Taxi Business Plan (QueenCity Taxi Services, LLC)

Executive Summary

QueenCity Taxi Services is a privately owned taxi company that operates taxi operations within the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, and provides taxi services for scheduled airport transfers to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The owner and operator of the business is a full-time driver and manager, Malik Turner.

The area of operation is the Uptown Charlotte and surrounding residential streets, as well as travel to the airport. Operations are intentionally simple, using one sedan with phone-based bookings and a Google Business listing. The business does not employ dispatch staff, does not operate a mobile application, and has no employees. This structure keeps fixed costs low while allowing flexible scheduling.

The startup costs are about $45,000, including owner savings of $25,000 and a vehicle loan of $20,000 to buy a good used sedan. The startup capital will be used to cover the cost of buying a vehicle, permits, commercial insurance, simple branding, phone and payment infrastructure, initial fuel and maintenance, and working capital.

This was due to a continued increase in population and traffic at the Charlotte airport, which favors reliable taxi services. The unpredictable rideshare fares are not so preferred by many customers as opposed to fixed fares, which are more predictable. Target clients consist of locals, passengers, and regular riders who want to have direct and trusted services.

It will generate revenue of between $110,000 and $150,000 in the first year, assuming constant daily ride traffic and low average ticket prices. The low operating costs and one model of vehicle will also allow the business to break even after the daily demand has stabilized.

Company Overview

Legal Structure and Ownership

QueenCity Taxi Services operates as a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC registered in North Carolina. The business is 100% owned and operated by Malik Turner.

Address and Service Area

The business location is in Charlotte, North Carolina, and targets Uptown, residential neighborhoods, and major travel directions heading to the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The service focuses on local point-to-point transportation and planned airport transportation, rather than extensive city coverage.

Founder Experience Summary

The owner and the only driver of QueenCity Taxi Services is Malik Turner. He spent his time in the transportation operations and customer service, and that explains why he is attentive to punctuality, transparent pricing, and reliable service. The company will be a one-person business so as to maintain quality, scheduling, and cost effectiveness.

Mission

The mission of QueenCity Taxi Services is to offer safe and reliable transportation to local clients and airport travelers who are willing to use reasonable prices and direct contact by phone. The company is not focused on scale or fleet expansion, but rather on consistency, safety, and repeat customers.

Business Model

Revenue is generated through standard local city rides and pre-booked airport transfers using one sedan. All bookings are handled directly by the owner through phone calls, Google Business Profile listings, and repeat customers. There are no employees, no dispatch system, no mobile application, and no corporate or medical transport services.

Future Goals

The primary goal is to establish a steady and predictable income stream through consistent daily ride volume rather than rapid expansion. In the first year, the business aims to achieve stable utilization of the single vehicle, build a base of repeat airport customers, and maintain positive cash flow after operating expenses.

On the operational side, the company aims to ensure minimal fixed costs through the minimization of overheads, no extra vehicles, and owner-only operation. Service objectives comprise the on-time pickups, effective communication with customers, and high reliability during the early mornings and late-night airport traveling.

Long-term objectives are concerned with maintaining income and sustenance, and not size. The owner intends to keep the one-vehicle model and grow the level of repeat bookings, referrals, and direct customer relations.

Market Summary

Charlotte demand indicators

Population and employment in the city of Charlotte, especially in the Uptown and surrounding central neighborhoods. The current residential and mixed-use in Centre City is an indication of the current urban activity and density. This environment will contribute to the regular demand of daily transport requirements such as commuting, carrying out errands, and short-distance transport within the city.

Airport Transportation Demand

Charlotte Douglas International Airport is among the busiest airports in the region, recording high traffic of passengers all year round. Early-morning and late-night flight schedules make the airport transportation a consistent option due to the demand among travelers who are more concerned about guaranteed pick-ups and predictable prices.

Uptown Worker Base

The Uptown Charlotte hosts the big population of daily labor force with an estimated number of 125,000 office workers based on 2024 Centre City estimations. The majority of employees attend the workplace several days a week, which leads to the regular transportation demand during weekdays.

Office activity, residential units, restaurants, and event venues make the demand for short-distance trips and airport connections, and thus provide consistent weekday and evening rides only.

High-density Residential Demand

South End and NoDa are some of the neighborhoods that have experienced tremendous growth in terms of apartments and mixed-use development. A large proportion of the population in these regions can afford one car or no cars, and they are more dependent on taxis to make short journeys, evening excursions, shop, and visit the airport.

Dense housing clusters place many potential riders within limited geographic areas, supporting consistent daily ride volume for a local operator.

Rideshare Gaps and Taxi Relevance

Although rideshare services account for a significant share of on-demand travel, they are not always offered at predictable prices and during peak hours, early mornings, and late nights.

