Are you considering starting a Trucking Business and are in need of a trucking business plan PDF? if yes, you'll find this free book to be extremely helpful.
This is a practical guide that will walk you step by step through all the essentials of starting your business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and easy to apply.
Checklist for Starting a Business: Essential Ingredients for Success
If you are thinking about going into business, it is imperative that you watch this video first! it will take you by the hand and walk you through each and every phase of starting a business. It features all the essential aspects you must consider BEFORE you start a business. This will allow you to predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas. Ignore it at your own peril!
Here’s a Valuable Free Gift for You
This is a
high quality, full blown business plan template complete with detailed
instructions and all related spreadsheets. You can download it to your
PC and easily prepare a professional business plan for your business.
Click Here! To
get your free business plan template
The Single Most Important Ingredient for Business Success
The first and most important thing you need to acquire in order to succeed in a small business is... knowledge.
Sounds exaggerated? Listen to this...
According to research conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, 90% of all small business failures can be traced to poor management resulting from lack of knowledge.
This is backed up by my own personal observations. In my 31 years as a business coach and consultant to small businesses, I've seen practically dozens of small business owners go under and lose their businesses -- not because they weren't talented or smart enough -- but because they were trying to re-invent the wheel rather than rely on proven, tested methods that work.
Conclusion: if you are really serious about succeeding in a business... If you want to avoid the common traps and mistakes... it is absolutely imperative that you acquire the right knowledge.
"Why Invent Mediocrity, When You Can Copy Genius?"
That's an excellent quote I picked up from a fellow business owner a few years back. What this means is that you should see what is working and try to duplicate Printing Business. Why go through all the trouble of inventing something new, that you don't even know will ever work, when you can easily learn from and duplicate something that has been a proven success?
[ Note: One of the BIGGEST mistakes almost all new businesses make is that they WASTE tons of valuable time, energy and money on trying to create something "new", that has never been tested or proven... only to find out later that it was a total loss. Don't make the same mistake! ]
Hi! My name is Meir. I'm the founder and president of BizMove.com, a successful internet based information business. I'm also the author of numerous books, mostly in the area of small business management.
I've been involved in small business for the past 31 years of my life, as a business coach, manager of a consulting firm, a seminar leader and as the owner of five successful businesses.
During my career as a business coach and consultant I've helped dozens of business owners start their businesses, market, expand, get out of troubles, sell their businesses and do practically every other small business activity you can think of.
You see, I have been there .... done it ... and bought the Small Business t-shirt! -- This free book contains techniques and strategies I've learned during my 31 year small business career.
Here's what you'll discover in the 'How to Start a Printing Business' book:
How to determine the feasibility of your business idea - a complete fill in the blanks template system that will help you predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas.
A detailed manual that will walk you step by step through all the essential phases of starting your business
A complete Trucking company business plan PDF template. This fill-in-the-blanks template includes every section of your business plan, including Executive Summary, Objectives, SWOT Analysis, Marketing Analysis and Strategy, Operations Plan, Financial Projections and more (a similar template is sold elsewhere for $69.95).
All this and much much more.
Success Tip: Setting Goals
Good management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment of the many tasks necessary in starting and managing your business successfully. Be specific. Write down the goals in measurable terms of performance. Break major goals down into sub-goals, showing what you expect to achieve in the next two to three months, the next six months, the next year, and the next five years. Beside each goal and sub-goal place a specific date showing when it is to be achieved.
Plan the action you must take to attain the goals. While the effort required to reach each sub-goal should be great enough to challenge you, it should not be so great or unreasonable as to discourage you. Do not plan to reach too many goals all at one time.
Establish priorities. Plan in advance how to measure results so you can know exactly how well you are doing. This is what is meant by "measurable" goals. If you can’t keep score as you go along you are likely to lose motivation. Re-work your plan of action to allow for obstacles which may stand in your way. Try to foresee obstacles and plan ways to avert or minimize them.
Click here! to download your Trucking Company plan PDF book for free
Learn how to improve your leadership skills and become a better manager and leader. Here's how to be the boss people want to give 200 percent for. In the following video you'll discover 120 powerful tips and strategies to motivate and inspire your people to bring out the best in them.
For more insightful videos visit our Small Business and Management Skills YouTube Chanel.
