What Do Limo Clients Hate?

Limo Business Corner

In order to not only survive but thrive in the limousine business, you have to have clients. Lots of them and those that are more likely to go for repeat services. Clients who market your limo business to their family, friends, and peers not because you wanted them to but because of the excellent service you’ve provided, even with this pandemic. It would be such a joy to have that kind of client.

If you ask most limousine owners, they will tell you that the key to a client’s heart is giving them what they want. However, we think that’s just half of the equation. Apart from giving them what they want, limousine businesses should also avoid giving them what they hate.

So what exactly do limousine clients hate? What are the things that they can’t simply tolerate? Below is a list of those things and a short explanation. Use this list to help improve your service to your limousine clients. 

Absence Of Professionalism

One of the things you should train your staff would be professionalism. Most, if not all clients will demand professionalism from you and everyone they encounter with the service you provide. You could make clients happy and have a wonderful experience but it doesn’t end there. If they feel attacked , mocked or undervalued ,they are likely to leave and never get your services again. 

In that light, it is always best to act professionally. Drivers and chauffeurs should be trained to be polite and punctual. Although some people love chatty chauffeurs some may not. It is best to limit personal conversations and to improve listening skills. 

Cancellations And Delays

Sometimes, it can be an honest mistake that you booked two clients to get the same service at the same time. If you call up your clients to cancel or to move their reserved services, they are likely to be disappointed. 

Some may tolerate such behavior at first but they will eventually hate it. It is your job to carefully check our bookings and make sure that the schedule is followed. Cancellation and delays will also negatively reflect your professionalism. 

Rude Chauffeurs

We all have our good days and bad days but as a chauffeur it is your job to make sure they don’t feel disrespected through your bad days. Treating people with respect is expected and should be done. There is no excuse for rude behavior.  

No matter how your bad day may get, no matter how tired you might feel, clients still expect chauffeur to provide the best service they can. That involves showing clients the respect that they deserve. 

Tardiness

Apart from cancelling or rescheduling the booking, clients also hate tardiness. They expect chauffeurs to come on time or even in advance. They absolutely don’t want to be kept waiting. Tardiness could ruin the whole event that the clients hired you for. Clients may miss out on special events or parts of the celebration due to a chauffeur’s tardiness. That is simply unacceptable behavior.

Low Flee Quality

The quality of your fleet also impacts the overall experience of your clients. Low quality fleets may be more affordable but they can also be a turnoff for clients. Limousine services are known to be expensive so they expect the best. 

Although that doesn’t mean you have to have the latest vehicles for your fleet, you should at least have a good selection of vehicles. They should also be well maintained and presentable. 

COVID-19 And How Limo Businesses Are Adapting

Limo Business Corner

It’s fair to say that all business and industries, from the service sector to manufacturing and everywhere in-between have been affected to some degree by the Coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking first-hand, one of those hit hardest is the limo businesses of the world.

Typically used as transportation for entertainment, special occasions, or business travel, our limos are now sitting idle as call volume from these sources have essentially dried up with little relief in sight.

While the outlook is grim today, we are hopeful that slow improvements will materialize as the country and the world tries to claws back their respective economies.

When an upturn does happen, the limo industry may look a bit different than what is was in 2019. Here’s some of our thought on the subject…

Cut Down In Services

Usually, limo services are booked by various clients who don’t just need to be transferred from one point to another but also to have fun.

Limousines are great additions to weddings, parties, night outs, game nights, proms, club-hopping, and other leisurely activities.

However, limiting such social events has also lead to the decline of those booking limousine services for entertainment. 

Limo Services Are Still Available

Even if there is a pandemic, a lot of limo businesses are still accepting clients. Mostly, they pick up and drop off clients to and from the airport. Some clients also hired limousines for their personal use. What’s great about hiring a limousine service is that you don’t have to use transportation used by the public, which may feel a lot safer when it comes to the virus. 

