Start a small private hire firm with a few drivers

Local businesses with account bookings, hotels, event organisers and households booking airport and long-distance trips.

You charge customers per journey or contract and pay drivers a share or fixed rate, keeping the difference after vehicle and booking costs.

• Organising schedules and bookings
• Managing and treating drivers fairly
• Customer service
• Basic bookkeeping

• Operator, driver and vehicle licences, which differ across the UK, so check your local council or TfL
• Whether drivers are self-employed or employees, which affects tax and insurance, so take advice
• Hire and reward and fleet insurance, and employer's liability insurance if you employ people
• Whether you can run the base from home, which may need permission from your landlord, lender or council
• Licensing record-keeping duties and compliance checks on drivers and cars

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on how many vehicles you provide, your insurance, licensing fees and whether you use your own car. Treat this as a guide and get quotes before committing.

Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £20,000 as an estimate, depending on how many drivers and cars you run and how many account, event and airport jobs you win. That is revenue, before driver pay and running costs.

Check operator, driver and vehicle licences, which differ across the UK, with your local council or TfL. Also check hire and reward and fleet insurance, and whether drivers are self-employed or employees, as that affects tax and insurance.