Here're other free books in the "how to start a business" series that may interest you:
Agriculture Assisted living Auto repair Bakery Bar Beauty salon Bed and breakfast Bookkeeping Boutique Bowling alley Carpet cleaning Car wash Catering Cattle farming Charity Cleaning Coffee shop Computer repair Construction Consulting Convenience-store Cupcake Daycare Dental Dog daycare Ecommerce Electrical Embroidery Engineering Farm Fashion Film Financial advisor Fitness center Flower-shop Food Food truck Franchise Frozen yogurt Furniture store Gas station Goat farming Grocery store Gym Hairdressing Hair salon Ice cream Insurance agency Interior design Internet Internet cafe IT Jewelry Landscaping Laundromat Laundry Law firm Magazine Manufacturing Microbrewery Motel-hotel Music Nightclub Nonprofit Nursery Online-retail Photography Pizza Plumbing Poultry farming Preschool Printing Private investigator Pub Real-estate Resort Restaurant Retail School Security company Service Software Spa Sports-bar Startup Supermarket Travel agency Trucking Vegetable-farming WebsiteHere's a Sample 'Executive Summary' for a Trucking Business plan:
COMPANY NAME is a well established trucking and freight company. The company is engaged in the services of delivering cargo for many of the manufacturers in Buckhannon, West Virginia, providing wood products, aluminum, fabricated building, and fencing products to locations across the country.
The company is dedicated to providing the highest quality services, meeting the required delivery dates and executing the pickup and delivery of the cargo in accordance with the client’s needs. The focus of this business plan is to identify its future target clients, explain its marketing strategy and to improve its internal procedures so it can substantially increase profitability.
The Company
COMPANY NAME is located in Buckhannon, West Virginia. The company is a family owned and operated business, founded by INSERT NAME, in October of 1983; they started with one delivery truck. COMPANY NAME has expanded their services and fleet of trucks and now has long term delivery contracts with many of the major manufacturers in the area.
COMPANY NAME has become a well known icon in Buckhannon and is known for the premium services and competitive prices they provide to their clients.
The Products
COMPANY NAME provides delivery services many of their larger competitors are unable to provide. They work with a schedule that is at a 90% to 95% capacity, most deliveries are scheduled two weeks in advance. The company has drivers on call for rush deliveries, full load cargo (L) and Less than full load cargo (LTL) and will deliver anywhere the client needs them to go.
The Market
There are approximately 126 manufacturing plants in the town of Buckhannon, many of whom are current clients of COMPANY NAME. By expanding their services and fleet of trucks, they will be able to offer delivery services for the other manufacturers.
Financial Considerations
The marketing research and tailored marketing strategy projections described in this business plan, will increase COMPANY NAME profits over the next three years, this is only an estimate, and depends on how well the economy recovers over the next two to three years. Furthermore, with the ability to generate so much cash flow, it is assumed that the company will seek to use this asset to expand its markets and delivery capacity in the near future.
1.2 Mission
The mission of COMPANY NAME is to remain a leading freight and trucking operation, servicing the major manufacturing companies in Buckhannon, West Virginia area.
• COMPANY NAME offers quality, cost effective freight services.
• The goal of COMPANY NAME is to hire 5 additional employees as they
expand their business services.
• COMPANY NAME will continue to provide reliable, secure, on time
services; with an ongoing comprehensive quality control program providing 100%
customer satisfaction.
• Maintain beneficial long-term relationships with our clients. This will increase
profits through referrals and repeat business.
The Keys to Success for COMPANY NAME are:
• Family Owned and Operated by INSERT NAME since 1983. Jim and
Sharon have more than 37 years experience in the trucking industry.
• Experience, knowledge and quality service has appointed COMPANY NAME an icon in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
COMPANY NAME delivers to 48 states.
• Knowledgeable staff with an excellent reputation in customer service.
• Drivers have excellent driving skills and knowledge, knowing the fastest and
safest routes to deliver on time.
• Contracts with major manufacturers in Buckhannon and other manufacturers
across the Country.
• Competitive prices, quality services.
2.0 Company Summary
INSERT NAME started in the trucking industry 37 years ago, managing 73 coal trucks. COMPANY NAME was formed in 1983; starting from the ground up with only one delivery truck, delivering for Weyerhaeuser. The company now has 10 trucks and has several long-term contracts with the major manufacturers in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
COMPANY NAME provides delivery services for their clients in Buckhannon to 48 states. They also have clients on the East Coast, West Coast and in the Mid-West.
COMPANY NAME
Owner: INSERT NAME
INSERT ADDRESS
Phone:
Email:
2.1 Company Ownership
INSERT NAME is the founder of COMPANY NAME and owns 100% of the stock
of COMPANY NAME.
