Defensive Driving & Driver Education School

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Executive Summary

Safe Roads Driving School is a driving school serving teens, adults and traffic ticket drivers in our city and the nearby suburbs. We teach defensive driving and traffic school courses, and we give behind-the-wheel lessons to new drivers. Learning to drive is a big step, and families worry about safety and cost. Many driving schools have long waits for lessons, rushed teaching or confusing prices. People with traffic tickets need quick, approved courses. We will win students by being patient, certified, flexible with schedules and clear about what each course includes. Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of about $108,000 in Year 1, growing to about $432,000 by Year 5 as we add certified instructors and more students. We expect a profit of about $2,700 in Year 1, growing to about $101,400 by Year 5. We need $52,000 in total. That covers $34,200 in startup costs (a dual-control instruction car, classroom equipment, teaching materials, state license fees, insurance and advertising) and a cash cushion of about three months of bills. I am putting in $12,000 of my own money, and I am asking for $40,000. The startup costs include a dual-control instruction car and classroom equipment. I am Thomas Nguyen, the owner. Tulsa, Oklahoma

These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Safe Roads Driving School will be a limited liability company (LLC) in Oklahoma, owned by Thomas Nguyen. We will work from a small classroom at a community center, with the car parked at my home. What we believe. Teach calmly, put safety first, be clear about prices and help every student pass with confidence. What we offer:
- Defensive driving and traffic school courses, in class or online as approved. - Behind-the-wheel lessons for new drivers. - Teen driver education, where state-approved. - Refresher lessons for adults and older drivers. - Road test preparation. Licenses and insurance. Driving schools are regulated by the state. We need a driving school license, certified instructors who have passed background checks and training, an approved curriculum for each course, an approved vehicle with dual controls and the right insurance. Our state requires a school license, certified instructors and an approved curriculum, which I will apply for before enrolling students. We will not offer any course for credit or ticket dismissal until it is approved by the state or the court. Student records are kept as the state requires. Where things stand today. I have six years of experience teaching driving, I will complete the state instructor certification before opening, I have priced a dual-control car, and I have a course outline.

Problem & Opportunity

Families and drivers near us want driving instruction they can trust. 1. Long waits. Many schools have weeks-long waits for lessons. 2. Rushed teaching. Some instructors move too fast for nervous new drivers. 3. Unclear requirements. Families do not know what courses and hours are required. 4. Ticket pressure. People with tickets need fast approved courses to avoid penalties. How we know people want this. Twenty parents asked me about lessons for their teens last year, and a local court said it needs more approved ticket courses.

Products & Services

What we sell. 1. Defensive driving and traffic school courses. Courses that meet state or court requirements. Our plan assumes an average of about $45 per student in Year 1, rising to about $49 by Year 5. Materials and direct costs run about $8 per student. We expect about 1,400 students in Year 1, growing to about 4,839 a year by Year 5. 2. Behind-the-wheel lessons. One-on-one lessons in our dual-control car. Our plan assumes an average of about $75 per lesson in Year 1, rising to about $83. Fuel and direct costs run about $22 per lesson. We expect about 600 lessons in Year 1 (about 12 a week), growing to about 2,348 lessons a year by Year 5. Our prices. Traffic school course $45. Behind-the-wheel lesson $75. Teen package of six lessons $420. How it works for the customer:
1. An easy sign-up, with a clear explanation of what is required. 2. A schedule that fits school and work, with evening and weekend options. 3. Patient teaching, with feedback after every lesson. 4. Help with the road test, and a certificate or record as the state requires. Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for materials and direct job costs. Our plan shows about 77% in Year 1. That money pays the owner and crew, vehicle costs, insurance and other bills.

Market Analysis

Who will hire us:
- Teens and parents preparing for a driver's license. - Adults who need to learn or relearn to drive. - Drivers with tickets who need an approved course. - Older drivers who want a refresher. Where we will work. Lessons and classes in three high schools and the nearby neighborhoods within 15 minutes of my classroom, with a classroom at a convenient location. Season. Demand is highest in summer and around school breaks for teens, and steady for traffic school all year. Our plan is careful on purpose. About 12 behind-the-wheel lessons a week in Year 1 is a pace the owner can handle well, alongside classes.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices customers have:
1. Other driving schools. Metro Driving School (a made-up name) charges about $75 a lesson; known for experience, but booked for weeks. 2. Online-only courses. Cheap and fast, but do not provide behind-the-wheel practice. 3. Parents teaching teens. Free, but many families want a professional. How we will win customers: patient, certified instructors, flexible schedules, clear prices and a good pass rate.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How people will find us. - A simple website with online booking, and a free Google business listing with reviews. - Relationships with high schools, parent groups, courts and auto insurance agents. - Asking every happy student and parent for a review. - Flyers and information at schools, libraries and community centers. - Offers for siblings and referrals. Marketing budget. About $6,000 a year. The car sign, logo and website are paid for from startup costs.

