Parents of young children often need assistance in transporting their children to and from school, daycare, appointments, babysitters or other locations during the day. Often, they are working parents who cannot take time from their jobs to take a child to a babysitter or appointments. A quality, professional child transportation business can help these parents feel more confident and secure in knowing their children are being transported safely. This article will help you learn how to start a child transportation business.

Develop a business plan for your child transportation business with the help of a qualified small business counselor. Put together a financial plan, determine what ages and geographic areas you will serve, establish your hours of operation and a fee structure, and create a marketing plan for promoting your business.

Secure liability insurance to cover your vehicles, your employees, and the children you will be transporting. Speak to your insurance agent about state requirements. Many states require liability insurance in the range of $500,000 to $1 million for transportation services.

Investigate vehicle options. Vans are the practical choice for transporting more than two or three children at a time. Depending on your clientele, you may need to offer an accessible vehicle, equipped with a wheelchair lift. Functioning seat belts for each seat are a requirement for transporting children.

Screen and hire drivers. Conduct a thorough drug screening and background check for all employees when operating a child transportation business. Professional services are available for drug and background checks. Your small business counselor can provide guidance on securing those services locally.

Promote your child transportation business to parents through schools, daycare centers and churches. Develop a flier or brochure as well as a website for parents to be able to review your information. State your qualifications, including the fact that you have screened all drivers and have safe, reliable vehicles. Use testimonials and references to gain the trust of potential customers.