INSERT NAME is in charge of all business administration, accounting, personnel, marketing, and business services for COMPANY NAME.
INSERT NAME manages all of the trucking operations for COMPANY NAME and also manages the maintenance garage, and current laws for the trucking industry.
INSERT NAME(S) are paid a salary through the corporation as employees of COMPANY NAME
COMPANY NAME was founded by INSERT NAME and has been in operation since 1983; in the same location, providing delivery service to 48 States for the manufacturing plants in Buckhannon, West Virginia.
Weyerhaeuser has been a long-term, steady client, using COMPANY NAME services daily. The revenue from Weyerhaeuser brings in an estimated $4,000,000 a year. We expect an increase in our total 2010 revenue.
As industry demands continue, COMPANY NAME will continue to deliver their clients products, when and where they need delivery.
COMPANY NAME experienced a decline in business in 2009; this was due to the rising costs of fuel and a slow period, due to the uncertainty of the current economy.
The start of 2010 was slow; this was mainly due to poor weather conditions. Winter weather conditions in Buckhannon can make it much more difficult for the 18 wheelers to get to the main highway. During the winter months, the trucks have to take longer routes to get around the mountains; this is safer for the driver and the cargo they are carrying. The completion of the new four lane highway will provide safer conditions and easier departure for trucks getting out to the main routes.
Most of the cargo COMPANY NAME delivers is from the wood, vinyl fencing and aluminum manufacturing plants in Buckhannon. The cargo is loaded and delivered usually within 5 days. Cargo is often picked up from the company’s clients in other states after a delivery run and delivered COMPANY NAME, and reduces their overhead costs of driving back with an empty trailer.
Table: Past Performance
Past Performance |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
Sales |
$10,845,160 |
$11,198,114 |
$11,330,057 |
Gross Margin |
$9,586,091 |
$10,535,916 |
$10,136,458 |
Gross Margin % |
88.39% |
94.09% |
89.47% |
Operating Expenses |
$6,160,621 |
$6,636,273 |
$5,573,254 |
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet |
|
|
|
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
|
|
|
Current Assets |
|
|
|
Cash |
$603,521 |
$999,438 |
$714,046 |
Other Current Assets |
$1,722,996 |
$1,898,365 |
$4,773,537 |
Total Current Assets |
$2,326,517 |
$2,897,803 |
$5,487,583 |
|
|
|
|
Long-term Assets |
|
|
|
Long-term Assets |
$5,167,910 |
$4,258,180 |
$4,136,556 |
Accumulated Depreciation |
$472,597 |
$443,079 |
$412,063 |
Total Long-term Assets |
$4,695,313 |
$3,815,101 |
$3,724,493 |
|
|
|
|
Total Assets |
$7,021,830 |
$6,712,904 |
$9,212,076 |
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
Accounts Payable |
$75,117 |
$130,950 |
$55,764 |
Current Borrowing |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Other Current Liabilities (interest free) |
$560,682 |
$680,811 |
$543,773 |
Total Current Liabilities |
$635,799 |
$811,761 |
$599,537 |
|
|
|
|
Long-term Liabilities |
$457,106 |
$511,182 |
$288,000 |
Total Liabilities |
$1,092,905 |
$1,322,943 |
$887,537 |
|
|
|
|
Paid-in Capital |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
Retained Earnings |
$2,503,455 |
$1,490,318 |
$3,761,335 |
Earnings |
$3,425,470 |
$3,899,643 |
$4,563,204 |
Total Capital |
$5,928,925 |
$5,389,961 |
$8,324,539 |
|
|
|
|
Total Capital and Liabilities |
$7,021,830 |
$6,712,904 |
$9,212,076 |
|
|
|
|
Other Inputs |
|
|
|
Payment Days |
30 |
30 |
30 |
COMPANY NAME provides trucking and freight services to the local manufacturing companies in the Buckhannon, West Virginia area. They also have clients in other States throughout the country.
Weyerhaeuser is one of COMPANY NAME main clients; along with other major manufacturing companies, they deliver for on a regular weekly delivery schedule.
COMPANY NAME schedules pickup and delivery for these companies and delivers the clients cargo, usually within 5 days. They also provide a rush delivery service, which some of their competitors are unable to do.
COMPANY NAME also sells their useable parts to the public as additional
revenue, and recycles their tires.
COMPANY NAME offers:
Superior Customer Service and On-time Delivery.
Experienced and knowledgeable staff and drivers.