This creates continued demand for traditional taxi services that offer

• Direct communication
• Advance booking
• Price clarity

Target Customer Groups

QueenCity Taxi Services primarily serves:

• Airport travellers seeking scheduled pickups and clear pricing
• Local residents in central Charlotte who need short, reliable trips
• Repeat customers who prefer direct phone-based service over apps

The business focuses on a narrow, well-defined customer base that supports steady demand without requiring fleet expansion or complex systems.

Competitive Analysis

Direct Local Taxi Competitors

Charlotte has a small number of established taxi operators that primarily run fleet-based, on-demand services. These companies focus on broad city coverage rather than personalized or scheduled service.

The major part of the traditional taxi operators is focused on the immediate city ride and is highly dependent on the driver who is available at the moment. This renders them unreliable when it comes to pre-booked airport journeys, particularly in the early mornings or when there is a late night.

Indirect Competitors

Rideshare platforms are the primary indirect competitors.

Rideshare services handle a large share of casual trips but often fall short for riders who need predictable pricing and confirmed pickup times, particularly for airport travel.

Positioning of QueenCity Taxi Service

QueenCity Taxi Services operates within Charlotte’s local transportation market with a primary focus on pre-booked airport transfers. Charlotte Douglas International Airport serves approximately 58.8 million passengers annually, indicating consistent year-round demand for airport ground transportation.

The demand for airport travel is stable because of a constant inflow of passengers and a large number of early morning and late flights. Within these time windows, the capacity of rideshare may be low, and the prices are usually subjective. This gives a chance to the planned taxi services, which provide assured pickup and fixed-price services.

Taxi service may be preferred by many passengers in cases of visiting the airports due to the fact that the cost is predictable, the interaction is direct, and the service can be booked in advance. QueenCity Taxi Services responds to this preference, but by providing transparent rates to the airport and pickups that are controlled by the owner, the traveler will end up having less uncertainty, as they will be able to rely on the transport.

The business does not operate ADA-equipped vehicles and does not serve corporate or contract-based accounts. This is intentional, as the primary target market consists of individual travelers and local residents who do not require specialized vehicles or account billing. By locking out these segments, the business is able to have a simple operating structure, a regular operating schedule, and minimal fixed costs.

Prioritizing airport transfers and local repetitive clients over city rides with a huge fleet, or on-demand operation or surge pricing, QueenCity Taxi Services can offer a solid alternative to the clientele that value certainty and predictability over demand availability or the pricing inherent to surge pricing.

Services and Pricing

Standard City Rides

QueenCity Taxi Services provides local point-to-point city rides within Uptown Charlotte and nearby residential neighborhoods. The rides include the day-to-day routes like commuting, shopping, nighttime outings, and short routes in central destinations.

It charges on simple and local taxi rates based on meter or zone estimates, depending on the length of the trip and conditions. Fares are kept clear and consistent to avoid price swings commonly seen with rideshare services.

Airport Transfers

The company offers pre-booked airport transfers in and out of Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Flat or estimated prices on trips to the airport are based on standard routes, so passengers can be aware of the cost beforehand.

Airport services focus on:

• Early-morning departures
• Late-night arrivals
• Scheduled pickups requested in advance

This service is designed for travellers who prefer confirmed pickup times and predictable pricing.

Waiting Time

Waiting time may be charged when the driver is required to remain on-site due to customer delays, including airport curbside waits or multi-stop trips. Waiting charges are applied in short time blocks to keep pricing clear and fair.

Excluded Services

The following services are not offered in Year 1:

• Wheelchair-accessible or ADA transport
• Non-emergency medical transport
• Corporate billing or monthly accounts

This keeps operations simple and aligned with a one-driver, one-vehicle structure.

Booking and Payments

Rides are booked directly through phone calls, Google Business Profile listings, and repeat customers. Payments are accepted via card or cash using a basic mobile payment setup. There is no mobile app, dispatch software, or third-party booking system.

For pre-booked airport and scheduled rides, customers are requested to cancel at least two hours in advance. Late cancellations or no-shows may result in a partial charge to cover reserved time and fuel costs. This policy helps protect availability and manage scheduling for a single-vehicle operation.

Daily activities include:

• Driving and passenger service
• Scheduling airport pickups and local trips
• Fueling and basic vehicle checks
• Payment collection and simple recordkeeping

The operating area is intentionally limited to maintain reliable response times and manageable daily mileage.

Vehicle and Maintenance

The business operates one sedan suitable for daily city driving. Preventive maintenance is being conducted on a schedule to reduce downtime and unpredictable repair expenses.

