[nicegrl78]

Hi guys,
I have an idea for a pick up/drop off service for young kids who's parent can't afford a car and won't be able to drop them off to school in the morning or pick them up when school's over. The problem is...I don't know where to start with this idea. I must admit that the idea came a bit late as the school year has already started, but yet still i'm willing to give it a try. Where or how should I start? Should I just start with handing flyers out at the schools to see the amount of people that are imdeed interested in such a service? All suggestions are welcome and appreciated. Thanks.

[nado]

First I think you'd need a big car or bus... and a licence to drive these.

Secondly, you would probably need some kind of qualification in dealing with children, so that the parents know they can trust you with their children.

Thridly, I think you would need some kind of insurance.

Overall, sounds like a good idea, although you would need to offer something that a standard school bus service can't... e.g. security, door-to-school and back again etc

cheers

[Bscivolette]

When dealing with children there are many different hoops you will have to jump through. First begin with a local SBA office or the county police, they will tell you about the regulations of dealing with children.

[LeBaron]

why would people who can't affort a car pay someone to drop their children of at school : only if your service is cheaper than the regular schoolbus. do you think you can compete with it ? i have my doubts..but maybe i'm just to pessimistic

[kotor]

isn't the regular school bus free?

[hoganco]

Where this service works is: children who have afterschool activies and the parents need to have them transported after the activty is over. Or if it is held somewhere the school bus does not drop off. Some people just need a little extra time to get home from work and have the child ride the drop off route so that they have supervision until the parent can get home. ...Or in my case I do not let my children ride the bus because of the activities that take place on the bus. This will work if you sell the idea correctly.

[Sarafina]

I guess it depends on your area. In my locale, the school bus is free. If not, kids simply walk to school because it's not far either. You should try selling this as more than just a dropoff/pick up service. Perhaps couple it with afterschool childcare or activities? Like bscivolette said, alot more hoops to jump so research it thoroughly before you proceed.

[Karl_the_Great]

Working with kids is tough, because what ever happens it's their word against yours and people often side with the child because of a few sick individuals in the past. There is a situation happening in my area, where the teacher has been accused of giving a Muslim child Christian literature at public school and the accusation is that the child is the only one to recieve the literature. So now the parents have their attorney involved and they want to have the child transfered. This story wasn't meant to discourage you, but consider getting some sort of legal protection if you want to persue this.

[Bored]

parents who cannot afford a car is a bad target customer. You should aim for parents who are too busy to take their kids to all sorts of activities. Your business would work a lot better if you were well known in the community. Not everyone trusts other people driving their kids.

For example, I have a big Jewish/israeli community in my neighborhood, and luckily I am Israeli too. If I start a drop off business in my community, simply by word of mouth my business could flourish.