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day. Classes and lessons. The owner teaches classes and gives lessons by appointment. In Year 1 the owner works alone. We add one certified instructor in Year 2 and grow to three by Year 5. Each student has a record with hours, skills and progress, kept as the state requires. Equipment. About $25,000 to start: used sedan; instructor brake and mirror installation; classroom equipment: projector, laptop and desks; teaching aids and driving practice materials; roof sign and safety equipment; tablet and scheduling system; dash cameras for lessons; cones, signs and practice course materials. We set aside about $3,000 to $4,000 a year for repairs and replacements. Upkeep. The instruction car serviced regularly, inspected before each lesson and kept clean, and classroom materials updated when the law changes. Safety. Dual controls in every lesson, a calm and clear teaching style, safe practice areas for first lessons and a plan for emergencies. Instructors are trained and background-checked, and vehicles are insured. Running costs in Year 1: state licensing and curriculum certification about $6,000, vehicle maintenance and insurance about $10,000, marketing about $6,000. Scheduling and billing. An online booking and payment system, with students paying at booking and receiving reminders.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Thomas Nguyen, owner. As owner I will teach classes, give lessons, manage student records, market the school and handle the money side of the business. I plan to pay myself $48,000 a year in salary in Year 1. Crew. Certified driving instructors at about $40,000 a year each (or part-time pay): none in Year 1, one in Year 2, two in Year 3, two in Year 4 and three in Year 5. People who will help us: a bookkeeper or tax preparer, an insurance agent, and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Eric Carter serves as a key volunteer advisor.

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them. - Before starting: get the driving school license, instructor certification and insurance, buy the car and classroom equipment, and open for enrollment. Target start: May 2027, before summer. - First year: teach about 1,400 students in classes and give about 600 lessons, for about $108,000 in sales. - Year 2: add a certified instructor, about $175,500 in sales, and a profit of about $12,100. - Years 3 to 5: grow to three certified driving instructors and about $432,000 in sales by Year 5. Growth depends on hiring good people and winning the work, so treat the later years as goals, not promises. What we check every week: students enrolled, lessons given, pass rates, cancellations, vehicle costs, and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total needed: $52,000. This number comes from the Funding Need Calculator in this plan. It adds up: - Startup costs of $34,200, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section (about $25,000 for the instruction car, classroom equipment, teaching aids and practice course, $500 for printed handbooks and forms, $2,500 for state license and instructor certification fees, $3,500 for the first insurance payments, $700 for business setup and bookkeeping software, and $2,000 for the car sign, logo and website). - A cash cushion of about $17,800: the deepest cash dip in the early months plus about three months of bills, so slow weeks do not put the business at risk. Lenders call this "working capital." - Together that comes to about $52,000 (rounded up to the nearest $500), which is the total we are planning for. Where the money comes from: - My own money: $12,000. - Amount requested: $40,000. Kind of funding we are looking for: an SBA microloan through a local community lender. How we will pay it back. We expect a profit of about $2,700 in Year 1, growing to about $101,400 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank every year of the plan. The loan is planned at 13% interest over 6 years, the top of the usual range for SBA microloans, so payments of about $803 a month are already included in our cash flow. What we are offering the lender: our car and equipment 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 as a certified instructor working with an existing school or teaching traffic school classes on weekends, while keeping your current job. Startup can be under $2,000. - Phase 2: once you have more students than you can handle part-time, buy the dual-control car and apply for your own license 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 (one page is fine) and any licenses or certificates. - 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). - Proof of insurance, or a quote. - Your instructor certification and state school license, or the steps to get them. - Your course outline and price list. - Quotes for the car and equipment. 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):
- Defensive Driving / Traffic School Courses: about $45 per course in Year 1, rising to $49; about $8 per course in direct costs; about 1,400 courses in Year 1, growing to 4,839. - Behind-the-Wheel Instruction (per lesson): about $75 per lesson in Year 1, rising to $83; about $22 per lesson in direct costs; about 600 lessons in Year 1, growing to 2,348. - Owner salary: $48,000 a year. Crew: $40,000 a year each, from none in Year 1 to three in Year 5. - Other yearly costs in Year 1: state licensing and curriculum certification about $6,000, vehicle maintenance and insurance about $10,000, marketing about $6,000. - Tax rate: 21%. - Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs