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👉 How to launch a vehicle sharing business in 6 steps

December 10, 2020

min. read

👉 How to launch a vehicle sharing business in 6 steps

Millennials and younger generations tend to be reluctant to buy items. Instead, they prefer to have access to products via different sharing models. “25 years from now, car sharing will be the norm, and car ownership an anomaly,” says author and economist Jeremy Rifkin in the latest Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research.

What we experience in Atom Mobility - a vehacle sharing software platform that can be adjusted to any sharing model and type of vehicle - is that people of any age are willing to share vehicles they own. From cars to e-scooters and even forklifts. Moreover, people are willing to start their own businesses based on sharing.

This will be a practical guide for those who are seriously considering starting a sharing business. As this business niche isn’t new, a lot of people have suffered bumps during the launch process and have learned their lessons. Atom Mobility has collected them and created a practical guide highlighting what you should consider when you are considering entering the vehicle sharing business.

🛴 Choose the vehicle type and operation model

This seems like a simple decision, but it’s not. Currently, the most popular vehicles for sharing are bikes and e-bikes, scooters, e-mopeds and cars. If you already own a fleet, then the offering will be obvious. If not, you’ll have to start by calculating which vehicle type you can afford. Here is some meaningful insight into the difference between launching a vehicle sharing business with scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds. By the way, the brand is not important. The most important parameter that can later reduce maintenance costs is the quality of the IoT system fitted into the vehicle and, of course, the quality of the vehicle itself.

You will need a minimum of 50-100 vehicles to start your business. Accordingly, you can calculate the amount of the initial investment you require. Obviously, car sharing requires way more money than creating a bike fleet of 100 vehicles. However, leasing is also an option. In addition, you have to do the market research, because your success depends on demand - if there are already two or three companies in town offering e-scooters, you will have to invest a lot of money on marketing to persuade people to use your services instead those of your competitors. So you should probably consider choosing another type of vehicle to establish a point of difference and thus secure competitive advantage.

When you start to do your calculations, start with the vehicle price. From one perspective, this is the easiest part, but it is very important to calculate:

● How many rides should be taken with one vehicle during the day for it to be profitable? For example, take a look at this Shared Mobility Report from France. It might help you to get an impression of the demand and fragmentation of the market.

● What is the value of one ride? Bear in mind that the price per ride in a car is approximately three times higher than on a bike, but so are the expenditures.

● What is the structure of your costs? You have to insure every vehicle. Taxes have to be paid and vehicles have got to be inspected from time to time. Are all these positions included in your cost estimate? By the way, this is a great resource with an Excel table showing how market leaders estimate their income and expenses.

The next decision to make regards the sharing model. Currently, there are several on the market that have demonstrated proven value:

● Charging stations - there are charging stations all over the city. When the ride ends, the vehicle is left at a charging station and it is charged in readiness for the next time it is going to be used. Although this approach can create significant additional costs, it lowers everyday servicing costs.

● Free-floating vehicles - shared vehicles can be left wherever it is convenient for the customer. The city council may not be happy with it as this model sometimes clutters up the streets. So you should definitely check out whether there are any existing regulations in this regard before you launch this model.

● B2B or corporate vehicle sharing - the company owns the fleet that can be used by their employees. This is quite a secure way to run your business, but you will need to sell it to other SMEs which is not an easy task and requires significant sales resources and expertise.

● P2P sharing - anyone can register a vehicle on the platform, which can be rented by any other user. This may seem easy, but it is actually quite complicated, because the owner is putting his property on the platform which he wants to get back in the same condition as it was before. As a sharing service provider, how can you guarantee that the vehicle won’t be broken? You should run background check on users, as well as have insurance in case anything happens.

You can also read more about different operational models here.

🏢 Check the city regulations

In recent years both the demand and offering for ridesharing have grown to such an extent that cities have been forced to regulate this business sector. If you are planning to operate within city limits, you’ll definitely have to check out the relevant legislation.

