Base fee
A set amount on every trip, before distance and time.
You setThe amount, per vehicle type.
On a quote
Base feeMotor coach$250.00
Pricing rules for charter operators
Charter bus pricing, without the spreadsheet.
Set your rates and rules once. GridOps prices every charter the same way, in the office and on your website, and shows you the margin before a quote goes out.
$40 per bus per month, with a 30-day free trial.
Pricing rulesMotor coach, 56 seats
Live on your booking formSurcharges that check the date and time of every trip for you.
Weekend surcharge
Saturday and Sunday trips
+10%
On this trip +$140.10
Night surcharge
Any driving from 10 PM to 6 AM
+15%
Not on this trip: no driving after 10 PM.
Holiday surcharge
Christmas Day, and the holidays you pick
+25%
Not on this trip: not a holiday.
Short-notice surcharge
Booked less than 48 hours ahead
+20%
Off.
Your margin on this tripOnly you see this
Your cost$615.46
Price$1,541.10
Margin$925.6460%
Your Coach Co.Book a charter
Vancouver → WhistlerSat, Nov 14 · 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM · Round trip · 48 passengers
Date
Back at
Booked
Motor coachUp to 56 passengers
$1,541.10Round trip, before tax
Base feeMotor coach$250.00
Distance242 km × $2.50$605.00
Driving time4 h × $95$380.00
Empty legs36 km + 0.8 h at your rates$166.00
Weekend+10%, Saturday$140.10
Total, before tax$1,541.10
WHAT IT IS
GridOps is charter bus pricing software for bus and coach companies in Canada and the US. Set your rates once, and every quote is priced from them, line by line.
No more spreadsheet, maps tab and calculator. No more two people in the office quoting two different prices for the same trip.
Pick how you price a round trip, switch on the rules your business uses, and GridOps does the maths on every quote, including the costs that are easy to forget: empty legs, weekends, the driver’s hotel. You see your margin before anything goes out.
Your day, changed
What changes when your rates live in GridOps?
Seven moments where a charter price goes wrong today, and what happens instead. Pick one.
Step 01 of 07Measuring the trip
Today
A maps tab, a guess at the drive from the yard, and a number on a sticky note.
WITH GRIDOPS
The real route, measured garage to garage: distance and driving time.
Pricing rules
How does GridOps price a charter trip?
From your own rates, in the same order every time. GridOps measures the trip from your yard, applies your round-trip model and the charges for that day, adds the extras the trip needs, and shows the maths on every line.
Same trip, six return models
Example ratesVancouver → Whistler and back on a Saturday: 121 km and 2 hours each way, back at 6:00 PM, with empty legs and the Saturday charge.
01
Six ways to price a round trip
Pick the model that matches how you quote today. Every quote follows it.
Double the distance and time.
Charge the return distance only, or the return at a discount.
Wait and return, billing the full clock including waits.
A flat return fee, or a multiplier on the one-way price.
02
Every kilometre from your yard
Garage to garage, measured, not guessed.
Road distance and driving time, measured for the route.
Empty legs from and to your yard, on their own line.
Price empty legs at your rates, at driver cost plus a markup, or as a flat amount.
Waiting and empty legs are shown to you, not to the customer.
Distance and time
MeasuredBus and driver committed: 10 h 48 min
Garage to garage: 278 km
Driving with guests242 km · 4 hOn the quote
Parked and waiting6 hYou see this
Empty legs36 km · 48 minYou see this
Your pricing week · Pacific time
Mon
Base
Tue
Base
Wed
Base
Thu
Base
Fri
Base
Sat
+10%
Sun
+10%
Night, 10 PM to 6 AM+15%
Holiday, Christmas Day+25%
Booked within 48 hours+20%
Trips of 8 hours or more-5%
Example rules. You set every rate.
03
The right price for the day
Weekends, nights and holidays on your clock.
Weekend, night and holiday charges, on your own time zone.
Short-notice charges for last-minute trips, and bigger discounts for longer ones.
Out-of-town fuel charges past a distance you set.
Driver per diem, hotel and a relief driver when the trip needs them.
04
Your margin on every quote
Know what you make before you send.
Cost and margin on every quote, beside the price.
Every line shows its maths, like 242 km × $2.50.
Switch a rule off for one quote and the price rebuilds.
A below-cost quote from your team waits for an admin’s approval.
Cost ledger · only you see it
Driver wages4 h × $32$128.00
Fuel242 km × $0.62$150.04
Empty legsdriver and fuel$47.92
Driver wait6 h × $32$192.00
Overtime0.8 h at 1.5x$12.80
Vehicle upkeep242 km × $0.35$84.70
Cost$615.46
Price ledger · on the quote
Base feeMotor coach$250.00
Distance242 km × $2.50$605.00
Driving time4 h × $95$380.00
Empty legs36 km + 0.8 h$166.00
Saturday+10%$140.10
Price, before tax$1,541.10
Margin $925.64 (60%)Above your cost floor. Ready to send.
