Want to start earning a passive income? People still need cash and learning how to start an ATM business (ATM means automatic teller machine) can be a great way to make a passive income. Take it from someone who is already an ATM owner.

[su_quote]I was a cop working 60 to 80 hours a week and neglecting my family. My back was really against the wall. I decided to start an ATM business to start earning passive income.[/su_quote]

From starting a side business in 2017, Paul Alex grew to $15 million in annual revenue with his company ATM Together. Now, he helps people automate their own ATM businesses. He makes it easy to:

1. Buy ATMs at wholesale cost
2. Get a free payment processor
3. Find the best rates on internet
4. Locate a bank that serves ATM businesses
5. Place your first ATM
6. Access vaulters and technicians

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"]
Don’t worry if you don’t know what all these are right now. You will by the time we explain how to own an ATM. We’ll cover all of the following, and you can click to jump to the sections that interest you most:

• How to start an ATM business
  • Perform market research
  • Create an ATM business plan
  • Prepare for ATM business operations
  • Find an ATM location
  • Buy an ATM (and other equipment)
  • Install and operate the ATM
  • Grow the ATM business
• ATM business FAQs
  • What does ATM stand for?
  • How much is an ATM machine?
  • Do I need office space for an ATM business?
  • How to buy an ATM machine business
• Start your own ATM business[/su_note]

How to start an ATM business

Starting an ATM business requires a simple seven-step process:

1. Perform market research
2. Create an ATM business plan
3. Prepare for ATM business operations
4. Find an ATM location
5. Buy an ATM (and other equipment)
6. Install and operate the ATM
7. Grow the ATM business

Find out how to start an ATM business by following the steps below.

Perform market research

Starting an ATM business will require understanding the ATM industry. We’ve got you covered with the information you need to become an independent ATM deployer. We’ll answer ATM industry questions like:

• How much to start an ATM business?
• How much can an ATM make?
• How much time do you need to spend on an ATM business?
• How profitable is an ATM business?

How much does it cost to start an ATM business?

Starting an ATM business isn’t expensive. Paul told us:

[su_quote]You can start an ATM business for under $6,000.[/su_quote]

He broke the costs down to:

• ATM Cost: $2,100
• Limited Liability Company: Under $1,000
• Business license: Under $1,000
• Internet modem: $150
• Internet service: $7 per month
• Tools: $300-$500
• Gas: 65.5 cents per mile using IRS Mileage Rate
• ATM liability insurance: Under $1,000

How much money can you make owning an ATM machine?

Your ATM investment earns approximately $9 to $15 per day according to Paul. That converts to $3,285 to $5,475 annually or $456.25 monthly at $2 per transaction.

Paul also told us:

[su_quote]You can add toppers and sell ad space to earn an additional $50 to $250 per location each month.[/su_quote]

That means to make the $15 million annual revenue he earns, you would need approximately 4,600 ATM machines. Don’t worry, you can start off with one ATM and build from there.

Check out the rest of the interview with Paul.

How much time does investing in ATMs require?

Running an ATM business will take different amounts of time depending on the strategies you use. If you manage all your ATMs yourself, it will take your drive time plus up to 15 minutes to fill each machine.

But Paul told us you can hire employees or pay other companies to do it for you. That makes owning ATM machines completely passive income.

How much money is in an ATM?

The average ATM may hold up to $200K, but you might not want that much cash in your ATM at any time. Many machines keep less than $10K in the machine at any time.

Depending on the manufacturer and the bills in the machine, you will have between one and four dispensing cassettes that hold 1,000 to 4,000 bills each. That means in rare scenarios, an ATM could hold up to $1.6M.

