From Taxis to Travel Packages: Expanding Beyond the Ride

Aug 08 / 1 min read

https://youtube.com/shorts/TNHC3-JU_sY

Running a taxi business is good, but growth comes from adding value. From airport rides to selling flight tickets and local tours, I explore how "doing better" by expanding services can bring more revenue than just adding more cars.

👉🏾 The challenge of growth Having steady revenue is good. But as a business leader, I keep asking: should I simply scale what works, or expand into better, higher-value services? 👉🏾 The current model In Dakar, my $6,000 car makes $600/month payback in 10 months. It’s an active business, not passive investment. Being active means I can influence results.

👉🏾 Ideas for “doing better” I’ve considered expanding from simple taxi trips to airport transfers, selling flight tickets, arranging housing, offering attractions, and even local guide services. The goal: own more of the travel value chain.

👉🏾 Why I hesitated These services require relying on more people: drivers, guides, ticket agents and each adds risk. A missed airport pickup or unconfirmed ticket could ruin the customer experience.

👉🏾 My preference for digital Where possible, I lean toward machine-driven, digital services. They scale globally, beyond my local market, and remove the bottleneck of geography.

👉🏾 Do more, or do better? Scaling with more cars is “doing more.” Adding value with new services is “doing better.” For now, my focus is on doing more better deepening value before expanding volume.