Cargo transportation business plan: sample with calculations. Profitable business in freight transportation from scratch

Many people dream of opening their own business and starting to work for themselves. But as you know, desire alone is not enough; many nuances must be taken into account. The crisis and unstable economic situation in the country lead to the fact that many enterprises cease their work and become bankrupt. Starting your own business in our time is quite difficult, but it is quite possible, and this is proven by successful entrepreneurs who earn good money despite the crisis.

You can make money in almost any field of activity; alternatively, you can open your own, or start with something simple, for example, transporting goods.

In this article, I want to discuss a pressing question for many: where to start a cargo transportation business? How to open a freight transport company?

Cargo transportation is a popular and stable way of earning money, which does not lose its relevance even despite significant competition in the market. Therefore, it makes sense to think about such an attractive income option.

Cargo transportation: business plan

Before you begin organizational matters, you should draw up a detailed business plan that will help you wisely distribute the available start-up capital and achieve success in a short time. How to create this document? For an example, see detailed.

Profitability of the cargo transportation business. First, you need to determine the relevance of the idea. In other words, analyze the degree of competition, the demand for the service and the amount of costs for opening a transport company. After that, draw appropriate conclusions about whether the cargo transportation business in your region is profitable or not.

Business registration

First of all, you need to legally register your type of activity. To do this, it is necessary to determine the material and legal form of the activity. At this stage, much will depend on your financial capabilities. If the starting capital is large and you plan to open a large transport company, then, naturally, you need to register as a legal entity. In this case, a suitable option is to register a limited liability company (LLC).

To transport goods on a small scale, it is much more profitable and easier to register as an individual entrepreneur.

Documentation process:

Prepare a standard package of documents for individual entrepreneur registration;
Pay the state duty in accordance with the law;
Submit an application to the tax service and provide your passport data and activity code according to OKVED.

You can collect and prepare the entire package of necessary documents yourself or entrust this matter to an experienced lawyer.

Freight transportation scheme

At the initial stage, you need to analyze the market, determine the degree of demand for the service and competition in a given region. I would like to note that competition in the field of cargo transportation is quite serious. But, despite this, there is always a place for an honest, decent entrepreneur who provides high-quality cargo transportation services. Your main advantage is the provision of quality services at the best prices.

Rent or buy a vehicle?

Naturally, everything depends on material capabilities. If you can afford to buy a car to transport goods, great. Otherwise, you will have to rent a vehicle or buy a car on credit.

As a rule, beginning entrepreneurs are content with little and, at the initial stage, personally provide cargo transportation services. Over time, naturally, it will be possible to open your own transport company and hire drivers.

Cargo transportation: types, conditions and features

Cargo transportation is divided into three types: movement of cargo within the region, throughout the country and international cargo transportation. International transportation is the most difficult. It will be necessary to prepare all documents for the transported goods, transportation permits, etc. But accordingly, the cost of transporting goods abroad is much higher. Therefore, choose the option that is most suitable for you, taking into account all the above nuances.

Conditions for moving goods

A contract for the transportation of goods is drawn up with each client. As a rule, this document stipulates the following points:

Indication of the specific place of departure and exact delivery address;
The name of all involved persons of the company that provides the cargo transportation service;
Detailed characteristics of the product;
Choosing a means of transporting cargo;
Cost of the service with detailed calculations;
The terms of delivery of the goods to the destination point are agreed upon.

In addition to the contract, you should have other documents available when carrying out cargo transportation.

Waybill. This document contains all the information about the driver and owner of the transport company. Also, the make of the car, the driver’s clearance and assignment of the route, a note indicating that the driver underwent a medical examination on the eve of the trip.

Consignment note and order receipt;

Insurance in case of property damage.

Freight dispatch office business plan

If you do not have start-up capital to start a cargo transportation business, then you can use a simpler way to generate income.

A dispatcher is a person who finds shippers, negotiates the delivery of cargo with vehicle owners, forms a route, negotiates all transportation conditions and delivery times for goods.

You can work as a dispatcher even from home. This does not require education or any specific work skills. Communication skills, responsibility and literacy will be enough. Your task is to establish yourself as an honest and responsible person who will not let you down. And then, with the help of word of mouth, you will gain regular customers and a good stable income.

Advertising

Trucking is a business that needs advertising, especially in the initial stages. Therefore, it is worth advertising your services in every possible way. Start with friends and acquaintances, tell them about your line of work and advise them to contact them if necessary.

In this material:

If cargo transportation is chosen as an activity, where to start the business? Such an occupation was considered unpromising 2 years ago. Today, even a beginner has the opportunity to quite profitably transport goods and create a profitable business. This is a costly and troublesome task. Up to $10,000 is the amount of starting capital without purchasing trucks.

