Own A Charter Bus Company

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"At any rate, what you earn from your commuters should just about cover the monthly payments on the bus. Then you can do charters on weekends, and make enough extra-maybe $1,500 a month, once you get rollin'-to ease your way out of the job and into your own business . . . which can be run from anywhere you want to live."

But that's not how Larry started out either.

What he did (eight years ago) was jump in cold. You see, Larry was a commercial tuna fisherman at the time . . . and happened, one evening, to be having dinner at California's scenic Morro Bay when a tour bus pulled up and unloaded for a meal stop.

"What a lovely spot!" one of the tourists said to the driver. "Can you tell us a little about it?"

"Lady," the driver answered, "I don't tell stories. That's not my job. I just drive the bus."

That man was merely your average tour driver, Larry explains . . . which is why it's not hard to be better-than-average in the tour business.

"I thought the folks had a right to know a little about Morro Bay . . . and a little was about all I remembered from college history courses! Still, I grabbed the driver's mike and told 'em what I could. And you know what? It was fun! A lot more fun than hagglin' over the price of tuna!"

So the novice tour guide promptly sold his boat and bought a bus, a move he now acknowledges was impulsive . . . if not downright reckless!

"There I was with a fully equipped rig, no preparation, no customers, and no idea whatever how to run a charter business. I barely broke even for the first couple of years."

LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP

Of course, Larry eventually made a success of his enterprise, but he definitely doesn't recommend the sink-or-swim approach to anyone else. Even if you don't have the time or patience to ease into the business, he advises, don't buy a bus without first doing some careful advance groundwork.

Specifically: [1] Check out the local competition. Get their advertising literature . . . note what kind of excursions, service, and prices they offer ... and-if you've never been on a chartered tour-take such a trip for your own education. If you find no competition at all, there may be a good reason: A "market area" of about 50,000 people is needed to support a fullscale charter operation. Should there be fewer folks than that within a reasonable (hour's drive) radius of your home, it would be best to consider a small bus and/or a part-time service.

[2] Make contacts with the tour directors of the local service clubs, senior groups, employee groups, etc. They'll be your main source of business.

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