Dear inDrive Business Owner,
Running an inDrive business through a driver has become one of the fastest ways for ordinary Zimbabweans to create a steady income stream. A single car can pay school fees, buy groceries, support a family, or even help you build a small fleet over time. But this only works when the ownership is managed with structure, discipline, and firm boundaries.
Many owners lose money not because inDrive is a bad business, but because they rely too much on trust, emotions, and verbal agreements. This business requires strong systems. If you want to be successful, then the following principles will serve you well.
Start with crystal clear rules
Before your driver even collects the keys, sit down, establish clear expectations and sign a written agreement. Agree on the weekly target, reporting hours, servicing routines, fuel policies, and how communication will work. Most conflicts in the inDrive business do not come from bad drivers. They come from unclear agreements that create different expectations. When everything is documented, misunderstandings reduce and accountability becomes natural.
Keep the relationship professional
Drivers often try to build unnecessary emotional closeness to soften boundaries. They start calling you “maiguru,” “sekuru,” “mhamha,” or “mukoma,” not out of affection, but because familiarity gives them room to bend rules without consequences. Remember that this is a business arrangement, not a friendship. Respect your driver, but keep the relationship professional. Clear boundaries protect both sides.
Track money with tools, never with memory
Weekly targets, fuel costs, servicing bills, and repairs must not live in your head. Every cent should be recorded. Use the ZimLedger App to track every payment you receive from the driver, every dollar you spend on the vehicle, and all fuel receipts and maintenance costs. When everything is recorded, the business becomes transparent, and you will know whether you are truly making profit or simply running a car that pays for its own repairs.
Require a refundable security deposit before handing over the car
To protect yourself, request a deposit equal to at least one weekly target before giving a driver the vehicle. This deposit acts as security. If the driver disappears, fails to pay the weekly target, or becomes unreliable, you immediately take back the vehicle and use the deposit to cover the missed week. This simple rule has saved many owners from painful losses.
Do not let drivers choose mechanics
Drivers normally take vehicles to the cheapest place available or to friends who cut corners. That is how cars end up with recycled oil, fake parts, and poor workmanship that creates bigger breakdowns later. A simple rule is that you choose the mechanic, you choose the parts, and you approve all repairs. This alone can save you hundreds of dollars every year.
Inspect the car every week without fail
A weekly check helps you catch problems early. Check for unusual mileage, tyre wear, oil and coolant levels, brake condition, and general cleanliness. Most owners who lose money do so because they only check the car when something is already damaged. Prevention is always cheaper.
Have comprehensive insurance
Accidents happen without warning, and repair costs can destroy your cash flow or even wipe out your entire business. Comprehensive cover ensures your vehicle is protected whether you are behind the wheel or not. A single accident can set you back thousands of dollars, but a single insurance policy can save you.
Never hand drivers cash for repairs
If you give a driver money for maintenance, part of it will almost always be used for personal needs. Some drivers buy cheap parts, keep the difference, or avoid repairs altogether. Instead, pay the workshop directly. This protects your investment and keeps costs transparent.
Monitor mileage like a hawk
Mileage never lies. If the car travelled far beyond the expected distance, something is wrong. Unexpected mileage often means side jobs, long private trips, misuse of the vehicle, or hidden activities. Mileage checks are one of your strongest accountability tools.
Install a GPS tracker
A tracker protects your car from theft, misuse, and hidden trips. It also makes the driver more responsible because he knows the vehicle is monitored. A tracker is not a luxury. It is a shield.
Review the weekly target regularly
Fuel prices and market conditions in Zimbabwe change often. A target that was fair six months ago may no longer reflect reality. Reviewing the target every few months ensures the agreement remains fair, sustainable, and profitable. A flexible system keeps both the owner and the driver motivated.
Set firm consequences for late or missed payments
If you do not address late payments immediately, they become a habit. You must have a clear system with a penalty for late payments, a warning structure, and a replacement plan if the driver becomes unreliable. Consistency creates respect.
Join inDrive WhatsApp and Facebook groups
Groups are powerful. They help you learn current weekly target rates, common scams, trusted mechanics, known problem drivers, and updated crime hotspots. Owners who stay informed make fewer mistakes and lose less money.
Have a standby driver
Drivers can fall sick, travel, or disappear. A backup driver ensures your vehicle remains operational at all times. When the car keeps moving, your income remains stable.
Remove emotions from business decisions
Drivers sometimes share emotional stories to convince you to delay payment, avoid consequences, or break rules. Empathy is good, but combining emotions with business leads to loss. Be kind but remain firm.
With respect for your financial journey,
ZimLedger Admin
ZimLedger
ZimLedger is the all in one business and finance platform for Zimbabwe. It generates quotes, invoices, payslips and financial statements, manages business ledgers, tracks income and expenses, and builds shopping lists. ZimLedger offers a simple yet powerful solution tailored to local needs. Whether you are budgeting in ZiG or USD, managing business accounts, converting Ecocash statements, or tracking household expenses, ZimLedger empowers you to stay organised, make informed financial decisions, and grow your wealth—right from your phone or computer.
