Silver State Charter and Shuttle

Words in [brackets] are blanks you fill in with your own details when you adopt this sample in Supreme Plan AI.

Executive Summary

Silver State Charter and Shuttle is a charter bus and shuttle company in Nevada. We move groups in 28-passenger coaches with professional, licensed drivers for school and church trips, sports teams, corporate outings, weddings, tours, conventions and airport and hotel shuttles. Customers book by phone or online, get a clear quote with the hours, miles and driver costs included and ride in a clean, safe, insured coach.

Groups need to move people together, and many do not own or want to manage vehicles. Cars are not practical for 25 people, and large bus lines are built for big events. A small company that returns calls, shows up on time and has reliable coaches fills a gap for many groups in our area, especially around Las Vegas events and conferences.

Here is what our numbers show. We expect about 150 charter trips, 700 airport and corporate shuttle trips and 30 event and wedding shuttles in Year 1, which brings in sales of $544,000, growing to $1,771,826 by Year 5 as we add a third coach. We expect a loss of about $10,100 in Year 1 because coaches and insurance are costly before the bookings build, then a profit from Year 2 ($41,600), growing to about $202,500 by Year 5. Passenger transportation requires federal and state registrations, drug and alcohol testing and expensive insurance, and the plan covers them.

We need $300,000 in total. Of that, $252,000 is startup costs (two used coaches, tracking and dispatch software, registrations, an insurance down payment and driver training) and the rest is cash to cover the first months. I am putting in $80,000 of my own money, and I am asking for a $150,000 equipment loan and a $70,000 SBA loan. We plan a second equipment loan of $80,000 in Year 3 for a third coach.

I am Rob Ellison, the owner and operations manager, with 13 years of experience driving and managing coaches, including five years as an operations manager for a charter company. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Silver State Charter and Shuttle is a small, independently owned passenger transportation company in Nevada, planned as a limited liability company (LLC). We serve groups and businesses in the Las Vegas valley and surrounding areas.

Our mission. To move groups safely, on time and with respect.

What we believe. Safety comes first. We hold the registrations and insurance that the law requires, maintain every coach on a schedule, test drivers for drugs and alcohol and never pressure a driver to exceed hours of service. We are honest about price, what is included and what is not.

What we offer:
- Charter trips. Day trips and multi-day trips for schools, churches, teams, tours and companies.
- Airport and corporate shuttles. Scheduled and on-demand rides for hotels, conferences and employers.
- Event and wedding shuttles. Guest shuttles for weddings, festivals and private events.
- Group travel planning. Help with routes, timing and stops.

Who we serve. Schools, churches, teams, businesses, event planners, hotels and wedding parties.

What we do not do. We do not carry more passengers than the coach is rated for, drive without a licensed commercial driver, run unscheduled tours that fall outside our authority or serve alcohol on board.

How we are run. I am the owner and operations manager, and I hold a commercial driver's license. Drivers are licensed, trained employees. A safety and compliance coordinator, a part-time dispatcher and sales coordinator and an operations supervisor join over the first three years. A small advisory group of a school transportation director, an event planner and an accountant tells us what is working.

Where things stand today. We have quotes for two used coaches, a draft charter contract and safety plan and letters of interest from two churches, a school district athletic department, three wedding planners and a hotel. Before we begin, our attorney will review our contract and compliance program, and we will confirm the federal and state registrations required to operate.

Problem & Opportunity

Groups that need a bus often struggle to find one. During busy seasons, large operators are fully booked, and small groups with a last-minute event find few options. Quotes can be confusing, with hidden fees for driver time, fuel and tolls. Some operators use older coaches with poor maintenance, and in the worst cases, unregistered operators with no insurance take passengers at low prices. Federal regulators have taken action against unsafe passenger carriers.

Safety rules for passenger carriers are strict for good reasons. Operators must register with the federal government, hold the right operating authority and insurance, enroll drivers in a drug and alcohol testing program and follow limits on hours of driving.

