Chauffeur Forum - View Single Post

AppleC · 04-23-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi all,
New member saying hi and other stuff.

I just thought I would let you know of my experiences of being a chauffeur over the last year.
My first mistake was not doing my homework. Basically I just "did it"! Luckily its worked out ok. I hope you can learn by my mistakes.

Get your licences before you get a car, I only know of my local councils procedures but its pretty long winded and they like to drag their feet. While this is happening get insurance quotes, look at paying between £800 and £2000 per year.

Choose your car. Merc E Class are the favourite. E220 CDI is all you need engine wise, especially with the cost of fuel. But Audi, Volvo, BMW are all popular as are those bloody awful Chrysler 300C's :lol:
You could get a standard saloon, you will stil get work.

I dont have any experience of these companys that offer "training" but I am not sure of the benefit for a fledgling business, unless they can guarentee work.
Maybe look at it after you have been running for a while. If you really want to...

Contact all the local chauffeur companies, but DO NOT tell them if you plan to set up your own company! They get a bit funny about this and prefer it if you are just a one man band.
They should be ok once they get to know you mind, so dont worry about the lie for too long.
Keep on at them to remind them your around but dont hassle them.

Get some business cards made up, www.vistaprint.co.uk is cheap and cheerful and you can do it online.

Get a website. www.mrsite.com is easy to use and you can add your own text and have email (called a "pop" adddess, your broadband provider will provide for free a "SMTP" service for outgoing emails) and pictures etc etc for £100 a year. A proper website design company will charge you £800+, and convince you to have this and that, at extra cost, but all you need is something people who have seen your advert or know off you can view. however the "Google" search results may be not as good this way but your dont want to get too busy too quickly!
Go to Google AdWords and open an account. Basically sponsered advertising per click.

Avoid Yellow pages, unless you get a free one line advert and a free yell.com advert. Spend your money on continuous local advertsing in a local paper over a 12 month period.

Dont bother with a uniform, as in hat and gloves. Just wear a smart suit as the only people who generally bother are company car drivers, I see some "chauffeur" drivers wearing a jumper. Rise above them and always keep your standards up, even though you will be told to not bother wearing a suit as "Hes a good bloke and a regular"
If you get requested to wear one that fair enough.

Invest in a good washing brush that fits to your household hose, and some Turtle wash and wax, a squeege, and a Maquires synthetic chamois. Genuine chamois are a waste of time and wear out very quick and leave bits everywhere.
You will wash your car lots, I do it at least four times a week. Thats approx £3 saved per wash, £12 per week about £624 per year saved if you DIY!
I am sure the Tesco car wash boys will be ok about it.

Get a car mat for the boot, and a mat for the drivers side.

Keep some wipes in your car, for general cleaning and a duster to remove, er, dust but also to wipe the nasty sat nav circle on your windscreen! :wink:

Dont leave loads of crap in the back (or front), just todays paper, water, mints (werthers originals are popular) and your taxi badge etc

Go and get some work! Go to local business and dont be shy, get the name of the PA or office admin person and ring them up. Send them an email. Just coz you dropped a card at reception dont mean nothing. In the bin it goes.
Most companys are pretty tied up with contracts and are usually happy (usually blisfully unaware).
Your bread and butter is small business, individual business men/women and couples or familys going on holiday. Your London work will pick up, thats were the money is.
I charge £280 a day with waiting time and congestion charging, but you will have to prove your abilitys. :shock:

Join a local netwroking group. www.BNI.com is the biggest but most towns have a smaller local one driven by the local enterprise council group. Be patient with referals.

Tell everyone what your are doing. EVERYONE!
Its the numbers game. The more people you tell the more chance you have of getting work, even if its for friends.

The hours will suck. Trust me. 3am starts and then nothing until 20:00 and up again at 5am.
You will get "doubles", a trip to Heathrow and return same day, but dont rely on them.

Talk to other drivers. The ones that are old hats never talk to anyone, but they are happy to dish out advice.
Dont listen to any drivers as they are all full of it!
"I earnt £700 yesterday" Yes, but why are you doing a £40 job now!

Most of all, respect your partner and kids. they will be going through the same as you while you drag yourself out of bed for another early start.
Its no fun, but the people you meet and the freedom makes it all work it.

there you go. I know I am a newcomer and I have stuff to learn, but if I can help other people start then all good in world.

