Business plan for transport services. Step-by-step instructions: how to open a freight transport company from scratch? How to open a logistics company from scratch without transport

Freight transportation is a very popular business sector today. Transport companies will always be in the black if there is a need to transport goods or move. However, why do some companies go bankrupt? Simply because their owners initially pursued the wrong business policy. In the freight market, it is survival of the fittest, and that is a fact. But how not to become bankrupt and how to open a transport company from scratch? You will learn the answers to all these and many other questions in our article today.

Selecting a work plan

Before opening a transport company, you should determine a suitable work pattern. There are two options:

1. Organizing your own transport company with your own fleet of trucks. In this case, you can rent cars or purchase them in the required quantity, re-registering them to an individual or legal entity. In addition, if you expect a large share of cargo transportation, you should hire qualified workers (mainly drivers). If the company's budget is small, you can hire a driver with a personal car. This way you save not only time searching for suitable personnel, but also money on purchasing your own fleet of vehicles.
2. Providing forwarding services. In this case, your company turns into a freight dispatch service. The essence of her work is to find outsourced carriers. Thus, companies receive quite high profits. On average, they charge from 5 to 10 percent of the total cost of transportation (for 1 freight). And this is despite the complete absence of its own vehicle fleet and a minimum recruitment of working personnel. In general, the business is also very profitable.

How to open a transport company providing dispatch services? Pitfalls and more

The work pattern of a company providing forwarding services is quite simple: cargo owner - dispatcher - cargo carrier. What does it mean? The dispatch company connects the cargo owner with the carrier for the purpose of mutually beneficial cooperation. In this case, the forwarding company takes into account all the interests of these two parties.

How to recruit your carrier base?

In order to make a profit, the company must first have its own base of carriers, otherwise there will be no one to cooperate with. Here you can make a list of transport companies and private carriers - owners of freight transport.

This database must be compiled in such a way that you can organize not only road types of cargo transportation, but also sea, air or rail. Most modern forwarding companies operate according to this scheme. However, at first you can try yourself in only one type of transportation (preferably, it should be road transport).

Documentation

All companies and drivers with whom you will cooperate must have a full package of registration and permits. An agreement should be concluded with the owner of the cargo transport, since without it the dispatch company will be responsible for the delivery and safety of the cargo. What should be included in this document? When drawing up a contract, pay attention to the following points:

1. Shipping Name.
2. Its mass.
3. Type of cargo transported.
4. Volume.
5. Loading/unloading area.
6. Type and number of the vehicle.
7. Penalties for failure to deliver (penalty).

At the bottom of the contract, indicate the signature and seal of both parties (the carrier and the dispatch company). Documents can be exchanged in several ways: by fax or email. Delivery of cargo can also be paid in several ways: in cash (upon loading/unloading) or by bank transfer.

In the latter case, payment is made within 7-14 banking days. But, as practice shows, money via bank transfer may not arrive even after a month (fortunately, this happens very rarely).

How to open a transport company for cargo transportation?

First of all, you will have to think about purchasing transport, since in this case you simply cannot do without it. How does a transport company work? The whole essence of your company’s work will be to search for orders (this can be done through the same dispatch services) and deliver goods in various directions.

Thus, trucks will be the main “gear” in the operation of the entire huge mechanism of the carrier company. Many start-up companies rent a fleet of vehicles. But if your company’s initial capital is large enough, it is best to buy your own trucks and not pay monthly rent, as in the previous case.

When the number of cars in your fleet is 15 or more, think about building your own service station or working closely with a specific company engaged in the maintenance of such equipment.

How to open an office?

Where exactly your office will be located does not matter. And if you decide to equip it, be sure to connect a multi-line telephone to it. Next, you should think about purchasing furniture, office equipment and connecting to the Internet. In general, an office for such a company that delivers goods is not a mandatory aspect.

