So, You Want to Start a Business?

You’re a natural entrepreneur. You’ve decided to quit the 9-5 and go for it. You’re inspired by the companies who have done it best, like UHaul, Enterprise, and Ryder. But like most massive and successful corporations, you have to start from the most humble of beginnings. To start your business you’re going to need to do lots of planning, preparation, and endless hustling. While the hustle will always be up to you and you alone, you do have the luxury of the internet to get you started with all of the initial planning. So from creating your business plan to search for the best box trucks for sale, here is your guide to starting your new business.

The Vision

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already got all or most of your vision for the business down. But whether or not this is true, here are a few important things to consider.

As with any type of business, it will be incredibly important to have a clear vision of what you want your business to be. What services do you want to provide? How do you want your prices to compare to the competition? How large do you want the company to grow? What will you offer that stands out in the market? For any entrepreneur, these are some of the key questions to consider.

As you ponder these questions and further develop the vision for your business, it can be helpful to write down your thoughts. Once you are confident in the clarity and strength of your vision, you’re ready to create your business plan.

The Plan

Jumping into your business without a solid plan in place can leave your new company vulnerable. As your very first step towards the establishment of your business, here are a few things your business plan should include:

Business Snapshot: A brief summary of your business and what it does.

Research, Research, Research: If you’re going to be successful, you’re going to have to know your competitors and target audience inside and out. This means gathering all the data you can about your competitors like available services, pricing, and strategies. While also learning more information about your potential customers.

Management Strategy/Company Structure: Depending on how large you’d like your business to grow, this step may be more complicated. However, it will help you determine how many employees you need, what positions you need to fill, and how you will see to the management of the staff.

Service/Product List: This list will be important in determining what kind of equipment and supplies you need to effectively provide the desired services or products.

Marketing/Sales Strategy: It is important to have an idea for how you plan to go about marketing your box truck business, however, make sure that this plan is flexible and able to adapt to changes in your audience, competitors, or the economy. In other words, have a set plan in place but remember that you will likely have to evolve your strategies regularly.

Financial Plan: This may become a separate plan all on its own, however, it should include factors like how much money you’ll need to start the business, your revenue goal, and you’re current financial responsibilities.

No matter how much brainstorming this takes, it is important that your business plan is eventually put into writing. Your plan should be clear and concise, yet flexible. Once you’re confident in your business plan, it’s time to start thinking about equipment.

The Trucks

This is the fun part! You’re finally ready to start purchasing the equipment you’ll need to run a successful business. However, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start. Before you start to worry, here is a quick breakdown of what you’ll need to consider before you check out the box trucks for sale near you.

What Type of Truck?

The type of truck you’ll need will vary based on the services your business is going to be providing. The sales staff at your local box truck dealer will be able to help you determine what kind of truck you may need, but here are a few popular options for box truck businesses:

Chevy Silverado 3500HD Chassis Cab
Chevy City Express Empty Cargo Van
Chevy Express 3500 Cutaway Van

In order to provide a variety of box truck services, you’ll need a wide selection of vehicles. However, if you plan on focusing on offering only smaller or larger storage space to transport items, you may be able to get away with one or two box truck models. This is where referring to your business plan will be key during the purchasing process.

New or Used?

There are a few benefits to buying either new or used, and ultimately it will come down to your preferences, needs, and budget. When you begin searching for box trucks for sale, you’re likely to come across several options for both new and used vehicles. While a used vehicle offers instant savings and may lead to cheaper insurance rates, the security of a brand new box truck can sometimes be the more ideal option for business owners. Many box truck companies even suggest diversifying your inventory with both new and used vehicles. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you purchase from a dependable box truck dealer.

Where to Buy? – Finding The Best Box Trucks for Sale

This may come as a surprise, but you can actually find a variety of box trucks for sale available at your local Chevy dealership. Typically, your local Chevy dealership will have both new and used box trucks for sale on hand in a variety of models. It’s a good idea to browse their website or visit them in person to get a better understanding of the price range you’re looking at, as well as the exact models you’ll need to get started. A knowledgeable Chevy dealership will gladly listen to your business goals and help you determine what kind of vehicles will best suit your needs.

The Supplies

While the vehicles needed to operate your box truck business are obviously important, they are not the only pieces of equipment you’ll need. If you plan on transporting your customers’ items safely and efficiently you’ll to invest in a few other supplies such as:

1. Packing Tape
2. Boxes
3. Hand Trucks
4. Padding
5. Load Straps
6. Furniture Covers

While there will certainly be many more supplies to stock up on, this short list will help you get started.

The Final Checklist

There are several other things you’ll have to check off your list before you can officially get started with your business. For example, are there any forms you’d like your customers to fill out before and/or after each move? Another important factor to consider will be the cost of insurance and maintenance for your new fleet of commercial vehicles. These will add significantly to your operating costs and should be carefully considered before you set a budget for the purchase of your new box trucks.

So, you’ve read this article and your mind is spinning with ideas for your business. You’re now ready to build on your vision and create your business plan. When this is complete, the next step will be to visit your local Chevy dealership to get started with your first box truck purchase! Once you have all of the equipment you need, you’ll be ready to start the box truck business you’ve always wanted.