Create an ATM business plan

Next, you’ll want to create an ATM business plan to document how your ATM company will operate. A successful ATM business plan will include the following sections:

1. Executive Summary: Briefly cover the main points in your business plan in a single page.
2. Company Overview: Explain what makes your ATM business different.
3. Industry Analysis: Show your knowledge of the ATM industry both locally and nationwide. This will help you choose suppliers for your ATM operational plan.
4. Customer Analysis: Describe your target customer and how you’ll reach them.
5. Competitive Analysis: Explain how you’ll differentiate yourself. For instance, Paul helps people find their first location and provides all the vendors to get started.
6. Marketing Plan: Detail how you will approach product, price, placement, and promotion in your ATM business.
7. Operations Plan: Explain how you’ll provide customer support, refill machines, and find new ATM locations.
8. Management Team: Provide the long-term goals for your organization, the roles you’ll need to fill, and the experience of anyone who is already on the team.
9. Financial Plan: Document your expected revenue and expenses. Then create three- to 10-year estimates of your annual earnings. Provide any prior year net income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets.
10. Appendix: Document every website you used to research ATM businesses in your appendix.

Check out our article on writing a business plan for more information.

Prepare for ATM business operations

There are certain things that every ATM operator will need to do run a successful ATM business. You’ll need to:

• Select an ATM business name.
• Choose your ATM business legal structure.
• Get business licenses.
• Open a business bank account.
• Get business insurance.

Keep reading for more resources about starting an ATM business.

Select an ATM business name

You’ll want to consider the name for your ATM business carefully because it will represent your brand for the lifetime of the company.

Some tips for choosing a memorable name for an ATM business include:

• Choose a business name that is low-cost and easy to pronounce, like ATM Together.
• Check name availability as a website, social media accounts, and on the USPTO.
• Think about how branding and marketing will fit with your ATM machine business name.

Paul told us:

[su_quote]I wanted to help people build small businesses with ATM machines, so I named it ATM Together because we work together to help the business owners succeed.[/su_quote]

Check out our article about naming a small business for more information on choosing a name.

Choose the legal structure for your ATM business

Next, you’ll need a legal business structure for your ATM business. You’ll go to the Secretary of State and register the business name in each state where you’ll provide ATM machines.

Paul told us:

[su_quote]You want to register as a limited liability company.[/su_quote]

Want to know more about how the business model impacts ATM providers? Consider the following.

1. Limited Liability Company (LLC): This business model protects ATM operators from personal liability for business liabilities and debts. You can have single or multi-member LLCs with pass-through taxation, and also turn it into an S-Corporation. You’ll have to pay self-employment taxes.
2. S-Corporation (S-Corp): An S-Corp provides liability protection and pass-through income like an LLC, but has limits on the number of shareholders. You’ll also file with the IRS to be considered an S-Corp. If you work within the company, you’ll need to pay yourself a salary, too.
3. C-Corporation (C-Corp): This business entity is entirely separated from its owners and must have a separate tax ID number. Should your ATM business grow large enough to go public you can have unlimited shareholders. C-Corps are taxed on both personal income and business income, which causes double taxation.
4. Sole Proprietorship: While a sole proprietorship is inexpensive and may not require any registration, you do not want to use a sole proprietor structure for your ATM business because it leaves the business owner personally liable for all debts and commitments of the ATM company. Compare LLCs and sole proprietors.
5. Partnerships: There are different types of partnerships, but these are primarily used when you start an ATM business with more than one business owner. You’ll need a legal agreement in place for partnerships to resolve conflicts.

While most businesses use these five structures to start an ATM business, there are plenty of other models for your business venture.

Next, we’ll discuss business licenses.

Get business licenses

You’ll need an ATM business permit to comply with local requirements and zoning codes. Check with your city for the inspection requirements because each state and municipality has its own requirements. You may also need:

• Class C Liquor License: Get this when businesses sell alcohol in the same location as your ATM machine. Consult a lawyer to see if your state requires this.
• Sign Permit: Your state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) may require a sign permit for ATM signage on pedestrian malls, highways, and parking areas.

You will also need bank accounts for an ATM machine to accept credit or debit card transactions.

What banks accept ATM business accounts?

You’ll need a business bank account for your ATM machine to deposit the funds that people transfer from their bank account. Unfortunately, many ATM machine businesses have trouble finding a bank to work with.

