Table of Content

    Transport business plan for starting your own business

    Do you want to know how to start a transport business? Well, technology hasn’t yet got sufficiently advanced to enable teleportation of things and thus humans have to still rely on old friends: trucks, vans, and cars for transportation.

    The business is never going to fall in demand and immense profits can be generated through launching it if you are good at business management. To have a guide on how to start and run this business we’re providing a free business plan here. This business plan for transport was written for ‘Niro Transports’ a transport startup based in Atlanta.

    You can benefit from here. Moreover, you can also hire our business plan writing services if you want to get a specialized business plan tailored to your needs.

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    Executive Summary

    2.1 The Business

    Niro Transports will be owned by Tom Niro. The business will provide transport vehicles for enabling the transportation of goods in multiple domains. In the initial years, manufacturing and construction businesses will be specifically targeted so that they can be made to enter long-term contracts with us.

    2.2 Management of transport business

    The crux of the transportation business lies in your managerial skills. A transport business cannot be run successfully if you are not willing to stay vigilant throughout the operational days. You have to have a strong hold over your employees, and you must have a mechanism to check and measure their performance.

    To effectively manage your transport business, you will need to start by developing a transport company business plan. In your strategic business plan you should include the details of how many employees you will be hiring and how you will spend your finances to manage the business.

    This transport business sample can serve as a model for you. From here you can learn how to start a transport company and manage it effectively by studying the real-life experience of Niro Transports.

    Immigration Business Plan
    Document for passing government compliance requirements for immigration to the US, Canada, or the UK.

    2.3 Customers of transport business

    Before starting a transport company you must study some transport business plans to identify the group of target customers. Generally, the customers of this enterprise are:

    • Manufacturing Bases
    • Construction Business
    • Food Enterprises
    • Home Shifting Businesses

    2.4 Business Target

    The fiscal business targets are demonstrated in the following graph. However, the business targets related to marketing and expansion of the transport network will be given in the next sections.

    3 Years Profit Forecast - Transport Business Plan Sample

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    Company Summary

    3.1 Company Owner

    Tom Niro will be the owner of Niro Transports. Niro has acquired a degree in Executive MBA. After excelling in his academic career, he went on to earn fame in the business world. Working for 4 years in the freight business, he earned a reputation as an honest and hard-working manager.

    3.2 Why the transport business is being started

    While working in the freight business, Niro came to have various transport ideas that he couldn’t implement due to having limited decision-making authority. Finally, he decided to exploit a transport business opportunity and manage it the way he wanted.

    3.3 How the transport business will be started

    As per the transport company business plan of Niro Transports, the following steps should be taken to start this business.

    Step1: Plan & Take Down

    The first step is to develop a business plan transport company. Your strategic plan should cover all aspects such as how to get a transport contract, what would be the broad guidelines for agreements done to the consumer businesses etc. This business plan for transport company pdf will be elaborating all those aspects for your help.

    Step2: Recruit

    The next step is to hire talented and hardworking employees for your business. For the transport sector, you will need to hire relatively more employees in managerial positions as well as for the posts of drivers.

    Step3: Get the Vehicles

    To conduct the transport business, you will need to purchase vehicles of different sizes and functionality.

    Step4: Market with a Strong Web Presence

    Lastly, you will need to ensure a strong web presence to advertise your venture. Moreover, offline media should also be used to ensure the marketing is done rightly.

    Startup Cost - Transport Business Plan Sample

    Start-up Expenses  
    Legal $134,400
    Consultants $0
    Insurance $23,100
    Rent $31,400
    Research and Development $10,000
    Expensed Equipment $53,200
    Signs $3,400
    TOTAL START-UP EXPENSES $255,500
    Start-up Assets $213,400
    Cash Required $181,000
    Start-up Inventory $35,100
    Other Current Assets $231,000
    Long-term Assets $211,400
    TOTAL ASSETS $871,900
    Total Requirements $1,127,400
    START-UP FUNDING
    Start-up Expenses to Fund $255,500
    Start-up Assets to Fund $871,900
    TOTAL FUNDING REQUIRED $1,127,400
    Assets
    Non-cash Assets from Start-up $1,120,400
    Cash Requirements from Start-up $135,300
    Additional Cash Raised $50,000
    Cash Balance on Starting Date $35,000
    TOTAL ASSETS $1,340,700
    Liabilities and Capital
    Liabilities $13,600
    Current Borrowing $0
    Long-term Liabilities $0
    Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $63,500
    Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0
    TOTAL LIABILITIES $77,100
    Capital
    Planned Investment $1,127,400
    Investor 1 $0
    Investor 2 $0
    Other $0
    Additional Investment Requirement $0
    TOTAL PLANNED INVESTMENT $1,127,400
    Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) $136,200
    TOTAL CAPITAL $1,263,600
    TOTAL CAPITAL AND LIABILITIES $1,340,700
    Total Funding $1,127,400