Regulations may be in place that have been set by the City Council. So the first thing to find out is - is vehicle sharing allowed at all? In cities with high vehicle ridesharing service and density, the city council might organize tenders to identify which companies can provide the most appropriate ridesharing service. Other requirements for companies might also apply, so you should monitor this situation carefully.

As far as density is concerned, there’s no point in creating a new ridesharing business if the vehicle density is already more than 700 shared vehicles per 100,000 people. If the ratio is one shared vehicle per 100 - 140 people, very careful calculations should be done as it could signal that the market is overcrowded so demand might be low.

💰 Consider all costs

Every business plan starts with an Excel sheet. As always, it is not possible to predict all costs but you can sneak peek into existing companies and take a look at their cost structure. You should take the following items into account:

● Maintenance costs - every vehicle now and then will have to be repaired.

● Vehicle purchase and depreciation costs - you need to know after how many kilometres you are going to have to replace your existing vehicle with a new one.

● Charging costs – you will need a team to take care of vehicle charging. Of course, costs will differ depending on the ridesharing model, but there are going to be charging costs in some shape or form.

● Bank commissions and payment transaction costs - even if you haven’t used credit to buy vehicles, your bank will still charge you commission for its services. If you use Stripe, Adyen, or a similar payment operator, you should take into account additional costs for every transaction.

● Marketing - it is vital to go loud upon launch so that everyone notices the new company in town. This requires a sizable marketing budget. If you decide to use promo codes, free rides, and other bonuses to attract new customers, this will reduce your profit margin on a certain amount of rides.

● Customer support - customers always have questions, which they will ask via Messenger, phone or any other platform. You have to have a team in place that can provide answers right away.

● IT system support - it is crucial that the service is up and running all the time. And there are a lot of different parts involved starting from software to IoT systems and data.

● Additional costs - always leave space for unplanned costs. The industry average is approximately 3 - 5% per ride.

At this point, you are ready to start to talk to manufacturers, haggle about prices, and ask them to send you a vehicle for a test. You should not forget to discuss the prices and delivery policy of spare parts, in order to avoid unplanned downtime.

🤑 Financing options

If you already own a company and see ridesharing as an additional direction in the development of your business, then most likely you will be ready to invest in its launch. If not, and you are planning to start a new company, the first thing to consider is how can you launch a test? The idea of a vehicle sharing business alone will not be enough to attract investors or convince banks to give you a loan. You will always have to prove that this business can really take you somewhere in this particular place. And a successful test with a small number of vehicles could be good proof.

You could consider crowdfunding as an option if you want to get some seed capital. Consider choosing the most popular platforms like Spark Crowdfunding, Seedrs, Fuderbeam, or Crowdcube. They are so interested in your success that they will also put their effort into marketing your campaign on their channels. This is your opportunity to make some savings on your marketing expenditures, which will definitely benefit you later on.

🛵 Plan fleet management

So far so good. You have a plan and a budget, so what’s next? Now you have to put your fleet management system on paper:

● Maintenance and charging - at the end of each day you are going to have to check the condition of every vehicle. Does it need to be charged? Is everything working smoothly or do some details need to be changed? This everyday care usually “eats” 30 - 40% of overall costs.

● Spare parts - you should be ready to spend about 10% of the total value of the vehicle on spare parts. In addition, you should have a proper warehouse. Losing 30% of the fleet for three months due to a spare parts’ shortage is a nightmare for any business.

● People on the streets - your company will require two employees per 100 vehicles to inspect and collect them. So estimate their salaries. Remember that these people won’t have regular working hours. They might charge you overtime for work at night. And another thing to consider is how they are going to get about the city. If the vehicle is broken, how are they going to be able to take it to be serviced?

● Customer support - no matter how mature the market is - your customers will always have questions. Who’s going to answer them? Remember that customer reviews create a rating that builds the further success of the company.

As the ridesharing business is becoming more popular, you should probably consider outsourcing the vehicle service. There are new companies on the market that focus on servicing vehicle sharing platforms.

