Kid Transportation Service

amyhoss
amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
in Chit-Chat
I was wondering if you all could help me with a business idea I have.

I have a daughter that will be starting Kindergarten in two years. The problem is, I am gone for work 7am-6pm and her daycare does not transport to her school. So, I thought maybe there are other people out there with a similar problem. Is there a business opportunity here?

Could you see yourself using a service like this? One that picks your kids up from daycare, school, home, church, soccer practice, dance class etc and drops them off the same in like a 10 mile radius? Maybe charge $5 for a one way trip and $7.50 round trip. I might be overestimating the need for such a service in my mind because it is something that I need. Are there other people that would benefit from a kid transportation service? I can't find anything like it in my area.

Replies

  • Shan790
    Shan790 Posts: 280 Member
    I work in daycare, all our taxi companies do this. You can set up an account with them to pay monthly and they send the same driver every day to pick up 3 or 4 kids from the school and take them to the daycare or from the daycare to the school. It was reasonably priced too when shared with a few families.
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,212 Member
    I was wondering if you all could help me with a business idea I have.

    I have a daughter that will be starting Kindergarden in two years. The problem is, I am gone for work 7am-6pm and her daycare does not transport to her school. So, I thought maybe there are other people out there with a similar problem. Is there a business opportunity here?

    Could you see yourself using a service like this? One that picks your kids up from daycare, school, home, church, soccer practice, dance class etc and drops them off the same in like a 10 mile radius? Maybe charge $5 for a one way trip and $7.50 round trip.I might be overestimating the need for such a service in my mind because it is something that I need. Are there other people that would benefit from a kid transportation service? I can't find anything like it in my area.

    It sounds like Hell, to me..... :huh:

    I can see the use for it, but I think it would be along the lines of a taxi service, and the licensing for them is massively expensive, isn't it? I'm quite sure, at the very least, your insurance would be mega.
  • kborton1122
    kborton1122 Posts: 914 Member
    I've never heard of this service but seems to be a good idea. I know a few of my co-workers have it worked out with other parents to do a ride share. Each parent is assigned a day to do the transporting for all the kids in the ride share.
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    I work in daycare, all our taxi companies do this. You can set up an account with them to pay monthly and they send the same driver every day to pick up 3 or 4 kids from the school and take them to the daycare or from the daycare to the school. It was reasonably priced too when shared with a few families.

    Just a regular taxi company? Not one that is part of the daycare? My daycare does transport kids to two area schools but my daughter's school is not one of those.

    I would think that parents would be more comfortable with a company that specializes in transporting kids.The driver (me) would have CPR and First Aid certification and I would also offer transportation to/from after school activities as well. I picture a fun van painted with the business logo on it. I would have car seats available and have books, in-car games, etc available for the kiddos. I would also text the parents to let them know that their children were dropped off safe.
  • Shan790
    Shan790 Posts: 280 Member
    nope just a regular taxi, the drivers apply to have the school runs and are often awesome and love kids. The drives are so short they can do a few runs for a few schools in the area. We had a company van at one point but the insurance was horrible and the gas and the repairs and if it broke down then we were really stuck. Thats when we partnered with the taxi companies. Its been much better for us.
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    I've never heard of this service but seems to be a good idea. I know a few of my co-workers have it worked out with other parents to do a ride share. Each parent is assigned a day to do the transporting for all the kids in the ride share.

    The problem with this is, I could never drive in the ride share lol. I'm pretty sure they'd kick me out. :smile:
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    nope just a regular taxi, the drivers apply to have the school runs and are often awesome and love kids. The drives are so short they can do a few runs for a few schools in the area. We had a company van at one point but the insurance was horrible and the gas and the repairs and if it broke down then we were really stuck. Thats when we partnered with the taxi companies. Its been much better for us.

    Interesting. I'll have to look into this when the time comes for my daughter to start Kindergarten. There really aren't a lot of taxis in my community. You can't just walk out onto the sidewalk and hail a cab here.
  • dMonster01
    dMonster01 Posts: 214 Member
    We have a lot of ladies that do that in our area. They give their info to the school and other mothers who need the service can inquire with the school. They also post their openings on our neighborhood buy and sell Facebook group.

    I've never used them, but I know a lot of mothers do.
  • ew_david
    ew_david Posts: 3,473 Member
    I've never heard of this service but seems to be a good idea. I know a few of my co-workers have it worked out with other parents to do a ride share. Each parent is assigned a day to do the transporting for all the kids in the ride share.

    The problem with this is, I could never drive in the ride share lol. I'm pretty sure they'd kick me out. :smile:

    You're better off with paying a nanny or someone coming over in the morning and getting your kid to school.
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    We have a lot of ladies that do that in our area. They give their info to the school and other mothers who need the service can inquire with the school. They also post their openings on our neighborhood buy and sell Facebook group.

    I've never used them, but I know a lot of mothers do.

    Do you know how much they charge by chance?
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    I've never heard of this service but seems to be a good idea. I know a few of my co-workers have it worked out with other parents to do a ride share. Each parent is assigned a day to do the transporting for all the kids in the ride share.

    The problem with this is, I could never drive in the ride share lol. I'm pretty sure they'd kick me out. :smile:

    You're better off with paying a nanny or someone coming over in the morning and getting your kid to school.

