Identifying the best business structure is crucial if you’re looking to start a trucking business. Whether you’re planning to venture out as an independent owner-operator or a fleet owner, a good business structure provides the framework under which your trucking business should operate.

Below, we discuss the most common business structures for trucking companies and their advantages and disadvantages to help you choose the perfect setup for the type of trucking company you wish to start.

Common Business Structures for Trucking Companies

Some business structures are designed for small businesses, while others work well for established trucking companies with their own fleet. Here are the four most preferred business structures in the trucking industry:

Sole Proprietor

As a sole proprietor, you own and manage your trucking business entirely. This means you receive all profits but also bear full responsibility for debts and losses, as there’s no legal separation between you and the business.

Starting as a sole proprietorship is the simplest, quickest, and most cost-effective way to establish a trucking company with minimal government involvement. Typically, trucking businesses begin this way before considering other structures.

Setting up a sole proprietorship involves minimal paperwork and fees, often only requiring an operating license in some states. Tax obligations are straightforward, as you report income and expenses on personal tax returns and pay taxes on business profits.

Advantages Of A Sole Proprietorship

There are four primary advantages to sole proprietorships:

• Tax benefits: Sole proprietors are subject to one layer of income taxes. Some qualify for a 20% tax reduction following the tax break regulations outlined under 2017’s Tax Cuts And Jobs Act (TCJA). If qualified, you can deduct up to 20% of your taxable business income, helping you save your business profits.
• Simple tax process: With a sole proprietorship, filing your taxes is straightforward. Unlike other structures, where business entities need an Employer Identification Number (EIN), you can use your Social Security Number (SSN) to pay taxes.
• Easier banking: You don’t require a business checking account and can also use your personal bank account for business purposes.
• Easy to set up, run, and dismantle: Getting started with a sole proprietorship business structure is faster. You don’t have to handle a lot of paperwork. It’s also easier to manage your business as there are no ongoing official requirements, such as holding shareholder meetings or an election to vote for directors.
• Complete control: As the only owner, you have full authority over all decisions and processes. You don’t have to consult any other party as required in other business structure.

Disadvantages Of A Sole Proprietorship

• The business isn’t registered as a separate legal entity in a sole proprietorship. So, you don’t qualify for the legal protections registered businesses enjoy. And because you and your business operate as a single entity, creditors can seize your private assets to recover their money if you face serious business cash flow issues.
• Raising capital for a sole proprietorship can be challenging.

Partnerships

A partnership is an unincorporated business with two or more business owners. Parties sign a formal agreement to operate the trucking business as a team and split the profits. Since the business is unincorporated, it’s not a separate legal entity, so all owners and the business entity operate as one.

Two partnership types exist:

1. General partnership: All owners share financial and legal liability equally. Each partner is personally liable for debts and decisions made by others.
2. 2. Limited partnership: Comprising general partners who manage operations and limited partners, often investors, who have limited liability and minimal involvement in management.

Partnerships don’t pay income taxes; instead, partners report profits and losses on Form 1065 and pay taxes individually, including self-employment taxes based on their share of profits.

Advantages Of Partnerships

• The biggest advantage of partnerships is resource pooling. Partners can pool their capital and split purchase and overhead costs, thus reducing the financial load of starting a trucking company. They can also combine their knowledge and expertise to ensure the company succeeds.
• Few tax forms. Filing taxes in a partnership business structure is simple, as each partner reports the business’s profits and losses through their personal income tax returns. There’s no need to file business taxes.

Disadvantages Of Partnerships

• A partner who doesn’t pull their weight may bring additional liabilities and company debts, which all partners must pay.
• Business decisions require consensus, and the chances of disagreeing are high.
• Selling the business in the future might be difficult because it’ll require all partners to agree.

Corporations

Corporations differ from partnerships as they are legally distinct entities from their shareholders, offering government protection but with stringent regulation, making them complex to manage.