That’s because an ATM machine requires lots of cash, which means that the bank has to do more work. The ATM business bank account will also normally have low balances, which makes it harder to earn money on the interest.

ATM Together helps you find banks that are ATM business-friendly, or you can check out the list of banks suggested by ATM Depot.

Using other banking products, like a small business loan, business credit card, and money market account may help convince banks to be more friendly to your ATM business.

Get business insurance

You’ll want small business insurance to operate an ATM business. Some of the risks you’ll want to consider include lawsuits and theft of machines or cash. Most of these will be covered in a Business Owners Plan (BOP).

Other common small business insurance policies your ATM business may want include:

• General liability insurance: This covers damage to property as a result of your products or services, plus accidents and injuries that happen on your property or while interacting with your machines. It will normally be included in the BOP.
• Workers’ compensation insurance: This policy is required for small businesses that have employees. It protects against on-the-job injuries by paying medical bills and lost wages.

You can learn more about small business insurance or reach out to Simply Business to get an insurance quote from 16 small business insurance companies.

Find an ATM location

You’ll need to find locations to place your ATMs. Some popular places for ATM locations include:

• Convenience stores: Gas stations and convenience store customers will often want to withdraw cash.
• Retail stores: Some retail stores only accept cash payments. Plus some people just like having cash on them and prefer to make cash withdrawals at the same time as they shop.
• Hotels: People traveling will often need cash for tipping. Providing an ATM in hotels and other hospitality locations can be highly profitable.
• Casinos: Most casinos are all-cash businesses. Just make sure you’re dealing with legally operated casinos, or your ATM equipment (and money) may be confiscated during a police raid.
• Cash-only businesses: Some business ventures only accept cash and will need an ATM in the location. Some businesses that only accept cash include adult entertainment venues and dispensaries. Again, make sure these businesses are operating legally, or you could get in trouble for money laundering.
• Newly opened small businesses: You can reach out to new small business owners who have a retail space and offer to place an ATM in their location.

Buy an ATM (and other equipment)

You’ll need to buy ATM machines and other equipment to start an ATM business. Every ATM business will need:

• At least one ATM machine: You’ll need at least one ATM machine for each location.
• Computer: You’ll need a computer to manage your business, keep track of revenue and business expenses, plus work on marketing activities.
• Internet line: Every ATM needs access to the internet. According to Paul, you can get internet access for $5.99/month through Verizon or AT&T.
• Phone line: You’ll need a way for customers to reach you, plus older ATM machines use phone lines for the internet connection.
• Square reader: You’ll want a Square reader to process business credit card and debit card transactions if you sell ATM machines to gas stations, convenience stores, and other small businesses that operate them.
• Debit card processing account: An ATM processor authorizes and processes the transfer of funds. Plus they create a log of every time money changes hands so you can easily view a report of your ATM transactions. Working with a company that already has this set up will make starting an ATM business easier.
• Currency notes: You’ll need money in ATMs to provide to potential customers. Depending on the location, ATM machine, and programming, you’ll need at least $10K in $20 bills for each machine, but casino ATMs will need a $100 slot, $20 slot, $5 slot, and $1 slot. If each slot has 2,000 bills in it, that means you’d need $247K to fill the machine, plus a way to pay out coins.
• Security camera: You’ll want to have security cameras to protect your investments. There are optional security cameras for an ATM machine, plus you may want one in your business or home office and vehicle.
• Safe: You’ll want a discreet safe in your vehicle and home because you’ll be transporting large amounts of money at times. If you pay a company to manage the collection, you can skip this.
• Tools for routine maintenance: Varies by machine, but should probably have drill, screwdrivers, levels, and other tools.
• Alarm system: Anywhere you’ll store cash, make sure to have an alarm system.
• Handgun: A friend of mine who owns an ATM business recommends carrying a gun when you are loading and unloading cash from machines. If you hire a vaulter, you won’t need this.
• Body cam: You only need this item if you are carrying a gun. This is a personal suggestion because it will help you defend yourself if you have to use protection.