For a new operator, the barriers are the cost of coaches and insurance, compliance, and the time needed to build repeat customers. Coaches cost six figures new and tens of thousands used. Insurance for passenger carriers is among the costliest in transportation. Many trips are on weekends and peak seasons, so utilization is uneven.

We want to be clear about what we know and do not know. Group travel is a real market, and a well-run small operator can win repeat business. We will use the most recent numbers for our area in our final plan and will not overstate them. We do not know how fast bookings will build, so our plan assumes losses in Year 1 and cash to cover them.

Products & Services

Silver State will provide safe, clean coaches with professional drivers and clear quotes.

How it works, step by step:
1. Request and quote. A customer requests a quote by phone or online with the date, group size, pickup, destination and hours. We reply with a written quote that includes the driver, fuel, mileage and tolls and list what is not included.
2. Booking. The customer signs a charter agreement and pays a deposit. We confirm the date and send an itinerary.
3. Preparation. We inspect the coach before every trip, clean it and brief the driver on the route and stops.
4. The trip. The driver arrives early, checks in the group, manages loading and follows the schedule. Our dispatcher tracks the coach by GPS.
5. Communication. The customer has the dispatcher's phone number and we tell them about delays right away.
6. Safety. Drivers follow hours-of-service limits, we keep inspection and maintenance records and enforce seat belt and safety briefings.
7. Billing. We invoice final charges after the trip, and corporate customers pay on terms.
8. Quality. We track on-time arrival, complaints, incidents and repeat bookings.

Why this approach is strong. Groups value safety, clear pricing and a company that answers the phone. A small operator that does those things well gets repeat business and referrals from planners.

Market Analysis

Who we serve: schools, churches, sports teams, businesses, event planners and hotels in the Las Vegas valley and nearby.

Our primary group is organizations that charter buses for trips and events. We will use the most recent numbers for tourism, conventions and group travel in our area in our final plan. Our secondary group is hotels and employers that need regular shuttles.

How we sized our plan. We plan about 150 charter trips, 700 airport and corporate shuttle trips and 30 event shuttles in Year 1 with two coaches, growing to 440, 1,950 and 95 by Year 5 with a third coach from Year 3. Our Year 1 prices are about $1,650 per charter trip, $340 per shuttle trip and $1,950 per event, rising about 3% a year.

Demand data. Letters of interest from two churches, a school athletic department, three wedding planners and a hotel cover about a fifth of the Year 1 trips. We do not count on any one customer.

We do not take every trip. We decline trips that exceed driver hours, are outside our authority or request unsafe loading.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices for groups, and what makes us different.

- Large charter and tour bus companies. They have large fleets and can be booked far ahead. We offer smaller coaches and personal service.
- Other small charter operators. Some are excellent. We compete on safety records, communication and clear quotes.
- School buses and church vans. They are cheap and limited in distance and comfort. We offer professional drivers and coaches.
- Ride share and limousine services. They carry fewer passengers. We carry groups of up to 28.
- Rental vans. They are inexpensive and the group must provide drivers. We provide the driver.

What makes us different.
- Safety first, with registrations, testing and inspection records.
- Small coaches that fit groups of 15 to 28.
- Clear, all-in quotes.
- A dispatcher who answers the phone.

What we do not claim. We are new. Larger companies have bigger fleets. We plan to earn trust one trip at a time.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How we will reach customers.

Event planners and hotels. We will visit wedding and event planners, hotel concierges and convention services, offer a rate sheet and a coach tour and ask to be on their preferred vendor lists.

Schools and churches. We will meet athletic directors, activity coordinators and church administrators and offer a free transportation planning meeting.

Businesses. We will offer employers and conventions regular shuttle service and clear monthly invoices.

Online. A website with an online quote form and photos of the coaches, a Google business listing and reviews.

Pricing. About $1,650 per charter trip, $340 per shuttle trip and $1,950 per event in Year 1, quoted in writing with what is included.

