Precision Hot Shot LLC

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

Executive Summary

Precision Hot Shot LLC is a small trucking company in Texas. We haul time-sensitive freight, such as equipment, building materials, machine parts and farm supplies, using a heavy-duty pickup truck and a gooseneck flatbed trailer. Our customers are contractors, shops and brokers who need a load moved today and cannot wait for a full-size truck.

The problem is simple. Smaller loads and urgent deliveries do not fit big trucking schedules, and customers want a driver who answers the phone, shows up and delivers safely. We offer fast pickup, a direct line to the driver and clear pricing.

Here is what our numbers show. We expect sales of $151,650 in Year 1, growing to $467,470 by Year 5 as we add direct customers, a second truck and drivers. We expect a profit of about $5,200 in Year 1 while we build our customer base, then a larger profit of about $23,500 in Year 2, growing to about $36,200 by Year 5.

We need $85,000 in total. That covers $65,200 in startup costs (a used truck, a gooseneck trailer, tie-down gear, operating authority, insurance and a cash cushion for fuel and repairs) and a cash cushion for the first months. I am putting in $20,000 of my own money, and I am asking for a $65,000 SBA loan.

I am Darnell Hayes, the owner. These numbers are estimates based on the assumptions listed at the end of this plan, not promises.

Company Description

Precision Hot Shot LLC will be a limited liability company (LLC) in Texas, owned by Darnell Hayes. An LLC is a business type that generally keeps your home and savings separate from the business's debts and lawsuits, although a lender may still ask for a personal guarantee. A business attorney or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) can explain how it works in our state.

What we believe. A load is somebody's deadline. We secure freight safely, communicate early and never cut corners on weight or hours.

What we offer:
- Load board loads. Loads found on freight load boards from brokers, priced per load.
- Direct client loads. Regular loads for contractors, shops and suppliers, which pay better and bring repeat work.
- Detention, layover and fuel surcharges. Fees when a customer holds the truck or fuel costs rise, billed under a written rate sheet.
- Later, as we grow: a third truck and dedicated routes. The numbers in this plan do not include these.

The base. We park at a leased lot or at home if local rules allow. The plan includes an allowance for insurance, repairs and fuel rather than a separate yard.

Licenses and insurance. Trucking is regulated by federal and state agencies. Before we buy the truck I will confirm whether we need a federal operating authority and a USDOT number, which depends on whether we haul across state lines and on the weight of the truck and trailer. Depending on the combined weight, a commercial driver's license may also be required, so I will confirm that before I buy equipment. We will follow the hours-of-service rules, keep driver and vehicle records, and carry commercial auto liability and cargo insurance at the levels brokers and the law require. We will register the LLC, get a business license and an EIN (the business tax number from the IRS, free at irs.gov) and keep up with fuel and highway taxes. These rules change, so we confirm every requirement before we act.

Where things stand today. This plan is my starting point. Before I sign a lease or buy equipment, I will call the state and federal agencies about the filings I need, get insurance quotes, talk with at least 10 brokers and contractors about what they pay, and line up at least 3 direct customers. If the numbers do not match this plan, I will change the plan before I spend money.

Problem & Opportunity

Urgent freight is hard to move.

1. Big trucks are too much. A small load or a one-off piece of equipment does not need a full trailer.
2. Waiting. Contractors and shops lose money when parts or materials sit.
3. Hard to reach a driver. Many carriers use dispatchers who cannot say where the truck is.
4. Safety. Unsecured or overweight loads put everyone at risk.
5. Unclear fees. Detention and fuel charges are often a surprise.

How we will find out if people want this before we spend money. I will talk with at least 10 brokers and contractors about what they pay per load and how often they need hot shot service, and ask at least 3 to commit to regular loads. Our Year 1 plan needs about 110 board loads and 70 direct loads.

Products & Services

What we sell. We have three types of revenue, each priced simply.

1. Load board loads. The plan assumes an average of about $790 per load in Year 1, rising to about $870 by Year 5. Fuel, tolls, tie-downs and supplies cost about $290 per load. We expect about 110 loads in Year 1, growing to about 250 a year by Year 5.
2. Direct client loads. The plan assumes about $830 per load in Year 1, rising to about $910, with about $300 per load in direct costs. We expect about 70 loads in Year 1, growing to about 250.
3. Detention, layover and fuel surcharges. The plan assumes about $95 per load that has an extra charge in Year 1, with about $10 in costs. We expect about 70 such loads in Year 1, growing to about 210.

Our prices. A rate sheet by distance and weight, with minimums, a clear detention policy and a fuel adjustment.