    Operational/Strategic Planning Services

    Services of transport business

    If you are starting your own transport business it would be good to have your hands on multiple transport business opportunities. For that, you should study many sample trucking business plans and notice which type of services they are providing. Since the services may overlap with those of other enterprises, it is advisable to also consult passenger transport business plan and general freight trucking business plan.

    In this transport business plan, we are providing the services of Niro Transports so that you can have help with your transport proposal, if you plan to enter transport services business.

    • Transporting Food Items

    Our major service will be transporting raw food materials to the industries that deal in food products. We will also transport the raw items to hotels and motels that need an influx of new material on daily basis.

    • Home Shifting

    We will also serve in the arena of house shifting. To move the furniture and household appliances, we will provide both the vehicles and drivers.

    • Transporting Construction Material

    We will also serve in the construction sector. We will procure vehicles specialized in functionality to carry grit, concrete, bricks, and other construction materials.

    • Transporting General Goods

    We will provide vehicles and drivers to enable transportation to and from manufacturing bases.

    Marketing Analysis of transport business 

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    There are various types of transport business and depending on your interest and area, the marketing analysis can be entirely different. For instance, if you are more towards transporting general goods, you would need trucking business plan doc.

    For marketing analysis, you have to study how many businesses of the same type are operating near your startup. Moreover, you should study their respective strategies to conduct the business so to know how to succeed in transport business in that locality.

    Since Niro decided to provide a myriad of services, the transport business plan developed by him can be taken as general guidance. If you are starting a transport business in any city, you can have help from here. You can get transport business tips, and a complete guidance on how to run transport business and how to manage transport business.

    5.1 Market Trends

    In the United States, more than 40k businesses are successfully running in each category such as freight packing and logistics, water transportation, moving services, taxi services, etc. Owners of these businesses are earning profits in billions in each category, as per the specified statistics by IBISWorld.

    The market trends are promising and therefore if you are thinking about starting a transport business, you must go for it. Here is a complete guide on how to register a transport company and how to run a transport company for information.

    5.2 Marketing Segmentation

    The customers of the transport business are almost the same as those mentioned in starting a towing business plan and starting logistics business plan.

    Marketing Segmentation - Transport Business Plan Sample

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    5.2.1 Manufacturing Bases

    The biggest category of our target customers will be the manufacturing bases. They will need our services to get the raw materials, tools, and machinery transported to their sites. They will also need us to transport the finished products in bulk.

    5.2.2 Construction Business

    The construction businesses will be utilizing our services to get the construction material transported. In Atlanta, several construction businesses are located near the place where we have established ourselves. And thus, working with them will save us time and money.

    5.2.3 Food Enterprises

    Companies that prepare packed food items from the raw materials and hotels that cook their own meals will acquire our services.

    5.2.4 Home Shifting Businesses

    People who do jobs usually possess a car or any vehicle for the commute. However, still, some of them are expected to avail themselves of our services.

    Market Analysis
    Potential Customers Growth Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 CAGR
    Manufacturing Bases 32% 43,100 51,720 62,064 74,477 89,372 10.00%
    Construction Business 26% 33,100 39,720 47,664 57,197 68,636 10.00%
    Food Enterprises 22% 22,700 27,240 32,688 39,226 47,071 10.00%
    Home Shifting Businesses 20% 14,300 17,160 20,592 24,710 29,652 11.00%
    Total 100% 113,200 135,840 163,008 195,610 234,732 10%

    5.3 Business Target

    Niro Transports aim to meet the following business targets:

    • Acquiring a CSAT score of 90+ within a year of the launch
    • Expanding the business activity to one more location by the end of the first five years
    • Start making at least $30k in monthly profits by the end of the first three years 

    5.4 Product Pricing

    For the initial two years, we aim to keep our prices slightly less than our competitors. This will be done to expand the reach. However, following this time duration, we will raise the prices such that they become almost equivalent to those of our competitors.

