How to Start a Taxi Business in India in 2024?

With the emergence of companies such as Ola and Uber, every individual owning a smartphone can avail a cab from the convenience of their home.

Such rising demand makes investing in the taxi business a profitable option for many. If you wish to benefit from the same, here is a detailed overview of how to start a taxi business. 

As you plan to start a taxi business in India, don’t forget to check out the taxi insurance policies. It is crucial to secure your vehicle with insurance as mandated by the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988. 

It protects against accidents, theft, and damage, safeguarding your investment. Moreover, having a taxi insurance saves you from hefty traffic fines, license suspension, and even legal trouble.

Without any further delay, let's begin!

Before starting a taxi business in India, one must have a proper business plan. An appropriate business plan is crucial as it affects an individual's liability, business taxation, paperwork, etc.

Now, let us look at the basic taxi business pointers you should consider when chalking out how to start a cab business. 

1. Analyse the Taxi Business Opportunity

The most important thing to do before starting your taxi business is to analyse the potential of a cab business in your region. Check your competition and whether people in your area are willing to have a taxi business or not.

2. Develop a Business Plan

Develop a taxi business plan by conducting thorough market research to identify the cab demand in the area. Additionally, create a comprehensive business plan, including how you can attract customers your business goals, your financial projections, and other marketing strategies.

3. Get Registrations and Licenses

Next step is to register your business as a legal entity with the appropriate authorities. In India, you can choose to register as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or private limited company.  

Then, apply for the necessary licenses and permits required to operate a cab business. The list of necessary documents is covered below in this article.  

4. Purchasing Cars

Acquire cars that meet the specifications set by your local transport authorities. Ensure that the vehicles are equipped with essential safety features and have appropriate taxi insurance coverage.  

5. Hire Taxi Drivers

Now that you have your fleet of cars, you need to hire experienced taxi drivers who have a commercial driver's license as per the Motor Vehicle Act's mandates. You can choose to employ these drivers either full-time or part-time based on your financial plan.   

Remember to conduct a thorough background check of the drivers, including verifying their driving records and ensuring they have a good understanding of local traffic rules. 

6. Set Prices and Route Plans

Focus on keeping a competitive pricing structure based on factors such as distance, time, route and additional services offered, while ensuring profitability as well. Also, make sure you offer different payment options for your customers to make the business process seamless.

7. Marketing and Promotion

In this digital age, taking your business online is the best marketing move. Having a user-friendly mobile app and website will make the process much easier and will attract customers. 

However, don’t forget to implement other effective marketing strategies as well that will create awareness about your taxi business on both online and offline channels.

8. Customer Service and Feedback

Ensuring on delivering outstanding customer service will help build your loyal customer base. You can do so by training your drivers to be polite, professional, and punctual, and responding quickly to customer inquiries.

Further, collect and analyse your customer feedback and revenue regularly to enhance your business performance and stay ahead of the competition.

Considering the necessity people have for easy transportation, opening an online taxi service in India can be very profitable. This is how to begin:

1. Market Research

Among the different methods that can be used to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of a business’s operations and structure, one is identifying the business’s target consumers. When looking at competitors' services, understand them to identify areas that need to be served and factor in.

2. Choosing a Business Model

Selecting the right business model for you is extremely important:

• Aggregator Model: Partner with current taxi drivers.
• Ownership Model: Self-drive the car that you own.
• Hybrid Model: To enhance flexibility and coverage, use both versions.

3. Legal Compliance

Choose your legal form for your business: sole trader, limited company, or partner with limited liability.

• Obtain Licences: Obtain operation permits, including pollution certificates, vehicle permits, and tax registration for goods and services.
• Insurance: Ensure that each car identified is equipped with legal insurance.

4. Creating a Mobile App

Mobile apps should be easy to use and fast:

• Easy to Use Interface: The user interface should easily allow one to book a ride through the application.
• Payment Integration: Multiple options of payment is a convenience for all types of customers.
• Real-Time Tracking/Sharing: GPS enables real-time tracking of the taxi and shares it with other people for security reasons.

5. Hiring and Training Drivers

A thorough background check should be well conducted and mandatory. Education on environmental rules of the road, customer treatment, and other things lead to a good business rating.

6. Promotion and Launch

Web advertising, Search engine optimisation, and social media marketing should all be employed in digital marketing.

7. Promotions

Offer discounts to get traffic to your business; you can offer the first one free, for instance.

8. Feedback Mechanism

Establish recommendations and feedback mechanisms for clients within the service delivery system.

Typically, there are three types of taxi businesses in India. Refer to the following section to understand the types in detail -

1. Traditional Taxi Business

This type of business may include single taxis or certain organisations owning numerous cars and running a business. However, this type of business is losing its hold in India due to its poor accessibility.

This brings us to the next type of taxi business.

2. Radio Taxi Business

Cabs operating under Ola or Uber are radio taxis that have gained popularity due to their easy accessibility. These taxis have a GPS installed in them that helps in tracing driving routes. Further, one can easily book a cab via the respective company’s mobile-based application. Unlike the traditional type, cab drivers own these radio taxis.