Additionally, limo services are doing their part in the prevention of the spread of the virus. There are protocols being followed such as proper cleaning and disinfecting of the vehicle between each and every trip. Also, physical barriers between the driver and passenger may also be added to better ensure safety. 

All drivers or chauffeurs are checked and screened before allowing them to drive their passengers. Their temperatures are checked and they are required to wear protective gear like a mask while providing their services. 

In case a group of passengers is to be serviced, limo businesses could also suggest social distancing. The seats can be marked so that the passengers would stay apart all throughout the trip. 

Conclusion

Although the pandemic has affected the limo businesses, they are still here to provide their services. They have adapted and added necessary procedures to ensure the safety of not only their passengers but their employees as well.

Although there is a decline in the clients, many limo businesses are still looking forward to the growing number of clients as less strict protocols are being enforced by the government. Surely, in the future, limo businesses will once again flourish just like they did before the pandemic. 

Checklist To A Successful Limo Business

Limo Business Corner

Most people will equate the word “limousine” to luxury. And why not, riding in one makes you feel indulgent and extravagant.

Such a luxurious service is indeed demanding for limousine business owners. This is because you have to deliver a taxi service and include the utmost comfort with it.

Through those challenges, a limousine business can still stay afloat and thrive in the market.

There are just a few things to keep in mind for a successful limo business…

Reliable Drivers

As for a business that offers luxury taxi service, you should make sure that you also have reliable drivers. They meet clients face to face so they should make a good impression. Don’t just hire anyone who can drive, but screen your drivers and find those who have experience and a great attitude. 

Training Program For Drivers

Even if you hire experienced limousine drivers, you should still make sure that you have a training program for them. This is to make sure that they do their job as you wish them to do and not as they used to do with their previous company. Training will also help them stay on track with your goals.

Insurance Coverage

Insurance is also a very important part of your service. Make sure you have insurance even before you serve your first customer. Get a full insurance coverage so that you’ll be prepared in case any accident or incident occurs. 

Limo Software

Limo software will help improve your service. It can help you dispatch limousines, track your employees, create routes, create customer invoices and many others.

Regular Audits

The only way to figure out if you are making profits or losses is to do regular audits. Don’t lose track and schedule annual audits. There are even some apps and software that make audits easier.

Connection With Clients

A successful business doesn’t only have one-time clients. They have repeat clients and this is because of the connection with them. You already have their contact and you are already connected with them so make that connection more lively. The simplest way to do this is through social media platforms.

Marketing Strategy

Whether you plan a traditional marketing plan or something more digital, a marketing strategy is essential to any business. It introduces you to possible clients and makes you more accessible to the public. Creating a website is a great idea because you’ll be easily searchable online.

Properly Maintained Vehicles

Proper maintenance should always be done to your limousines. They are expensive and considered as an investment so you should know how to take care of them. Solving a minor problem with those vehicles early on can prevent you from further repair costs. 

Keep Up With The Trends

Trends in the limousine business do exist and you should be able to keep up with them. Do your research and look at what others are doing that’s working. Some may invest in new technology or vehicles.

How Your Limousine Business Can Survive In The Ride-Sharing Era

Limo Business Corner

As you’re probably well-aware as a limousine business owner, one of your top competitors now is the ride-sharing businesses.

And while they no-boubt taken some business from the limo industry, they’ve haven’t managed to elimiate the limousine businesses out of the transportation scene.

Luckily us limo business have got one thing they don’t have – CLASS!

For those limo services willing to put in the extra work, there’s a difinitive niche that we can take advantage of to survive and even prosper.

Here’s how WE do it…

Dressed To Impress

You’re most likely to find ride-sharing drivers wearing casual outfits. On the other hand, Limousine drivers like to present themselves in a professional way that’s why they dress up. Looking clean and formal they come pick you up dressed from head to toe.

Make sure your drivers look professional and are dressed in formal attire. People are most likely to hire a limousine for a special event so make them feel more special by letting them meet a well dressed driver.

