Cost of owning and operating a bus?

novaboy80 · 11-03-2021 1:48pm #1

Hi there, to those in the know, how much would it cost me to get a bus tour company up and running?

I have to get the d licence, already have a C rigid truck licence and have operated trucks up to 18t/23t, over 30 ft in length so I feel that a bus would be pretty much similar to drive.

My plan is to start with a medium sized bus for tours around Ireland but with a difference.

What would I be looking at, money wise, with regards psv fees, bus driving licence, mid end bus in terms of price, Insurance etc.?

Any info appreciated, thanks in advance ðŸ‘ ☺️

Losty Dublin · 11-03-2021 6:02pm

My friends ex husband did tour work and it's beyond a hard graft.

It will cost you fortunes and a lot of personal sacrifices along the way. Buses themselves cost six figures to get a vehicle that is suitable for tour work and come with a lot of maintaining them to touring standards. And if it's VIP work then, again, that'll cost you more than say school.

And the running costs are huge. Things like servicing your air con units; tyres need to changed every 6-8 weeks (size tyres at €300+ a wheel.); fuel, servicing, vehicle insurance; valeting (One puker or even chewing gum on a seat and your bus is off the road for a few days.) and washing;

Then there are practical issues. Like having a fleet of reliable drivers nationwide who will work for you for days on end; access to spare drivers and tour guides; knowing where to get a spare bus when (And not if.) yours is off the road for any reason; having reliable sources of work and especially in the off season; networking with venues, hotels and tourist attractions and other operators. Your diet and family life and hobbies will go out the window. It's a hell of a lot to take on board.

You'd be best off to get the licences and then go out and get working and to learn from there.

GT89 · 11-03-2021 7:16pm

Would it not be better to get the d licence and work for a company doing tours or even another bus operator that does non tour in order to build up some experience before jumping in at the deep end and setting up your own business.

I don't know much about the tour business myself so I'm not the person to ask but generally in most businesses I would have thought gaining insight and experience into a sector is a generally a wise move before setting up your own business.

D3V!L · 11-03-2021 7:22pm

My father ran a small bus company for about 35 years doing what you're talking about. He kept about 3 buses on the road, different sizes and all decent enough machines.

He was never a rich man. I hardly seen him as a child. In the end when he retired due to ill health the big companies had muscled the smaller guys out of the market years previous.

novaboy80 · 12-03-2021 4:13pm

Thank you for the replies, yes there is a lot to consider for sure.

The difference here I believe is that my business idea consists of 2 parts, the bus is really only to get my customers to and from the destination/s, the main earner for me will be the other side, forgive me for not wanting to give away my business idea ðŸ’¡

So, say for me to own and opera one medium size bus, leaving the price of the bus aside, how much money would I be talking in terms of all the other expenses.

I feel that this would be more of a side earner for me/complimenting my other business and there is likely no way that this bus is going to be on the road 7 days a week, more like 2 to 3 days during peak season (if that ever returns).

12-03-2021 4:15pm

Cheaper to hire another company for those 2 days.

Infernal Racket · 12-03-2021 4:18pm

novaboy80 wrote: »

Thank you for the replies, yes there is a lot to consider for sure.

The difference here I believe is that my business idea consists of 2 parts, the bus is really only to get my customers to and from the destination/s, the main earner for me will be the other side, forgive me for not wanting to give away my business idea ðŸ’¡

So, say for me to own and opera one medium size bus, leaving the price of the bus aside, how much money would I be talking in terms of all the other expenses.

I feel that this would be more of a side earner for me/complimenting my other business and there is likely no way that this bus is going to be on the road 7 days a week, more like 2 to 3 days during peak season (if that ever returns).

Sorry to be blunt op but you appear to be extremely naive when it comes to setting up this business. The above posters have given good insight and advice, I'd be paying attention. My father spent many years driving for various tour operators and I can tell you that one bus is not going to work out for you unless your side business is absolutely unique and incredibly lucrative. It's a cut throat business and without a solid background in it your on a hiding to nothing.

novaboy80 · 12-03-2021 4:35pm

Infernal Racket wrote: »

Sorry to be blunt op but you appear to be extremely naive when it comes to setting up this business. The above posters have given good insight and advice, I'd be paying attention. My father spent many years driving for various tour operators and I can tell you that one bus is not going to work out for you unless your side business is absolutely unique and incredibly lucrative. It's a cut throat business and without a solid background in it your on a hiding to nothing.

Yes good advice received alright, for which I am grateful, but I have not received any figures, estimates, approximately it will cost you this much, etc.

Infernal Racket · 12-03-2021 4:46pm

novaboy80 wrote: »

Yes good advice received alright, for which I am grateful, but I have not received any figures, estimates, approximately it will cost you this much, etc.

You're not going to get any advice like that because you haven't outlined your business model or exactly what you intend to do as a side business. You're asking for the impossible. A bus, depending on age, size, condition etc can cost anywhere from 10 grand up to 400 grand. What exactly are you hoping to do with your business?

joe923947 · 15-03-2021 2:04pm

Before running business
Bus cost
Parking coast
Repair + serivce cost
Doe + doe (2nd time) costs
Lpsv test costs
Operation licences costs
Accounting cost
Company registration cost
Insurance cost
Tax
..........

After running business
Running costs
Hire drivers + repair man cost
Connections with agents
Connections with other companies
Connections with spare bus.
Connections with hotel
....... 10 more surprising cost

mickdw · 21-03-2021 12:45am

I remember doing some back of beer mat calcs years back relating to the bus company who used to take me to college - they used to run nearly new coaches.
Taking drivers, fuel and approx cost of the coaches, a couldnt see how they were making any money - add in buses sitting, breakdowns, maintenance, holiday pay, insurances and id say its a tough tough business.
Buying a bus to only intend to run it 2 to 3 days a week would seem like lunacy.
Id go to a bus operator, do a deal for the steady 3 runs per week for a month or so and go from there.
If nothing else, it should ease start up costs and majorly reduce your risk.
I think if the bus part is only the side activity of this business, you will have enough to occupy you with getting the main activity up and running and possibly offer a better product if you are not taken up with driving the bus.

bilbot79 · 21-03-2021 12:50am

Become a guide. They make trillions in tips

novaboy80 · 21-03-2021 10:34am

Thanks to you all for your replies and good advice, you've painted me a very realistic picture, it would probably be best for me to hire a bus and driver to cover that side of things and include the cost of thr service in my charge to the customers, leaving me the extra time to concentrate on the other side of the business. Good advice here from all, thank you.

Cost of owning and operating a bus?

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