Most often it is needed by dispatch companies that simply do not have their own fleet of vehicles. If you are a private carrier, open a website instead of an office. There you can provide all the detailed information about your company, tariffs, and also post photos of your fleet. This way you will definitely interest the customer who will want to cooperate with your company.

Company staff

When drawing up a business plan for a transport company, it is impossible not to touch upon the problem of employing employees in your company. Is it even worth hiring people for your company? The question is very ambiguous. And the exact answer to it depends on the scale of transportation and the number of units of equipment. Agree, why hire a dozen people if you only have one car.

If you decide to open a transport company, you should have some experience in the market for these services and know what strategy to choose. Here we will consider the question of how to open a transport company, a business plan for opening it, and what is needed to organize this business.

The increase in import and export volumes, as well as the flow of passengers, creates demand in this area. Therefore, freight forwarding companies are constantly opening on the market. But the birth of forwarding and freight companies entails the disappearance of transport companies. Carrier companies solve the shortage of their own transport by attracting neighbor's cars. This is how a new forwarding department or some other department is organized. You should start opening such a business with registration.

Business plan

If you decide to open an enterprise that will provide types of services (transportation of passengers, cargo, etc.) in this area, then you can download for free a ready-made example of a business plan for a transport company, which will help you in calculating all the costs when organizing this business .

If you do not want to provide something, then simply delete the items with costs and income for this service.

How to open a transport company

So, let's look at the information point by point on how to open a transport company providing forwarding services.

Company registration

Most transport companies give preference to such organizational and legal forms as CJSC (closed joint-stock company), OJSC (open joint-stock company), LLC (limited liability company), PBOYUL (unincorporated entrepreneur). But it is worth noting that many transport companies refuse to work with PBOLE due to value added tax. A joint stock company is a more suitable form for creating a business, however, registering a closed joint stock company is a rather complex process and consists of a number of complicated procedures. Therefore, the best option for opening a freight forwarding company would be the “LLC” form.

To register a legal entity, it is beneficial to turn to organizations that provide legal support in order to avoid mistakes, fuss, and conflict situations. There is an option to purchase a ready-made transport company, but in this case you will have to be content with the existing company name. To register, you will need to deposit initial capital (about 10 thousand rubles) and open a bank account.

Office and staff space

The premises for the office of the transport company will be the legal address of the company, so you will have to conclude a lease agreement between the owner of the premises and your company.

At first, you can limit yourself to recruiting personnel, combining the functions of several positions. However, this approach will significantly slow down the work process of the transport company. Finding an experienced, specialized specialist without guaranteeing him a high salary is quite difficult, so it makes sense to hire a capable worker without experience in this field and train him. As for accounting, a qualified specialist is needed here. Since responsibility for wages will now lie with you, it is better not to risk it and use the services of an audit company.

Pros and cons of this business

The undoubted advantage of the freight forwarding business is the small cash investment to start. And also that a license is not required for forwarding activities. But the lack of a license entails dishonest work by dispatchers of private transport companies, and this fact is certainly a disadvantage in this profession.

Beginning of work

To avoid mistrust between the client and the supplier, you will need to familiarize your transport company’s suppliers with complete information regarding the carrier, warehouse, broker, etc. And there is no need to worry about the fact that you will be removed from this chain, since the client companies, for the most part, do not have logisticians on staff. Also, by going directly to the broker, the warehouse, the carrier... they have no guarantee of getting the same rate that the freight forwarder gets.

To start providing transport services, you need to sign a freight forwarding agreement with the client, and a client agreement with the translator. But the work of the forwarder is not limited to this. Tracking the vehicle along the way, solving problems that arise, having a clear idea of ​​what is being transported, bringing the client up to date - this is the essence of a competent auto forwarder. The obvious simplicity of the work of a transport company is fraught with pitfalls. This is knowledge of the laws of movement of transit and export cargo, the correct execution of documents, the presence of a large number of expeditions at the points of departure of goods.

