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We started our blog to share free valuable information about the mobility industry: inspirational stories, financial analysis, marketing ideas, practical tips, new feature announcements and more.

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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

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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!

Case study

ATOM Mobility drives Wheelz into new horizons

Wheelz: launching car-sharing in Ghana

ATOM Mobility drives Wheelz into new horizons

“Upon our initial interaction with ATOM Mobility, we were immediately drawn to their interface and impressed by the quality of their customer service.”

Car-sharing company based in Ghana.

March 9, 2023

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“Upon our initial interaction with ATOM Mobility, we were immediately drawn to their interface and impressed by the quality of their customer service. Throughout the process, they exhibited great flexibility in their approach and were able to assist us with any difficulties we encountered.”

– Deroy De Bordes, founder of Wheelz

Launch date: October 2021
Country: Ghana
Web page: https://wheelzgh.com
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/lt/app/id1590136064
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=wheelzgh.app

Wheelz was founded by Deroy De Bordes – an entrepreneur with a diverse background in business, including experience in HR and property development. Originally from Ghana, West Africa, he realized the potential of expanding into emerging markets while residing in the UK. During a trip back to Ghana, he recognized a potential market opportunity for a car-sharing service company.

During that time, traditional taxi services and a laborious car rental process that required your physical presence were the main options for customers in the country. The founder saw the opportunity to fulfill an unmet demand through the creation of a car-sharing service – which led to the launch of Wheelz.

In preparation for the launch, they evaluated multiple software providers and eventually went with ATOM Mobility. According to Deroy, they chose ATOM Mobility because of its superior customer service and user-friendly interface. Its integration with Geotab's fleet management platform was also a significant factor.

Overcoming implementation hurdles

In the process of starting their business, Wheelz faced numerous challenges that required careful consideration and planning.

The company's journey began in the early 2020s when they traveled to Ghana to investigate the local market, identify any potential risks, and gain a thorough understanding of the relevant local laws and regulations.

As a company that heavily relies on connectivity, Wheelz had to address the associated risks of providing convenient and accessible services to its customers.

One significant challenge Wheelz faced was the unique characteristics of road infrastructure in Ghana compared to Europe. This situation necessitated the establishment of safe roadside parking zones, especially as many houses in the target market have gated compounds. To prevent any potential disagreements with other customers and ensure safety, Wheelz had to remind people not to park within these compounds.

Additionally, people may park on backstreets or narrow roads, potentially causing damage or injury to the vehicle. Therefore, Wheelz took extra caution in selecting parking zones and worked closely with their team to identify suitable locations within 10 to 15 minutes of each other. This effort aimed to ensure customers' easy access to their services.

Disrupting traditional services

Introducing a new product to the market posed a significant challenge for Wheelz, as it was unlike the traditional car hire services that customers were accustomed to.

“Our concept was new in a way that it depended solely on smartphones as the main way of accessing our service. The first thing we had to do was test the technology thoroughly to ensure its stability and security before it could be deployed in the field. Then, we needed to familiarize potential customers with the app's functionality.” – Deroy De Bordes

For marketing purposes, the company used a multi-phase approach. The first phase focused on creating brand awareness through billboards, radio, and television ads. The second phase involved marketing campaigns on various platforms, including YouTube, Google, Instagram, Facebook, and banner ads. This generated a significant amount of interest in the product.

Wheelz's pricing strategy was significantly more competitive than traditional taxi services. For instance, a one-hour journey in their most affordable vehicle costs 60 Ghanaian cedi, while a half-hour ride in a traditional taxi would cost around 50 to 60 Ghanaian cedi. This pricing strategy proved to be an attractive offer, as customers sought value for their money.

"Essentially, customers who choose Wheelz can get twice the travel time for their money," Deroy explains.

By introducing this new product and pricing strategy, Wheelz established itself as a disruptor in the market. Now, as the company continues to grow and expand its services, they remain committed to providing excellent customer service and safe, reliable transportation to its clients.

