My blog focuses on Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Taxi firms are important today, even with the advent of ride-share programs like Lyft and Uber. Taxi firms must be even more savvy today than ever. The following contributed post is entitled, The Big Do’s and Don’ts Of Running A Taxi Firm.
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Running a taxi firm can be a lucrative business. But getting it right the first time around is more challenging than you might think, and many operators make mistakes.
That’s where this post can help. It runs through some of the essential dos and don’ts for anyone in this line of work, suggesting what to do and how to avoid disaster.
Do Prioritize Customer Service
As with any service-based business, you want to start by looking at how you treat your customers. Providing them with a positive experience is the most likely way to get them to come back to you in the future (instead of using a convenient ride-sharing app).
The more you prioritize customer service, the more likely you are to get referrals and free customers. You are also much more likely to see repeat business where people come back to you every time because they trust you.
Do Embrace Technology
Just because you’re not an app-based taxi service, that doesn’t mean you should ignore technology. It can still help you and even make you competitive versus the competition.
For example, you could use a car tablet holder to put screens on the back seats. This value-added measure keeps passengers entertained on long journeys.
You could also use GPS tracking to see where your drivers are and online digital booking systems for easy trip organization.
Do Make Yourself Available
Another pro tip is to make yourself available at the times of the day when your customers actually want you. One of the reasons Uber and Lyft are taking over the space is that they have people ready to collect passengers 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Meanwhile, many traditional operators insist on doing the rounds in peak hours online.
Don’t Neglect Training
At the same time, you want to avoid neglecting driver training. Just hiring staff and hoping for the best isn’t a good policy. Most don’t understand customer service basics.
You also want to ensure your drivers understand safe driving. Knowing how to operate a vehicle through sticky situations on the road is essential.
Don’t Ignore Customer Feedback
Also, you want to ensure you’re taking customer feedback onboard. Don’t ignore complaints when you get them. Instead, use them to improve your services and retain more customers.
If you do get a complaint, reach out to the affected party and ask them what went wrong. Often, if you correct an issue, the person involved is more likely to use you in the future, even if they leave a negative review about your services.
Don’t Forget To Plan Financially
A lot of taxi firms also neglect to recognize the importance of financial planning for their businesses. Many assume their operations will simply proceed without the need for intervention
Unfortunately, poor financial management can get in the way of growth. Borrowing too much for vehicles can make it challenging to generate profits, even if your business is busy. Therefore, keep detailed records and use software that can manage your cash flow.