Operating a corporation entails extensive paperwork, record-keeping, tax compliance, and annual reporting, making it costly and less suitable for small businesses.

There are two main types of corporations: C corporations and S corporations.

C corporations can be closed or open, with limited liability and publicly traded stock.

S corporations are limited to 100 shareholders, issue only common stock, and offer liability protection with additional tax benefits. Profits and losses pass through to shareholders’ personal tax returns, avoiding double taxation associated with C corporations.

Advantages

• Liability protection. Because the company is an independent business entity, owners or shareholders aren’t liable for the company’s debts or wrongdoings. So you don’t risk your private assets. You won’t, for example, lose your private property if a company driver causes a fatal accident and the business cannot compensate victims.
• Quick capital. Corporations can raise funds fast by selling company stock or offering shares to employees. It’s easy for them to raise funds when in need.
• Business continuity. Both types of corporations allow simple ownership transfers. Shareholders can sell their shares if they want to leave the company, and business will continue without disruption.

Disadvantages

• Getting started is expensive
• There are strict regulations to follow. including holding annual meetings with properly recorded minutes, establishing a formal organizational structure, and conducting extensive accounting activities. These almost always require a tax professional.

Limited Liability Company

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) structure is one of the best business structures for independent contractors and small trucking companies. It combines the advantages of corporations and partnerships, offering business owners adequate liability protection, tax benefits, and operational flexibility.

An LLC protects your personal assets from the liabilities incurred by the company the same way a corporation does. But there are no strict rules to follow to run the business lawfully, as is the case for corporations. Also, unlike S corporations, LLCs can have more than 100 shareholders.

To set up an LLC correctly, you must file articles of your business’s associations in the Secretary of State office of the region you plan to operate in.

The Different LLCs for Transportation Businesses

Several types of LLCs exist to cater to various niches and operational models in the transportation industry, including:

1. Freight and logistics LLCs – specialize in moving goods and managing shipping, warehousing, and distribution logistics.
2. Passenger transport LLCs include companies involved in transporting people, such as taxis, ride-sharing services, and charter buses.
3. Specialty Transport LLCs cover trucking companies hauling specialized goods, including heavy equipment and hazardous materials
4. Vehicle rental and leasing. These LLCs include companies that rent or lease commercial vehicles to other entities, such as truck leasing businesses and car rental agencies.

Advantages Of LLCs

• Limited liability. Shareholders aren’t liable for the business’s shortcomings.
• Increased stakeholder participation. There’s no limit to the number of stakeholders who join an LLC.
• Pass-through taxation. Owners report the business’s profits and losses through their individual returns. There’s no paying corporate taxes.
• Flexible distribution of business profits. Profit distribution in an LLC can follow a shareholder’s contribution. Shareholders who contributed the most during the startup process can get more profits.

Disadvantages Of LLCs

• There’s lots of paperwork to fill out when starting, although it’s not as much as the paperwork required for setting up a corporation

Are You Required To Create a Business Entity for a Trucking Company?

You don’t need to set up a separate business entity to start your trucking company in several states.

However, without registering a business entity, the state automatically assumes you’re a sole proprietor, and there’s no distinction between you and the trucking business. As a result, you forfeit legal protection and put your private assets at risk.

It’s advisable to consider all the unexpected threats trucking businesses face when their trucks are on the road. So, you can carefully weigh whether you want to create a business entity to protect your personal assets or leave everything to chance.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking of starting a trucking company, it pays to invest enough time and effort in choosing the perfect business structure. It’ll make a difference in your business profits.

A few factors to consider when choosing a business structure include capital for investment, liabilities, tax obligations, flexibility, and the complexity of managing your business.

Once you’ve identified your business structure and are ready to execute your business plan, reach out to us. We’ll customize our commercial loans to your needs to help you purchase your first truck hassle-free.

If you’re going to start any kind of truck-driving business, then your first step is to create a comprehensive business plan for trucking.

