What Driving Miss Daisy does

Driving Miss Daisy is a New Zealand-based companion driving service that provides door-to-door assisted transport for elderly, disabled, and injury-recovery clients, distinguishing itself from standard taxi services by offering wrap-around personal assistance from pickup through to destination. The company operates an asset-light franchise model with 80+ franchise owners running defined local territories across New Zealand, using wheelchair-accessible VW Caddy vehicles and fulfilling bookings through a national online enquiry portal and local franchise contact. Revenue to the franchisor is generated primarily through a NZD $50,000 initial franchise fee plus ongoing franchise/royalty payments, gift voucher sales at NZD $25, and integrations with government-funded programmes including the ACC contract (held since 2018, the only nationwide ACC contracted supplier for companion transport) and the Total Mobility Scheme subsidy cards accepted across regional councils.

The business is headquartered in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, with a small head office team of 9 staff led by founders and owners Melanie and Jack Harper, supported by a General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Franchisee Systems Support, and a Social Media Coordinator. Operations are supported by standard franchise business systems for invoicing, bookings, and cashbook, with no proprietary AI/ML or advanced technology disclosed. Beyond New Zealand, the brand has been extended internationally through wholly-owned subsidiary DMD International, which has launched operations in the UK (2014) and Australia (2020), with Ireland signalled as a future market. Channel strategy combines direct-to-consumer booking, healthcare and community-organisation referral partnerships (Age Concern, Alzheimer's Society, Dementia NZ, Eldernet, Sweet Louise, Public Trust), and earned-media/community engagement.

Customer segments are diverse and distributed: individual elderly clients, Total Mobility Scheme users with mobility or cognitive impairments, ACC injury-recovery clients, parents/families, and general consumers requiring companion transport (airport transfers, outings). The business carries out 125,000+ assisted trips per year and competes not on price but on trust, continuity of drivers, and the depth of human assistance provided.

Name

Driving Miss Daisy

Legal name

Driving Miss Daisy NZ Ltd

Website

https://drivingmissdaisy.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Driving Miss Daisy is a New Zealand franchise-based companion driving service providing door-to-door assisted transport for elderly, disabled, and injury-recovery clients nationwide, with 80+ franchises, ACC and Total Mobility Scheme integration, and international operations in the UK and Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Assisted Transportation Services

NAICS

Special Needs Transportation (485991), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Door-to-Door Senior Ride Services (Non-Medical) (HSABAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wheelchair-Accessible & Mobility Vehicle Transport (HSABAOAC), Hospital Discharge & Post-Acute Transport (HSABAOAE), Senior & Assisted-Living Demand-Responsive Transport (THAIAHAE)

Keywords

• Companion driving services
• Assisted transportation
• Wheelchair accessible transport
• Elderly mobility services
• Franchise driving service

Headquarters

HQ city

Havelock North

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Companion Driving Services: Time-based pricing for assisted driving services. Charges quoted based on requirements of each individual journey with regional variations. Revenue is generated through franchise fees ($50,000 for new franchises) and ongoing franchise operations where franchisees pay fees to the franchisor.
2. Gift Vouchers: Online gift voucher sales at $25 per voucher. Vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase date.
3. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee of $50,000 for new franchises plus vehicle costs. Established business prices vary by territory. Franchisees operate as independent business owners under the brand.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Driving Miss Daisy provides door-to-door companion driving services for elderly, disabled, and injury-recovery clients across New Zealand through a network of 80+ franchise owners. Drivers accompany passengers from their front door to their destination and back, providing wrap-around assistance with walkers, wheelchairs, bags, and appointments. The service is pre-booked, pre-quoted, and available 7 days a week, including wheelchair-accessible vehicles and contracted ACC supplier rates.

Product overview

Driving Miss Daisy offers a single, unified companion driving service — not a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is a personalized companion driving service where drivers accompany passengers door-to-door, providing physical assistance and companionship beyond simple transport. The company operates as a franchise network with over 80 franchises across New Zealand since 2009, providing assisted trips for medical appointments, shopping, social outings, school runs, airport transfers, and pet transport. Key service features include wheelchair accessible vehicles, ACC contracted services (since 2018), Total Mobility Scheme subsidies, pre-booked scheduling, and pre-quoted pricing. No separate software products, modules, or add-on offerings are identified — the portfolio consists solely of the companion driving service and its associated booking platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Companion Driving Service Door-to-door companion driving service for elderly, disabled, and ACC clients. Drivers provide wrap-around assistance from the front door to destination and back, helping with walkers, wheelchairs, bags, and appointments. Available 7 days a week via pre-booking.
• Wheelchair Accessible Transport Transport using VW Caddy wheelchair-accessible vehicles equipped with wheelchair restraints and ramps for passengers with mobility needs.
• ACC Companion Transport Companion transport for ACC injury-recovery clients attending medical appointments, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation sessions, billed at approved contracted supplier rates.
• Total Mobility Scheme Transport Subsidized door-to-door transport for people with mobility or cognitive impairments who cannot use public transport. Total Mobility Scheme provides a 75% subsidy per trip up to regional maximums.
• Gift Vouchers Online gift voucher sales at $25 per voucher, valid for 12 months from purchase date, redeemable for companion driving services.
• Franchise Opportunity Franchise package for independent business owners to operate a Driving Miss Daisy territory, with an initial franchise fee of $50,000 plus vehicle costs, including business systems, software, technology upgrades, invoicing, bookings, and cashbook tools.