“Though we faced early obstacles, we persevered. Today, our innovative approach to car hire services has earned us a favorable standing in the market.” – Deroy De Bordes

Moving forward: plans for ongoing improvements and expansion

The success of Wheelz thus far has not led to complacency, and the company has no intention of resting on its laurels. In May 2023, they have plans to participate in a trade show in Ghana – this will allow the company to promote its brand and explore the possibility of expanding into new markets across Africa. They are also considering a franchise model to facilitate their expansion efforts.

Wheelz also plans to expand to other cities in Ghana, including Kumasi, Tamale, Takoradi, and Cape Coast. Each of these cities will have a minimum of 10 cars assigned to them. But in the nearest future, the plan is to explore opportunities to increase the number of parking zones across the capital city, Accra.

Blog

7 key features to look for in corporate car-sharing software

Corporate car-sharing schemes are becoming an increasingly popular way for companies to provide transportation for their employees while also reducing costs and improving sustainability. In this blog post, we'll look at the benefits of corporate car-sharing schemes and how ATOM Mobility software can help companies deploy their own car-sharing scheme for their employees.

January 4, 2023

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What is corporate car sharing and how does it work?

Corporate car sharing is a transportation solution that allows companies to provide access to a fleet of shared vehicles for their employees. Employees can reserve a car for a specific time period and use it for business-related travel. The cost of the rental is typically paid for by the company.

There are 2 main ways that corporate car sharing can be implemented:

Company-owned fleet: The company can use its existing fleet, or purchase and maintain a fleet of vehicles specifically for sharing. Employees can reserve and use the vehicles as needed.

Car rental partnership: The company can partner with a rental car company to provide access to a fleet of vehicles for car sharing. Employees can reserve and use the vehicles as needed.

In both cases, the company will need to set up the software for managing the car-sharing scheme, including reserving and booking vehicles, tracking usage, and handling payment processing. This can be done through an ATOM Mobility software platform.

What challenges corporate car sharing solves

Corporate car sharing can help to solve a number of challenges that companies may face:

Maximize fleet utilisation and minimise fleet size: The high cost of owning and maintaining company vehicles can be significantly reduced. Companies can save money on car expenses such as purchase, maintenance, and insurance by using a car-sharing scheme to consolidate their current fleet size and maximise fleet utilisation.

Limited parking availability: Car-sharing schemes can help to reduce the number of company-owned vehicles, which can be beneficial in situations where parking is limited or expensive.

Environmental concerns: Car-sharing schemes can help to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of transportation.

Employee mobility: Car-sharing schemes can provide employees with access to a vehicle when needed, even if they do not have their own. This employee benefits package is valued highly when new job offers are considered.

Here’s what to look for when it comes to corporate car-sharing software:

1) Vehicle reservation and booking: Employees should be able to view available vehicles and make reservations for the times they need to use a car. This can be done through a mobile app.

2) Keyless go via the app: The software should allow employees to locate available vehicles, unlock and use them without needing to go and collect the keys from god knows where.

3) Payment processing: The software should handle payment processing if the corporate compensates their trips partly, including the calculation of charges based on distance or time.

4) Vehicle maintenance and repair log: The software should allow the company to input any info about the cars and track the maintenance and repair needs of the shared vehicles. This info should be easily accessible by the car service provider as well.

5) Usage tracking and reporting: The software should provide detailed monitoring and reporting on the usage of the shared vehicles, including metrics such as the number of trips, distance travelled, and fleet utilisation by hours. This information can be used to optimise the car-sharing scheme and reduce costs.

6) User management: The software should allow the company to manage the users of the car-sharing scheme, including adding new users and different user roles and revoking access as needed.

7) Administrative controls: The software should provide the company with administrative controls to manage the car-sharing scheme, including the ability to set rules and guidelines, set rental rates, and so on.

Overall, the functionalities included in car-sharing software will depend on the specific needs and goals of the company and the car-sharing scheme.

If you would like to learn more about how to set up a corporate car-sharing scheme for your company, get in touch with our team here: book a call.

ATOM Mobility is a software provider with a corporate car sharing software that helps companies to deploy their own car-sharing scheme for their employees. Our software includes a range of features to support corporate car sharing, including online booking, vehicle tracking, payment processing, usage reporting, and user management.

