How to Start a Limo Business

Start a limo business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Limo Business
2. Form your Limo Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Limo Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Limo Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Limo Business
7. Get Limo Business Insurance
8. Define your Limo Business Brand
9. Create your Limo Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your limo business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Limo Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a limo business?

The main cost of starting a limousine business is acquiring the cars that you need. The glamour of a limousine is predicated on it being newer, shiny, and fancy, so a single limousine may easily run you between $50,000 to almost $100,000. The cost of insuring those vehicles will vary by vehicle type and region, but can easily be between $600 and $1200 dollars. You will also need to market the new business, which may cost between $1,000 and $5,000 depending on how much you emphasize traditional advertisement versus advertising on venues like social media. If you have the space to store the limousines at your own home, then there is no further cost to open the business; if not, you will need to pay approximately $100 a month per vehicle to store it.

What are the ongoing expenses for a limo business?

Part of what is attractive about a limousine rental business is that the ongoing expenses are relatively low. If you are storing the vehicles in a unit you rent, you will be paying approximately $100 per month, per vehicle. You will probably be spending between $100 and $500 per month on traditional advertisements and advertising via social media. If you are not the driver as well, then you will be paying your drivers, though that should be an hourly amount, with an amount contingent on how many hours they actually drove that month. Finally, you will be paying for the maintenance and repair of any vehicles, though that is something that you do as the cars need it rather than every single month.

Who is the target market?

The preferred clients for most limousine businesses would be corporate customers. Corporate customers know exactly what they want and exactly what it should cost, making your job much easier. Though the preferred clients includes corporate customers, your business make see peaks in rentals during specific times of the high school year, as many students like to rent limos for special events such as homecoming dances and prom. Though these younger, inexperienced customers may not be ideal, it is important that you keep your doors open to them as they can provide a jump in profits during these special occasions.

How does a limo business make money?

Limousine rental services make money by charging fees to chauffeur clients for a fixed amount of time. Typically, such businesses charge clients by the hour. If your business has access to multiple kinds of limousines, you may consider charging different hourly amounts for the use of different kinds of vehicles.

How much can you charge customers?

Your exact rates will vary by region and by car type, but you would typically charge between $30 to $100 per hour for a standard limousine. You may consider enforcing a “minimum number of hours” rule on certain days and/or times. You may also consider offering additional services such as special VIP wedding packages or Prom packages for an additional cost.

How much profit can a limo business make?

A limousine rental business is potentially very profitable, and the industry as a whole has reached eleven billion dollars in annual revenue in recent years. While your business may start slow, a good advertising push can ensure that you are the go-to business for weddings, graduations, proms, and corporate events. Ultimately, the ceiling of your profit is determined by how often you want to work!

How can you make your business more profitable?

To be more profitable in this business, be flexible in your scheduling. Some customers arriving by plane in the predawn hours may want a limo pick-up, and you need to be ready for them. Make sure that the inside of your cars always looks as good as the outside, as a limo business prides itself on looking sleek and luxurious. Finally, never stop learning how to improve: use every month to examine customer feedback and business performance and determine how to make the following month even more profitable.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your limo business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Permits for Limousine Services differ by state. Typically the business must complete an Application for Certificate of Authority. Part of this application includes a form which indicates that each limousine has successfully passed inspection. Additionally, there typically exist statewide regulations on limos, limiting the amount of passengers that can be seated in each limo as well as mandating the presence of certain safety precautions which may include fire extinguishers or stretchers. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

All drivers will need a chauffeur's endorsement on their licenses’ and limos will need commercial license plates. These can be obtained locally from the Secretary of State’s office. For more information about local licenses and permits:

• Check with your town, city or county clerk’s office
• Get assistance from one of the local associations listed in US Small Business Associations directory of local business resources.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is good for a “people person,” for it involves dealing with a wide variety of clients and a wide variety of drivers for the limousines themselves. Those who already have skills and experience with repairing automobiles will also be able to save a lot of money over time when it comes to limousine upkeep and repair.

What happens during a typical day at a limo business?

In no particular order, some of the day-to-day activities include taking reservations for future events, following up with clients on upcoming events, and coordinating with your drivers so everyone has access to relevant information. You may also network with similar or related businesses to plan for large upcoming events, work on marketing your businesses (especially around peak seasons), and either schedule necessary maintenance and repairs of limousines or conduct such activities yourself.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful limo business?

As with most jobs, any kind of previous experience in the limousine rental industry is helpful. Prior experience or education as a mechanic can help you maintain and repair your limousines for far cheaper than you otherwise could. Experience with social media will help you develop advertising techniques that help you stay relevant to a younger demographic.

What is the growth potential for a limo business?

The growth potential for a limousine rental business has been steady in past years, but has been somewhat threatened by the rising prominence of app-based services such as Uber and Lyft. By embracing ideas such clients want (such as advertising via social media, allowing people to contact you via an app, etc.), you can mitigate the negative impact of competing services in your area.