Our prices are very competitive.
Improve Your Leadership Skills With These Simple Steps
Having
good leadership skills is important if you are in charge of one person
or 500 people. Good communication, people skills and many other things
are required of great leaders. If you do not have these skills already,
it is time to learn. Use the tips below to become a more effective
leader to your team.
Good leaders should focus on the future. You
should be able to anticipate what will happen next and be ready for it.
You will not always be sure of what is going to happen, but over time
this will become one of your skills. Continually ask yourself where you
want to be in six months or a year, and then plan for that outcome.
Effective leaders are inspiring. You need to develop the ability to
inspire those who work under you, motivating them to work toward a
common goal. You can use public speaking to achieve this, but there are
also videos, blogs, articles and other methods to convey your uplifting
message to your audience.
A successful leader needs to maintain a
balanced public and private life. Having a good reputation in the
community is vital to continued success. Being in a leadership role
invites scrutiny, so it is important to maintain humility and exercise
moderation. Do not give anyone something to point to that disqualifies
you as a leader.
If you are rolling out a new business process,
train your employees effectively. That new business process might look
all shiny on paper, but if your subordinates receive insufficient, or
worse, no training, it will inevitably cost you money down the road.
There are ways to make training relatively painless, so do your
research.
As a leader, you must not play favorites. Playing
favorites will get you into trouble. Those who you do not favor will be
none too pleased and not respect you. They may even report your
favoritism. If you have a good friend on your team, you may want to
think about transferring to another department to avoid the conflict of
interest.
When in business, try to always lead by example and
never just by title. Even if you are not a supervisor or manager, try to
be as good at your job as the person above you. This can be a great way
to personally move up the ladder, especially if the higher ups see you
motivate higher productivity in everyone around you.
Even when
things do not seem to be going very well, a good leader is able to see
the positive side of things. While there may be a lot of issues that
make something negative, he or she will always be able to find something
good in every single situation.
You may be a leader, or manager,
but you are a human first. We all make mistakes from time to time. If
you find that you have made a mistake, do not try to hide it, hoping no
one will find out. You will attain a new level of respect by admitting
your mistakes to your team, asking for their input and even apologizing
for a mistake.
Delegate responsibilities whenever possible.
Showing trust in your employees gives them confidence in their own
abilities. It will also inspire confidence in your ability to lead.
Micromanaging your employees is exhausting for your and demotivating to
your employees. Offer support and help them deal with any problems that
may come up.
Anyone in a leadership role should be concerned
about trust. You must be able to trust your team, or workforce, and they
must also be able to trust you. Try having a meeting periodically with a
small group, where trust issues are discussed, and solved. Look for good
articles on the subject of trust in the workplace, and read them with
your group, giving each other feedback and suggestions.
One
principle of successful leadership is to consider all points of view.
You need to examine situations from the perspective of others. Even
though you might not agree with another's point of views, show respect
and attentively listen as this perspective is shared with you. Never be
close-minded to new information or new ideas.
When a mistake
happens, a good leader will use the situation as a chance to learn
something, instead of a chance to criticize. Talking about what went
awry and telling this to everyone else can help create ideas on
preventing the same error from occurring later on.
Consideration
is one of the most powerful aspects of effective leadership behavior.
This describes the leader's ability to exude friendliness, comfort,
warmth, and kindness to other members of the group. This requires only
the simplest acts, such as taking time to apprise team members of
developments, performing an occasional small favor for another person,
and treating others with respect and equality.
As a great leader,
you should always understand that your employees need to establish a
work-life balance. Any job that does not allow time for family and
outside passions will ultimately fail, because individuals need time to
pursue other things. Take the time to understand the importance of this,
and your team will show loyalty to you and the organization.
Get
to know a little about your employees personal lives. While you don't
have to delve deep into their darkest secrets, remembering a birthday or
offering condolences to an employee with a sick child will go a long way
toward building a relationship with that person. Everyone wants to know
you are capable of viewing them as a human being, and acting as a caring
leader can help you to create that impression.
Embrace and
channel your fears. If you take no chances and aren't willing to risk
anything, you will never get ahead in life. Sometimes you need to take
the lead and face your fears if you want to advance. There is a reason
for the stereotype of the fearless leader. Nobody wants to follow
someone who is afraid.
If you are only in charge of one person,
it is still important to have great leadership skills. Being a good
leader requires more from you than you may have expected. Perfect the
skills you already have and learn the skills you do not to become a
great leader.