People without cars or the elderly who don’t drive any longer can find themselves desperate doe a ride. Taxi service is not always available. Yes, you can be a Good Samaritan and run errands for nothing, or you can charge a nominal fee in return for your effort.

Errands can involve taking someone to the doctor, dentist, or hairdresser; picking up prescription, food, supplies; going to the airport to drop off or pick up a traveler, etc.

Pricing can be a sticky situation, especially if the person you are helping is a good friend or neighbor. But time is money and gas isn’t free.

Your fee will be determined by the distance you have to drive, the waiting time, the degree of inconvenience, and whether you are in an urban or rural area (distances are more difficult in metropolitan areas).

It would be fair to say that you can charge by the hour (with a minimum of $15) or by the mile (30 to 50 cents is a fair estimate.) Of course, you must add in the distance it takes to get to the client’s home.

If you go to the airport to pick someone up, set the odometer at zero; make your pickup and delivery, then add in the miles it will take you to get back home. A fair hourly rate would be $20 to $25, including waiting time. After all, time is money.

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