If you’re the type of person who loves the trip down to the coast as much as the holiday itself… If you can sing Ten Green Bottles 100 times and not get tired… And if you know all the verses of “she’ll be coming round the mountain”… Well then I’ve found the perfect income opportunity for you! It promises to be very rewarding. Also there’s plenty of scope for growth.
The idea is to round up the neighbourhood kids and ferry them to and from school. You might even include transporting them to and from extramural activities. Everything you need to know is right here...

Start your own school taxi service and rake in the RRRs

I believe this opportunity is an all-round winner. It gives parents a well-deserved break from the daily struggle through the traffic to get their kids to school and get themselves to work. It also relieves the traffic situation – especially around schools. And it saves the environment because it reduces the amount of greenhouse gases we pump into the air.

What you need to get started

First off you’ll need a reliable vehicle. Start with a private car at first and then move to a minibus that seats 8 to 12 people comfortably. Keep accurate records of all trips including odometer readings at the start and end of each journey. Also take note of all fuel and oil stops, services and tyre changes. These expenses are tax deductible!

You'll need a public driver's permit. You can get this from your local testing station. Take out public liability insurance cover, as well as your normal vehicle insurance cover, to protect you in the event of an accident. Visit Outsurance’s website: http://www.outsurance.co.za. The first response an accident victim receives is critical in determining his/her survival. For this reason, drivers should be trained in basic first aid (including CPR) and this training should be kept up to date. St John's hospital offers courses! You can contact them on: (011) 403 4227

Make sure you implement these safety checks

Parents are entrusting you with the lives of their children. Keep that trust through proper safety considerations. The vehicle should be issued with a public road carrier permit (available from the Provincial Department of Transport) and must be roadworthy at all times. Make sure it’s well maintained and serviced regularly. You can get checks done on shock absorbers, tyres, brakes and other safety aspects by the Automobile Association at one of their accredited testing stations. Seatbelts should be fitted and wearing of seatbelts must be enforced at all times. If you’re transporting babies or toddlers, they must be strapped into suitable car seats. Children under 16kgs should be put into booster seats. Equip the vehicle with a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and an emergency triangle. Also make sure you know how to use them.

Don't forget this paperwork!

Give parents an application form to sign first. This should include:

    * The names, ID numbers, address and contact details of both parents.

    * The name and date of birth of the child,

    * The name, address and contact details of the school.

    * The agreed schedule and routes.

    * Any medication, allergies or medical conditions the children may have.

The application form should clearly stipulate your terms and conditions. Both parents must sign an indemnity form.

Latchkey kids

Insist on an adult being present when you collect the kids younger than 16. When you drop children off, either wait until someone arrives to receive them or, by prior arrangement with the parents, wait until they are in the premises before leaving.

How much to charge...

Rates vary depending on the number of passengers, the distances travelled and the number of vehicles and routes you’re able to supply. Use the AA website (www.aa.co.za) to determine the total operational costs of your vehicle. Remember to factor car payments, insurance premiums and driver salaries, into your costing. Short notice or once-off trips are typically charged at R100 per trip. You could also charge a monthly fee based on two trips a day (payable in advance). That way, you’ll be able to budget and have guaranteed income before you even do the work. So for example, say your total operating costs are R2.19 per kilometer and you take 4 kids to and from school everyday (traveling a total daily distance of 100km/day), your total costs are R219/day. That means that if you charge R75 per day per child your total daily income would be R300, and less your costs, your daily profit would equal R81. So your weekly profit would be R405 and your monthly profit about R1 620. And if you lifted 8 kids everyday your profit would increase to about R3 240 a month. Not bad for two extra hours of work a day!

Kind Regards,

Pascale Barrow
Managing Editor of Personal & Finance Confidential