Peculiarities

In the initial stages, you will have to do all the main work yourself. In addition, you will need experience in the field of expeditions, so as not to fail at work at the very beginning of your activity. The first steps should be taken with caution, because the activity of a freight forwarder is to satisfy the interests of the clients of the transport company, to possess information, since there are cases when only the freight forwarder can resolve situations between the carrier and the cargo owner.

Advertising your services

In the first stages of work, you should not get carried away with advertising for a transport company, since advertising resonance can lead to a lot of orders that you, as a start-up company, will not be able to cope with. And this will entail negative publicity, which will not have the best effect on the company’s reputation. Start with small advertisements on special websites on the Internet. As a result, you can create your own page for publishing advertisements, articles, etc.

When is the best time to open?

Autumn and spring are considered the “hottest” seasons for transport companies. You need to prepare for them in advance, otherwise you will miss profits and ruin your reputation. It is best to start the work of a transport company during the “quiet” period, which occurs in the summer. You will have time to get comfortable, complete all the preparatory work and begin active activities by the fall.

Always consider your mistakes

The freight forwarder is the link between service providers and the client. It follows that the forwarder will have to defend the rights of both parties. Therefore, one way to avoid costs is activity insurance. However, there are times when this does not help. For example, imported cargo goes to Russia. The car was delivered on time, loaded at the client’s warehouse in accordance with the documents, the customs of the foreign state gave the go-ahead, but at the Russian border, due to a weight discrepancy, the question of the unreliability of the declaration arose. Russian customs officers are conducting investigations, but nothing can be proven. During this time, the driver is issued a contract for loading and unloading services, the cost of which, depending on the weight, ranges from 600 to 1000 US dollars. Logically, the transport company should pay for the warehouse services. However, it will be possible to prove their guilt only after the car arrives at the delivery site and a control weighing of the cargo and the car takes place. But without paying for storage services, the track will not be released. The forwarder will have to deal with this problem. You will have to pay the costs yourself, in the hope of recovering damages after the investigation.

Similar situations can await your company at any stage, so you need to have material reserves, the right contacts and practical knowledge.

You can use the most established directions and methods of transportation. The profit of the transport company in this case will be less, but the risk will be minimized. In the process of work, relying on the main clients, it is possible to introduce auxiliary services, such as consolidation in transit warehouses, assistance with customs clearance, and preparation of related documents.

The desire to develop, the desire to open a transport company, faith in one’s own strength – these are the components for starting your own business. A successful business is, first of all, creativity, and not a struggle for survival.

Prepared based on the material www.openbusiness.ru , by Ellie Larson.

When studying business areas in which today you can actively develop, aspiring entrepreneurs should pay attention to the field of cargo transportation. This industry directly depends on the growth of the industrial sector, as well as on the general economic situation in the state. When planning to open a transport company, a novice businessman must first of all monitor the local market, realistically assess his ability to compete, and also draw up a competent financial plan.

Registration

After making the final decision regarding the opening of a transport company, the businessman must go through the state registration procedure. To do this, he needs to determine in what status the commercial activity will be carried out:

1. Individual entrepreneur.
2. Closed or Open Joint Stock Company.
3. Limited Liability Company

Important! Experts in the field of economics and law recommend that Russian citizens who decide to develop a cargo transportation business choose . Its main advantage is that the founders and managers of the company are not subject to legal liability. If problems arise with regulatory authorities, the Limited Liability Company will be liable only with personal property and assets listed on the balance sheet.

After studying this video, novice entrepreneurs will be able to learn how to properly organize document flow in a transport company:

If beginning entrepreneurs have chosen LLC as their legal form, then the best option for them would be to switch to the UTII tax regime (see also). In this case, they will be able to use up to 20 trucks. For individual entrepreneurs, tax form 3 of personal income tax is more suitable. Before starting work, company managers must open current accounts in any banking institution, since very often cargo transportation is ordered by both small and large companies that need to document their costs.

