In the UK, taxis are always readily available to take you where you need to go. They’re convenient, affordable and a great way to travel in areas you don’t know. There are hundreds of different taxi companies throughout the UK, but some areas have much more of a demand than others.
Cab Direct has recently compiled a list of the best and worst places to get a taxi in the UK. If you’re thinking of setting up a taxi service, it pays to know which areas are currently in need of more drivers.
Taxi services in the UK – Comparing the best with the worst
According to recent data compiled, London ranks as one of the best cities in the UK to hire a taxi. This is true for both standard and wheelchair accessible taxis. It’s perhaps not very surprising to learn it is ranked highly due to it being the UK’s capital and one of the most populated cities. Liverpool, Manchester and Coventry also rate pretty highly.
However, when it comes to the worst cities, Swansea, York and Ipswich rate poorly for standard taxi access. Meanwhile Darlington, Oldham and Rotherham rate poorly for wheelchair access.
So, if you’re looking to set up a taxi business, you’d be better off targeting these worst cities as there’s much more of a demand and you’ll therefore earn a lot more money.
Setting up a taxi business
So, if you do want to capitalise on the demand for additional taxi services, how do you go about setting up your own business?
Firstly, you’ll need to have a good understanding of the rules and regulations of the taxi business. It’s useful to know that there isn’t a requirement to undergo training, but it is worth undergoing the Intermediate Certificate in License Education for Taxi and Private Hire.
You’re also going to need to have an operating centre, which can be your home to start with if you don’t have the funds to buy actual business premises. The full costs involved with setting up a taxi business will depend very much upon where you live.
Of course, one of the most obvious things you’re going to need is a vehicle. Cab Direct supplies a wide range of affordable taxis. Then, you’ll need to worry about insurance and of course it goes without saying you’ll need a clean driver’s license.
Overall, setting up a taxi business can be quite lucrative, especially in the worse performing areas. However, you will need to do a lot of research before setting up a business and the above are just some of the basics you need to take into account.