Operations Plan

How the business will run.

Setup (the 4 to 6 months before the first trip). We will form the LLC, register with the federal motor carrier authorities and the state, obtain operating authority and the required insurance filings, enroll in a drug and alcohol testing program, buy and inspect the coaches, set up dispatch and tracking software and recruit and train drivers. We will not carry passengers until the registrations and insurance are in place.

The yard. A leased yard with parking and a small office. Rent is $1,500 a month in the plan.

Staffing. In Year 1: I serve as owner and operations manager and drive when needed. Drivers are licensed commercial drivers and employees, and their pay is counted in the cost of each trip. A safety and compliance coordinator and a part-time dispatcher and sales coordinator join in Year 2, and an operations supervisor in Year 3.

Costs. Driver pay, fuel, maintenance and tolls are about $930 per charter trip, $215 per shuttle trip and $1,200 per event in Year 1. Passenger insurance is about $42,000 a year in Year 1.

Compliance. We keep driver qualification files, hours-of-service logs, inspection and maintenance records and drug and alcohol testing records, and review them every month.

Payments. Most customers pay a deposit and the balance before the trip. Corporate customers pay in about 30 days.

Insurance. We carry the passenger carrier liability limits the law requires, plus physical damage, general liability and workers' compensation. Insurance is the largest fixed cost.

Management & Organization

The people who will run Silver State.

Rob Ellison, owner and operations manager. A commercial driver with 13 years of experience driving and managing coaches, including five years as an operations manager for a charter company. He leads operations, safety, sales and finance. (Replace this paragraph with your own background.)

Safety and compliance coordinator (from Year 2). Maintains driver files, inspections and testing.

Dispatcher and sales coordinator (part-time, from Year 2). Handles quotes, bookings and dispatch.

Operations supervisor (from Year 3). Manages drivers and scheduling.

Drivers. Licensed commercial drivers whose pay is counted in the cost of each trip.

Outside advisors. A school transportation director, an attorney, an accountant, an insurance broker and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center.

Staff pay in this plan is a full year per person: owner and operations manager $55,000, safety and compliance coordinator $48,000, part-time dispatcher and sales coordinator $30,000 and operations supervisor $46,000. Replace them with the pay you can offer where you live.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.
- Before opening (4 to 6 months ahead): get at least 5 letters of interest from groups or planners, get coach, insurance and lender quotes, begin federal and state registrations, form the LLC, get an EIN and open a business bank account. Do not carry passengers until the registrations and insurance are in place.
- Year 1: two coaches, about 150 charter trips and 700 shuttle trips; $544,000 in sales and a loss of about $10,100.
- Year 2: about 250 charter trips, a compliance coordinator and the first profit; $928,030 in sales and a profit of about $41,600.
- Year 3: a third coach, about 340 charter trips and an operations supervisor; $1,299,077 in sales and a profit of about $101,800.
- Year 4: about 400 charter trips; $1,568,943 in sales and a profit of about $156,500.
- Year 5: about 440 charter trips and 1,950 shuttle trips; $1,771,826 in sales and a profit of about $202,500.
Growth depends on winning and keeping customers, so treat the later years as goals, not promises.

What we check every week: trips per week, utilization per coach, on-time rate, incidents, insurance cost per trip, driver turnover and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total we are raising: $300,000.

How we got that number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds up three things:
- Startup costs of $252,000, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section: $190,000 for two used 28-passenger coaches, inspected, with cameras; $8,000 for dispatch software, GPS tracking and tablets; $6,000 for yard deposit and first month; $4,000 for USDOT registration, operating authority and state permits; $6,000 for attorney and accountant: charter contract, drug and alcohol program and setup; $18,000 for insurance down payment; $9,000 for branding, wrap and a website with online quotes; $8,000 for driver recruiting, CDL training, medical exams and drug testing; $3,000 for opening supplies and safety equipment.
- The cash the business uses before it breaks even, about $0: because coaches and insurance are paid for before bookings build.
- A cash cushion of about $38,250: three months of Year 1 operating costs.
- Together that comes to about $290,250, rounded up to the nearest $500: $290,500.
We are raising $9,500 more than that, $300,000 in all, to cover the loan payments and the extra cash the early years take. With this funding, the lowest year-end cash balance is about $33,000, at the end of Year 1.