Attention! Today, Russian citizens can contact legal offices whose specialists open turnkey transport companies in record time. They can also purchase a ready-made company, with an open bank account and a full set of registration documentation.

Selection of premises

After completion of registration activities, business entities planning to work in the field of cargo transportation need to find premises for an office and a protected area for a vehicle fleet. When looking for premises where clients will be served, you can choose large business centers where offices are rented. When choosing an area for a truck fleet, you should pay attention to those places that have fences and a nearby transport interchange. Today, many companies rent out their warehouses and hangars, as well as administrative buildings in which offices for management and staff can be located.

Important! To operate a transport company, you need to purchase computers, printers, a scanner, a fax and a telephone, which are necessary to work with clients and process cargo transportation. Regular office furniture is suitable for furnishing offices.

If a budding entrepreneur has a large start-up capital, he can purchase office space. In this case, he will be able to make a profit from such real estate (rent), even if there is no development in the field of transport services. The transport company must have its own garage, in which mechanics will repair cars and carry out their maintenance. It is also recommended to equip a warehouse in which customer cargo will be temporarily stored.

A business entity must approach the issue of personnel selection with full responsibility, since the financial result and prosperity of the company will ultimately depend on the qualifications and integrity of hired workers. When hiring drivers, you need to pay attention to their experience and length of service in this field. The number of such employees should match (or better exceed) the number of trucks. If the company operates daily, then one truck needs to have 2-3 drivers. A work shift schedule is drawn up for them, which includes days off.

If truck drivers have the opportunity to independently carry out maintenance and repair of vehicles, then they can save money on the position of mechanic (otherwise, such a unit should be added to the staff). It is imperative to hire qualified and sober loaders who can carry out loading and unloading operations either manually or using specialized equipment.

To work in the office, you will need to hire an accountant, cleaners, security guards and a secretary, a trade manager, a logistics manager (the number of these employees depends on the size of the fleet), who will place orders. A large logistics company must have a lawyer on staff who can handle insurance processing. If the manager cannot find suitable specialists for the positions of lawyer and accountant, he can turn to an outsourcing company and use the services of its employees. Today, many transport organizations employ full-time doctors who examine drivers before each trip.

Important! A business entity can save money if it hires drivers with personal cargo transport.

The project of opening a private transport company for cargo transportation operates on a commercial basis. This project has significant costs. The goal of the project is to deliver goods inexpensively and as quickly as possible. This determines the amount of investment and is expressed in a long payback period of 17 months.

The company's total vehicle fleet is 8 truck tractors and 8 standard semi-trailers. According to the total possible loading of semi-trailers, the minimum area of ​​the premises must be 400 m2, including an office space with a total area of ​​50 m2. A space of this size can be purchased or rented.

The cost of the company's services is 80 rubles. for 1 km. The average mileage of 1 truck per month is 10 thousand km. This market is characterized not only by high competition, but also by high demand from companies that want to outsource transportation activities.

Initial investment amount - 13 460 000 rub.

Monthly costs - 4 204 278 rub.

Average monthly profit - 1 012 491 rub.

Payback period - 19 months

2. Description of the business, product or service

Due to the increase in import and export of goods, as well as the growth of the domestic transportation market, the demand in the field of cargo transportation is constantly increasing. It must also be taken into account that due to the recent crisis, a significant part of small and informal transport companies have left the market, while a significant market share is opening up for new companies to occupy. The main factor that will influence success is the ability to offer the client a fast and efficient cargo transportation service with competitive prices. The main types of cargo transportation are “general” and “groupage” cargo. Also, when opening a company, you need to pay attention to the development of software for effective document flow with clients, as well as the exchange of any other information.

