With many people relying on public transport to commute, the matatu business is a lucrative industry to invest in. Most people commit to and from their workplaces using public transport services. Also, students use public transport to go to school, making it a lucrative business. However, there is high competition and you need to be different to make it in the matatu business. There are more customers during rush hours like in the morning and evening when people are going and coming from their workplaces.
How to Start a Matatu Business in Kenya
Matatu business is capital intensive and it requires proper planning and market research before venturing into it. If you want to invest in the matatu business, this is what you need to do.
You need a durable vehicle with a strong engine to start the matatu business. The least startup capital for a matatu business in Kenya is Ksh 500,000. However, it is best if you have over Ksh 1,000,000. You can opt to buy a new or second-hand matatu for your matatu business. It is advisable to buy a new car if you have enough capital. Second-hand vehicles sometimes are problematic, requiring frequent and expensive repairs.
You can invest in a 14 seater matatu or a 33 seater matatu. A new 33 matatu will cost you roughly Ksh 3,000,000, while a new 14 seater matatu would cost you around Ksh 1,700,000. Toyota and Isuzu are the leading brands for matatus in Kenya you can consider. Make sure to do the necessary paperwork when purchasing a matatu.
You need to brand a car with the latest graphics and trends in the market. Most public transport users prefer to use flamboyant matatus. You need to blend colors and graphics well so that they are adaptive for passengers of all ages. Moha Graffics and Fabricators offer quality matatu branding.
You need to also invest in a quality music system to entertain passengers. You do not need a loud and noisy music system but a moderate one. Older adults hate too loud music. As such, ensure that you can control the music well so that it is not too loud.
You need to hire a driver and a tout of high integrity and trustworthiness. You do not want to hire people who will hide some of your daily earnings and expect you to pay them. One of the ways to avoid such problems is by joining a matatu Sacco. With a matatu Sacco, passengers pay while boarding the vehicle at the bus stop. Matatu owners get their monies from the Sacco. Saccos are involved in the hiring of the driver and conductor, relieving the matatu owner of the challenges.
You can install a GPS tracker to monitor the number of trips the matatu makes each day. You can also use it to ensure that the matatu only plies in the route it is authorized.
Once you have bought a matatu, you need to insure it with the right insurance coverage. It is best to go for comprehensive car insurance to ensure that you are fully covered, even against liabilities. Shop around to get the best car insurance with the best terms and prices.
You need to take your car to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for inspection. They check whether a vehicle is roadworthy and if it meets all the safety measures like safety belts, speed governors, and fire extinguishers.
Your car's driver needs to have a driver's license, certificate of good conduct, and PSV license. You can get the certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Make sure your car meets all the necessary regulations and safety measures before going to the road.
Joining a matatu Sacco is one of the surest way to succeed in the matatu business. With a Sacco, you can keep your car's expenditure low. It is challenging to excel in the matatu business without a Sacco. Many passengers prefer to use matatus registered with Saccos since they can report the driver or tout in case of any issue.
There are rogue touts that are rude and violent. As such, you can avoid the challenges of having to deal with issues like overloading. Saccos are also useful when you want to manage your finances well. Many matatu owners lose a lot of money to untrustworthy conductors that do not remit all the monies.
You will need to cater to the matatu expenses like insurance, fuels, and repairs. You need to keep good records of the matatu earnings and expenses to determine whether you are making any profits. Most times, the police and the county council authorities are expenses to your matatu business. They impose expensive fines for minor traffic offenses. Therefore, make sure to comply with traffic rules.
The matatu business is profitable with the right approach, staff, and car. In a day, a matatu business can generate revenues of up to Ksh 5,000. Having an honest crew like the conductor and driver is a sure way to make a profit since you will not be losing your earnings. A new car won't require frequent and expensive repairs and maintenance hence saving you lots of money. The route your car is commuting also determines your daily earnings. If it is a busy route, then you are sure to make good profits.
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Buy the Right Matatu Vehicle
You need a durable vehicle with a strong engine to start the matatu business. The least startup capital for a matatu business in Kenya is Ksh 500,000. However, it is best if you have over Ksh 1,000,000. You can opt to buy a new or second-hand matatu for your matatu business. It is advisable to buy a new car if you have enough capital. Second-hand vehicles sometimes are problematic, requiring frequent and expensive repairs.
You can invest in a 14 seater matatu or a 33 seater matatu. A new 33 matatu will cost you roughly Ksh 3,000,000, while a new 14 seater matatu would cost you around Ksh 1,700,000. Toyota and Isuzu are the leading brands for matatus in Kenya you can consider. Make sure to do the necessary paperwork when purchasing a matatu.
Brand the Car
You need to brand a car with the latest graphics and trends in the market. Most public transport users prefer to use flamboyant matatus. You need to blend colors and graphics well so that they are adaptive for passengers of all ages. Moha Graffics and Fabricators offer quality matatu branding.
Install Music System
You need to also invest in a quality music system to entertain passengers. You do not need a loud and noisy music system but a moderate one. Older adults hate too loud music. As such, ensure that you can control the music well so that it is not too loud.
Hire Trustworthy Driver and Conductor
You need to hire a driver and a tout of high integrity and trustworthiness. You do not want to hire people who will hide some of your daily earnings and expect you to pay them. One of the ways to avoid such problems is by joining a matatu Sacco. With a matatu Sacco, passengers pay while boarding the vehicle at the bus stop. Matatu owners get their monies from the Sacco. Saccos are involved in the hiring of the driver and conductor, relieving the matatu owner of the challenges.
You can install a GPS tracker to monitor the number of trips the matatu makes each day. You can also use it to ensure that the matatu only plies in the route it is authorized.
Secure Licenses and Insurance
Once you have bought a matatu, you need to insure it with the right insurance coverage. It is best to go for comprehensive car insurance to ensure that you are fully covered, even against liabilities. Shop around to get the best car insurance with the best terms and prices.
You need to take your car to the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) for inspection. They check whether a vehicle is roadworthy and if it meets all the safety measures like safety belts, speed governors, and fire extinguishers.
Your car's driver needs to have a driver's license, certificate of good conduct, and PSV license. You can get the certificate of good conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. Make sure your car meets all the necessary regulations and safety measures before going to the road.
Join a Matatu Sacco
Joining a matatu Sacco is one of the surest way to succeed in the matatu business. With a Sacco, you can keep your car's expenditure low. It is challenging to excel in the matatu business without a Sacco. Many passengers prefer to use matatus registered with Saccos since they can report the driver or tout in case of any issue.
There are rogue touts that are rude and violent. As such, you can avoid the challenges of having to deal with issues like overloading. Saccos are also useful when you want to manage your finances well. Many matatu owners lose a lot of money to untrustworthy conductors that do not remit all the monies.
Matatu Expenses
You will need to cater to the matatu expenses like insurance, fuels, and repairs. You need to keep good records of the matatu earnings and expenses to determine whether you are making any profits. Most times, the police and the county council authorities are expenses to your matatu business. They impose expensive fines for minor traffic offenses. Therefore, make sure to comply with traffic rules.
Is Matatu Business Profitable in Kenya?
The matatu business is profitable with the right approach, staff, and car. In a day, a matatu business can generate revenues of up to Ksh 5,000. Having an honest crew like the conductor and driver is a sure way to make a profit since you will not be losing your earnings. A new car won't require frequent and expensive repairs and maintenance hence saving you lots of money. The route your car is commuting also determines your daily earnings. If it is a busy route, then you are sure to make good profits.