📈 Build your marketing strategy

Marketing starts with the brand. You have to decide whether you’re going to hire a marketing agency or work with the designers and marketers yourself. Either way, you will need a brand name, logo, web page, and corporate colours.

Our experience shows that the success of the launch event is a bridge to the future success of the vehicle sharing company. So it is really worth focusing your attention on the big bang at the beginning. It is crucial to get as many downloads during the first days of the operation as possible. Even if not everyone uses your service straight away, you will have a database of potential customers with whom you can work, for example, by sending push notifications - consider using Intercom or Mailchimp for this.

Oftentimes collaboration with influencers is a good channel to use. And local media are interested in vehicle sharing businesses entering the city. But never forget social media - it is the most appropriate channel for marketing, as well as quick responses to customer requests.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy your amazing results… 😆 No, the vehicle sharing business doesn’t work that way. During the first month you will have to put a lot of your effort and the effort of the whole team into adapting your initial plan to real life. The first season is usually full of experiments and failures, but the most rewarding part of this business is the opportunity to scale.

👍 ATOM Mobility is here to help you with all the challenges you will face. ATOM Mobility provides reliable and proven white label technology helping entrepreneurs to focus on marketing and operations. Now serving customers in over 15 countries worldwide. Check what our customers are saying: Story of Ride, Story of Qick, Story of GOON

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White label vs franchising: Which model is right for your mobility business?

🛵 Thinking about launching a mobility business? One key decision can shape your entire growth path: go with a franchise or build your own brand with a white label solution. 🔍 This guide breaks down the pros and cons of each model – and shows how you can even grow your own partner network under your brand with ATOM Mobility’s white label platform.

April 25, 2025

min. read

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White label vs franchising: Which model is right for your mobility business?

Starting a new mobility business comes with many decisions, but one of the most important is choosing the right model for growth. Whether you're thinking about launching an electric scooter fleet, a ride-hailing app, or car sharing in your city, there are two main paths to consider: joining a franchise or building your own brand using a white label solution.

Both models offer clear benefits – and both have downsides. What works best depends on your goals, experience, and long-term vision.

What is franchising in mobility?

Franchising means joining an existing brand and operating under their name, systems, and technology. For example, a local taxi fleet might become a Bolt ride-hailing partner, gaining access to Bolt's technology, user base, and reputation. Similarly, in the micromobility space, some brands allow local entrepreneurs to launch electric scooter or bike-sharing services as franchisees.

This model is popular because it can significantly reduce the time and effort needed to launch. Instead of developing your own technology, brand, marketing strategy, and operational systems, you get a package, a “ready to use” business, from a brand that already knows the ropes.

Franchising: Pros and cons

The main advantage of franchising is speed and simplicity. You don’t need to build everything from scratch. You operate under a recognized name, which can make marketing easier. Often, you also get operational support and a clear playbook to follow.

But there are also downsides. As a franchisee, you don’t fully control the brand, customers and the technology. You may have limited flexibility to experiment or adapt the service to your local needs. Franchise fees or revenue sharing models can also reduce your profit margin. And if the brand suffers reputational issues elsewhere, it can impact your local business – even if you’re doing everything right.

Real-world examples of successful micromobility franchises:

LEVY, an US-based electric scooter-sharing company, has successfully expanded through a franchise model by partnering with local operators across USA. Entrepreneurs can launch and operate Levy-branded services in their cities, leveraging LEVY’s tested software, hardware, and operational know-how. This model has helped LEVY scale quickly while maintaining a consistent brand and service quality.

Nextbike, based in Germany, is one of the world’s leading public bike-sharing providers. It works with cities and franchise-like partners to operate local services under the Nextbike brand. These partners handle operations on the ground, such as maintenance and customer service, while benefiting from Nextbike’s established platform, brand, and international experience. With a presence in over 300 cities, it’s a clear example of how a micromobility business can scale through distributed partnerships.

What is white label in mobility?

A white label solution allows you to launch your own mobility platform – under your own brand – using someone else's ready-made technology. This means you can create a ride-hailing app, car-sharing service, or scooter fleet that looks and feels 100% yours, but without needing to build the software from scratch.