    Marketing Strategy of transport business

    Running a transport business demands huge investment in terms of both time and money. And unless you have the mindset determined enough, you would feel difficulty managing the business. Just searching on Google for I want to start transport business wouldn’t suffice. You have to research how to start a transport business in your preferred city. Moreover, you have to craft a business proposal for transport services. 

    The sales strategy of Niro Transports is given in this business plan of a transport company.

    6.1 Competitive Analysis

    • Our biggest competitive advantage is our strategic location near all the giant organizations that we aim to serve.
    • Secondly, we are especially focusing on reaching a maximum number of customers whether that means parting from monetary benefits. This strategy when carefully continued will benefit us in the longer run.

    6.2 Sales Strategy

    • We will create and brand posters based on memes so that more and more people see and share them.
    • We will offer a 10% discount to hotels for the first year of our launch.
    • We will set up a photography base with some vehicles culturally decorated so that teens and youngsters could capture pictures and share our brand name.

    For more advertisement ideas, you may want to visit dump truck business plan sample as well as taxi company business plan.

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    6.3 Sales Monthly

    Sales Monthly - Transport Business Plan Sample

    6.4 Sales Yearly

    Sales Yearly - Transport Business Plan Sample

    6.5 Sales Forecast

    Unit Sales - Transport Business Plan Sample

    Sales Forecast      
    Unit Sales Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Transporting Food Items 1,200 1,272 1,348
    Home Shifting 950 1,007 1,067
    Transporting Construction Material 800 848 899
    Transporting General Goods 650 689 730
    TOTAL UNIT SALES 3,600 3,816 4,045
    Unit Prices Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Transporting Food Items $600.00 $696.00 $807.36
    Home Shifting $500.00 $580.00 $672.80
    Transporting Construction Material $700.00 $812.00 $941.92
    Transporting General Goods $1,200.00 $1,392.00 $1,614.72
    Sales
    Transporting Food Items $720,000.00 $885,312.00 $1,088,579.64
    Home Shifting $475,000.00 $584,060.00 $718,160.18
    Transporting Construction Material $560,000.00 $688,576.00 $846,673.05
    Transporting General Goods $780,000.00 $959,088.00 $1,179,294.60
    TOTAL SALES $2,535,000.00 $3,117,036.00 $3,832,707.47
    Direct Unit Costs Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Transporting Food Items $200.00 $220.00 $231.00
    Home Shifting $200.00 $220.00 $231.00
    Transporting Construction Material $200.00 $220.00 $231.00
    Transporting General Goods $250.00 $275.00 $288.75
    Direct Cost of Sales
    Transporting Food Items $240,000.00 $279,840.00 $311,461.92
    Home Shifting $190,000.00 $221,540.00 $246,574.02
    Transporting Construction Material $160,000.00 $186,560.00 $207,641.28
    Transporting General Goods $162,500.00 $189,475.00 $210,885.68
    Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $752,500.00 $877,415.00 $976,562.90

    Personnel plan of transport business

    Most of the transport business depends on the dedication of drivers and the vigilance of managers. in your business plan transport company you must enlist the staff you would hire to fill up different positions. For your help, we are listing the personnel plan of Niro Transports in this transport business plan template free of cost. If you want to save the business plan for later use, you can download it from transport company business plan pdf.

    7.1 Company Staff

    Niro, the CEO, will hire the following people:

    • 1 Operation Manager
    • 2 Sales Executives
    • 1 Digital Media Manager 
    • 1 Customer Care Executive
    • 2 Technical Assistants (Mechanics)
    • 8 Drivers

    7.2 Average Salary of Employees

     Personnel Plan      
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Operation Manager $30,000 $33,000 $36,300
    Sales Executives $58,500 $64,350 $70,785
    Digital Media Manager $28,500 $31,350 $34,485
    Customer Care Executive $28,500 $31,350 $34,485
    Technical Assistants (Mechanics) $42,500 $46,750 $51,425
    Drivers $200,000 $220,000 $242,000
    Total Salaries $388,000 $426,800 $469,480

    Financial Plan of transport business

    Making a comprehensive financial plan is essential to ensure that your business generates profit and remains safe from getting into a loss. The financial plan should cover detailed planning for at least three years. It should entail the expected sales, investments, earnings, and the ratios mentioned below.

    In this transporter business plan the financial plan that enabled Niro to earn huge profits is given free of cost. Through this transport business plan sample you can have an insight into how much one can earn through this business.