Paul uses Hyosung Halo 2 machines and Bitcoin ATMs. Plus you can buy full routes and add toppers to sell ad space for $50 to $250 per location.

Install and operate the ATM

You’ll need to install all your machines in their new locations. Plus you’ll have to operate them by restocking money routinely. We’ll look at each of these next.

How to install ATM machines

To install an ATM machine, you’ll need to:

1. Take the box off the machine.
2. Grab the box with the receipt paper and keys.
3. Unlock the machine.
4. Take out any styrofoam liners or any other shipping materials.
5. Place the receipt paper in the receipt holder.
6. Reset the default code.
7. Program the ATM.
8. Connect Ethernet or WiFi.
9. Fill the cassettes with money.
10. Bolt the machine to the wall.
11. Test the ATM machine.

Buying an ATM will require some learning during the cash machine setup. Paul suggested:

[su_quote]Program the ATM at your home or office so that you can learn what you’re doing privately.[/su_quote]

How to manage an ATM location

One of the things you’ll need to consider about how to start an ATM machine business is how you will refill the machines. You have three main options:

1. Fill them yourself.
2. Hire vaulters.
3. Hire employees.

Let’s look at each of these to understand how to get ATM machines refilled.

Maintain ATM yourself

When you first start an ATM business, you’ll want to keep startup costs low. The easiest way to do that is to do all the work yourself. That means you’ll need to learn how to work on ATM machines and how to refill ATM machines.

Paul told us:

[su_quote]Make sure to switch up your schedule. You don’t want to have a set routine because that makes it where people can plan to rob you easier.[/su_quote]

If you track each machine individually, you should be able to tell when it is getting low and go refill it. Then refill any of the ones that are on the way to it. Next time reverse the order.

Paul told us:

[su_quote]You should hire someone to manage the ATM machines once you get to 10 ATM machines.[/su_quote]

But which option is better: hiring a vaulter or hiring employees?

Hire vaulters

Vaulting services are companies that manage the refilling of your ATM for you. First National ATM provides a great overview of how to start an ATM business with no money using a vaulter.

They use the following ATM price example:

Monthly Service Fees per ATM

• Cash lending fee: Prime rate + 4 points
• Cash management fee: 3 cents per transaction
• Cash Insurance: $25 insurance on vault cash
• Armored courier: $80 per trip

They subtract those costs from the monthly revenue, which they assume will be $3 per transaction and 500 transactions per month. Effectively, their example means you are paying approximately 17% of revenue to operate the machines. That sounds way better than doing it yourself or managing employees if you want passive income.

But what does it take to hire employees?

Hire employees for an ATM business

If you want to be more active in providing ATM services, you can hire employees. This business strategy would work if you are particularly good at multiple aspects of the ATM business.

For instance, ATM Together helps people get their first ATM machine location, automate the business income, and find ATM technicians.

In general, the operating costs will be higher if you hire employees because you’ll have to implement time tracking, payroll systems, and other types of ongoing expenses.

When you hire employees, you’ll need to:

1. Prepare to hire people.
2. Create a job description.
3. Screen applicants.
4. Conduct interviews.
5. Provide a job offer.
6. Onboard employees.
7. Improve your employee retention.

We go into more detail on hiring in other blogs. Whether you DIY, contract a vaulter, or hire, there’s still a lot to do to become a successful business. Read on for a play-by-play for growing your ATM business.

Grow the ATM business

In addition to the initial equipment costs, finding a financial institution to work with, and placing and supporting your first machine, you’ll want to grow the ATM business because you’ll probably want to build more income than the couple hundred dollars you make on the first machine.

You’ll want to:

• Create an ATM business website
• Reinvest in the business
• Add toppers
• Reduce costs
• Market your ATM business
• Pay taxes

Create an ATM business website

At a minimum you’ll want to create an ATM website with the following pages:

• Home page
• Services page
• Testimonials
• ATM business FAQs page
• Contact page

These pages will help your target market understand what you do, how you do it, and how much you charge as an independent sales organization. Learn more about website building.