Routine maintenance includes:

• Oil changes and inspections at standard mileage intervals
• Tire checks and rotations
• Brake and fluid inspections
• Prompt servicing of any mechanical issues

During the off-hours, maintenance is to be scheduled in order not to interfere with revenue-generating time.

Vehicle Downtime Plan

As a single-vehicle operation, QueenCity Taxi Services follows a simple approach to managing vehicle downtime. For short-term maintenance or minor repairs, pre-booked rides may be rescheduled when possible, with customers contacted directly and given advance notice.

If the vehicle is unavailable due to extended repairs or an accident, the business will temporarily pause new bookings and cancel/reschedule existing reservations when services cannot be provided. Customers are informed promptly so they can make alternative arrangements, particularly for time-sensitive airport trips.

A small repair and maintenance reserve is maintained within working capital to address unexpected issues and support timely vehicle repairs. In Year 1, the business does not rely on rental vehicles or backup drivers, avoiding additional insurance and operational complexity. Any interruption in service is handled through clear communication with the customers in terms of managing expectations.

Compliance and Insurance

QueenCity Taxi Services upholds all necessary local taxi or for-hire permits, commercial auto, and vehicle inspections as stipulated by the City of Charlotte and the State of North Carolina. Records are kept organized for renewals and compliance checks.

Safety and Service Standards

Safety and reliability are core operating priorities. The owner carries out daily checks of the vehicles and keeps a clean and well-maintained car. Direct communication to riders guarantees clarity in pickup time, price clarity, and reliability of service without having to be dependent on third-party systems.

Sales and Marketing Plan

Channel Mix Overview

QueenCity Taxi Services focuses on simple, repeatable channels that generate direct ride requests without ongoing overhead, prioritizing marketing efforts that result in phone calls and pre-scheduled rides.

Marketing spend is intentionally modest and focused on channels that directly generate calls and bookings.

The mix keeps spending focused on measurable acquisition channels, rather than broad awareness campaigns.

Phone bookings and word-of-mouth referrals are core acquisition channels but do not require direct marketing spend and are therefore excluded from the paid marketing allocation chart.

Airport-Focused Acquisition

The Charlotte Douglas International Airport has a consistent pre-booking ride demand, especially during the early mornings and late nights. QueenCity Taxi Services will position itself as a dependable substitute to ride-hailing services during these times.

Airport marketing focuses on:

• Clear airport pricing shared during booking calls
• Encouraging advance reservations for morning and late-night flights
• Building repeat airport customers rather than one-time trips

No formal airport partnerships or permits are relied on in Year 1 beyond required compliance.

Local and Repeat Customer Strategy

Local riders are acquired through consistent service and direct communication rather than promotions. Most of the customers like having a local taxi number they can call upon when they need it frequently, like when they are going to work, running errands, and visiting airports.

Retention methods include:

• Consistent pickup times
• Familiar driver relationship
• Simple booking without apps or surge pricing

Repeat riders form the core revenue base over time.

Promotions

Promotions are limited and practical, designed only to encourage trial without eroding margins.

No discounts are offered for medical, corporate, or ADA services, as these are not part of the business model.

Brand Position and Messaging

Brand Position

QueenCity Taxi Services is branded as a reliable, owner-operated taxi company aimed at customers who believe in reliability rather than convenience when using the taxi. The company has been established on the basis of certain pricing, guaranteed pick-up, and direct contact with the driver, not on-demand or app-based volume.

In contrast to such rideshare platforms, which focus on speed and dynamic pricing, QueenCity Taxi Services is focused on reliability in the case of planned trips, especially airport transportation and regular local routes. The owner-operated system enhances the sense of responsibility, consistency, and familiarity with the services that are valued by the riders who like to know who is picking them and at what time.

The brand is not competing with size, technology, and prices. It competes on trust, clarity, and repeat use.

Core Messaging Pillars

Key Message Themes

Messaging across listings, phone conversations, and printed materials focuses on practical benefits rather than promotional language.

Primary message themes include:

• “Pre-booked airport pickups with clear pricing.”
• “Reliable local taxi service without surge pricing”
• “Direct phone booking, no app required”
• “Owner-operated service you can count on”

The messages will be aimed at establishing a clear expectation about the prices, reliability of pickups, and the simplicity of booking, and attracting riders who prioritize being transported on a schedule and are able to rely on dependable services as opposed to on-demand or surging services.

Brand Tone and Voice

The brand voice is intentionally straightforward and grounded.

Tone characteristics:

• Practical and calm
• Clear and direct
• Respectful and professional
• Free of exaggerated claims

Language avoids references to fleet size, advanced technology, or round-the-clock availability beyond realistic owner capacity. The goal is to communicate dependability without overstating scope.