In addition, when the question arises about opening a transport company, it is necessary to take into account the specifics of the activity. Particular attention should be paid to the legislative framework for the activities of transport companies. Future management and owners should carefully read the main documents regulating the activities of cargo transportation in Russia:

• Federal Law “On the State Automated Information System ERA-GLONASS” dated December 28, 2013 No. 395-FZ
• Federal Law No. 16 “On Transport Security”
• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated April 15, 2011 No. 272 ​​“On approval of the Rules for the transportation of goods by road”
• Civil Code of the Russian Federation
• Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 7 “On approval of the Rules for ensuring the safety of transportation of passengers and goods by road transport and urban ground electric transport”
• Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 15 “On approval of the Regulations on the peculiarities of working hours and rest time for car drivers”
• Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 258 “On approval of the Procedure for issuing a special permit for the movement of a vehicle transporting heavy and (or) large-sized cargo on roads”

In the case of international cargo transportation, the list of legislative acts and orders will be supplemented with the following:

• Federal Law No. 99-FZ “On licensing of certain types of activities”
• Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 730 “On approval of the regulations on the admission of Russian carriers to international road transport”
• Federal Law No. 127-FZ “On state control over the implementation of international road transport and liability for violation of the procedure for their implementation”
• Customs Code of the Russian Federation

3. Description of the sales market

The need for transport companies for cargo transportation today is a consequence of government policy on import substitution, the development of agriculture and other industries, which causes great demand for domestic cargo transportation services. At the same time, many small companies that cannot provide clients with effective service and a modern fleet are leaving the market. The combination of these factors ensures a stable demand for these services, for which this business plan has been drawn up.

The main clients of transport companies are import-export companies, trading and manufacturing companies in the Russian Federation. When planning to open your own transport company, it is necessary not only to attract clients, but also to offer them favorable and flexible terms of cooperation. For example, if you do not have enough transport units to transport a month's worth of your clients' cargo, cooperation in most cases will not be possible.

Also, additional prerequisites for the formation of demand at present are that most manufacturing and trading companies are removing logistics departments and their own vehicles from their staff due to high capital costs, and outsourcing the transportation of their products.

One of the ways to increase the market for your services is to rent out your own vehicles for permanent use to clients.

The main factors that determine the success of a transport company today are fast and efficient service, as well as the availability of the required number of vehicles.

4. Sales and marketing

5. Production plan

General plan for opening a transport company for cargo transportation in stages:

• Search for premises for an office and warehouse (for 8 tractors)
• Registration of a legal entity - individual entrepreneur
• Conclusion of a rental and leasing agreement for premises
• Repair of premises and warehouse
• Recruitment and training of personnel
• Attracting clients and getting started.

Opening an individual entrepreneur (OKVED code 49.41 - Activities of road freight transport). Tax registration with the tax service. The optimal tax system is the simplified tax system (income-expenses). It is also possible to register a legal entity in the form of LLC (Limited Liability Company). This may be required due to the fact that most clients will use the General Taxation System (GTS).

To open, you also need to rent an office with an area of ​​50 m2 and a temporary storage warehouse (TSW) with a total area of ​​350 m2. Leasing agreements must be concluded for 8 tractors and semi-trailers.

Office opening hours: from 9:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday. It is planned to reach full occupancy within 8 months after opening.

6. Organizational structure

For organizing a freight transport company, personnel who are able to ensure uninterrupted delivery of goods are especially important. The team will expand as necessary and as the business grows organically. This project, designed for 8 cars and semi-trailers, requires a team of 27 people, including:

• General Director
• Head of Sales Department
• Sales managers (3 people)
• Logistics specialist (2 people)
• Head of warehouse
• Loaders (3 people)
• Drivers (16 people)

Accounting must be outsourced, and many companies, as well as banks, provide similar services as part of cash management services.

The role of a manager can be performed either by the owner of the business, who will ensure control of all operational processes and the implementation of marketing policies, or by a competent hired employee.

The key function is performed by drivers, whose immediate responsibility is the transportation of goods. Therefore, careful consideration must be exercised when selecting drivers.

The warehouse manager and loaders perform a service function, distributing and loading and unloading cargo.