Reinvest in the business

As you make money, you’ll want to find more ATMs for sale so you can buy them and make more surcharges from the transaction fees. You might also want to make an ATM purchase to sell to people who want to manage their own ATM.

ATM Together makes it really easy to make a profit when you buy ATM machines at wholesale and then provide the ATM machine for sale. You can charge a one-time fee or monthly fees if you provide support to your customers.

Add toppers

An ATM topper is a screen that attaches to the top of an ATM to diversify your income stream. With an ATM your primary revenue is from surcharge revenue, but an ATM topper lets you earn revenue from ad views.

You can use the ads to promote your own products and companies, products and services in the store, or even outside businesses that the target market might like.

Paul told us:

[su_quote]You can make $50 to $250 per machine depending on the foot traffic.[/su_quote]

Check out how the Smartcast ATM Topper works.

Reduce costs

Credit card processing fees are a portion of your ongoing expenses. If you’re doing all this yourself, you could pay as much as 2.9% + 10 cents per transaction fee.

Meanwhile, other processors claim they can provide free payment processing. I assume the credit card costs are baked into the prices of other services they offer. See the picture below to see places where ATM Together might make profits that cover the processing network.

Reducing the fees can impact how much cash you have to buy more ATM machines. There may be other ways to save money, like outsourcing the maintenance of your machines or providing cash to vaulters to earn a percentage of their returns.

Example

Let’s say you’re paying a Stripe processing fee of $2.9% + 10 cents per transaction, but by joining ATM Together, you pay 0% and $0 per transaction.

The change makes it so every 10,000 transactions, you can afford another three machines.

Market your ATM business

There are numerous ways to market your ATM business including:

• Optimize your website for search engine optimization (SEO)
• Reach out to new small businesses and offer to place a machine
• Offer incentives for making cash purchases at stores
• Offer a loyalty program or monthly subscription to frequent users of your ATMs
• Partner with online banks to provide cash services through your ATMs.

Make sure to pay your taxes

Nothing hurts the income of a small business like getting hit with a hefty tax bill for failing to pay your taxes. You especially don’t want to fall behind, given the IRS is charging $450 for failure to file, plus you’ll owe the full tax amount and 4% to 9% interest for failure to pay.

ATM business FAQs

What does ATM stand for?

ATM means automated teller machine. An automated teller machine may dispense cash, manage money transfers, accept checks, buy and sell Bitcoin, and facilitate other financial transactions that make accessing funds more convenient for customers.

Next, we answer “How much does an ATM cost?”

How much is an ATM machine?

ATMs cost between $1,900 and $29,000 depending on the style of ATM, functionality, and security. Some common pricing for ATM machines include:

• New ATMs: $2,700 to $17,000 with an average cost of $6,250
• Used and refurbished ATMs: $1,900+ (or around 80% of the cost of a new machine)
• New wall-mounted ATMs: $6,800 to $12,500
• High-end ATMs: $29,000+

You’ll also have operational costs like cash replacement, data connection, electricity, and receipt paper.

Do I need office space for an ATM business?

Yes, but you can use a home office and the costs will help pay for your mortgage or rent.

How to buy an ATM machine business

When you’re looking for ATM machines for sale, one option is to buy ATM businesses. You’ll want to:

1. Research the market and understand the industry.
2. Raise money to purchase the ATM business.
3. Find reputable ATM machine suppliers and compare prices.
4. Consider location options and potential profitability.
5. Research the business to establish whether they have a very high volume location or if they are using a cheap ATM.
6. Obtain necessary licenses and permits.
7. Negotiate a purchase agreement. See step 5 in our blog about buying a business.
8. Sign the contract.
9. Set up a reliable cash management system.
10. Market your business to potential clients.
11. Provide excellent customer service and maintain the machines regularly.