    That is another option. I'd have to pay the nanny for before/after care as well.
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
    Have your man do it!
  • dMonster01
    dMonster01 Posts: 214 Member
    We have a lot of ladies that do that in our area. They give their info to the school and other mothers who need the service can inquire with the school. They also post their openings on our neighborhood buy and sell Facebook group.

    I've never used them, but I know a lot of mothers do.

    Do you know how much they charge by chance?

    Hmm.. no sorry. I would think $150 a month sounds reasonable though.
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    Have your man do it!

    Haha that's funny. My husband works longer hours than I do and is often out of town 4-5 nights a month.
  • Original_Sinner
    Original_Sinner Posts: 180 Member
    I work in daycare, all our taxi companies do this. You can set up an account with them to pay monthly and they send the same driver every day to pick up 3 or 4 kids from the school and take them to the daycare or from the daycare to the school. It was reasonably priced too when shared with a few families.

    Just a regular taxi company? Not one that is part of the daycare? My daycare does transport kids to two area schools but my daughter's school is not one of those.

    I would think that parents would be more comfortable with a company that specializes in transporting kids.The driver (me) would have CPR and First Aid certification and I would also offer transportation to/from after school activities as well. I picture a fun van painted with the business logo on it. I would have car seats available and have books, in-car games, etc available for the kiddos. I would also text the parents to let them know that their children were dropped off safe.

    actually in my experience where my child was left in a bus twice because she fell asleep after a hard days work in kindergarten.

    I would trust a cab over a "company that specialises in transporting kids" because frankly, those companies seem to think a big yellow bus is all they need.
  • Cliffslosinit
    Cliffslosinit Posts: 5,044 Member
    Have your man do it!

    Haha that's funny. My husband works longer hours than I do and is often out of town 4-5 nights a month.

    Maybe shop around for another daycare that would provide transportation??
  • Lonestar5775
    Lonestar5775 Posts: 740 Member
    Sounds like a great idea. My wife is a nanny for a set of twins and about half her responsibility is simply transporting the kids to the places they have to go while both parents are working.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    I was wondering if you all could help me with a business idea I have.

    I have a daughter that will be starting Kindergarten in two years. The problem is, I am gone for work 7am-6pm and her daycare does not transport to her school. So, I thought maybe there are other people out there with a similar problem. Is there a business opportunity here?

    Could you see yourself using a service like this? One that picks your kids up from daycare, school, home, church, soccer practice, dance class etc and drops them off the same in like a 10 mile radius? Maybe charge $5 for a one way trip and $7.50 round trip. I might be overestimating the need for such a service in my mind because it is something that I need. Are there other people that would benefit from a kid transportation service? I can't find anything like it in my area.

    Absolutely. In fact, this was a major factor in where we sent our son to school (we ended up finding a private school with their own daycare). In the course of research, we found a number of private companies providing a transportation service. One that comes to mind was called "Totsportation". Ranging from minivans to school buses, all employed drivers with clean records, proper insurance, etc. Now that being said, I live in Canada so I have no idea how you would go about setting this up in your area.
  • spirit095
    spirit095 Posts: 1,017 Member
    Where I'm from, there are child specific taxi/car services. Check your area, as there may already services that provide what you need.
  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    Liability is the issue. What if the person gets into a car accident while transporting the kids? Who will pay for their injuries? What if there is not enough insurance to cover the injuries incurred, then who will pay the remainder? Lost items? Child loses $200 piece of electronic equipment. Swears she had it in the car.

    All of the above and more is why this is usually under the purview of a licensed taxi or transportation company and not some person hired off Craig's list (or Angie's list. Is that a thing yet?). I would go about contacting the school or the potential daycare and seeing if they have a company they would recommend. You can't be the only one in that situation.
  • SunofaBeach14
    SunofaBeach14 Posts: 4,899 Member
    I was wondering if you all could help me with a business idea I have.

    I have a daughter that will be starting Kindergarten in two years. The problem is, I am gone for work 7am-6pm and her daycare does not transport to her school. So, I thought maybe there are other people out there with a similar problem. Is there a business opportunity here?

    Could you see yourself using a service like this? One that picks your kids up from daycare, school, home, church, soccer practice, dance class etc and drops them off the same in like a 10 mile radius? Maybe charge $5 for a one way trip and $7.50 round trip. I might be overestimating the need for such a service in my mind because it is something that I need. Are there other people that would benefit from a kid transportation service? I can't find anything like it in my area.

    My thoughts: talk to a lawyer about liability issues, both in terms of proper background checks for drivers, but also vehicle service and training, and appropriate waivers in your contracts. Also check the availability and cost of liability insurance coverage.
  • amyhoss
    amyhoss Posts: 414 Member
    Where I'm from, there are child specific taxi/car services. Check your area, as there may already services that provide what you need.

    I have checked and I can't find anything specifically for children.

    I will probably look further into this. Maybe draw up a business plan to determine how many kids I would need to justify the start up. I'd also try to get a feel from the people in my area since those are the people I would be serving.
  • justlistening
    justlistening Posts: 249 Member
    I have been looking for something similar in my area. My kids go to different schools (middle & high school) and their times start too close together for me to easily transport both. I have seen a bunch of transportation vans with different companies around the high school but have yet to find the web page for any in my area (north San Diego). I did find these though for different parts of the country.
    http://us.wow.com/search?s_pt=aolsem&s_it=aolsem&s_chn=9&q=kids taxi service.
    www.kidskruiser.com/
    www.mhmshuttles.com/
    http://kidskab.com/
    http://www.kidtransportation.com/

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