04-23-2008, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
AppleC I'm Loving This Forum Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	My experiences as a newbie Hi all, New member saying hi and other stuff. I just thought I would let you know of my experiences of being a chauffeur over the last year. My first mistake was not doing my homework. Basically I just "did it"! Luckily its worked out ok. I hope you can learn by my mistakes. Get your licences before you get a car, I only know of my local councils procedures but its pretty long winded and they like to drag their feet. While this is happening get insurance quotes, look at paying between £800 and £2000 per year. Choose your car. Merc E Class are the favourite. E220 CDI is all you need engine wise, especially with the cost of fuel. But Audi, Volvo, BMW are all popular as are those bloody awful Chrysler 300C's :lol: You could get a standard saloon, you will stil get work. I dont have any experience of these companys that offer "training" but I am not sure of the benefit for a fledgling business, unless they can guarentee work. Maybe look at it after you have been running for a while. If you really want to... Contact all the local chauffeur companies, but DO NOT tell them if you plan to set up your own company! They get a bit funny about this and prefer it if you are just a one man band. They should be ok once they get to know you mind, so dont worry about the lie for too long. Keep on at them to remind them your around but dont hassle them. Get some business cards made up, www.vistaprint.co.uk is cheap and cheerful and you can do it online. Get a website. www.mrsite.com is easy to use and you can add your own text and have email (called a "pop" adddess, your broadband provider will provide for free a "SMTP" service for outgoing emails) and pictures etc etc for £100 a year. A proper website design company will charge you £800+, and convince you to have this and that, at extra cost, but all you need is something people who have seen your advert or know off you can view. however the "Google" search results may be not as good this way but your dont want to get too busy too quickly! Go to Google AdWords and open an account. Basically sponsered advertising per click. Avoid Yellow pages, unless you get a free one line advert and a free yell.com advert. Spend your money on continuous local advertsing in a local paper over a 12 month period. Dont bother with a uniform, as in hat and gloves. Just wear a smart suit as the only people who generally bother are company car drivers, I see some "chauffeur" drivers wearing a jumper. Rise above them and always keep your standards up, even though you will be told to not bother wearing a suit as "Hes a good bloke and a regular" If you get requested to wear one that fair enough. Invest in a good washing brush that fits to your household hose, and some Turtle wash and wax, a squeege, and a Maquires synthetic chamois. Genuine chamois are a waste of time and wear out very quick and leave bits everywhere. You will wash your car lots, I do it at least four times a week. Thats approx £3 saved per wash, £12 per week about £624 per year saved if you DIY! I am sure the Tesco car wash boys will be ok about it. Get a car mat for the boot, and a mat for the drivers side. Keep some wipes in your car, for general cleaning and a duster to remove, er, dust but also to wipe the nasty sat nav circle on your windscreen! :wink: Dont leave loads of crap in the back (or front), just todays paper, water, mints (werthers originals are popular) and your taxi badge etc Go and get some work! Go to local business and dont be shy, get the name of the PA or office admin person and ring them up. Send them an email. Just coz you dropped a card at reception dont mean nothing. In the bin it goes. Most companys are pretty tied up with contracts and are usually happy (usually blisfully unaware). Your bread and butter is small business, individual business men/women and couples or familys going on holiday. Your London work will pick up, thats were the money is. I charge £280 a day with waiting time and congestion charging, but you will have to prove your abilitys. :shock: Join a local netwroking group. www.BNI.com is the biggest but most towns have a smaller local one driven by the local enterprise council group. Be patient with referals. Tell everyone what your are doing. EVERYONE! Its the numbers game. The more people you tell the more chance you have of getting work, even if its for friends. The hours will suck. Trust me. 3am starts and then nothing until 20:00 and up again at 5am. You will get "doubles", a trip to Heathrow and return same day, but dont rely on them. Talk to other drivers. The ones that are old hats never talk to anyone, but they are happy to dish out advice. Dont listen to any drivers as they are all full of it! "I earnt £700 yesterday" Yes, but why are you doing a £40 job now! Most of all, respect your partner and kids. they will be going through the same as you while you drag yourself out of bed for another early start. Its no fun, but the people you meet and the freedom makes it all work it. there you go. I know I am a newcomer and I have stuff to learn, but if I can help other people start then all good in world.