	Amount of workers	Cover part	Salary amount
Manager
Head of Sales Department
Sales Managers
Logistics specialist
Head of warehouse
Loaders
Drivers
Total:

The full calculation of the payroll for 24 months, taking into account insurance premiums, is presented in the financial model.

The freight forwarding business is developing dynamically. The flow of cargo transportation is constantly growing. There is a need to coordinate actions and timely delivery of goods. The link between the shipper and the consignee is the freight forwarding company. Properly organizing logistics is the primary task of the company’s employees. The reputation and profit of the enterprise depend on the quality of the services provided and the fulfillment of its obligations.

The freight forwarding business is associated with many risks, as several stakeholders are involved in the process. It is easiest to engage in forwarding activities for entrepreneurs who have experience in the transport sector, know the legislation, are able to correctly draw up accompanying documentation and resolve issues that arise at the border or in cargo storage areas.

Area of ​​activity

Before opening a transport company, decide which work scheme suits you best:

1. Creation of your own transport company with a fleet of trucks of various tonnage. The financial costs will be significant. You will need funds to rent or purchase cars, pay for qualified personnel (drivers, dispatchers, accountant, manager).
2. Creation of a company providing forwarding services. You will play the role of freight dispatchers and look for outsourced carriers. You don't need your own vehicle fleet. For intermediary services, companies charge from 5 to 10% of the total cost of transportation for 1 freight. The investment will be minimal, and the profit will be quite large.

A reputable transport company often provides additional services related to the delivered cargo:

• consolidation;
• warehousing;
• security;
• insurance.

It is advisable for a newly created company to begin work by organizing transportation by road. After familiarizing yourself with the nuances and developing a client base, you can move on to more serious types of transportation:

• using railway transport;
• by air transport;
• mixed types of transport.

Where to begin

If you decide that you have enough knowledge and funds to open a transport company, register the chosen form of organizational and legal activity of your enterprise. Entrepreneurs prefer open () and closed () joint stock companies. The best option is a limited liability company. The risks of takeover by competitors are minimized and the interests of each shareholder are protected, regardless of what percentage of shares they own.

Your actions:

1. Draw up the decision and agreement of the founders on the creation of an LLC.
2. Form an authorized capital (minimum 10 thousand rubles or property equivalent to this amount).
3. Develop the LLC Charter.
4. Fill out the application for state registration of your company (form No. 11001).
5. Pay the state fee (4000 rubles).
6. Attach to your application a receipt for payment of the state fee and copies of the constituent documents.
7. If there are foreign citizens among the founders, an extract from the register of foreign legal entities of the Russian Federation will be required.
8. submit to the state registration authorities.

Financial expenses

To engage in expeditionary services, you will need quite an impressive start-up capital. Minimum 250 thousand rubles. you must have. What does this amount consist of:

One-time opening costs will be:

• LLC registration – 35 thousand rubles;
• purchase of office equipment, consumables, furniture, Internet connection – 100 thousand rubles.

In addition, monthly you will spend on:

• rent of premises of 20 sq. m – from 8 to 30 thousand rubles;
• utilities – up to 5 thousand rubles;
• salary for employees (with a staff of 2-3 people) - from 50 thousand rubles;
• advertising – up to 30 thousand rubles. As the company develops, this amount may decrease due to the establishment of personal contacts and the acquisition of a worthy reputation for your company;
• commercial expenses – up to 3 thousand rubles.

If you plan to engage in freight forwarding activities, you will have to rent or purchase vehicles, organize warehouse space, hire drivers and expand your staff of employees. Additional costs depend on:

• brand and carrying capacity of selected vehicles;
• storage area;
• number of personnel;
• office size and location;
• advertising costs;
• amounts of utility bills.

Freight forwarding services are among activities where there is a high margin. The average profitability ranges from 25–40%. By investing 250 thousand rubles, you will recoup the costs in a year.

