He started out in the taxi industry 20 years ago in Sydney as a driver, today he owns and runs a diverse taxi industry empire under the banner of GM Cabs. There are the GM Cabs docket exchanges, GM Cabs EFTPOS, GM Cabs VISA Card, GM Cabs service stations, GM Cabs cafes and a GM Cabs taxi base. As if that wasn’t enough, in December last year he announced the launch of the GM Cabs Network in Sydney and GM Go Mobile, an app using goCatch technology. His name is George Mickael.

by Tim Hoi

Many have tried to break the Cabcharge EFTPOS monopoly over the years, but with little or no success. George Mickael, owner of GM Cabs, is the exception. Since he launched GM Cabs EFTPOS six years ago he has, according to a Macquarie Bank analyst, conquered more than 35% of non Cabcharge branded card business in NSW taxis and his share of the market in other states is growing rapidly, especially since he opened offices at the holding ranks at Melbourne and Brisbane airports.

What sets George apart from other EFTPOS providers is that his terminals are available to individual drivers who are paid a share of the 10% service fee unlike Cabcharge, which exploits drivers as free labour and instead feeds the coffers of the networks.

His business philosophy is simple: treat drivers and operators fairly, honestly and with respect and they will treat you likewise. This is diametrically opposite to the traditional view held by the taxi industry establishment.

By adopting the same attitude in the management of his start-up taxi network in Sydney, he is confident that both drivers and owners will see the benefits of moving to GM Cabs.

He is starting out with only 40 cabs, all of which he owns, and he plans to lease them out to operator-drivers. His booking and dispatch is through Manly Cabs which also handles RSL Cabs.

George supports environmentally friendly hybrid vehicles, which are what he has opted to purchase for his new cabs. With his partnership with Toyota, he is also able to pass on savings and offer great deals on new Toyota Hybrid cabs to those who join his network.

To start a new taxi network and take on the old brigade may seem foolhardy. Others like Lime Taxis and VIP Cabs failed, but if anyone can do it, it is Mr. GM Cabs. With more and more drivers leasing licences from the NSW Government there is a whole new breed of owner-drivers out there, people who will appreciate the freedom and flexibility of a friendly network.