If you’re not familiar with how white label works, here’s a good explanation.

With white label, you take ownership of your brand and operations, while leveraging reliable, tested software that’s been used in dozens of markets. You’re not just a local operator – you’re the brand owner.

White label: Pros and cons

The biggest benefit of a white label approach is independence. You control the brand, the marketing, pricing, partnerships, everything. You can build a unique business that reflects your vision and local market needs. There’s no revenue sharing or ongoing franchise fees.

However, white label also means more responsibility. You have to manage marketing, customer support, local partnerships, and operations yourself. While the software is provided, the business is yours to run. It requires more involvement but also brings more potential reward.

3 reasons to choose your own white label platform

Complete control over everything: Unlike a franchise, where key decisions are made by its owner, you’re in charge of everything - from choosing the name, branding to allocating budgets and setting up a supply chain.
Flexible operations: There’s no universal solution that works equally well for all entrepreneurs. By starting your own project, you can better adapt to the local market needs, customer requests, and even changes in legislation. To launch a new app feature or adjust pricing, you won’t have to go through layers of approvals - you are the only decision-maker.
Faster growth opportunities: For example, by attracting investments, launching crowdfunding, increasing your fleet, making additional investments in advertising, or even launching your own franchise.

Choosing the right model for your mobility business

If you want a fast, low-risk way to enter the market with support and clear systems, franchising may be a good fit – especially if you’re new to mobility or want to test the waters.

If you want to build a long-term business under your own brand, with full control and higher potential margins, white label is likely the better option. It gives you room to grow and adapt without being tied to someone else’s rules.

Many successful businesses start with white label software to speed up their launch, then focus on building a strong local brand and user base. Over time, this approach can offer more strategic freedom and better returns.

You can even build your own franchise using ATOM white label

One advantage of choosing a white label provider like ATOM Mobility is that you’re not just building for yourself. With ATOM’s platform, you can also expand by inviting partners to operate under your brand in other cities or regions.

This means that you can launch as an independent operator and, over time, create your own franchise-style network. ATOM’s software allows you to add partners to your platform, assign them specific territories, limit access to data, and manage operations from one central system. Your partners operate under your brand – and you stay in control of the bigger picture.

This is exactly how several of our clients have grown. They started locally, proved the model, then expanded by partnering with others – all without giving up their brand or independence.

Both franchising and white label are valid ways to launch a mobility business, and both come with clear advantages. But if your goal is long-term brand ownership, flexibility, and the ability to scale on your own terms, white label is often the smarter path.

With ATOM Mobility’s platform, you can launch fast, operate efficiently, and even build your own network of partners under your brand – creating a franchise model that works for you.

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Launching a ride-hailing business from 0 in 90 days

🚕 Thinking of launching your own ride-hailing service? You don’t need a giant budget or years of development. With the right tools and a local-first mindset, you can go from zero to launch in just 90 days. From platform setup and driver onboarding to beta testing and your first 1,000 rides - this guide covers it all.

April 8, 2025

min. read

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Starting a ride-hailing or shared mobility venture can seem overwhelming, but with a clear plan, it's possible to launch in just 90 days. This guide outlines a three-phase process: laying the foundation, building your product and team, and launching - plus tips for growth beyond day 90. By following this roadmap, you’ll validate your idea, ensure legal compliance, create your brand and technology, recruit drivers, and hit the market ready.

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Day 0–30: Foundation

Finding a niche

Start with market validation and legal setup. Research your target area to identify unmet transport needs. Maybe large providers don’t serve certain areas, or there’s demand for eco-friendly, or premium segment or niche services like women-only rides.

Looking to stand out in the competitive ride-hail market? Check out these two insightful reads:

- Finding a niche in the competitive ride-hail market: https://www.atommobility.com/blog/how-to-find-your-niche-in-the-competitive-ride-hail-market-real-world-examples-of-businesses-that-resonate

- Discover how a local taxi union in Sweden supports a new platform to reshape industry standards and build a fairer ecosystem: https://www.atommobility.com/blog/driving-change-with-fair-how-a-small-platform-is-redefining-the-taxi-industry-in-sweden

This should help you define your niche, unique positioning or angle, and ultimately your unique selling proposition to stand out from other players in the market.