Start your own ATM business

Starting an ATM business can be a highly profitable venture. It’s similar to starting a vending machine business that provides money to customers. Check out our extensive resources on vending to see how you can apply them as you learn how to start ATM business operations.

Have you seen unique ATM strategies? Share them in the comments.

What Is a Consulting Business?

Defining Consulting Business Ideas

• Types of consultants
• Different business models
• Industry outlook
• Major players

Types of Consulting Businesses

• IT Consultant: Focuses on improving the use of software and hardware so companies can achieve more profitable business goals. (NAICS code 54151)
• Real Estate Asset Management & Consulting: Helps people and businesses make better decisions involving real estate investments. (NAICS code 53139)
• Business Management Consulting: Advises businesses to better manage company resources including people, money, and supply chains. Typically broken down into smaller segments. (NAICS code 54161)
• Human Resource Consulting: Focuses on advising companies regarding hiring, meeting employment law, payroll management, and navigating the job market. (NAICS code 54161b)
• Marketing Consulting: Focuses on helping people attract clients through marketing campaigns, writing services, social media marketing, and brand consulting.
• Environmental Consulting: Consults on the environmental impact decisions have. These are especially common in the oil & gas industry, as well as in construction near protected habitats. (NAICS code 54162)
• Economic Consultant: Advises business owners on the industry outlook and other micro- or macro-economic issues. (NAICS code 54169)
• Sales Consultant: Helps businesses improve their sales strategy or improve the sales team’s performance.
• Tax Consultant or Financial Consultant: Helps businesses find ways to improve their financial results through accounting practices. Will normally be a Certified Financial Planner.

Which Business Model Is Best for a Consulting Business?

1. Solo Consultant Model
2. Productized Consulting Model
3. Consulting Firm Model
4. Hybrid Consulting Model

What is a Solo Consultant?

1. A small number of clients
2. High-value clients
3. Building personal relationships
4. Clients that need unique solutions

What is a Productized Consulting Model?

• Checklist
• Prep sheet
• Recipes
• Build sheet

What is a Consulting Firm Model?

Have you considered a Hybridized Model?

What Is the Industry Outlook?

Who Are the Major Players in the Consulting Business?

• Accenture PLC: Market leader in most types of business consulting
• IBM: IT Consulting
• Jacobs Engineering Group: Environmental cleanup and construction
• Omnicom Group: Marketing and PR
• Kirkland & Ellis: Law firm

• OnStrategy: $6 million annual revenue Strategy Consultant
• Kristin Cutura: Former Google Employee turned Google Ads Consultant
• Libby Gill: Brand and Leadership

How to Start a Consulting Business

1. Writing a plan for your consulting company
2. Funding your consulting
3. Naming your consulting practice
4. Meeting the legal requirements for a consulting business
5. Market your consulting business
6. Submit client proposals
7. Perform business consultation

Write a Consulting Business Plan

• What consulting services you will provide: HR Consultant, Accounting consultant, management consultant, marketing consultant, IT consultant, brand consultant?
• Target market for your consultant business: What size companies will you target? What industry will they be in?
• How most consultants in your industry operate: Do they use affiliate links, provide implementation, or just advise?
• Your Business Model: Will you be solo, productized, firm, or hybrid?
• A Marketing Plan: How will you market your consulting company?
• Other Expenses: What other business expenses do you expect and how will you cover them?

Funding Your Consulting Business

How much profit can a successful consultant make?

How much does it cost to start a successful consulting business?

1. Business Formation: Free to $1,000 annually
2. Internet: $30 to $200 monthly
3. Website, Domain, Hosting: $100 to $25,000+ monthly for lower end or one-time plus upkeep for higher end
4. Computer: $600 to $3,000
5. Software and Other Equipment: $250+ per month
6. Marketing Budget: 8% of the revenue you want to make

How to start a consulting business with no money?

