The most important certificate for a taxi operator in England is to have is a route license. The taxi association will upload the driver and vehicle details on a database, which will then in turn show if the route is profitable or not. If there are too many taxi’s on the same route, then the likelihood of the driver making a profit will be reduced.
The routes are also allocated and controlled by local governments, but the taxi association’s task is to be very careful in making sure that there aren’t too many drivers running the same route. They basically make sure that the routes are viable. This will also ensure that no conflict will arise between drivers, even if it may seem like the inevitable –given the stigma of South Africa’s taxi operators.
Start up capital
Commonly used vehicles are Toyota or Nissan taxies. These are called the premium vehicles in the taxi industry because of their reliability. These taxies retail from about R100 000 to about R340 000, but for the overall cost that would include paying your license and taxi association fees, the total cost can amount up to R350 000 to start a taxi business.
Every industry has its flaws, and every business comes with financial gains and financial losses. It’s up to the taxi operator to ensure that his business runs smoothly. Although minibus taxis are a familiar sight on South Africa’s roads, the inner workings of the business are not generally well-known. That is why before venturing bull-headedly into this industry, it’s best to do the necessary research.
