Start a Driverseat Franchise in 2024

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $53K - $89K

Units as of 2024: 55 44.7% over 3 years

Established in 2012, Driverseat specializes in transporting people. The franchise's shuttle may provide mass transportation services to events such as weddings and corporate gigs.

Since beginning to franchise soon after its establishment, Driverseat has grown to multiple franchise locations in North America. Driverseat boasts that it only hires the best drivers to drive its clients to their destinations. They also may provide other associated services to maintain and develop success.

The governance model at Driverseat may also contribute to its success—corporate says it focuses on the people and its franchisees more than the profits. As a result, transportation may be affordable, convenient, high-quality, and accessible to everybody.

Driverseat is headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and focuses much of its business in Canada. However, it has expanded to the United States and still offers franchises in the country.

Why You May Want to Start a Driverseat Franchise

Owning a Driverseat franchise allows you to be your own boss. If you would enjoy flexible time management, run a business with a purpose, and control your own destiny, opening a Driverseat franchise might suit you. You could get a chance to work with committed drivers who build solid communication and desire success.

Opening a Driverseat franchise could offer a more predictable outcome than investing in a completely new brand that may struggle to thrive in an already crowded and competitive industry.

What Might Make a Driverseat Franchise a Good Choice?

Apart from being a scalable home-based franchise system, Driverseat may offer ongoing support and training, allow you to work in an industry conducive to success, and have a proven recipe for success. Opening a Driveseat franchise may be an opportunity to own a business with low overhead and low capital requirements.

As a franchisee, you will be responsible for developing the business as your team does the driving. You can network and help other businesses grow. With the possibility of improving your community in the process, you may feel as if you are making a difference.

To be part of the Driverseat team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees and renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company’s set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How To Open a Driverseat Franchise

If awarded a franchise, franchisees may receive a great deal of support from the Driverseat brand throughout the franchising process. In addition to pre-opening training, franchisees could receive support through brand awareness, marketing, research, and construction. Potential owners of a Driverseat franchise may also receive hands-on training and continued support after their franchise location has opened.

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you must perform your due diligence and establish if this is the right opportunity for you. As part of your due diligence, you may want to speak to existing franchisees and ask the Driverseat franchising team questions.

Company Overview

About Driverseat

Industry	Services (Other)
Related Categories	Miscellaneous Services
Founded	2012
Leadership	Brian Bazely, CEO
Corporate Address	259 Gage Ave. Kitchener, ON N2M 2C9
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2012 (12 years)
# of employees at HQ	32
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada
# of Units	55 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Driverseat franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$39,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$53,029 - $89,457
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$100,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$65,000 - $125,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$5,000 off franchise fee, 10% off royalty fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	$329-$429/mo.
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	$300/mo.
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	5 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Driverseat has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

Classroom Training	160 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes