Cab-owning companies like the McGuinness Corp. lease their cars to individual drivers for 12-hour shifts. The drivers pay a fee–anywhere from $100 to $125, depending on the day of the week–to the owner, then pocket the rest of the fare money that they make during their shifts.

The drivers have to pay for gas. The owners are responsible for car maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes and replacing the vehicles after 250,000 miles, which cabs usually reach within three to five years.