Rule library
25 pricing rules to start. Unlimited custom pricing on top.
Start with your rates, then switch on only the rules your business uses. For anything else, ask your customer on your booking form and price the answer.
5 rates to start+20 rules you can switch on+Unlimited customer questions
Start with
Then add
Always calculated
The base of every price. You set them per vehicle type, then pick one of 6 round-trip models.
Price per km
Charges for every kilometre, or mile, the trip covers.
You setThe rate, in kilometres or miles.
On a quote
Distance242 km × $2.50$605.00
Price per hour
Charges for the hours the trip takes.
You setThe rate, billed by the minute, quarter hour, half hour or hour.
On a quote
Driving time4 h × $95$380.00
Minimum hours
Short trips are billed for at least a set number of hours.
You setThe number of hours.
On a quote
Minimum hours2 h trip billed as 5 h$285.00
Minimum trip price
No quote goes out below your minimum.
You setThe minimum amount.
On a quote
Minimum trip priceTopped up to $900$83.25
Price the whole drive: from your yard, through every stop, and home again.
Distance basis
Decides which kilometres you bill: just the route, or from your garage and back.
You setRoute only, garage to garage, or the route plus the empty return.
On a quote
Garage to garage36 km to and from your yard+$90.00
Empty legs
Charges for driving the empty bus from your yard to the pickup, and home again.
You setAt your rates, at driver cost plus markup, or a flat amount.
On a quote
Empty legs36 km + 0.8 h at your rates+$166.00
Multi-stop fee
Adds a fee for each extra stop on the way.
You setThe fee per stop, and how many stops are free.
On a quote
Extra stops1 × $40+$40.00
Surcharges that check the date and time of every trip on their own.
Weekend surcharge
Adds a percentage to trips on the weekend days you choose.
You setThe days, the percentage, and pickup day only or the whole trip.
On a quote
Weekend+10%, Saturday+$140.10
Night surcharge
Adds a surcharge when any driving falls in your night hours.
You setThe hours, and a percentage or a flat fee.
On a quote
Night driving+15%, back at 11:30 PM+$288.92
Holiday surcharge
Adds a surcharge on the holidays you pick.
You setWhich holidays, each with its own percentage or flat fee.
On a quote
Holiday+25%, Christmas Day+$350.25
Short-notice surcharge
Adds a surcharge when a trip is booked at the last minute.
You setHow close to the trip counts as short notice, and the percentage.
On a quote
Short notice+20%, booked the day before+$308.22
Cover the real cost of long days and trips that run over several days.
Relief driver
Adds a relief driver when the day is too long for one driver.
You setThe hour limit and the fee.
On a quote
Relief driver15.5 h day+$350.00
Driver per diem
Adds a daily allowance for the driver on multi-day trips.
You setThe amount per day.
On a quote
Driver per diem3-day trip × $60+$180.00
Driver hotel
Adds the driver's hotel when a trip runs overnight.
You setWhen it starts, and the nightly rate.
On a quote
Driver hotel2 nights × $160+$320.00
Ask your customers anything and price the answer, and add the extras you charge for.
Custom questions
Ask your customer anything on your booking form, and price the answer. No limit on questions or choices.
You setThe question, how they answer, and what each answer adds.
See how questions workOn a quote
Do you want Wi-Fi on board?Yes+$75.00
Flat vehicle fees
Adds a set fee to every trip on a vehicle, like a cleaning fee or an airport permit.
You setThe name and the amount, per vehicle type. Add as many as you need.
On a quote
Airport permitEvery trip on this vehicle+$45.00
Luggage and equipment
Charges per item for trailers, large equipment or extra luggage.
You setThe price per item, and what it's called.
On a quote
Ski trailer1 × $150+$150.00
Discounts, fees and receipt lines, applied the same way on every quote.
Long-trip discount
Gives longer trips an automatic discount.
You setHour brackets, each with its own discount.
On a quote
Long-trip discount−5%, 10 h trip−$77.06
Out-of-town fuel
Adds a fuel surcharge when a trip goes past a distance you set.
You setThe distance and the percentage.
On a quote
Out-of-town fuel+4%, 242 km trip+$61.64
Driver gratuity
Adds the driver's gratuity as its own line on the quote.
You setThe percentage.
On a quote
Driver gratuity15%+$231.17
Alcohol deposit
Adds a refundable damage deposit and a liquor license fee, only when the customer says alcohol will be served.
You setThe deposit, the license fee, and which kinds of trip it applies to.
On a quote
Alcohol deposit$250 refundable + $35 license+$285.00
Processing fee
Passes card or platform fees on to the customer.
You setA percentage or a flat amount.
On a quote
Card fee3% of the trip+$46.23
Manual discount
Lets your team take money off a quote, within a limit you set.
You setThe largest discount, and whether an admin has to approve it.