How it works for a customer:
1. The customer calls or messages with the pickup, delivery and weight.
2. We confirm the price, the time and any special handling.
3. We inspect and secure the load with straps or chains and confirm the weight.
4. We keep the customer updated and deliver, then send the invoice with proof of delivery.

Gross margin, explained. "Gross margin" is the share of each sale left after paying for fuel, tolls and supplies on the load. Our plan shows about 65% in Year 1. That money pays the drivers, insurance, repairs and other bills. Driver pay is counted separately, under payroll.

Market Analysis

Who will use us:
- Contractors and builders who need materials or equipment moved quickly.
- Shops, farms and factories that need parts or supplies delivered.
- Freight brokers who need trucks for smaller loads.

Where we will work. Texas and nearby states, with most loads within about 500 miles.

How we sized the plan. Our Year 1 plan needs about 110 board loads and 70 direct loads, which is under 4 loads a week. One truck and one driver can handle this with time off. I will check the real numbers by talking to brokers and contractors before spending money.

Season. Construction, farming and oilfield work make spring through fall busy. The numbers show a yearly average.

Competitive Landscape

Other choices customers have:
1. Large carriers, which are reliable but may not fit small or urgent loads.
2. Other hot shot drivers, many of whom are good, so reliability and price matter.
3. Courier and delivery services for smaller freight.
4. Renting a truck and doing it themselves.

How we will win customers: fast pickup, a direct line to the driver, clear rates, safe securement and on-time delivery. These are promises we have to keep, and any competitor could make them too, so we will measure ourselves on them every week.

Marketing & Sales Strategy

How customers will find us.
- Freight load boards for the first loads, with a careful eye on rates and broker payment history.
- Direct outreach to contractors, supply houses and shops, with a one-page rate sheet.
- A simple website and a Google business listing with reviews.
- Referrals from satisfied customers and other drivers who pass on loads.
- A short follow-up after every delivery asking for the next load.

Marketing budget. About $1,800 a year in Year 1, growing about 8% a year. The lettering, logo and website are paid for from startup costs ($2,600).

Operations Plan

How the business runs day to day.

The equipment. A used heavy-duty pickup and a gooseneck flatbed trailer that are chosen after an inspection, with straps, chains, tarps and safety gear.

A normal day:
1. Inspect the truck and trailer, check tires, lights and brakes, and review the day's loads.
2. Pick up the load, confirm the weight, secure it and take photos.
3. Drive within the hours-of-service rules, take required breaks and keep the customer informed.
4. Deliver, get the signed proof of delivery, send the invoice and plan the next load.

Safety and compliance. We never exceed weight limits, we secure every load to the required standard, we keep inspection and maintenance records, and we stop driving when tired. We follow the hours-of-service rules and keep logs. We do not haul hazardous materials or anything we are not licensed to move.

Equipment. About $52,000 to start: a used truck, a gooseneck trailer and securement gear. We set aside about $3,000 a year after that for repairs, and the plan adds a second truck in Year 3 and a third in Year 5.

Running costs in Year 1: truck and cargo insurance about $14,400, maintenance and tires about $7,200, load board, tracking and software about $2,400, factoring and card fees about $4,000, marketing about $1,800, and accounting, permits and legal about $3,000. That is $32,800 in all.

Payment. Brokers and customers pay in about 30 days. To cover the wait, we may use an invoice factoring company, which advances cash on an invoice for a fee, and the plan keeps a cushion of cash.

Management & Organization

Who runs the business. Darnell Hayes, owner and driver. As owner I will drive, find loads, handle the paperwork and manage the money. I plan to pay myself $40,000 a year in salary.

The team. Pay figures include payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance.
- Driver (full-time): one in Years 3 and 4 and two in Year 5, at about $50,000 a year each.
- Dispatcher and office help (part-time): one starting in Year 4, at about $24,000 a year.

We hire drivers with clean driving records and any license the work requires, run drug and alcohol testing and background checks as the law requires, and train everyone on securement and hours of service.

