Transportation Startups
The transportation business has evolved limitlessly in the past few years, especially with the advancement of tools and technologies. Today, the passenger transportation business is a niche field where it is easier to flourish in the market due to healthy competition and facilitation due to technology penetration.
Having a touch of technology can make your business perform well by getting a website and a mobile app developed. You can discuss your idea with one of the top logistic app development companies that suit your requirements and get a customized solution to spread the word about your business beyond geographical boundaries.
Table of Contents
Types of a Transportation Business
Before thinking of how to start a passenger transportation business, you may look into the other types available in the market. Each niche has its variety of services.
- Passenger transport
- Cab/taxi
- Car rental or pooling
- Bike rentals
- Trucking
- Medical Transportation
- Cargo
- Courier services via railways and airways
- Ships and vessels
- Tours and travels
- Movers and packers
Based on the type of logistic business you are looking forward to cater, if you are planning to launch your business in many different categories then you can also look at things from a different perspective by opting to build a super app. Building a super app requires certain expertise and when you browse through mobile app development companies and find the one to partner with, you can even ask them about the possibility of clubbing all the above-mentioned services in one app. Here, we shall review how to start a passenger transportation company by following strategically designed steps.
If you divide passenger transportation according to the routes, it can be divided into three major mediums.
The passenger transportation service business may range from railways, roadways, and airways. While all these three mediums have their licenses and logistic rules set by authoritative bodies of concerned governments, the budget to start a passenger transport business largely depends on these mediums. For instance, if you want to create a car rental business, its app shall cost you way less as compared to a super app for passenger transport that houses several core services of transport along with other related services.
Steps to Start a Passenger Transportation Business
When you decide to start a transport company for passengers, you need a foolproof transportation business plan that focuses on passengers and not goods that would otherwise focus on moving inanimate objects and articles. Dealing with humans always seeks more attention and sincerity because any glitch or apathy would result in serious legal consequences.
Here are expert-approved steps to flourish your passenger transportation services.
Decide the niche
As mentioned above, there are many options available to start a transportation business company. However, in this blog, we shall discuss transport business ideas focusing on passengers. passenger transport business apps and portals offer facilities and features related to tours and travel for people. You may need to convey a fair message to your mobile app Development Company that your project is people-centric and not inanimate goods.
Decide on the company type
Passenger transportation business ideas offer a variety of company types to choose from. It means you need to set your strategies to make a customized software solution based on your business operations and goals. Chiefly, you have three business models for a transportation service company –
- Sole proprietorship: In this model, you do not incorporate or launch a joint venture with any other person or company. It is an individual’s responsibility for failure or success because you are the only one owning the company.
- General/limited company: Here, in this model, you have a partnership in the passenger transportation business. The difference between the general and limited liability partnership is that the risks, debts, and actions are predefined and distributed among partners.
- Limited liability company (LLC): In this model, financial accounts for you and the company are completely different and therefore it changes your tax status. Also, in such type of business model, the company’s performance can protect you from your losses.
Secure a federal tax id
One of the most crucial processes for the passenger transportation service business is getting a federal tax id number. In other words, it is mandatory to take permission from government bodies if you want to start a transport company. To stay legally clear, you need to apply for the necessary federal tax id number or employer identification number (EIN). After getting the number, it will be easier for you to file taxes and protect your business from identity theft. Also, it speeds up any loan application and builds business credit in the market.
Licenses and permissions
Various licenses and permissions come as mandatory steps to keep your passenger transportation business away from legal hassles. Starting a logistics company of any kind requires freight management, driver, and trip management, and many more operations. Here, we have precious things to move – passengers i.e., people. Hence, the department of transportation would have a list of requirements that includes various licenses and permissions.
It is important to note that different governments have different rules set for logistics and transportation. For instance, the US government has a list of permissions and licenses for different business activities. Additionally, you need to abide by roadway safety guidelines as stated by local governments where your passenger transportation services are offered. Say, for instance, the US guidelines for national roadway safety strategy have clear instructions that all transport businesses need to assure and support.
Chiefly, you may require a commercial driver’s license, fuel carrier license, vehicle registration, cargo, or transport permit (state or country wise), and insurance cover for vehicles, trips, and even people in some cases.
Arrange finance or funds
It is the transportation business type and facilities you provide that decide the cost of your business. The costs could be minimal or extensive depending on the exclusivity of vehicles and the complexity of the passenger transportation service mobile app development you opt for.
In all cases, arranging finance for the transport business through one or multiple funding channels is recommended. Local banks, credit unions, individual funding, or crowdfunding are a few sources to gather the required capital.
Build fleet and inventory
The passenger transportation business includes several expenses mainly for vehicles and inventory. Depending on the field of operations and the region, the vehicle size and type matter especially when you are transporting people. Safety and comfort are of paramount importance and, therefore, multi-axel vehicles with entertainment and air-conditioned system are quite necessary. Also, considering the mediums of passenger transportation services (air, rail, or road), the expenses largely vary from minimum to maximum.
Hiring workforce
Unlike personal vehicles such as motorbikes, cars, and vans, passenger transportation services require heavier and larger vehicles. Thus, the drivers need special training to handle them as they carry humans and not goods. It is important to note that drivers of such vehicles need a special license and their driving tests are more vigorous. Finding a skillful driver is a challenging task that you need to think about before starting a transportation business for passengers.
Likewise, the staff who manages routes and maintenance of passenger vehicles, transportation sales and marketing, maintenance technicians, and mobile app operators require special skills. Therefore, hiring a superior workforce for passenger transport cannot be ignored.
Maintenance and recertification
One of the gray areas of businesses that require certificates and licenses is maintaining those crucial documents and renewing them timely. Transportation businesses often miss recertification and renewal of expired documents and permissions. Hence, a special task force should be appointed when you start a passenger transport business. Expired documents may bring unwanted legal consequences and, in most countries, the rules are quite strict for such negligence. Additionally, you may end up paying hefty penalties if the license or permission is expired.
The Role of Transportation Portal and Mobile App
The dawn of contemporary technologies such as the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Augmented Reality has brought revolutions in all industry verticals, and passenger transportation business and services are no exceptions. Today, the ground and digital presence of businesses are mandatory; hence, it is a prerequisite to opt for a passenger transportation app development. Here are the benefits you get from the software tool –
Better customer reach
The biggest benefit that comes from having a passenger transport service mobile app is better customer reach. Since the transport business goes beyond geographical boundaries, it is crucial to reach wider audiences. While print media and other mediums of marketing have become costlier, the most affordable way to reach people across the region is through digital presence.
Digital marketing can help you have a larger client base with no restrictions to specific towns and cities. According to research giant firm Statista, the total revenue generated from travel apps, in the US alone, touched 0.3 billion US dollars. Hence, it will not be exaggerated to say that if you want to start transportation services, having a mobile app shall assuredly help you achieve your business goal.
Easy transportation management
The passenger transportation business involves a complex ecosystem where managing vehicles and the workforce requires superior skills. Additionally, maintaining legal documents such as licenses and permission certificates is crucial and any apathy would cost the transport company a hefty price.
All in all, mobile app development for passenger transport businesses can include easy management features through just a few taps. The operators and fleet owners can easily manage vehicles, drivers, routes, and other important business processes right from their handheld devices.
Passenger transport services on-the-go
The global mobile app download has touched an unprecedented figure of 255 billion in 2022, and it is likely to grow more in the coming years. As the figure indicates, more and more people now prefer shopping and booking online. Hence, when you start a passenger transportation business or services, a customized mobile app development shall get you an extra edge because most users prefer booking their travel and touring online. The patrons can have the best transport services on the go. Several features mentioned below can be added during passenger transportation mobile app development for a better user experience.
- Search for passenger transport providers
- Search for origin and destination
- Book, edit, cancel or rearrange travel dates and passenger seats
- Contact passenger travel company customer care
- Rate and review passenger transport services
- View buses, trains, ships, or even aircraft online
- Apply discount coupons or codes for tours and travel
- Refer a friend on social media
Additionally, passenger transport services can often include third-party API integration to make their offers better. For instance, a business tie-up with hotels and resorts or sightseeing tour operators when passenger transport services are offered to popular tourist destinations can add value to your business.
GPS-based features and facilities
GPS-enabled features are the backbone of any transport business and services. The real-time location of a vehicle is crucial for both a passenger and a transport owner. Such features help users know their vehicle’s location and estimated time to reach the destination; moreover, transport business owners can also bind their vehicles with geo-fencing where vehicles shall send them an alarm or notification if they cross certain terrains.
GPS-based features can also suggest the best route for passenger transport service providers to save fuel as it may indicate the shortest or fastest routes and routes with or without tolls.
Accurate analytics
For any business, periodic analysis using data from months and years is crucial to plan diplomatic strategies for the next financial year. Mobile app development for passenger transport can include a built-in analytical tool to collect data and feedback from users. Such information would help the operators or business owners to have deep insight into making foolproof business plans to expand their services.
Are you Ready to Start a Passenger Transportation Business?
This guide on how to start a passenger transport business has steered you through various aspects and steps required to plan and implement your ideas into a real product and service. You can hire an offshore company, discuss the logistic app development cost, and kickstart the project to have a product that offers your users a unique experience.
Avantika Shergil
| Jan 19, 2023
An enthusiastic Operations Manager at TopDevelopers.co, coordinating and managing the technical and functional areas. She is an adventure lover, passionate traveler, an admirer of nature, who believes that a cup of coffee is the prime source to feel rejuvenated. Researching and writing about technology keeps her boosted and enhances her professional journeying.