    While you skim through, you must identify that your profit generation would depend a lot on your transport business ideas. It is because due to increased competition, one has to be ultra-competitive and hardworking to earn fame in this field.

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    8.1 Important Assumptions

     General Assumptions      
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Plan Month 1 2 3
    Current Interest Rate 8.12% 8.20% 8.26%
    Long-term Interest Rate 8.40% 8.44% 8.47%
    Tax Rate 24.03% 24.21% 24.60%
    Other 0 0 0

    8.2 Break-even Analysis

    Break-even Analysis - Transport Business Plan Sample

     Break-Even Analysis  
    Monthly Units Break-even 5340
    Monthly Revenue Break-even $132,500
    Assumptions:
    Average Per-Unit Revenue $231.00
    Average Per-Unit Variable Cost $0.62
    Estimated Monthly Fixed Cost $163,800

    8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

     Pro Forma Profit And Loss    
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Sales $2,535,000 $3,117,036 $3,832,707
    Direct Cost of Sales $752,500 $877,415 $976,563
    Other $0 $0 $0
    TOTAL COST OF SALES $752,500 $877,415 $976,563
    Gross Margin $1,782,500 $2,239,621 $2,856,145
    Gross Margin % 70.32% 71.85% 74.52%
    Expenses
    Payroll $388,000 $426,800 $469,480
    Sales and Marketing and Other Expenses $145,000 $148,000 $156,000
    Depreciation $2,300 $2,350 $2,500
    Leased Equipment $0 $0 $0
    Utilities $2,900 $3,000 $3,100
    Insurance $2,100 $2,100 $2,100
    Rent $2,900 $3,000 $3,200
    Payroll Taxes $24,000 $25,000 $27,000
    Other $0 $0 $0
    Total Operating Expenses $567,200 $610,250 $663,380
    Profit Before Interest and Taxes $1,215,300 $1,629,371 $2,192,765
    EBITDA $1,215,300 $1,629,371 $2,192,765
    Interest Expense $0 $0 $0
    Taxes Incurred $243,060 $325,874 $438,553
    Net Profit $972,240 $1,303,497 $1,754,212
    Net Profit/Sales 38.35% 41.82% 45.77%

    8.3.1 Profit Monthly

    Profit Monthly - Transport Business Plan Sample

    8.3.2 Profit Yearly

    Profit Yearly - Transport Business Plan Sample

    8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

    Gross Margin Monthly - Transport Business Plan Sample

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    8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

    Gross Margin Yearly - Transport Business Plan Sample

    8.4 Projected Cash Flow

    Projected Cash Flow - Transport Business Plan Sample

     Pro Forma Cash Flow      
    Cash Received Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Cash from Operations
    Cash Sales $51,000 $55,080 $59,486
    Cash from Receivables $22,000 $23,760 $25,661
    SUBTOTAL CASH FROM OPERATIONS $73,000 $79,570 $85,936
    Additional Cash Received
    Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Received $0 $0 $0
    New Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    New Other Liabilities (interest-free) $0 $0 $0
    New Long-term Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    Sales of Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0
    Sales of Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0
    New Investment Received $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CASH RECEIVED $74,000 $79,000 $85,000
    Expenditures Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Expenditures from Operations
    Cash Spending $42,000 $42,000 $45,000
    Bill Payments $27,000 $28,000 $31,000
    SUBTOTAL SPENT ON OPERATIONS $69,000 $70,000 $76,000
    Additional Cash Spent
    Sales Tax, VAT, HST/GST Paid Out $0 $0 $0
    Principal Repayment of Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    Other Liabilities Principal Repayment $0 $0 $0
    Long-term Liabilities Principal Repayment $0 $0 $0
    Purchase Other Current Assets $0 $0 $0
    Purchase Long-term Assets $0 $0 $0
    Dividends $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CASH SPENT $69,000 $74,520 $80,482
    Net Cash Flow $21,000 $23,000 $25,000
    Cash Balance $27,000 $30,000 $33,000

