How to Start a Casino Party Bus Service
A casino party bus service is designed to take guests to one or more stops and safely return them to their cars or homes. The American Gaming industry reported that total commercial casino revenue for 2009 surpassed $30 billion. the Top American casino markets like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Chicago generated more than 11 million dollars in combined in 2009, according the American Gaming Industry. Those cities maybe an ideal location to start a casino party bus business.
To start your casino party bus service you will need to invest in vehicles, hire licensed drivers and staff, as well as market your services.
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Instructions
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Equipment & Maintenance
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Research the pros and cons of buying a fleet of buses opposed to leasing a fleet. Used buses are cheaper but may require more maintenance. Consider leasing a fleet of buses which will be less expensive than purchasing them. Consider the weight of the bus you purchase or lease. According to Bus for Sale Guide, "Heavier coaches usually cost more to operate but may hold up better." A heavier bus also will require more fuel to operate.
Consider starting with just one party bus and one driver until the demand for your service requires the use of more vehicles.
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Secure a maintenance agreement with a nearby mechanic since your buses will need regular oil changes, tires and other repairs.
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Obtain insurance for your fleet of buses. Make sure the policy covers slips and falls since that can happen when passengers enter or exit the bus.
Obey your state laws for insurance in case you are sued. For instance, for Georgia passenger vehicles with more than 12 persons, there is a $500,000 "Limit of bodily injuries to or death of all persons injured or killed in any one accident."
Staff & Licensing
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Whoever you hire to drive your casino party buses will need a commercial driver's license or chauffeur's permit. Make sure this is clearly stated as a requirement for hiring a bus driver.
If you hire someone without a commercial driver's license, meet the state requirements and obtain one from your state driver's license office.
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Check with your state's public service commission, department of revenue, department of transportation and attorney general's office for the requirements to operate a limo or bus service in your state.
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File your casino party bus business name with your state. Get a business license from your city and/or county.
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Hire enough support staff to answer phones, emails and inquiries about booking your casino party bus.
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Establish routes and pickup points for your casino party bus service. If the pickup point is a public parking lot, make sure you have permission to use the lot. Consider providing casino party bus service from the local airport or train station for people who are coming in from out of town.
Booking & Marketing
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Offer a website that allows customer to book and pay for your casino party bus service.
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Buy ads at casino sites or in casino publication to promote your service. Partner with casinos to offer package deals.
According to Limousine, Charter & Tour, "casinos make great partners because they actually will pay you for every guest you deliver to the casino and provide a free room for your chauffeur to sleep during 24-hour turnaround trips."
Consider renting billboards along the routes to and from casino areas, along with at the airport or train station. Introduce local travel agents and hotels to your casino bus service so they can recommend it to travelers.
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Register your business with limo service agencies and online listings, like the Limo Listing. Casino goers can search for party bus services and find your company there.
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When you begin your casino party bus service think about whether you could like to be an owner-operator or just manage the business. Limo service owner, Bill Goerl, told the Starting A Biz website there are drawback to being an owner-operator of a vehicle service. He said, "The owner of the company is answering the phones, he's driving on weekends or helping out, he hasn't really put himself where he has dispatchers, managers in place and he's really running an organization."
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to show your party bus credentials. The Limos website tells customers "Never book a limo with a company that can't promptly show you their licensing and insurance credentials -- don't take chances."
References
Resources
- Photo Credit bus image by Dariusz Kopestynski from Fotolia.com