Visual and Local Presence

QueenCity Taxi Services maintains a simple and consistent visual presence focused on recognition, clarity, and trust at the local level.

Key elements include:

• Clean vehicle decals displaying the business logo, name, and phone number
• Consistent use of the logo, service name, and contact details across Google Business Profile and local directories
• Simple printed cards with the logo and phone number shared with repeat and airport customers
• Clear, readable branding designed for visibility during daily operations

Overall, the visual approach supports easy recall, credibility, and direct contact rather than decorative or promotional branding.

Fleet Plan and Vehicle Strategy

QueenCity Taxi Services operates with a single sedan suitable for daily city driving and airport transfers in Charlotte. The selection of fleet strategy is deliberately low to correspond with the owner-operator concept and maintain fixed expenses at a low level.

As mentioned earlier, the Charlotte Douglas International Airport attracted about 58.8 million passengers in 2024, which ensures the stable need for high-quality transportation services to the airport, especially in the early morning and nighttime. A single preserved sedan can be used to cover this need in a specific service area without the complexity and expenses of a multi-vehicle fleet.

Vehicle Details

No ADA vans, specialty vehicles, or secondary units are included in Year 1.

Vehicle Rationale

The single-vehicle approach allows the business to:

• Control operating costs
• Maintain consistent service quality
• Avoid downtime caused by coordinating multiple vehicles or drivers
• Align capacity with the realistic daily ride volume for one driver

Vehicle selection prioritizes fuel efficiency, reliability, and ease of maintenance rather than fleet standardization.

Equipment and Setup

Operating equipment is intentionally limited to essentials required for daily service.

No dispatch software, GPS fleet tracking, radios, or uniforms are required for the operating model.

Insurance and Compliance

The business maintains commercial auto insurance appropriate for taxi or for-hire operations, along with all required local permits, vehicle inspections, and decals mandated by the City of Charlotte and the State of North Carolina. Coverage applies to one vehicle only and does not include ADA or medical transport endorsements.

Financial Plan

QueenCity Taxi Services operates a capital-light, owner-operated model with one vehicle and no employees. Financial projections are based on realistic daily ride volume, predictable airport and local trip demand, and a low fixed-cost structure. The business is designed to reach break-even quickly and remain flexible during slower periods.

Startup Costs

QueenCity Taxi Services requires $45,000 in total startup funding. This is invested with the help of $25,000 of owner savings and a $20,000 vehicle loan used to purchase a used sedan.

The total cost of the sedan is $30,000. $20,000 is financed through the vehicle loan, and the remaining $10,000 paid from the owner’s savings. The balance of owner funds is used to cover permits, commercial insurance, initial setup costs, and working capital.

There are no additional vehicle purchases, fleet investments, or system financing included in Year 1.

There is no fleet loan, no dispatch software financing, and no expansion capital included in Year 1.

Revenue Assumptions (Year 1)

The following assumptions reflect average stabilized operations across Year 1, not initial launch months.

*The operations will start with the lower utilization during the first months, and the ride volume will grow as the repeat airport customers and local riders are established. Although monthly revenue in the first year can be more aligned with a run rate of around 90,000 annualized, the Year 1 projection will show slow growth in the number of rides per day and airport transfer that will lead to an average annual revenue of around $130,000.

Revenue Forecast (3-Year)

Monthly Projections (Year 1)

*Note: Monthly revenue estimates are done in response to a slow rise in daily flight and airport transfers per month. The first months of the year indicate low usage in the startup period, whilst the months of the middle and end of the year are characterized by people riding frequently, as they are regulars and people who have pre-booked airport trips. This would take an average of about 18 rides per day at an average fare of $24 per ride that year, which would be in agreement with the Year 1 revenue assumptions.

Projected Profit & Loss Statement (3 Years)

Projected Cash Flow (3 Years)

Projected Balance Sheet

Break-Even Analysis

Business Ratios

Elevated return ratios reflect the owner-operator structure and low equity base rather than scale or pricing power.

Funding Requirements

Scenario Type: Owner-funded startup with vehicle-only financing
Business Model: Solo, owner-operated taxi service
Entity: QueenCity Taxi Services
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina

QueenCity Taxi Services requires $45,000 in total startup funding to launch operations with one vehicle. Funding consists of $25,000 in owner cash and a $20,000 vehicle loan applied toward the purchase of a used sedan. The business does not seek fleet financing, dispatch system loans, or institutional business credit.

Funding Sources

Use of Funds

The total cost of the sedan is $30,000, funded through the vehicle loan and a portion of owner cash. Remaining owner funds are used for startup setup and working capital.

Loan Details

The loan is limited strictly to the vehicle and does not involve business assets, fleet collateral, or expansion financing.