    8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

     Pro Forma Balance Sheet    
    Assets Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Current Assets
    Cash $275,000 $308,000 $338,800
    Accounts Receivable $24,000 $26,880 $30,213
    Inventory $4,300 $4,816 $4,900
    Other Current Assets $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
    TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $282,000 $315,840 $355,004
    Long-term Assets
    Long-term Assets $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
    Accumulated Depreciation $19,400 $21,728 $24,444
    TOTAL LONG-TERM ASSETS $24,400 $27,328 $30,744
    TOTAL ASSETS $294,000 $329,280 $370,440
    Liabilities and Capital Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
    Current Liabilities
    Accounts Payable $18,700 $20,944 $23,541
    Current Borrowing $0 $0 $0
    Other Current Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    SUBTOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES $19,000 $21,280 $23,919
    Long-term Liabilities $0 $0 $0
    TOTAL LIABILITIES $15,000 $16,800 $18,883
    Paid-in Capital $30,000 $30,000 $31,000
    Retained Earnings $53,000 $57,770 $63,547
    Earnings $193,400 $210,806 $231,887
    TOTAL CAPITAL $285,000 $310,650 $341,715
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL $300,000 $329,280 $370,440
    Net Worth $293,400 $319,806 $351,787

    8.6 Business Ratios

     Ratio Analysis        
    Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 INDUSTRY PROFILE
    Sales Growth 7.25% 8.03% 8.90% 3.00%
    Percent of Total Assets
    Accounts Receivable 9.21% 10.20% 11.31% 9.80%
    Inventory 5.39% 5.97% 6.62% 9.90%
    Other Current Assets 2.11% 2.34% 2.59% 2.40%
    Total Current Assets 149.80% 151.00% 152.00% 158.00%
    Long-term Assets 11.55% 11.60% 11.64% 12.00%
    TOTAL ASSETS 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
    Current Liabilities 4.90% 4.94% 4.98% 4.34%
    Long-term Liabilities 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%
    Total Liabilities 7.59% 7.65% 7.72% 7.38%
    NET WORTH 100.45% 101.25% 102.19% 110.00%
    Percent of Sales
    Sales 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%
    Gross Margin 94.60% 97.15% 99.87% 99.00%
    Selling, General & Administrative Expenses 93.56% 96.09% 98.78% 97.80%
    Advertising Expenses 1.52% 1.56% 1.60% 1.40%
    Profit Before Interest and Taxes 41.50% 42.62% 43.81% 33.90%
    Main Ratios
    Current 34 35 36 32
    Quick 33 33.8 34.645 33
    Total Debt to Total Assets 0.18% 0.18% 0.17% 0.40%
    Pre-tax Return on Net Worth 74.08% 74.89% 75.00% 75.00%
    Pre-tax Return on Assets 96.30% 101.12% 106.17% 111.30%
    Additional Ratios Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
    Net Profit Margin 33.56% 34.60% 35.67% N.A.
    Return on Equity 55.80% 57.53% 59.31% N.A.
    Activity Ratios
    Accounts Receivable Turnover 7.7 7.8 7.8 N.A.
    Collection Days 100 100 100 N.A.
    Inventory Turnover 32.4 34.02 35 N.A.
    Accounts Payable Turnover 15.6 16 16.3 N.A.
    Payment Days 27 27 27 N.A.
    Total Asset Turnover 2.5 2.5 2.6 N.A.
    Debt Ratios
    Debt to Net Worth -0.04 -0.03 -0.04 N.A.
    Current Liab. to Liab. 1 1 1 N.A.
    Liquidity Ratios
    Net Working Capital $244,000 $257,664 $272,093 N.A.
    Interest Coverage 0 0 0 N.A.
    Additional Ratios
    Assets to Sales 0.85 0.87 0.89 N.A.
    Current Debt/Total Assets 1% 0% 0% N.A.
    Acid Test 29 29.12 29.16 N.A.
    Sales/Net Worth 2.1 2.2 2.2 N.A.
    Dividend Payout 0 0 0 N.A.

    FAQ

    • What is the most profitable transportation business?

    Goods transport business is profitable in all domains and entirety. Though air transportation is considered the most profitable, the fact is you can make immense profits in other domains with relative ease and freedom.

    • How do you write a transportation proposal?

    To write a business plan for transport, you need to have an understanding of business terms and trends. It is good to hire a specialist to make a transport company business plan for you. For an idea about what the transport business plan would look like, you can see this sample business plan transport company.

    • What are the 4 types of transportation?

    The 4 types of transportation are Marine Transportation, Air Transportation, Road Transportation, and Rail Transportation.

    • How can I start a small transport business in the USA?

    To start the transport business in any U.S. city, you need to first get transport company registration. Further steps can be seen in detail from this blog on how to start a transport company in any city.

    Download Transport Business Plan Sample in pdf