Manners Matter

It’s not like those who drive a ride-sharing car have no manners but Limousine drivers are just trained to act more professionally. Limousine drivers will start with a courteous greeting then follow by opening the passenger door for their passengers.

This small gesture counts so make sure you train the drivers to do them for every passenger assigned to them. Having a driver open the door for you helps makes you feel more special and that’s the kind of service you’d expect from a limousine service.

Fight Fire With Fire

Ride-sharing companies work through an app to make them easily accessible to passengers. Similarly some limousine companies also have apps so they can easily be accessible.

Using the technology available today can help your limousine business survive and thrive in today’s world. Furthermore, it can even help you grow your limo business.

Tips For Towing A Stretch Limousine

Limo Business Corner

Despite our best maintenance program and our best intentions, sometimes a stretch limo simply breaks down.  Here’s a good article we’d found from a Memphis towing service firm about the proper method of transportation should a breakdown occur.

Although they may look fancy and impervious to breaking down, stretch limos do, in fact, break down, and because of their weight-to-power ration, are much more inclined to get stuck during inclement weather.  Suffice to say, towing a stretch limousine is not the same as a regular car, so for a towing service, it pay to understand the nuances of towing a longer vehicle like a stretch limousine.

So today we’ll be share some key tips for towing a stretch limousine safely and without damage.

1) Hitch From Behind

The first thing to note is you are going to be hitching it from behind.  This is the most secure way to do this and is going to ensure balance is maintained for as long as you have it hitched. If you do it from any other angle, you are taking a real risk as to how things are going to be set up. You have to focus on this as soon as you can.

It is the only way to go for those who want to tow a stretch limousine in the modern age.  It is going to be secure as long as you go from behind.

2) Use A Wheel Lift

It would be great if you could fit a stretch limo on a Flat Bed tow truck, it’s far and away the least intrusive mode of towing.  The problem is:  most stretch limos are way too long to fit safely on the flat bed.  The next best thing is a fixture called a Wheel Lift.  Tow trucks equipped with a wheel lift have a metal yoke that fits underneath either the front or rear wheels of the vehicle to be towed. They also use a hydraulic lift system to hoist the vehicle’s front or rear end off the ground. The remaining two wheels run along the roadway while the vehicle is being towed.

Wheel lift towing is a major advance over traditional hook–and–chain towing. Instead of wrapping chains around the axles of the car, the metal yoke lifts the vehicle by its tires. This method is less likely to cause damage to the car’s frame and bumper.

3) Raise Properly

The #1 rule in towing is:  Don’t damage the vehicle your towing.  With this in mind, it makes sense to slowly raise the limousine to ensure that none of the fenders or body is touching the road.  The ONLY thing that should be touching the road should be the front tires.

Unless you want to be in and out of the tow truck as you raise it, it definitely helps to have a spotter as you raise the limousine into position.

4) Limit Back Turns

Maneuvering a long limousine is not for the faint of heart.  Turns need to be limited if possible and backing up should be done very slowly.  Any backing turns will articulate and will require your to have a good idea of the landscape in back of you and some experience in driving articulated loads.

Again, the key here is SLOW.  As with raising the limousine, it helps to have a spotter handy for any backing articulated turns.

Conclusion

While not an exhausting list, these are the primary considerations to take when it comes to towing a stretch limousine. Those who are hoping to nail things down and make sure it is towed the right way will know it has to start here. This is the only way to see real results and feel confident about the value you are getting. The moment it is hitched the wrong way, you are going to have a lot of trouble on your hands and that is not worth it.

5 Tips For Using Tech To Grow Your Limo Business in 2018

Limo Business Corner

If you own a limousine business in 2018, you’re probably aware that the game has changed dramatically from a mere 5 years ago.  Long gone are the days where all that was needed was to buy a stretch limousine, hang up a shingle in the yellow pages, and viola:  instant limo business!

With an increasingly savvy customer base, and strong competition from the likes of Uber or Lyft,  it literally pays to understand the current technology landscape so you can stay competitive and get the best ROI for your investment dollars.
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