People who will help us: a bookkeeper or tax preparer, an insurance agent who understands trucking, a business attorney for a one-time review of the operating authority and insurance, and a free mentor from SCORE or the Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Milestones Narrative

Our goals and when we plan to reach them.
- Before opening (3 to 5 months ahead): confirm the federal and state filings, license and insurance requirements, talk with at least 10 brokers and contractors and line up at least 3 direct customers, register the LLC and get an EIN, open a business bank account, get insurance quotes, inspect and buy the truck and trailer, and set up the load board and invoicing. Buy the equipment only after the filing answers and the insurance quotes are in hand.
- Year 1: start with the owner and one truck, with about 110 board loads and 70 direct loads, $151,650 in sales and a profit of about $5,200.
- Year 2: grow direct customers, with about 98 direct loads, $193,370 in sales and a profit of about $23,500.
- Year 3: add a second truck and our first driver, with about 170 direct loads, $320,750 in sales and a profit of about $37,000.
- Year 4: add a part-time dispatcher, with about 210 direct loads, $392,620 in sales and a profit of about $50,700.
- Year 5: grow to about 250 direct loads a year with three trucks and four people, $467,470 in sales and a profit of about $36,200.
Growth depends on winning direct customers, keeping trucks working and managing fuel and repair costs, so treat the later years as goals, not promises.

What we check every week: loads hauled, revenue per mile, deadhead miles, on-time deliveries, repair costs, days to get paid and cash in the bank.

Funding Request

How much we need and how we will use it. Total we are raising: $85,000.

How we got that number. The Funding Need Calculator in this plan adds up three things:
- Startup costs of $65,200, listed item by item in the Startup Costs section: $35,000 for used one-ton truck with a tool and strap package, $14,500 for gooseneck flatbed trailer, $2,500 for tie-downs, chains, tarps and safety gear, $1,400 for operating authority filings and permits, $2,200 for legal and accounting setup, $2,600 for logo, lettering and website, $4,000 for first commercial insurance deposit, and $3,000 for cash cushion for fuel and repairs in the first weeks.
- A cash cushion of about $18,200: about 3 months of running costs. Our cash stays above zero in every year of the plan, but lenders still want a cushion in the bank for slow weeks and surprises. They call this "working capital."
- Together that comes to about $83,400, rounded up to the nearest $500: $83,500.
We are raising $1,500 more than that, $85,000 in all, to leave extra room for loan payments in the first years, repairs and fuel before invoices are paid.

Where the money comes from:
- My own money: $20,000.
- Amount requested as a loan: $65,000.

Kind of funding we are looking for. An SBA 7(a) small loan through a local bank or community lender. Put any agreement with a lender, family member or friend in writing.

How we will pay it back. We expect a profit of about $5,200 in Year 1 while we build our customer base, then a larger profit of about $23,500 in Year 2, growing to about $36,200 by Year 5. With this funding, the business has money in the bank at the end of every year of the plan, and the lowest year-end balance is about $32,000, at the end of Year 1. The loan is planned at 12.75% interest over 10 years, so payments of about $961 a month (about $11,532 a year) are already included in our cash flow. We chose 12.75% as a cautious planning rate. Ask the lender for the real rate, which may be lower or higher.

What we are offering the lender: our equipment as collateral (something the lender can claim if the loan is not repaid) and my personal guarantee (my promise to repay from my own money if the business cannot).

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 by leasing on with an established carrier or hauling smaller loads with a truck and trailer you already own (check your insurance and filings), while keeping your current job. Startup can be roughly $6,000 to $10,000 for filings, insurance and gear. Get your own quotes.
- Phase 2: once you have steady direct customers, buy or finance a truck and trailer 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 training 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.
- Proof of your operating authority and USDOT number, or the agency's written answer.
- Proof of insurance, or quotes.
- Quotes for the truck and trailer.
- Letters from contractors or brokers who would use you.
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):
- Load Board Loads: about $790 per load in Year 1, rising to $870; about $290 per load in direct costs, rising to $330; about 110 loads in Year 1, growing to 250.
- Direct Client Loads: about $830 per load in Year 1, rising to $910; about $300 per load in direct costs, rising to $340; about 70 loads in Year 1, growing to 250.
- Detention, Layover and Fuel Surcharges: about $95 per load in Year 1, rising to $107; about $10 per load in direct costs, rising to $12; about 70 loads in Year 1, growing to 210.
- Pay: Owner / Driver $40,000 (1/1/1/1/1); Driver (full-time) $50,000 (0/0/1/1/2); Dispatcher and Office Help (part-time) $24,000 (0/0/0/1/1). The numbers in parentheses are how many people we plan to have in Years 1 through 5. Pay figures are yearly and include payroll taxes and workers' compensation.
- Other yearly costs in Year 1: truck and cargo insurance $14,400, maintenance and tires $7,200, load board, tracking and software $2,400, factoring and card fees $4,000, marketing $1,800, and accounting, permits & legal $3,000. These grow between 5% and 15% a year as the business grows.
- Brokers and customers pay in about 30 days. At the end of Year 1 about $15,165 (10% of Year 1 sales) is owed to us.
- Tax rate: 21%.
- Every dollar amount is an estimate. Replace them with your own quotes and research.

Startup Costs