A bus tour business provides tours for tourists as well as locals. Tours of scenic and historical areas and other sites of interest are a valuable community service. Bus tours connect people with others for a shared experience. They also educate people about historical landmarks, local history, geography and other important aspects of your city and the surrounding area.
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Start a bus tour business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Bus Tour Business
- Form your Bus Tour Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Bus Tour Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Bus Tour Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Bus Tour Business
- Get Bus Tour Business Insurance
- Define your Bus Tour Business Brand
- Create your Bus Tour Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your bus tour business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Bus Tour Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a bus tour business?
A bus tour business requires at least one tour bus. This can be a traditional bus, party style bus, coach bus, or a double decker bus. You will need commercial auto insurance coverage for the bus. An intercom system including speakers must be installed, so the bus operator can provide details about the tour’s highlights to customers. People will not flock to this type of business through word-of-mouth referrals. Marketing is necessary. Employees are necessary though it is possible to run a one-man bus tour business if you are willing to work long hours.
Plan on spending at least $5,000 to $10,000 on a used bus. A new tour bus loaded with luxuries can cost upwards of $100,000 or more. However, most tour buses of moderate size will sell in the rage of $30,000 to $60,000. It is possible to rent a tour bus though the respectable models typically cost around $1,000 per day. It makes more financial sense to buy one or several tour buses. Plan on spending several hundred dollars per month for commercial auto insurance coverage. The installation of an intercom system and speakers will cost between a couple hundred dollars and a couple thousand dollars depending on the style of bus, the quality of system to be installed and the number of desired speakers.
What are the ongoing expenses for a bus tour business?
The bus must be maintained and re-fueled. Budget at least several hundred dollars per week for fuel and maintenance. Bus drivers make between $10 and $25 per hour. Mechanics typically earn $20 to $40 an hour. Marketing and accounting professionals earn an annual salary of $30,000 to $60,000 or more. Budget at least $500 to $1,000 or more for monthly marketing. Commercial auto insurance will likely cost $100 to $200 per bus. Budget $50 to $100 each month for office supplies and utilities.
Who is the target market?
The target market is primarily tourists. These travelers are interested in learning about the local features and history. However, some bus tour companies operate in areas without a steady stream of tourists. Everyone from retirees to students and families will be interested in taking an informative, entertaining and insightful bus tour.
How does a bus tour business make money?
This type of business makes money by selling tour tickets. People will pay a considerable amount of money to enjoy a bus tour that allows them to take in the beauty of an area without having to worry about driving.
How much can you charge customers?
Bus tour tickets cost anywhere from $50 to $500 or more. The exact cost hinges on the area the tour passes through and the demand for tickets.
How much profit can a bus tour business make?
This type of business can rake in the cash if multiple buses are in operation. Another important factor is the location of the business and the tours. If the tour bus business operates in an area that is a hotbed for tourists, the business can make a profit in the six figure range in the first year of operation. Continue to add buses to the fleet and profits can reach the million dollar mark.
How can you make your business more profitable?
You can make more money by selling food, drinks and souvenirs before, during and after the bus tour. Consider charging extra for special seat-selection as well as priority boarding/exiting. If you have several different buses of varying quality, consider charging more for tickets on the buses that are more lavish.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your bus tour business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your bus tour business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a bus tour business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Liability Waivers
To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, bus tour businesses should have their clients sign waivers.
Vehicle Registration
Businesses are required to register vehicles which will travel across state lines for commercial purposes. Check here for a list of state requirements.
Class B Driver Licensing Requirements
In most states, licences are issued by classes, operating according to the weight of the vehicle being driven. Drivers of standard cars and trucks require a class A commercial driver’s license (CDL), while operators of heavier vehicles, including most tow trucks, require a Class B CDL to operate. More information can be found here.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Bus Tour Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Bus Tour Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a bus tour business
Advertise your bus tour business on billboards near hotels, bus stations, common tourist sites, airports and restaurants. Establish relationships with owners and managers of hotels, retirement homes, schools, wedding planning businesses and travel agencies. These professionals will help connect you to customers.
How to keep customers coming back
The best way to attract customers is to market the bus tours in areas where tourists stay and travel. Advertise with billboards, signs, bus wraps, flyers and local papers in or near airports, hotels, restaurants, and other local facilities. It is difficult to retain tour bus customers as most do not return to experience the same tour a second time. Consider offering a different tour with a separate route. If customers enjoy their experience on the main route, they will consider paying for a ticket for bus tours that follow different routes with unique highlights.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
If you are looking to give people the opportunity to learn more about a locale while enjoying the company of others, a bus tour business is right for you. This is your chance to bring people closer together. Bus tours also enhance understanding and respect for cities, towns, landmarks and special sites. Bus tour customers gain a new appreciation for the area in which the tour is conducted.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a bus tour business?
Bus tour businesses drive customers from site to site, showing them the area’s highlights. People congregate at the bus tour’s pickup point, hop on the bus and enjoy a tour. Employees drive tour buses, sell tickets, narrate the tour, market tours, handle complaints, update the company website and maintain the tour buses.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful bus tour business?
An interest in history, geology, nature, and automotive maintenance will benefit those who are considering the launch of a bus tour business. You might start out as the sole bus tour driver so you should have a firm understanding of the area’s history, the most notable landmarks, local geology and other intriguing attractions. Furthermore, a cordial personality will also help as this business requires extensive interaction with the public.
What is the growth potential for a bus tour business?
Bus tours are extremely popular. Those who have an interest in the history of particular towns, cities and regions are willing to pay plenty of money for bus tours. If your bus tours are particularly informative and expose people to sections of towns that other tour companies do not reach, your business will grow. Add to your bus tour fleet and expand the business to additional locales as time progresses. Regional or even nationwide expansion is certainly possible.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a bus tour business?
Most people will perform research on a bus tour business before buying a ticket. So make sure your business has an informative website and a presence on social media. Check state requirements for registering vehicles that travel across state lines to conduct business. Operators of tour buses typically require a Class B CDL license. Certain states mandate an oversize vehicle permit for tour buses. Don’t forget to create a “bulletproof” waiver for customers to sign before boarding the bus. Once signed, your business will not be on the hook for harm or damages incurred during the bus tour.
How and when to build a team
You can operate your bus tour on your own if you own a single bus. However, employees must be added as the business expands. Consider adding a driver right away so you can focus on marketing and other responsibilities. An automotive technician will also be required. As time progresses, you will likely pass on the marketing and accounting duties to professionals in these fields.