Trucking business concept

The market for in-demand freight forwarding services is continuously growing in Russia. The services of qualified logisticians are always in demand. The activities of industrial, trading and manufacturing enterprises are closely related to various types of transportation. How to start a business related to the transportation of various types of cargo? You should navigate the market by studying competitors' offers.

Intercity and international flights are the most profitable type of cargo transportation business. In this market segment, the company is subject to more stringent requirements for documentation for technical equipment and technical conditions, but the prices for such cargo transportation are significantly higher than the average. Various options for organizing this business are possible. Without having your own car, you can implement a business idea for cargo transportation.

Cargo transportation as a business allows customers to purchase the necessary equipment and various types of equipment from suppliers, bring raw materials for production, and send goods to their customers. Cargo transportation is used by various modes of transport. Delivery by water transport, plane, railway or road transport is a popular service. Heavy and large cargo can be transported profitably and conveniently using rail or air transportation. Small consignments of cargo are transported using curtained vehicles. Clients value high-quality, reliable, prompt delivery during office or apartment moves.

Specifics of the cargo transportation business

In the mature market for forwarding services, there is a very high level of market competition, but entrepreneurs who have managed to occupy a niche and organize a profitable cargo transportation business have a stable high income. Small private firms account for about 60% of the cargo transportation market, the remaining 40% belong to large companies. An enterprising, enterprising entrepreneur can open a business from scratch in the forwarding services market, provided the right approach to organization is taken. When entering this business, significant amounts of start-up capital are required.

How to open a business related to freight transportation?

Within the framework of current legislation, you can register as an individual entrepreneur, the owner of a small company. An individual entrepreneur manages his business independently. How to open an individual entrepreneur? As part of the standard procedure, an individual entrepreneur is registered, which costs several thousand rubles.

The legal right to transport goods is given by a transport license. To freely cross the state border by cargo vehicles, you must obtain an additional license, which is valid for 15 days. The responsible person is given a power of attorney for the transportation of goods, a list of items being transported, a package of accompanying papers, and a waybill. These forwarding documents are necessary to carry out various types of cargo transportation.

To transport oversized or bulky cargo, the carrier must obtain a special permit. To officially open an individual entrepreneur for cargo transportation, you must obtain insurance for the cargo vehicle. A package of constituent documents is required to register as an object of taxation with the tax authorities. An entrepreneur must obtain a TIN.

Individual entrepreneurs involved in cargo transportation are exempt from accounting. Any enterprise is quite a risky business, so the various nuances of a cargo transportation business being opened should be taken into account by the main document drawn up by professionals who will help and advise on how to organize a business. A business plan is the main document of a future entrepreneur, which helps to assess their commercial opportunities. The success of a business related to cargo transportation primarily depends on this competent document.

The business plan should reveal the main problems of the activity:

strategy and goal of the company's development;
organizational issues;
sources of start-up capital;
order search options.

Part of the business plan is the financial side.

Smart startup

To carry out full-fledged cargo transportation, it is necessary to purchase cars. It is worth starting a business from scratch by purchasing reliable imported cars. A startup will be easier if the aspiring entrepreneur has his own freight transport. The location of the office is not critical. If you want to start cargo transportation, it is better to start the freight forwarding business by using one car. Where to start a business to earn a good income? It is important for carriers to avoid unprofitable idle runs.

A future entrepreneur should take care of hiring qualified workers for a cargo transportation business in a timely manner. Logistics forwarders help minimize transport costs. In accordance with the contract, these professionals perform insurance, storage, transhipment, and freight forwarding from the initial loading point to the final destination. These cargo transportation business specialists choose the optimal route, solve problems with customs clearance, and monitor the completion of documents.

To develop your business you will need:

use of reliable cars;
website with prices and descriptions of services;
electronic digital signature;
experienced drivers, several logistics forwarders.

In the first months of the company’s operation, when the client base has not been created, the work has not yet been established, and no one knows about the transport company yet, it is especially difficult for entrepreneurs.

If you organize your cargo transportation business correctly, you can soon make a good profit.

Order a business plan

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The cargo transportation sector is very profitable and in demand, but at the same time it has very strong competition. It’s worth saying right away that this business is not suitable for beginners, since without experience and connections it may not be possible to build a successful company. In this article we will look at an example of a business plan for a cargo transportation company and highlight all the important points of this area of activity.

Company format

At the first stage, you will need to decide, firstly, the amount of investment and, secondly, the format of doing business.

You can start a business depending on the type of transport used and its purpose:

— cargo transportation by gazelles and minibuses. This is the most popular urban format for doing business. Typically, such transport is used to transport furniture, personal belongings and other small luggage. The most optimal area for a novice businessman. Especially relevant for working in a big city.