A business plan for opening a transport company, drawn up by a competent economist, will allow you to calculate the costs specifically in your case, taking into account all aspects of the activity. Get ready for the fact that at first you will work at a loss. Based on a study of the work of transport companies, experts usually predict that the company will be unprofitable for the first three months. With the right approach, increasing the number of orders and expanding the customer base, the first profit may appear in six months. Income will increase from 600 thousand rubles in the first month to 3 million rubles in the sixth month of work.

Office opening

The location of the office depends on the availability of funds. For the prestige of the company and the convenience of potential clients, rent premises in the city center. You can open an office on the outskirts. Rental cost per 1 sq. m will decrease from 2 thousand rubles in the center to 400 rubles. in a remote area. This option is more convenient for carriers (the location is close to the highway).

The number of employees depends on the expected volume of business. If there is no client base, and at first you will be engaged in dispatch services, 1 dispatcher and you performing all other functions (director, accountant, manager) will be enough.

Be sure to equip your office with:

• a desktop with a computer with Internet access;
• telephone with multi-channel communication;
• office equipment: MFP, fax.

Buy quality software that allows you to:

• register contracts;
• take into account applications;
• calculate the cost of services, cost and profitability of services for each client;
• automate supply chain management;
• quickly and accurately write out primary documentation;
• generate reports;
• generate an extract at the request of the customer.

Staff

Look for workers with experience. It is advisable that the manager has his own client base. This way you will get back on your feet faster and will be provided with orders. For smooth operation, you will only need competent transportation managers. Their tasks:

• development of transport schemes;
• determination of the most profitable directions of transport flows;
• communication with customers;
• coordinating the actions of counterparties;
• prompt response to problems that arise and inform management if the manager’s competence and authority do not allow them to be eliminated.

The logistics manager must be:

• punctual;
• proactive;
• literate;
• sociable.

The salary of a transportation manager is from 20 thousand rubles. monthly (rate + percentage of profit). At first, use the services of a visiting accountant. They will cost you 10 thousand rubles.

As your business develops, expand your staff and purchase additional office equipment. To clearly separate functions, organize 2 departments:

1. Commercial. Specialists will accept applications, issue invoices, issue waybills, and inform customers about cargo delivery. Their responsibilities will include cargo insurance and searching for new contractors. 2-3 competent specialists will be enough.
2. Forwarding. Specialists monitor the condition of rolling stock, maintenance schedules, and carry out work on cargo dispatch and delivery. They are also engaged in providing additional services involving various modes of transport. At least 3 people will be required in this area.

Remember: reducing the number of staff and forcing employees to perform duties that they have only a vague understanding of can lead to fatal consequences for the business. The logistics of amateurism are unforgiving and hit the pocket hard. Penalties, fines, tarnished reputation are the result of any miscalculations or incompetence of both staff and management. Cargo transportation as a business requires maximum control over all stages of work.

How to attract clients

To get your first customers, you need to take certain actions:

• place an ad in the newspaper;
• print promotional products: business cards, booklets with a story about your company;
• place information on banners along busy highways and in the central part of the city;
• create a website on the Internet indicating the list of services provided and contact information;
• Call as many contractors as possible and express your interest in cooperation. Tell us about your benefits. There will definitely be interested parties;
• make personal connections to find your first clients.

Advice: be sure to conclude client agreements with carriers and contracts for forwarding cargo support. Never rely on your word. Oral agreements have no legal force. There are frequent cases of deception and fraud in the absence of concluded contracts. If you do not want to document your relationship, refuse to cooperate and remove the unreliable client from your database.

Opening time

Cargo transportation is a seasonal business. Peak season is autumn and spring. Experts recommend starting a freight forwarding business in the summer. By the time of the busy season, you should already have a work plan in place, the first clients have been found, and inconsistencies that arise at first have been taken into account and corrected.

To open a transport company, you will need the necessary knowledge, a well-thought-out business plan, a desire to work 24 hours a day and a desire for dialogue with all stakeholders.