New Business - Help!

[Ami]

Greetings, Everyone!

I need your help. I'm looking to start what I think is a one-of-a-kind business. My premise is as follows:

A chauffeur service with your vehicle.

Basically, it would work like this:
I, or one of my employees, would go to your house and pick you and your vehicle up. You and your guest(s) would be taken from your home to your destination(s), and return you home, safely.

Details / Example:
I arrive at your house. After brief discussion of plans and funds, we depart to your destination(s), perhaps picking up guests or stopping at the store along the way. We arrive at your destination, let's say a bar. You go, have a good time. I park the vehicle; depending on the situation determines where. (Like, if you're planning to go multiple places, it'll be close.) When you're done, we go back to your home and part ways, knowing you and your vehicle are intact.

Benefits for the patron:
No chance for DUI.
Ability to go anywhere you want without having to worry about leaving early to potentially avoid police.
No waiting for a taxi at the end of the night.
Total privacy / discretion. IOW: need to change or put makeup on, etc... What happens in the back seat... Also, for members of 'our community,' the ability to go out without feeling embarrassment. (Discounts for TG/TS/TV. Don't care if that's biased, it's my company.)
Ability to leave 'your stuff' in your vehicle; Example: you only have to bring your ID & card into the club.
No hidden fees - Everything will be discussed and agreed up front; any changes in stops or extra time is ok but may be charged. A perfect example is the sudden urge to go to Denny's after a night out. A less perfect example would be suddenly getting a hotel.
Smoking is permitted (if it's permitted in your vehicle.)
Music selection & volume is completely up to you.

Options:
Vehicle swap allowed - If we start at your house, then go to a friends' house to use their bigger or 'cooler' vehicle, that's ok.
Vehicle cleaning service - I'll take it to a local car wash if you wish, if time permits.
Cooler service - for longer or cheaper trips. (still looking into open container laws) Example, stopping somewhere secluded before the club and having a drink or two in order to save money.
Smoking is permitted (if it's permitted in your vehicle.)
Music selection & volume is completely up to you.
Cell phone answering service. (This one is touchy - the example I can think of is not wanting to bring the cell into the club. "But, if Becky calls, tell her where we are." Or the ability to give Becky my # )

I won't get into the legal stuff like insurance, etc..I have that part down for the most part. So, my questions for you folks are these:
Is it a good idea?
Would you use this service?
What would you pay? / What should I charge? / By the hour? Mile? Destination? Both?
*on this note, I know I need to be comparable to the deluxe limo/taxi services.
What would you call it? (I need something catchy)
Should I go legal/incorporate? Do I have to? If I don't, can I safely advertise?
Any other ideas / benefits you'd like?
Pay rate for other employee?

The reason for this is simple - I need a job, but want a company. In Cape Canaveral, there's nothing to do but drink & fish. I don't drink and I mostly fish off-shore. Orlando is 30 minutes away, but costs big $ to take a cab or limo. Last night, I saw 3 cabs in my apartment complex and 2 people arriving home that definitely shouldn't have driven.

I appreciate any ideas you have and look forward to hearing from you!

[Leeza]

Ami,

You throw a lot out there to consider.

As far as a need for the service, you probably should do some research on it in your area. I can see where it would be an advantage, but how many would use the service?

As to the legal aspects, I would probably incorporate or LLC as I think there is a high possibility of litigation. When you or your employee gets behind the wheel you are responsible for about anything that may happen to that vehicle or its occupants.

You can probably advertise once you have it set up as a business. Something you may need to consider also is special licensing state and fed for the business and drivers.

Since you are using their vehicle and they should be paying all vehicle expenses, I would probably charge by the hour. As to the rate, we used to figure that the business owner needed 1 1/2 times the pay rate to break even. More would be required if there were any benefits. That rate may have changed since I last had to figure it.

[DonnaT]

I reckon it would depend on the cost as compared to a taxi.

Sure, there would be no worry about catching a taxi home after a night out, but would there be any other advantages.

Plus I would need to contact my own insurance co. to check on how they would handle an accident by a non-registered driver. Not all insurance companies have the same policy in this regard.

[Ralitsa]

My thoughts are:
you should incorporate as an LLC and get a federal EIN for the company. It's quick and easy and there are major advantages.
you will probably need a chauffeur license or CDL, depending on your state laws and what all you intend to drive.
I don't know about Florida, but most places I think if the driver is a licensed chauffeur and there is some delineation between front and back, then drinking is legal in back. Here in WI we have party busses going to Packer games that are loaded with drinking fools.
You might want to offer the party bus option. My brother and some of his friends bought an old school bus for like $2500 that they use for that. Even up here there are enough bachelor parties, etc. that it gets some use, though it would never be a profitable veture.
I would use a service like this to get to the airport. In fact I have made exactly this arrangement with a retired guy in the area. If I'm going to be gone for a month or 2, it's $8/day for airport parking so I'm much better off paying him $50 each way to drop me off and pick me up again.
I'd suggest you start off by yourself, no employees, to keep your expenses low and see how it goes.
You will want plenty of insurance for the company, find an insurance agent you trust and find out what he recommends.
In many cases this will be more expensive than just getting a taxi or an airport shuttle bus. So you need to identify the specific niche where it works and focus your advertising there. I think it could work in the right area, it's definitely worth more investigation.

[Ami]

Another thought - Any Craigslist experts out there? I was wondering where I could advertise this on CL without getting flagged.

[Davita]

Personally, I like the notion. We all like to have our cars handy.

BUT, not having a clue about you, why would I give you the keys to my car? Haven't you heard of all the horror stories of parking attendants and they are supposedly just in a parking lot.

I agree with the LLc etc. I didn't read all the responses closely, but bonding would make me feel better. At that point someone sorta kinda has vouched for you.

As fro advertising? you could ask the various bars to let you set cards out. Other places include restaurants. If your a church-goer, you could offer up the service for an auction item. That would at least get your name out to a small community and at least one person would try it.