There are certain niches in public transportation that neither train nor car can fill. For instance, people won’t want to pay for a taxi from the airport to where they parked their cars. Some travelers will be inconvenienced by having to take the train to a hotel they’re unfamiliar with. Some traveling groups are made up of families with at least two small children, so they can’t walk the distance between the gate and the terminal. Other travelers may need more than one taxi to get everyone in their group and their luggage from the airport to their homes.

These are examples of scenarios where taxis and the like wouldn’t be fit for the task all the time. Yes, a vehicle will have to pick people up at predetermined locations and drop them off at a different one, but because of the variety in passenger group size and their needs, airport shuttle buses would be a better choice of transportation. As you can see, anyone from people traveling for business to families on vacation to solo travelers will need a shuttle bus at least once during their trip. If you want to try your hand at starting an airport shuttle bus business because you believe this is a need you can fill, here’s what you need to know.

Start by planning your business

You can’t start a successful business without a clear plan in place, because there are certain specificis you need to map out so you won’t be dealing with too many unknown factors. For example, at the very least you’ll want to know how much to set aside for startup costs, and how much it will take to keep the business running. According to successful shuttle bus business owners, anywhere between $10,000 and $50,000 would be an ideal startup fund, though that can be less if you already have certain assets. 

Don’t focus only on the vehicle

While you will need at least one reliable shuttle bus, preferably one that’s wheelchair accessible and can carry 14 to 20 passengers along with their luggage, that’s not all you need to worry about acquiring.

Let’s say you were able to find a used bus that’s still serviceable. You still have to find what licenses you need and how to get them. You’ll also want to invest in insurance as well as scheduling software to help you keep track of when your bus needs to be at one location or another.

Know your area

Decide on the area you feel comfortable providing the shuttle bus service for, then find a map of that area. Pinpoint the airports and see if any shuttle services currently serve them, along with where they typically travel. If you find areas that lack airport transportation, then you’ll have found the area to focus on.

Do your research on whether travelers typically need transport to the airport, or away from it to work or to wherever they happen to be staying. Some cities may have shuttle buses that provide only one of those services but not both.

Remember the scheduling software mentioned earlier? This will come in handy if you decide to provide on-call shuttle services and pick up passengers at their home or office at a predetermined time to bring them to the airport. This is different from being on standby at the airport and waiting for passengers to board the bus before you bring them to different locations in the city. You could also pinpoint which hotels are popular with travelers so you can partner with one or two of them if you feel it would be a beneficial venture.

Knowing your area doesn’t just stop at knowing where to bring people and what geographic area to focus your services in. Map out your route or routes, then travel them at different times. That way, you’ll have a better idea of how long it takes to complete a route; passengers will appreciate it more if you can give them a specific time frame compared to a rough guess. 

Decide on pricing

Once you know how long it takes to complete a route and how far your shuttle bus travels each time, you’ll have a better idea of how much to charge passengers whenever they board the bus. That price needs to be competitive enough, but also net you enough so you can keep up with operating costs. Those costs should include a driver’s salary, maintenance costs, and fuel.

Take into account any partnerships you’ve made. For example, if you earn a commission for each guest you bring to a partner hotel, you can afford to give those guests a discount if they board your shuttle bus. Discount packages for those traveling for business and other frequent commuters would be a good idea, too.

While a shuttle bus isn’t too different from a limousine or taxi service, there are several things that make such a business a little more difficult to start. For example, if you don’t want to buy a new shuttle bus, there are certain factors you need to consider before purchasing a used one. Then, besides the preparation you have to do before you can even open your doors, so to speak, you may have to acquire other licenses or paperwork. 

Still, there’s no denying that an airport shuttle bus service can be a profitable business. As long as you do your research and make sure you don’t miss anything important, then starting such a business will be worth the effort.