On a quote
Manual discountUp to 10% off−$154.11
Sales tax
Taxes the service, but not the gratuity or refundable deposits.
You setThe rate for your region.
On a quote
Sales taxOn the service onlyYour rate
Worked out on every quote from your own costs, so you always see your margin. A below-cost quote from your team waits for an admin.
Driver wages
Pays your driver for the hours on the road.
You setDriver pay per hour, for the business or per vehicle type.
On your cost ledger
Driver wages4 h × $32$128.00
Fuel
Fuel for every kilometre of the route.
You setFuel cost per km, for the business or per vehicle type.
On your cost ledger
Fuel242 km × $0.62$150.04
Empty legs
Driver time and fuel to get from your yard to the pickup, and home again.
You setYour yard address.
On your cost ledger
Empty legs36 km, 0.8 h, driver and fuel$47.92
Driver wait
Paid time while the driver waits for the group.
You setNothing extra. It uses your driver pay.
On your cost ledger
Driver wait6 h × $32$192.00
Overtime
The overtime premium once a day runs long.
You setWhen overtime starts, and the multiplier.
On your cost ledger
Overtime premium0.8 h at 1.5x$12.80
Second driver
A second driver's wages when the day passes your solo limit.
You setThe most hours one driver can work.
On your cost ledger
Second driver16.3 h × $32$521.60
Per diem and lodging
Meals and a hotel for each driver on multi-day trips. If the customer provides the room, lodging drops off.
You setPer diem per day, and lodging per night.
On your cost ledger
Per diem and lodging2 days × $50, 1 night × $120$220.00
Custom costs
Anything else you carry: cleaning, tire wear, insurance.
You setA name, an amount, and how it counts: flat, per hour, per distance, per day or per passenger.
On your cost ledger
Vehicle upkeep242 km × $0.35$84.70
Customer questions
Ask your customers anything. Price every answer.
Turn your booking form into your own pricing tool. A luggage trailer, child seats, a service level, a meeting point: add as many questions and choices as you like, and GridOps prices every answer, online or on the phone.
Unlimited questions and choices6 ways to answerPriced automatically on every quote
In GridOpsTry it: edit a question, or add your own
On your website
Customer questionsAsked on every quote, whichever vehicle the customer picks.
4 questionsSame as a dropdown, shown as buttons. Good for two or three choices.
What the answer does
Adds a charge
Choices
Or try an example:
Your Coach Co.Step 3 of 5, Questions
A few last detailsSaved automatically as you type
Your price, on the next step
Vancouver → WhistlerRound trip, motor coach$1,541.10
Do you need a luggage trailer?Yes+$150.00
How many child seats do you need?2 × $15+$30.00
Choose your service levelPremium, water and snacks+$95.00
Total, before tax$1,816.10
Your cost and margin on this priceIn GridOps. Your customer never sees this.
Your cost$615.46
From answers+$275.00
Margin$1,200.6466%
Where every answer goesFollowing
Choose your service level
On the priceIts own line, named by your question.
Choose your service level+$95.00
In your quote builderPhone and email quotes ask the same questions, so they price exactly like online ones.
Customer questions
Choose your service levelPremium, water and snacks
On the trip and the invoiceYour team sees every answer on the trip, and priced answers become invoice lines.
Customer answers
Choose your service levelPremium, water and snacks
FeeChoose your service level$95.00
Pricing
What does charter bus pricing software cost?
Pricing rules come with GridOps at one price per bus, with quoting, dispatch and payments included. No booking fee on charters.
Questions operators ask about charter pricing
Can I price a round trip my own way?
Yes. Choose one of six models: double the distance and time, charge the return distance, a discounted return, wait and return, a flat return fee, or a multiplier.
How are empty legs priced?
GridOps measures garage to garage. Price the empty legs at your rates, at driver cost plus a markup, or as a flat amount.
Does weekend pricing use my time zone?
Yes. Weekend, night and holiday charges follow your own clock, not the customer’s.
Can I see my margin before I send a quote?
Yes. Every quote shows the cost to run the trip and your margin beside the price.
What stops a quote going out below cost?
A quote below cost from anyone who isn’t an admin waits for a manager’s approval.
Can I change the price for one customer?
Yes. Switch a rule off, add a manual discount or edit the price, and the breakdown shows what changed. Reset to calculated puts it back.
Does it price multi-day trips?
Yes, with driver per diem, hotel and relief driver rules. Multi-day requests from your website come to you to price rather than getting an instant price.
Does it work in kilometres and miles?
Yes. Price per kilometre or per mile, whichever your customers use.
Can a customer’s answers change the price?
Yes. A question on your booking form can add a charge, like an alcohol deposit that’s only charged on a yes.
Does GridOps use real driving distances?
Yes. GridOps measures road distance and driving time for the route.
Ready to stop pricing charters by hand?
Book a demo and see one of your own trips priced with your rates, line by line.
Prices go out through our charter bus quoting software.
Last updated September 29, 2026