Where the money comes from:
- My own money: $80,000.
- Equipment loan for the two coaches: $150,000.
- SBA 7(a) loan for working capital: $70,000.

Kind of funding we are looking for. An equipment loan from a lender that finances commercial coaches, with the coaches as collateral, plus an SBA 7(a) loan for working capital. A second equipment loan in Year 3 would finance the third coach.

How we will pay it back. We expect a loss of about $10,100 in Year 1 and a profit of about $41,600 in Year 2, then a profit of about $101,800 in Year 3, a profit of about $156,500 in Year 4 and a profit of about $202,500 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank at the end of every year of the plan. The loan is planned at equipment loan for the coaches at 10.5% over 7 years, about $2,529 a month; sba 7(a) loan for working capital at 12.75% over 10 years, about $1,035 a month. That is about $3,564 a month in all, and it is already included in our cash flow. We chose these as cautious planning rates; ask the lender for the real rates, which may be lower or higher.

What we are offering the lender: the coaches as collateral and my personal guarantee.

A smaller first step, if needed. If we cannot raise the full amount right away, we can start smaller and grow into this plan:
- Phase 1: start with one coach and a smaller set of customers, with the owner driving, which lowers startup costs and insurance.
- Phase 2: once you have steady bookings, add a second coach and a compliance coordinator and follow this plan.
To plan the smaller start, make a copy of this plan (use Duplicate) and lower the numbers to match.

All numbers in this plan are estimates. We will update them as real results come in.

Appendix Notes

Documents to attach before you send this plan:

- Your resume, commercial driver's license and driving record.
- A personal financial statement (a list of what you own and what you owe; lenders usually provide a form).
- Business registration papers and your EIN (your business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov).
- Coach quotes and inspection reports.
- Insurance quotes and your federal and state registration plan.
- Your charter agreement, safety plan and drug and alcohol testing program.
- Letters of interest from groups and planners.
If you don't have any of this yet, no worries - let's continue.

The assumptions behind our numbers (change them in the Financials section to match your own):
- Charter Trips (per trip): about $1,650 in Year 1, rising to $1,857; about $930.00 in direct costs, rising to $1087.97; about 150 in Year 1, growing to 440.
- Airport and Corporate Shuttle Trips (per trip): about $340 in Year 1, rising to $383; about $215.00 in direct costs, rising to $251.52; about 700 in Year 1, growing to 1,950.
- Event and Wedding Shuttles (per event): about $1,950 in Year 1, rising to $2,195; about $1200.00 in direct costs, rising to $1403.83; about 30 in Year 1, growing to 95.
- Charter trips about $1,650 each in Year 1 with about $930 in driver pay, fuel and maintenance; shuttle trips about $340 with about $215; event shuttles about $1,950 with about $1,200, rising about 3% to 4% a year. A third coach is added in Year 3 with an $80,000 equipment loan.
- Pay (a full year, per person): owner and operations manager $55,000; safety and compliance coordinator $48,000; dispatcher and sales coordinator (part-time) $30,000; operations supervisor $46,000.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: commercial passenger insurance $42,000, yard and parking rent $18,000, dispatch, tracking and booking software $6,000, marketing and sales to groups and planners $14,000, drug and alcohol testing program, permits and compliance $6,000, accounting and legal $6,000, payroll taxes and benefits (office staff) $6,000. These grow between 4% and 14% a year.
- Startup costs and equipment ($252,000 in Year 1, then $8,000, $8,000, $100,000, $10,000) are spread evenly over five years in the plan's books.
- Customers and payers pay about 33 days after service. Income tax at 21%.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs