Freight transport is considered a promising type of business. People living in cities and towns use transport services if large items need to be delivered. Therefore, potential customers can be found anywhere. This is very important for those who are interested in how to start a freight business. Indeed, any product or service needs a buyer. The higher the demand, the more profit the business owner receives.
Where to begin?
A trucking business might seem like a simple affair to someone. However, in practice this is a costly and troublesome business. Not surprisingly, only a few remain in this market.
So, the first way to start a freight business is to search for transport. If the starting capital is not high, it is recommended to start with a car of the Gazelle type.
This type of business involves considerable investments, which will be spent on the purchase of at least a small fleet, as well as rental parking.
A potential businessman has two ways to get a truck for transportation: purchase or leasing. In the second case, it is possible to significantly reduce initial investment and quickly achieve a return on investment. Indeed, for minimum profitability, it is recommended to organize a fleet of at least six trucks.
Customer search
This is the next important question that should be answered by those who are interested in how to start a freight business. You need to understand that in the absence of demand, you won’t be able to make money.
That's why you need to choose the most suitable place and time for starting your own business. In addition, you need to be prepared to withstand the competition that exists in the freight market.
Potential customers want to get the most favorable conditions for themselves: quickly, inexpensively and efficiently. However, compliance with such requirements will put the carrier on the brink of bankruptcy. Need to find a middle ground.
Fulfillment of orders for trucking needs to be of high quality. This will create a loyal customer base, which in the future will become a stable source of income.
What you need to open freight
So, to start a business in this area, it is important not only to find transport and attract customers, but also to take care of the legal side of the issue. In particular, you need to register IP. A license is required only if the businessman plans to transport hazardous substances.
The registration process involves several steps.
- First of all, you need to transfer documents to the tax. This can be done in person, by registered mail or remotely using the website.
- Then follows the verification of documents.
- The final step is the registration of IP. This happens after the relevant information is entered into the Unified State Register of Enterprises.
Taxation
As you know, tax on any profit in the Russian Federation is required. To do this, select the most appropriate option. It can be USN, UTII or a patent for freight for IP.
It is impossible to say unequivocally which option will be more profitable in a particular case. For each business, you need to individually perform calculations. Only based on their results can we draw conclusions about the advisability of using one or another taxation scheme. You need to decide on it before registering the IP.
Submitting the appropriate application, the future entrepreneur must choose the OKVED codes for cargo transportation. These are numerical values corresponding to its activities. They are collected in a separate directory. It is enough for the entrepreneur to choose one or several codes, and then indicate them in the application for registration of IP.
Features
Being interested in where to start cargo transportation, first of all, it’s worth understanding the essence of this work. From the side, the whole chain seems incredibly simple. The conclusion of the contract, packaging and loading, delivery to the destination address.
However, there are many nuances that make up the features of the business associated with freight transportation. For example, delivery should be timely. This is very important, as failure to meet deadlines undermines the company's reputation, scaring away potential customers.
It is worth considering the possibility of additional services. Some customers need not only delivery, but also the subsequent unpacking and installation of things. Such services can be fixed in an additional agreement and set a separate fee for them.
How not to do?
There is an opinion in the market that those who could not find a place in other industries prefer the freight transportation sector. Such entrepreneurs are not ready to provide quality service. They register IPs, hire a dispatcher and begin to take orders, but they are in no hurry to complete them.
In addition, they often announce the final cost after unloading things. Usually it differs significantly from the original upward. That is why customers are dissatisfied and are not even going to recommend such a company to their friends. Accordingly, one cannot count on the effect of word of mouth.
Being interested in how to start cargo transportation from scratch, try to avoid such mistakes, including neglect of customers. Otherwise, this activity is unlikely to become a stable source of income.
Relevance
You already know what it takes to open a truck. However, it is equally important to assess the relevance of this business area. Otherwise, it is likely that all efforts will be spent in vain.
It is believed that in the modern world people especially value time, therefore, high-quality logistics is important for them. The relevance of companies involved in the delivery of goods is increasing.
To understand this, just imagine that this area of activity for some reason has ceased to function. What will happen? Goods will not be delivered to stores, people will not be able to transport bulky items, etc.
Cargo transportation is a relevant business. But this does not guarantee profitability.
Is it worth it to start?
The business plan of the transport company can answer this question.
Opinions are different. Someone believes that freight can be a stable source of income. Someone, on the contrary, is convinced that in order to make a profit it is better to concentrate their own efforts on other sectors.
In the case of a business plan, instead of subjective opinions, you will get more specific figures that allow you to draw conclusions about the advisability of opening a company in this area.
However, to obtain reliable information, preliminary work is necessary. In particular, determine the segment of the audience that your services will focus on, and then find out its needs and financial capabilities. Even the highest quality service will be difficult to sell if potential customers have nothing to pay for it.
Also, when drawing up a business plan in the field of cargo transportation, it is important to take into account initial investments. In this case, they will be significant. Since the business is related to the acquisition of vehicles.
Staff
A freight business cannot be organized alone. At a minimum, drivers are required who will deliver the goods.
To ensure profitability, you need to properly schedule employees. For drivers, it must be continuous. Therefore, for each vehicle will have to find at least two drivers with the right to control freight transport.
You also need to hire one or more dispatchers who will take orders.
Each employee needs to pay salaries and make contributions to the Pension Fund. Therefore, you have to hire a professional accountant.
How to find orders?
Businessmen who start shipping from scratch, first try to assess the prospects with minimal cost. That is why at first they can do without a dispatcher and temporarily act as a driver.
However, it is impossible to develop a business without customers. You can start by searching for ads on the Internet. But you need to understand that this is a laborious way.
Novice entrepreneurs often prefer to receive orders for cargo transportation from third-party dispatch companies. In return, you will have to share part of your own profit.
An alternative would be your own advertising. You can place ads on the Internet, try banners and signs. It’s hard to tell in advance which method works best. However, the second option is considered quite expensive. It is not known whether such costs will pay off.
Important Terms
If you want to get a profitable business in the field of cargo transportation, you need to follow some conditions.
- Full load. The less free space remains in the car, the more profitable the freight becomes.
- Permanent job. The less cars stand idle, the more profit they bring. Ideally, you need to calculate the potential demand at the start, and taking into account it, calculate the amount of transport.
- Maintenance. Do not neglect regular inspection, as well as car maintenance, especially if they work at constant load.