by Turo
posted on November 11, 2024
After making the switch to Turo, John has his sights set on a rewarding future, aiming to establish a national presence and earn $50,000 per month.
When Uber Carshare shut down earlier this year, Melbourne host John found himself at a crossroads. He had 40 cars listed on the platform, and suddenly he had to figure out how to replace his lost income.
He’s since joined Turo and feels confident he made the right choice. Since listing his cars, he’s been surprised how frequently they’re booked out.
“With Turo, all of a sudden, [it was] like, bang. I’m getting back-to-back bookings,” he says.
How John got started with car sharing
Much like every other business in Australia, John was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was working in hospitality, but the heavy restrictions placed on the industry meant he was forced to pivot – leaving him with a collection of pizza delivery vehicles and no delivering to do.
So, he decided to turn to car sharing to make some extra income. The move made perfect sense given John’s love for cars, his passion for entrepreneurship, and his hospitality background, which gave him an innate ability to understand customer needs and deliver high-quality service.
“I thought this was an opportunity to give something a go and see if it works, and if it works, then I start buying more cars,” he says.
John launched in February 2023 and originally listed his cars on Uber Carshare. His first car proved successful, generating $500 in a short period and making John realise the serious earnings potential of his new venture.
“I started seeing a bit of traction,” he says. “The way I looked at it, if one car’s making $500 and you get 50 cars, then everything changes.”
He quickly started expanding his vehicle portfolio and honing his hosting skills, taking his car sharing business from a modest experiment with idle cars to a solid income stream.
Making the switch to Turo
When Uber Carshare ceased its Australian operations in September, John realised he needed a new platform to develop his car sharing business.
He turned to Turo and found it to be the perfect fit. John says Turo’s support allows him to focus on serving his guests and growing his car collection. He particularly likes the app and the convenience it delivers to hosts.
Thanks to his consistently positive hosting experience, he plans to stay with Turo for the long haul. John is dedicated to keeping his cars in top condition and ensuring his guests enjoy a safe, comfortable, and stress-free ride.
Thanks to his efforts, he’s now become an All-Star Host, meaning he’s one of the highest-rated and most reliable hosts on Turo. Both John’s cars and his hosting abilities boast a perfect 5-star rating, and he regularly receives stellar reviews.
Looking to the road ahead
Now that John’s firmly established on Turo, he’s got his sights set on expanding his business: “I’m on a high,” he says. “I’m always looking for new cars and new ideas.”
His long-term goals are nothing if not ambitious. He hopes to build a vehicle portfolio big enough to generate a net monthly income of around $50,000.
True to his entrepreneurial spirit, John is being highly strategic about his plans.
He intends to set up several car sharing hubs, starting with his hometown of Melbourne. He’s aiming to become one of Melbourne’s go-to hosts by building his presence citywide – especially near the airport, which sees strong activity among tourists.
His next objective is to extend to high-demand areas in other parts of the country. By the end of the year, he aims to have 50 cars in his portfolio, with a long-term vision of scaling the business to 100+ vehicles.
In the future, he hopes to become one of Turo’s top Australian hosts and develop a reputation for delivering superior cars and superior customer service.
“I’m chasing number-one,” he adds.
