Boost your income as ride-hailing driver

A ride-hailing driver ride-hailing driver interacts with a customer using a smart phone. Many people have been employed as ride-hailing drivers and you too can earn an extra income aside from your daily office job. COURTESY PHOTO

What you need to know:

  • You can earn some money as a part-time ride-hailing driver, if you put your mind to it and register your car on a ride hailing application, Dorothy Nakaweesi writes.

For some people, a ride is just a tap away. Why not cash in on this growing business as a ride hailing driver?
To some, this may sound odd a job but if it brings an extra income into your pocket, why not?
I am talking about being an Uber or a Taxify driver. You can do it at your convenient time. This could be during lunch breaks, very early in the morning or during the evening rush hours to drop and pick people at different places.

Ideally, Uber is an app that matches you with a nearby driver to take you wherever you want to go. In this case, once you apply to become an Uber driver, you will be connected to this app.
Uber opened opportunities to many people in the world, Uganda inclusive. Many people have been employed and you too can earn an extra income aside from your daily office job.

Start
Mr Daniel Joloba, the chief executive officer –Big Finance, says: “Turning into an Uber driver after work is a lucrative income generating activity that anyone can do.”
He says the advantage is that your car can start catering for your fuel and a maintenance costs.

I know you are wondering: “How?” Joloba shares that the money you make will actually be used to fuel and maintain the vehicle, so in the actual sense, it becomes an asset instead of a liability.
Secondly, when you are the one driving your vehicle, you control the usage and maintenance. This means it will not wear and tear easily. This is not the case when you have to give it out.
Money, money, money! You must be asking how you earn if you start this kind of business.

Requirements
Business experts say all one needs is to have a personal car in good condition with all paid-up taxes and insurance.
Secondly, you should have a smart-phone loaded with data. Then, download the Uber app on your phone.
So after your office work, you can then switch on the app and wait for calls from potential customers.
You will be surprised how much you will make before even your salaried pay-cheque comes.

Earnings
Joloba shares if you concentrate on working after 5pm, you can retire with about Shs50,000 from an average of two trips.
This means if you are to do this job on a daily basis, your weekly turnover will be Shs350,000. This translates into a monthly turnover of Shs1.4 million and annually, you will be Shs16.8 million richer.

Experience
Mr John Moses Owor, a resident of Naalya, joined Uber as a part-time driver 20 months ago and has no regrets.
He says that his official job ends around 3p.m. He then switches on the Uber app and on a daily basis, he makes about four trips and by 8pm to 9pm, he retires.
“On average, my earnings from the Uber job is about Shs50,000 to Shs80,000,” Mr Owor shares.

The Uber app has been modified to one can that can add a destination of your choice.
Owor says that this has boosted his earnings because he makes more trips from Kampala Central Business District to the densely populated upscale residential areas of Naalya, Kira and Najjeera.

Tips
Position yourself in town to be assured of clients.
“Ideally in the evening, there are fewer people who leave the suburbs going to town. Most people are heading back home while others rush to pick their children from school and drop them home,” Owor shares.
Joloba says that if you are a part time ride-hailing driver, it is wise to pick your time wisely.