— cargo transportation by trucks (high-tonnage vehicles). This type of activity requires large financial investments and the presence of at least connections to get the first clients. In this format, cargo is delivered both throughout the country and abroad. The profit in this direction is quite high, but it is very difficult to get regular customers. Often clients are accustomed to working with large companies in this field, which is why the problem of finding a customer arises.

— cargo transportation on dump trucks and other special equipment. Typically, their services are in demand in the construction industry, for the delivery of building materials: sand, crushed stone and other things. The problem is that many construction companies have their own vehicles of this class, but there are a huge number of small companies that will use your services. This is also quite an interesting solution for a newcomer to enter the cargo transportation market.

Let's look at the segmentation of the freight transportation market in large cities, this will be useful to you when drawing up a sample business plan for a freight dispatch service.

Large companies (market leaders) – 50%.
Small carriers that have been operating on the market for more than 2 years – 25%.
Private owners – 20%.
Transportation by friends, etc. - 5%.

These are approximate numbers, but some analysis can still be done. A novice entrepreneur needs to strive for the second. The category of carriers, since millions of investments are needed to reach the first level.

In this article we will discuss opening a small trucking company in a large city.

Paperwork

To create a cargo transportation company, you can register as an individual entrepreneur, or register as a legal entity. The best option would be to form an LLC. You can obtain the procedure for obtaining all the necessary documents at this time by consulting with a lawyer. Things are constantly changing in this area. This way you can avoid fines and other misunderstandings. Plus, you will need to draw up a cooperation agreement with clients. Cargo transportation is a business associated with certain risks. In particular, damage to luggage. Therefore, it is a correctly drawn up cooperation agreement that can protect you from conflict situations with clients if the cargo was damaged through no fault of yours.

Transport and equipment

To start in this line of activity, you will need to include the purchase of vehicles in your cargo transportation business plan. To get started you will need:

gazelle. You can use it for rough cargo, such as construction waste. Cheap repairs and the ability to drive on gas make it a profitable solution. And the car itself is inexpensive.
imported minibus. With a load of 1.5 - 2 tons. Perfect for transporting furniture and personal items.
a truck under a canopy for transporting medium-sized cargo. Such a vehicle will allow you to take orders for the transportation of large items.

Premises and garages

To start, you can rent a small office somewhere on the outskirts, the main thing is that it’s inexpensive. You need it first of all as a location for drivers and dispatchers.

The office should have a set of furniture for staff, as well as a computer, landline telephone, office equipment for printing invoices and the Internet.

It is advisable to rent office space near the location of garages (rented or purchased) for storing your vehicles.

Recruitment

You will need to hire several responsible drivers who are qualified to drive this type of vehicle. Look at the employee’s experience and make the first couple of trips with him.

You will also need a dispatcher and a manager in one person.

And not on a part-time basis, an accountant and an auto mechanic.

In the business plan of a trucking company, you need to include advertising costs. You can advertise in the media, which are already covered with them from head to toe, you can post leaflets on poles.

In fact, in order to immediately receive clients, you need to create a selling website and launch contextual advertising. This way you can get your first clients already on the first day of work.

Financial plan

One-time expenses:

purchase of vehicles - $45,000.
redecoration of the premises - $1500.
purchase of furniture and equipment for the office - $1500.
paperwork - $500.
website development - $

Monthly expenses:

office rent is $300.
Rent for garages is $1000.
taxes - $250.
car repairs – 0 – $1000.
wages – from $400 per employee.
advertising - $400.
fuel costs - $1000.

In total, you will need about $52,000 - $58,000 to start.

You can serve about 20 clients a day with an average bill of $15 - $20. The monthly revenue will be about $9,000. Minus monthly expenses - about $5,000.

Business payback is from 1 year and above.

We hope our example of a ready-made business plan for a cargo transportation company helped you.

Organizing your own business is a great opportunity to become independent from an employer, work for yourself and make a good profit. But not everyone knows where to start a business or how to calculate the possible profitability of a business. This article reveals issues related to organizing your own business for transporting goods on Gazelle.

Any business should start with developing a business plan. The further process includes several points:

Development of a step-by-step transportation plan, taking into account the nature of the goods being transported, the type of vehicle and other important conditions.
Preparation of necessary documents and contracts.
Buying a car or repairing an existing vehicle.
or the tax authority.
If necessary, rent office space.
Hiring workers (locksmiths, loaders, drivers) – if necessary.
Promotion of services through advertising.

A business plan can be divided into the following points:

Determining the nature of the goods transported.
Organizational component.
Financial component.
Marketing.
Risk analysis.

What kind of cargo can you carry?

First, you need to decide what you plan to transport on the Gazelle and, based on this, purchase a car. So, what can be transported using this vehicle:

Delivery of various food and grocery products. A van is ideal for this purpose.
Transportation of household goods, as well as various building materials and furniture. For this, it is best to choose a car with an awning.
Transportation of various goods for trade in rural areas. In many remote villages where there are no shops, this activity can be very popular.