Quantifiable outcome

• 125,000+ assisted trips completed in the last year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018National ACC contract making Driving Miss Daisy the only ACC contracted supplier for companion transport nationwide. ACC clients can request Driving Miss Daisy for injury-related transport needs, with the company using approved contracted supplier rates.
• Regional Councils (Total Mobility Scheme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local regional councils across New Zealand to provide subsidized door-to-door transport. The Total Mobility Scheme is funded by regional councils and government, providing 75% subsidy per trip up to regional maximums.
• Age Concern New ZealandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDriving Miss Daisy is proud to support the Life Without a Car booklet produced by Age Concern New Zealand, which covers vehicle cost savings, reduced cost transport schemes, transport options, and staying connected.
• NZSO (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra)minorGTM or Marketing Partner$5 discount per journey per car for every trip to and from any NZSO concert. Partnership to encourage cultural participation among Driving Miss Daisy clients.
• Operatunity Daytime ConcertsminorGTM or Marketing Partner$5 discount per journey per car for every trip to and from an Operatunity concert. Partnership to support cultural and social outings for clients.
• Sweet LouiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing services for members with advanced breast cancer. Includes annual vouchers for complementary services, monthly peer support meetings, and practical support.
• EldernetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEldernet provides comprehensive information services for older people in New Zealand. Partnership helps reach target demographic through Eldernet's information platform established since 1997.
• Public TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished external relationship with Public Trust for referrals and client support services.
• Alzheimer's SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished external relationship with Alzheimer's Society for client referrals and support.
• Dementia NZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished external relationship with Dementia NZ for client referrals and support services. All drivers are required to complete Dementia Friend training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• GoGoGrandparent: US-based service that books rides on Uber/Lyft on behalf of seniors, providing door-through-door assistance via phone operators. Comparable in targeting seniors who need more than a standard ride-share, but uses a technology/platform model rather than owned vehicles and trained drivers.

Direct peers

• Access Community Health: One of New Zealand's largest home and community support providers, offering personal care, disability support, and transport accompaniment to ACC and aged-care clients. Directly comparable in target segment (disabled, ACC, elderly), service type (accompaniment and mobility assistance), and contracting with government schemes.
• Comfort Keepers: International franchise network providing in-home companion care, including transportation assistance, for seniors and adults needing support. Comparable in franchise-driven companion-care model and elderly/disability client focus, though broader in service scope.
• Geneva Healthcare: NZ-based community health and disability support provider delivering home-based support, recovery, and rehabilitation services including transport assistance. Comparable in serving ACC injury clients and disabled populations with attended transport.
• New Zealand Red Cross: Provides community transport services for elderly and disabled New Zealanders through a network of volunteer and contracted drivers. Comparable in offering non-emergency accompanied transport for the same target population, though typically free or subsidized rather than fee-based.
• Healthcare New Zealand: Major NZ home and community support provider offering personal care, rehabilitation, and disability support services. Comparable in funding model (ACC and MoH contracts) and in providing accompanied mobility and transport assistance to similar client segments.
• Bluebird Care New Zealand: NZ franchise network providing home care and personal assistance services to elderly and disabled clients, often including transport to appointments. Comparable in franchise model, target demographic, and accompanying-service structure.

Broad incumbents

• St John New Zealand: New Zealand's largest ambulance and community health services provider. Comparable because it operates paid transport services for elderly, disabled, and medical-need clients across NZ, including a paid companion driving service that directly overlaps with Driving Miss Daisy's offering.
• Modivcare: US-listed non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and personal care provider serving Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and managed-care clients. Comparable in providing attended transport to medical appointments for vulnerable populations at scale, though via a brokerage/digital model rather than franchise owner-operators.
• Uber Assist: Uber's product offering trained drivers to assist riders with accessibility needs, including folding wheelchairs and walkers. Comparable in providing on-demand transport with assistance features, but broader scale and lower-touch than Driving Miss Daisy's door-to-door companion service.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DrivingMissDaisyNZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/drivingmissdaisynz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/driving-miss-daisy-new-zealand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Driving Miss Daisy