by Anna Hann
posted on 14 January 2025
Meet our host: Elisha Francis
When Elisha F graduated with an economics degree, her next step as a derivatives analyst seemed the obvious path. But her entrepreneurial spirit eventually took her in a different direction.
Like many graduates, while Elisha had ambitions to create something she could build on and earn money along the way, she started out in the corporate world, putting her degree to use in office-based roles. It wasn’t long before she wanted to do something that could give her flexibility, freedom, and the opportunity to grow something to call her own.
Turo as a springboard to entrepreneurship
Starting any business can be tough. The right idea. The right resources. The time it needs to get off the ground. Many aspiring entrepreneurs turn to opportunities in the sharing economy as a catalyst to build something of their own, as it monetises an existing asset but comes with the support, reach, and energy of a global business.
For Elisha, it started by listing a single car on Turo – a Range Rover she already owned. “Booking out the car when I wasn’t using it allowed me to offset the high running and insurance costs and make money from what’s essentially a depreciating asset”, she explains, “It was a great way to earn extra cash while I pursued building another business – an organic skincare business I built from scratch.”
More than just a side hustle
Elisha started listing her car on Turo two years ago, pulling out all the stops for her first trip by providing bottled water and greeting her guests to show them around the car. “When I found Turo, it felt like an elite app with great quality cars and appealed to more experienced drivers”, Elisha explains. Elisha’s business on Turo continues to grow from strength to strength, with guests often booking with her for business trips or special occasions like weddings or events. Today, Elisha has completed over 60 trips on Turo and is one of the platform’s coveted All-Star Hosts.
Independent, but not alone
For Elisha, Turo represents more than just a car-sharing platform. It embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship. The recent Turo event she attended brought together a community of like-minded individuals looking to scale their businesses and grow as entrepreneurs, giving pointers and support to help grow small businesses. This sense of belonging and support has been instrumental in Elisha’s success.
Words of wisdom
Elisha’s advice to anyone considering sharing their car out on Turo is to just do it. The experience of hosts on Turo range from entrepreneurs to those who just rent out their car when they feel like it. She recommends you start small – try it for a month, complete a booking or two and you’ll then be able to assess the income benefits.
She also highlights the importance of prioritising your guests. Put yourself in their shoes, as this makes a world of difference in their experience and lays the foundation for great reviews as well as repeat business. And finally, get organised! Starting on Turo can be tough if you haven’t got the right tools, so getting an optimised calendar is a great starting point.
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