Legal compliance

Next step will be forming your business (e.g., LLC) to protect liability and later attract investors. Apply for the necessary permits, such as TNC licenses, and consult local regulations. Insurance is essential – you’ll need commercial liability coverage that also includes drivers. Run background checks to ensure safety and compliance.

Legal compliance checklist:

Business registration
Ride-hailing or taxi permits
Driver background checks
Commercial insurance
Local regulation compliance (e.g., vehicle checks)

Budgeting for MVP launch

Outline core costs: software, licenses, insurance, marketing, driver incentives, customer support, accounting services, and some reserve. Use a white-label software like ATOM Mobility to avoid costly custom builds. These platforms offer rider/driver apps and backend systems for a fraction of development costs.

Plan an initial marketing budget (e.g., €1,000–€5,000) and allocate driver sign-up bonuses (€100 for 20 rides, for example). Include small expenses like Apple developer accounts or a place in co-working to work from. Keep costs lean and prepare a detailed budget for the first 6-12 months.

Financing: Bootstrapping vs. investors

Once you have a 6-12 month budget prepared, you can choose between personal funding, angel investors, or crowdfunding. Bootstrapping (using your personal capital) offers control but limits scale. Local group of angel investors can contribute €50k–€500k in total and extra mentorship. Crowdfunding helps raise funds while building a local supporter base. For example, you can engage drivers to invest via crowdfunding in exchange for a small equity share in your company and free usage of the platform for a certain period.

Here’s a helpful resource on using crowdfunding to kickstart your venture and get inspired: https://www.atommobility.com/blog/crowdfunding-for-your-vehicle-sharing-business

If your budget analysis shows you need external funding, try at least to launch a small-scale, working prototype with personal funds or an FFF (friends, family, and fools funding) round before entering the investment process. Demonstrating even modest traction significantly boosts your chances of a successful raise.

Please note that securing your first round of funding - whether from crowdfunding or business angels - typically takes six or more months. To keep momentum going, launch an initial version of your product or service, then start the fundraising process.

Day 30–60: Build & integrate

Software

Choosing the right software partner can make or break your new ride-hail venture. From cost efficiency and faster time-to-market to reliability and specialized industry knowledge, the benefits of a white-label solution often outweigh the complexities and expense of building from scratch. Be sure to evaluate each provider’s platform features - rider and driver apps, dispatch system, and payment tools—alongside their proven track record of scaling and entering different markets. Confirm their customization capabilities, pricing transparency, and ability to expand into new service zones as your business grows. Ultimately, opt for a partner that delivers both the technology and the strategic support you need. For more insights on this decision-making process, explore white-label solutions vs. building from scratch and discover Why ATOM for a deeper dive into selecting the right tech partner.

Create a clear branding identity

Start by selecting a memorable name that reflects both your niche and city - AI-powered tools like ChatGPT can speed up brainstorming. Next, design a simple logo and choose core colors using user-friendly platforms such as Canva or Looka. Consistency is key, so use these design elements across your website and social channels.

When it’s time to launch your online presence, opt for no-code platforms like Squarespace, or Carrd to create a minimal landing page in minutes -no developers needed. Clearly present your core message (e.g., “Premium, all-black Mercedes rides in [City].”), include links to your rider/driver apps, and offer driver sign-up form. This straightforward approach helps potential users and drivers quickly understand and trust your brand.

Driver onboarding (first 50 drivers)

Your service can’t run without drivers, so make their onboarding experience as smooth and appealing as possible. Start by defining tangible benefits - like 0% commissions for the first three months, niche perks, or local partnerships—that set you apart. Reach out via social media, online communities, and direct messaging to recruit your initial loyal driver base. Host webinars or info sessions to keep them engaged and address any concerns.

Keep in mind, your first drivers are crucial for user satisfaction: they are the face of your service and heavily influence each ride’s quality. Consider providing branded merchandise and clear guidelines—such as offering free candies or bottled water, opening doors, or any other gesture aligned with your unique selling proposition (USP).

To streamline onboarding, create a simple website form for sign-ups, ensure fast document verification, run background checks, and offer concise training modules. Incentives like sign-up bonuses or a zero-commission period can help you recruit your first group of drivers quickly. You might also guarantee initial earnings (covering fixed fees from your budget) to build driver trust while you grow your user base.

Goal: By day 60, aim to have at least 50 drivers signed up and ready to serve your launch zone, setting a solid foundation for your platform’s success.

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Day 60–90: Test & launch

Closed beta testing

Before a full launch, invite a small group of friends, family, or early supporters to test your app and simulate real-world scenarios. Focus on the essentials: ride requests, payment processing, GPS accuracy, and cancellation flows -ideally at various times of day and on different devices. Take a few actual rides with real drivers to see how they follow outlined procedures and interact with riders. Gather feedback to uncover any usability issues or unexpected driver behaviors.

During this phase, refine your internal processes as well. Decide how you’ll handle customer inquiries - whether via a dedicated help email, chat support, or both - and respond promptly to build trust. If you have a team, ensure everyone is on the same page about responsibilities, communication guidelines, and how to address rider or driver concerns. This targeted approach helps you iron out potential issues, polish the user experience, and establish robust support protocols before going public.

Public launch

Decide whether to roll out quietly (a soft launch) to iron out any last-minute bugs or make a big announcement with a press release. If you choose the latter, pitch your story to local media outlets, emphasizing your community-first approach to mobility. Launch promotions - like 50% off first rides or a €5 sign-up credit - are a great way to attract early adopters and generate buzz.

Make sure your driver pool is ready to handle demand by coordinating schedules and availability. Consider offline tactics, too: distributing flyers in high-traffic areas, setting up campus booths, or sponsoring community events can help you gain local exposure. Once you’re live, keep a close eye on rider feedback (e.g., ride ratings, app store reviews) and address issues swiftly to maintain a positive user experience.

Marketing & growth to 1,000 rides

Partner with local influencers to promote your app, offering free rides or small payments in exchange for authentic social media posts. Focus on influencers your target audience trusts. Implement app referral programs - reward users and their friends with ride credits to spark word-of-mouth growth.

Keep engagement high by sharing milestones and user success stories online. Show up at local events, offering exclusive promo codes to attract new riders. Begin with small-scale digital advertising, reinvesting as you generate revenue and learn which channels work best. Track core metrics like sign-ups, ride volume, and wait times so you can make data-driven decisions and refine your strategy in real time.

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Post 90 days: Scaling

Customer support & operations
As your platform grows, consider outsourcing or automating aspects of customer support. Create a help center or FAQ to guide users to quick solutions, and keep daily operations under close watch so you can resolve any issues swiftly. To remain efficient, hire part-time help (e.g., marketers or fleet managers) who can handle specialized tasks without inflating your overhead.

Fundraising
With initial traction in place, you’re in a strong position to secure additional funding. Present clear data on ride volume, user retention, and revenue growth to potential angel investors or crowdfunding platforms. Government grants may also be available for sustainable transport initiatives, so explore those opportunities. Be specific about how the funds will be used - for instance, "We need €100 000 to expand into two new cities and reach 10,000 rides per month."

The 90-day timeline
Although launching a ride-hail platform in 90 days is ambitious, a focused strategy and lean tooling can make it possible. Stay agile, keep service quality at the forefront, and set tangible milestones for each stage. With strong local insights and consistent execution, you can carve out a lasting presence in the mobility space.

Growth & expansion
Before moving into new cities, solidify your position in your initial market. Continue recruiting drivers and reaching fresh rider segments through targeted partnerships and loyalty programs. If you decide to scale further, use your 90-day playbook again—tweaking it for each new region’s unique challenges and opportunities. Good luck!

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👉 How to launch a vehicle sharing business in 6 steps

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