Further, drivers need to pay a percentage of their scheduled ride fare to the company in case of radio taxis.

3. Taxi Fleet Business

One can also start a taxi business with a small fleet. Considering the demographics and location, this business can become profitable in a short span.

For instance, in tier 1 cities, maximum demand comes from office goers who use taxis for daily commute. Alternatively, for tier 2 or 3 cities, families or students requiring an outstation trip can benefit from this service. 

Further, an individual owning a fleet can further streamline his business by including administrators, managers, cashiers and drivers. 

Therefore, factoring in the aforementioned points is essential whether an individual wishes to start a taxi business with one car or multiple cars. 

Along with the above factors and types, one must also be aware of the documents required to start a taxi business.

Here is a list of documents necessary to start a cab business in India:

• Registration certificate
• Vehicle insurance
• Environment clearance certificates from the State authorities

Apart from this, individuals must present the following documents to prove drive authority -

• Identity proof
• Proof of address
• Passport size photos
• Application fee

Other than this, there are some prerequisites to obtain a driver's license. These are as follows -

• At least 18 years of age.
• Education up to at least class 8.
• Must possess a learner's license. 
• Proper training from any Government Motor School.
• License application, made through online and offline modes. 
• Must take a driving test to prove driving skills.
• Should have a medical fitness certificate.

Now, let's look at the types of permits one must obtain when wondering how to set up a taxi business in India.

Depending on the class of vehicles, there are several permits one needs to obtain to open a taxi business and drive on Indian roads legally.

Here is a brief overview!

Vehicle Permits

It is vital to note that not all vehicles are suitable for a taxi business. Some vehicles are only suitable to transport goods across places. Therefore, to transport people, one must obtain vehicle permits from the Regional Transport Office or the State Transport Office.

Passenger Carriage Contract

A driver carries a passenger from one place to another for a particular fare under a contract. With respect to this, one must file an application detailing the type and seating capacity of a taxi and the area where it will be operational as specified by the State Authorities.

Fitness Certificate

To know how to start a taxi business, one must have prior knowledge regarding the importance of a fitness certificate as per the Motor Vehicles Act. A fitness certificate decides whether a vehicle is in proper driving condition. For this purpose, regular checks and thorough maintenance are necessary. 

Further, a specific speed limit is set for taxis in each state according to the certificate. One can obtain a fitness certificate from an Authorised Testing Station.

All India Tourist Permit

Drivers must obtain an All-India Tourist Permit for inter-state transportation. To obtain this permit, one needs to make an application to the Transport Authority. Note that these taxis cannot be used for local transportation.

Commercial Vehicle Driving License

The Regional Transport Office of respective States grants this upon fulfilling the conditions as mentioned already.  

Now let us focus on the probable ROI of the taxi business in India. 

The return on investment (ROI) of a cab business will be higher in the long run as the set-up's initial costs are high. A person learning how to start a taxi business must know that he needs to invest a significant amount in spacing. Therefore, it might be hefty for an individual to bear all those costs.

However, offering the drivers percentage-based compensation is an ideal way to tackle this situation. Although the profits might not flood in immediately, they will increase in the long run. 

Therefore, by following the aforementioned pointers, one can effortlessly learn how to start a taxi business and enjoy its long-term benefits.  

Also, remember to secure your cab with at least a third-party car insurance as it is mandated by law in India.

It is unique to come up with new and trending ideas to boost your taxi business and stand out. Here are a few popular concepts for taxi apps:

1. Ride-sharing and Carpooling Applications

• Eco-Friendly: These applications allow users to share a ride, reducing costs while aiming to reduce carbon footprints. 
• Community-Based: Where the parties are intermingling in specific locations or communities, the apps can also foster convenience and confidence.

2. Women-Only Taxi Services

• Safety-Issue: This app will provide female drivers and only female passengers to help solve safety issues and empower women, especially at night. 
• Child-Friendly Options: This kind of application can connect with specific services for mothers with children.

3. Luxurious Taxi Services

An upmarket meeting Provides rich-tagged vehicles, including sedans or SUVs, alongside attributes like free wireless connectivity, mineral water, or a personal driver. 

• Corporate Tie-Ups: Partner with other corporations that would provide executives with exclusive services.

4. Subscription-Based Taxi Services

For working people with daily commutes and same-time schedules, it would allow them to pay a subscription fee for reliable and relatively cheap transport. 

• Loyalty Programs: A lay-down provision will offer incentives to loyal ‘repeat’ customers to maintain a constant stream of clients.

5. Taxi Services for the Disabled and Elderly

• Make The App More Accessible: Design applications that would ensure that cars for rent have amenities for the wheelchair-bound and that drivers be taught how to handle elderly and disabled persons for hire. 
• Health Monitoring: Provide services for clients with medical conditions that require them to be checked during the rides, for instance, if they have any emergency signals.