roythebus wrote:
Loadsa money. I'm (just) over 60 with years of no claims, clean licence etc and have to pay about £1200 a year fully comp for hire and reward.
IF you decide to come into this business, depending where you are, DON'T be tempted to undercut everyone else jut to get the work. LEARN about how to cost your business, don't just think at the end of the week "hmm, a good week, I've taken over £500". Remember it's not all yours, you have to pay the HP, fuel, tax, insurance , licence fees, tyres, repairs, cleaning and loads more you never think about. Get to find out what your running costs will be per mile, typically between 45p and 50p a mile. so unless you get well over that per mile in fares, then you're working for nothing, and you can do that in the comfort of your front room without wearing out your car.
One of the newbies round here (New Romney) advertises Gatwick £70 (168 miles round trip), Heathrow £90 (204 mile round trip), Ashford night club return £44 ( 2x 38 miles if he returns to N/R between times). No doubt he'll go broke very quickly.
I've got a spreadsheet I can send you that will work out your costs. Do you know how many miles a set of tyres will do? My tyres cost me 0.006p per mile for a full set as a matter of interest!
I havent even got a car yet...im to do my dsa test in two months time. but a spreadsheet will be useful...Im thinking of going the Skoda Octavia route. I dont want to be typecast with an Avensis!!!