Blog

Shrink Scooters from UK taking home the main ATOM Mobility Hub prize

🔥 We're excited to announce that the first-ever "ATOM Mobility Hub" program has concluded with Shrink Scooters taking home the main prize 🎉

ATOM Mobility offers an all-in-one mobility Super-app with its brand-new rental module

ATOM Mobility has broadened the scope of its services by adding rental software to its platform. The new module allows car, bike, and scooter rental companies to automate and digitalize their rental business with ATOM Mobility's platform which features digital ID verification, keyless vehicle access, calendar booking and prepayment, automated hand-off inspection, and much more.

November 10, 2022

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ATOM Mobility has broadened the scope of its services by adding rental software to its platform. The new module allows car, bike, and scooter rental companies to automate and digitalize their rental business with ATOM Mobility's platform which features digital ID verification, keyless vehicle access, calendar booking and prepayment, automated hand-off inspection, and much more.

This effectively allows ATOM Mobility customers to create an all-in-one Superapp for the on-demand mobility market, after the company also added ride-hailing/taxi software to its platform earlier in the year which gives companies easy-to-use solution to manage their customers, drivers, and operations, all from one place. The platform can facilitate virtually any vehicle, be it a scooter, bike, car, moped, or even golf cart, for on-demand short-term, one-off trips, as well as for month-long rentals, and everything in between.

It can benefit your mobility business, too

In addition to giving traditional vehicle rentals a simple and highly-efficient way to digitalize their operations and improve customer experience, integrating a rental module also serves to unlock new business opportunities.

Fleet owners can have all the different modes in one app, serving tourists and locals with the types of vehicles and services in need at any given moment, e.g. a scooter for a short trip on a sunny day, a taxi on a rainy one, and a rental car for a weekend getaway. Mobility service providers can mix and match the various modules to suit their offerings. For example, new market entrants can start with one operational model, and diversify their services as they grow by adding other modules to their existing app.

The rental business model doesn't necessarily require adding new vehicles – it has the potential to maximize revenue from existing services. For instance, bike rentals can benefit from adding rental options alongside their on-demand, free-floating model, by allocating part of their fleet for renting purposes. To illustrate, depending on the location, an e-bike could bring in 15-25 EUR when rented for a full day, as compared to an average of 3 EUR per on-demand ride, with one to five uses a day. Accordingly, the rental model can be more profitable for the operator, as well as more convenient for the user, as they get the bike for the full day.

Another chief benefactor of the new rental module is traditional car rental companies. For one, they can digitalize their operations and offer a fantastic, fully digital self-service experience to their customers, making it easier to pick up and drop off vehicles. Service digitalization also enables car rentals to open remote automated branches by partnering with hotels, parking lot owners, gas stations, etc. This may imbue extra convenience in your operations, as clients don't have to travel halfway across the city just to pick up their vehicle.

A solution that works for everyone

As with previous products, the rental module is fully white-label, allowing the app to be customized with your brand design and colors. All whilst offering a smooth and convenient in-app rental experience for your customers.

With ATOM Mobility's rental module, operators will also gain access to a powerful dashboard for managing their fleets, bookings, and customers. In it, you may:

Track vehicle information in real-time, e.g. for cars – location, errors, battery/fuel level, odometer data, engine status, door status, and more,
Set up your preferred pricing system, be it fixed, hourly, daily rental, distance-based, or otherwise,
Get reports and analyses on everything from users and revenue to the utilization of vehicles by different periods, vehicle models, and locations,
And more.

ATOM Mobility's all-in-one platform is the first of its kind, offering operators an opportunity to provide an excellent mobility service to their local community and visiting tourists. By listening to its customers and staying a few steps ahead of the market, ATOM was able to create a comprehensive, all-inclusive SuperApp. Accordingly, all components integrate seamlessly ensuring a smooth, hiccup-free, and user-friendly experience for both operators and their customers.

Learn more about different solutions and modules:

Vehicle sharing module (on-demand, mostly short trips): https://atommobility.com/products-share
Rental module (pre-booking, mostly weekly and monthly rentals): https://atommobility.com/products-rent
Ride-hailing/taxi module: https://ride.atommobility.com

Let us show you how it all works – head over here to request a demo and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.