"Taxi company is the 'little guy'" analogy is wrong.
There are many different structures of taxi companies.
Some Fleets are owned by drivers (similar to employee owned companies).
Some fleets are owned by a single company, who got into the business at the right time to benefit from it (of course with a high upfront investment).
And then there are some groups of fleets owned by a single company, sometimes across many cities.
So a 'Taxi Company' can be worth anywhere between a $100,000 company to a $100 million, based on the structure.
The 'little guy' analogy was false for sometime since Uber and Lyft disrupted the market. But now, compared to Uber and Lyft at current valuations (multiple billions), these fleets (any type) are certainly "tiny" if not "little guys".
TNC disruption has been necessary for a long time, since regulations didn't evolve continually to reflect market demands/requirements. Now its time to turn the heat on the TNCs to ensure the driver/rider is not screwed due to lack of valid insurance and licenses.
I foresee a point where Uber and Lyft will get more regulated, existing taxis will get a fair playground in terms of insurance and pricing flexibility, and more transport options will become available for everyone.
There are many different structures of taxi companies.
Some Fleets are owned by drivers (similar to employee owned companies). Some fleets are owned by a single company, who got into the business at the right time to benefit from it (of course with a high upfront investment). And then there are some groups of fleets owned by a single company, sometimes across many cities.
So a 'Taxi Company' can be worth anywhere between a $100,000 company to a $100 million, based on the structure.
The 'little guy' analogy was false for sometime since Uber and Lyft disrupted the market. But now, compared to Uber and Lyft at current valuations (multiple billions), these fleets (any type) are certainly "tiny" if not "little guys".
TNC disruption has been necessary for a long time, since regulations didn't evolve continually to reflect market demands/requirements. Now its time to turn the heat on the TNCs to ensure the driver/rider is not screwed due to lack of valid insurance and licenses.
I foresee a point where Uber and Lyft will get more regulated, existing taxis will get a fair playground in terms of insurance and pricing flexibility, and more transport options will become available for everyone.