A good business plan is essential for the success of your business. Without one, you won’t have a clear direction, and you’ll probably run into problems that you never expected. With a proper business plan, you’ll be fully prepared for a profitable venture.

Ready to create your trucking business plan? We’ll show you how and answer your trucking business plan FAQs in this actionable guide.

What is a Trucking Business Plan?

A trucking business plan is a document that outlines all the aspects of starting and running a trucking company. It’s an essential blueprint you need to create when starting your business, to help you understand how you’ll get your business off the ground and how your trucking services will work.

Your trucking business plan should include detailed information about your company’s goals, target market, services, financial projections, marketing strategies, and operational plans. We’ll get into more detail in the sections below.

Essentially, it’s a roadmap that guides you on how to establish and grow your trucking business strategically.

Why Do You Need a Trucking Business Plan?

You need a trucking business plan because it acts as an actionable guide for your company’s success.

Around 70% of businesses that survive for five years follow a strategic business plan. And, entrepreneurs who have a business plan in place are 260% more likely to launch their own trucking business.

So, a proper business plan will make it a lot easier to start, manage, and grow a successful business in the trucking industry.

Your business plan helps you clarify your goals, understand your target market, and plan your finances effectively. With a solid plan in place, you can identify potential challenges that your trucking company might face, and develop strategies to overcome them. You’ll also have a clear idea of how you can implement a marketing and sales strategy, and get customers from day one.

Plus, having a well-thought-out business plan makes it easier to secure funding from investors or lenders.

Overall, your business plan provides direction, focus, and a roadmap for building and growing your trucking business.

What to Know Before Creating Your Trucking Business Plan

Before you build your trucking company business plan, you’ll need to have a good understanding of the industry and what’s required to run a successful trucking company. This will ensure your business plan is realistic and includes all the right information.

Make sure that you have a solid understanding of the legal requirements and regulations of the trucking industry. This includes things like obtaining the right permits, licenses, and commercial insurance coverage needed to operate trucking companies.

It’s also important to have both business knowledge and industry knowledge. The more research you do before writing your trucking business plan, the more strategic and realistic your business plan will be for establishing a successful business.

Conduct thorough research to understand the competitive landscape, market trends, and customer needs. Knowing your competition and target market will help you position your trucking business more strategically and identify unique selling points.

You’ll also need to understand the costs associated with purchasing or leasing trucks, maintaining them, fuel expenses, and overhead costs. Having a clear understanding of your financials will enable you to set realistic goals and develop a more sustainable business model.

Consider chatting with other industry professionals who can provide valuable insights and guidance as you develop your trucking business plan.

Ultimately, by doing more research into the industry, you’ll be able to develop a more comprehensive business plan that’s more useful when starting a business.

What to Include in a Trucking Company Business Plan

When setting up a business plan for your own trucking company, you’ll want the plan to be as detailed as possible – covering everything you’ll need to know about how to set up and grow your business.

Here’s a basic overview of the main sections your business plan should cover:

• Company description: Explain what your company is about and what makes it special. Describe who manages the company (in an executive summary) and why they’re qualified.
• Operational plan: Explain how your company will operate and what exactly you will do. Lay out specific, achievable goals to help your company grow.
• Services: Describe what your company offers to customers, including any special services that might give you a competitive advantage.
• Target market: Identify the customers you want to reach or the areas you want to serve. Explaining your target customers is a key part of any business plan.
• Market analysis: Look at what’s happening in the trucking industry. Understand what customers want and where they’re located. A thorough competitive analysis is essential.
• Sales and marketing strategies: Explain how you plan to attract customers and sell your services.
• Financial projections: Show how much money you expect to make and spend.
• Funding: Figure out how you’ll get the money you need to start and run your business.

In the section below, we’ll go into more detail about how to write these sections and what information they need to include.

How to Write a Trucking Business Plan

Ready to plan your trucking company? Then follow this business plan template to make sure you cover all your bases before setting up your business.

Picking a Name

The first step in planning out your business is deciding on a name for it.

Choose a name that reflects your trucking business’s identity and values. Make sure it’s memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your specific niche in the trucking industry.

Company Description

Describe your trucking business, including its mission, vision, and core values. Highlight what sets your company apart from competitors and how you plan to deliver exceptional service to your customers.

This can be a brief description – you’ll go into more detail about each area later on in the business plan.

Management and Personnel

Outline the management structure of your trucking company, including key team members and their roles. If you’re starting an owner-operator venture, then this could just be you.

Emphasize the experience and qualifications of your team members (or just your experience) to instill confidence in potential investors and partners.

Operational Plan (Using SMART Goals)

An essential part of creating a business plan is outlining your operations. Detail how your business will operate on a day-to-day basis.

Try to be as comprehensive as possible here, outlining things like where your truck will park, how it will get serviced, who will drive it, who will manage client liaisons, and so on.

An important part of establishing an operational plan is also setting goals for it. Set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals for your trucking business.

This could include increasing the number of clients by a certain percentage within six months or reducing delivery times by implementing new technology within a year. These goals will help keep your business on an upward path.

Services

Detail the range of services your trucking company offers, such as long-haul transportation, freight forwarding, or specialized logistics solutions.

Highlight any unique features or advantages your services provide to customers.

Selecting a Target Market

Identify the specific industries or geographical areas you plan to target with your trucking services. Consider factors such as demand, competition, and potential for growth when selecting your target market.

Of course, your target market will need to align with the trucking services your business offers.

Market Analysis

A major part of any trucking business plan involves in-depth market analysis. The more this section covers, the better.

Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the trucking industry to identify key trends, such as the increasing demand for last-mile delivery services and the adoption of sustainable transportation practices.

Understand the demands of buyers, including their preferences for on-time delivery, cost-effectiveness, and transparency in tracking shipments. Consider geographical considerations such as population density, infrastructure, and regulatory requirements in different regions to tailor your services to them.

Develop sales and marketing strategies based on your market analysis, focusing on building strong relationships with potential clients, leveraging digital platforms for outreach, and showcasing your company’s reliability and efficiency in meeting customer needs.

Financial Projections

Prepare detailed financial projections for your trucking business, including revenue forecasts, expenses, and projected profits.

Use historical data, market research, and industry benchmarks to make realistic projections for the future.

Funding

Explore various funding options for your trucking business, such as grants, self-funding, or crowdfunding.

Determine the amount of capital you need to start and operate your business successfully and create a plan to secure funding from investors or lenders.

Final Thoughts

No matter how experienced you are in the trucking industry, you’ll struggle to get a successful business off the ground without a clear plan. The more detailed and well-researched your trucking business plan is, the greater your business’s chances of success will be.

As mentioned above, a key part of any business plan is funding and financing. Speak to us at Mission Financial to see how we can help you get easy financing for your semi-truck.

If you’re considering starting a transportation business, then one of the first considerations to make is whether you’ll purchase a box truck or a semi-truck with a semi trailer.

Box trucks and semi-trucks are the two main truck types that are used to haul freight. Although these trucks look similar and do similar things, they’re different vehicles and have many key differences between them.

In this guide, we’ll unpack exactly what each type of truck is, how these trucks differ, and what types of businesses each one is best for.

What is a Box Truck (aka Straight Truck)?

Box trucks, also known as straight trucks, have a cab for the driver and a cargo area with a rectangular or box-shaped design for transporting goods.

Unlike tractor-trailers or semi-trucks, box trucks are single-unit vehicles, meaning the cab and cargo area are combined into a single chassis.

Box trucks are commonly used for local and regional transportation of goods. They’re smaller than semi-trucks and provide a fully enclosed and secure space for transporting cargo.

Box trucks are often used for things like moving, delivery services, and distribution of goods. The cargo area is typically accessible through a large rear door, making it easy to load and unload items.

These trucks come in various sizes, with different payload capacities, and may be classified based on their gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

What is a Semi-Truck (aka Tractor-Trailer)?

A semi-truck, also known as a tractor-trailer, big rig, or 18-wheeler, is a type of truck commonly used for long-distance freight transportation.

These trucks consist of two main components: the tractor (also called the cab or truck) and the trailer. The tractor is the front part of the truck that houses the driver’s cabin, engine, and controls, while the trailer is the rear portion designed to carry cargo.

Semi-trucks are a common sight on highways and are a crucial part of the transportation industry for long-distance movement of goods.

They are used in various sectors, including shipping, logistics, and freight transport. The large cargo capacity and fuel efficiency make them well-suited for moving goods over extensive distances.

The Box Truck and Semi-Truck Feature Differences

Considering purchasing a commercial vehicle? Then it’s important to know the key differences between box trucks and semi-trucks.

Gas Consumption

Generally, box trucks have a more fuel-efficient design compared to semi-trucks.
The smaller size and weight of box trucks often result in better gas mileage.

Semi-trucks tend to have higher gas consumption because they’re larger trucks, weigh more, and have higher wind resistance.

Trailer

A box truck is a single-unit vehicle, meaning the cargo area is integrated with the cab.

Semi-trucks consist of a separate tractor and trailer, allowing for the detachment and exchange of trailers. This is more versatile for transporting different types of cargo.

Work Load

Box trucks are suitable for local and regional transportation and are commonly used for smaller loads.

Semi-trucks are designed for heavy and long-distance hauling, making them ideal for large-scale freight transportation.

Versatility

Box trucks are versatile for a variety of delivery and transportation tasks within a local or regional scope.

Semi-trucks are versatile for long-haul transportation and can be used for all kinds of cargo types. The ability to detach and exchange trailers makes semi-trucks more versatile.

Maneuverability

Box trucks are more maneuverable in tight spaces because of their compact size and single-unit design.

Semi-trucks, while less maneuverable than box trucks, are designed for highway travel and long distances. They’re often quite limited in navigating tight urban spaces.

Driving Requirements

Operating a box truck typically requires a standard driver’s license, such as a Class C license in the United States.

Driving a semi-truck often requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL), as these vehicles have a higher weight and complexity.

Driving Skills

Driving a box truck requires standard driving skills, so the learning curve is generally less steep.

Operating a semi-truck requires advanced driving skills, including the ability to handle a larger and more complex vehicle, perform coupling and uncoupling of trailers, and navigate diverse road conditions.

Operational Cost

Box trucks generally have lower operational costs, including fuel, maintenance, and insurance. This makes it easier to start up a box truck business.

Semi-trucks have higher operational costs due to factors like fuel consumption, maintenance for two separate components (tractor and trailer), and higher insurance premiums for larger vehicles.

Box Truck Vs Semi Truck Business: Which is More Profitable?

This is a tricky question to answer, as it really just depends on the nature of the business and what kind of deliveries you’ll be doing.

Box trucks are well-suited for local and regional deliveries with better fuel efficiency, making them cost-effective for frequent stops. On the other hand, semi-trucks excel in long-haul transportation, handling larger volumes of cargo over extensive distances.

The choice between the two depends on factors such as market demand, cargo types, and the operational focus of the business. Each type of truck has its niche, and each can be just as profitable if set up correctly.

However, running a box truck business generally involves lower operational costs. This is because box trucks are typically cheaper, box truck drivers often earn less, and insuring and running a box truck is more affordable.

On the other hand, semi-trucks can carry larger loads, which means semi-truck business owners can charge more for each delivery.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to commercial vehicles, choosing the right truck really just depends on the kind of business you want to start and what kinds of deliveries you plan to do.

Both box trucks and semi-trucks can be extremely profitable, as long as you maximize their unique benefits and use them for the right kinds of operations.

Are you looking to purchase a box or semi-truck? Then get in touch with us at Mission Financial Services to experience just how easy getting financing for your commercial vehicle can be.