Of all the above options for using the Gazelle, one of the most affordable and with a good return on investment is the transportation of furniture. You can start doing this business from scratch; a Gazelle with a long platform, covered with an awning, is best suited for this type of activity.

Organizational plan

Market analysis. At this stage, it is important to study the local structure of freight services. Most often, this market has quite tough competition. The lion's share of transportation is carried out by large companies (usually about 50%), 20-25% of the market is accounted for by medium-sized companies, 10-15% is carried out by narrowly targeted transportation, 5-10% is accounted for by private owners with a personal car. When researching the local market, you can use the Internet and local print media.
Registration of individual entrepreneur or LLC and choice of taxation system. At the initial stage, registering an individual entrepreneur will be enough, but over time, it is often more advisable to register an LLC. To register a company, you will need a decision on establishment (or an agreement on establishment, if there are 2 or more founders), minutes of the meeting, a receipt for payment of the state duty and an application in the prescribed form. To register an individual entrepreneur, a passport and a receipt for payment of the fee will be enough.
Selecting a room for a control room, as well as buying or renting a garage for a car. If the delivered goods are intended to be stored for some time, then it is necessary to consider the issue of renting a warehouse.
Purchasing a work vehicle. This is often the most expensive part of the expense. To reduce costs, you can take a closer look at used cars, but the car must be in working order and not have serious problems. A good option is vehicle leasing. Leasing terms usually require payment of 20% of the cost of the car with its further purchase.
Recruitment. At the initial stage, you can independently accept orders, be a driver and a loader, but in the future there will be a need to hire employees.

To learn how to start such a business, watch the following video:

Financial part

Approximately this part of the business plan might look like this:

Expenses

Purchasing a vehicle. If you plan to purchase two vehicles (this is the best option for establishing continuous operation), then this expense item will be approximately 1,000,000 rubles.
Office space rental – prices vary depending on the region and location relative to the city center. The approximate amount for a small room is 15-30 thousand rubles per month.
Rent of boxes - about 10,000 rubles.
Purchase of fuels and lubricants - with continuous operation, this amount is about 40,000 rubles per month.
Costs for car repairs (owners of used cars should pay more attention to this item).
Advertising – minimum 10,000 rubles per month.
Other expenses – about 20,000 rubles.
Labor costs at the initial stage are about 30,000 rubles.

As a result, we get a sum of about 1,120,000 rubles. This is the start-up capital that you need to have when starting a business.

Income

Approximately monthly income will be 150 thousand rubles, of which about 50 thousand is net profit. Thus, business can pay for itself in 2 years. If the vehicle is leased, the payback period ranges from 3 months to six months.

It is important to consider that at the initial stage there will most likely be few orders. It takes about 2-3 months to develop a customer base and have regular orders.

Marketing part and advertising

This part is very important when starting any business. In fact, all entrepreneurs should do marketing research before opening a business, in order to understand the state of the market for certain goods and services, and whether it is worth engaging in this activity.

When doing marketing research, it is important to get answers to these questions:

Which organizations are the main competitors.
What vehicles are used by competitors for transportation.
What are the competitors' prices?

Only after a thorough study of the market situation should you decide to open a business.

After the organization has already been created, a car has been purchased, and workers have been hired, you can begin advertising services.

Advertising

In the case of cargo transportation, the most effective actions to attract customers will be in two ways:

Active advertising.
Interaction with partners.

Advertising can be posted in the form of notices, submitted to local media, or posted on the Internet. It is periodically necessary to change advertising methods to expand your customer base.

How does collaboration work? Everything is quite simple here. If you have one machine, then sometimes you are simply not able to fulfill all orders. By collaborating with the same private owner, you can give orders to him. And he, in turn, will transfer orders to you when he cannot fulfill them.

Risks

When developing a business plan, it is very important to include possible risks in it. We list their main types that may arise when providing cargo transportation services:

Risks that may arise as a result of using vehicles in poor technical condition. If there are frequent breakdowns, you will have to allocate additional funds for vehicle repairs. In addition, machine downtime increases, which makes it impossible to make a profit.
Organizational risks are associated with issues of approach to searching and customer service. A well-thought-out advertising campaign, discount systems and contracts with regular customers ensure a constant influx of customers. If done incorrectly, orders will be few and profitability will be low.
Risks associated with competition and dumping. It is important to know that large companies can sometimes afford to significantly reduce prices for services for some time and organize promotions, while a private entrepreneur cannot do this.
Risks associated with personnel selection. Don't think that a good employee is easy to find. Quite often you can encounter situations of periodic refusal to go to work for various reasons, work on third-party orders using your car and other troubles. To avoid unpleasant situations, it is good to have several available drivers and loaders who can replace each other.

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