Naming Your Own Consulting Business

Get a domain name

• Google Domains
• HostGator

Meeting the Legal Requirements for Consulting Services

Sole Proprietor

Limited Liability Corporation (LLC)

Partnerships and Corporations

Apply for an EIN

Sales Tax Permit

Tax filing and withholding

Federal employment and labor law posters

• A state’s New Hire Program
• Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
• Worker’s Compensation Insurance
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Disability Insurance—each state is different

Unemployment Insurance

Grow through Marketing

• Market research
• Marketing plan
• Launch a website
• Marketing on social media
• Growing your email list
• Tapping into and growing your network

Market Research

• Defining the industries you want to service
• Identify the size of companies you want to service
• Establishing the best way to reach these companies
• Finding common requirements for the industry you’ll provide services.
• Identifying industry trends
• Recognizing gaps are in the market

Create a marketing plan and use it

1. Create meaningful content on my YouTube channel.
2. Link to a free resource list or a free book to collect emails.
3. Share new content through emails.
4. Future clients can reach out for advice on their own business efforts.

• Social media marketing
• Business writing (Blogs and White Papers)
• Paid ads
• Working with editorial services
• Hiring a Public Relations Consultant

Build a website

Marketing with Social Media

Grow Your Email List

Tap into Your Network

Running Your Consulting Business

• Hiring employees and payroll
• Submitting client proposals
• Helping customers
• Accounting
• Payroll

Hiring Employees and Payroll

• Post job openings
• Conduct interviews
• Decide fair pay
• Manage tax filings and withholdings
• Obey labor laws

Job Posting 

• Fiverr
• Upwork
• LinkedIn

Interviews

1. Examples of previous work: Understand that many will be protected under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). Be willing to accept reviews.
2. Availability: Most professionals will be remote. If you want someone who is available between specific hours specify that in the job post.
3. Experience with software: You need people who know how to use the tools you use.
4. Employee values: Every company values specific traits that vary. One might be focused on growth, while another is focused on cost cutting. It doesn’t help to put people who are focused on growth in a company trying to cut costs, they won’t fit.

Compensation

Salary

Hourly

Fixed Price or Commission

1. Screenshot Monitor: Captures screenshots, time tracking, plus manual entry
2. Upwork time tracker: Only for billing on Upwork
3. ClickUp time tracker: Built into ClickUp features (I don’t love it.)

Submit Client Proposals

1. A questionnaire to establish what challenges new clients are experiencing.
2. A proposal that outlines what you will and will not be doing in the process.
3. Contract templates that should be filled out and sent with the proposal.
4. Invoicing and payment system for current and new clients to pay for their consulting.

How to Retain Customers for Your Consulting Business

• Reducing inventory
• Reducing transportation costs
• Sourcing locally

Top Consulting Influencers

• Gary Vaynerchuk takes risks and shows new ways to market a business. He is a one to follow!
• Tony Robbins has helped ShakeShack, Airbnb, Salesforce, Serena Williams, and Aerosmith improve their brands.
• McKinsey & Co is considered the most prestigious consulting company by consultants.

Closing

Did you know that 69 million vehicles need to be towed each year?

That’s nearly 190K people who call up a towing business every day.

We talked to Vanice and Vincent Serrano, founders of ASAP Towing, to find out how to start a tow truck business that makes more than $10M each year. They provide insights on how towing services make money, how to hire employees, how to become a tow truck driver, and more.

[su_note note_color="#dbeafc"] We’ll share insights, strategies, and tips. Click on one of the links below to learn more about starting a tow truck business, or just continue reading.

• Tow Truck Business Case Study: ASAP Towing
• Learn About the Towing Industry
• How to Start a Tow Truck Business
  • Step #1. Identify Your Target Market
  • Step #2. Research Local Regulations
  • Step #3. Create a Tow Truck Business Plan
  • Step #4. Consider a Startup Loan
  • Step #5. Register Your Business
  • Step #6. Open a Business Bank Account
  • Step #7. Get Tow Truck Business Insurance
  • Step #8. Get the Required Licenses and Permits
  • Step #9. Buy Equipment and Tools
  • Step #10. Develop and Implement a Marketing Strategy
  • Step #11. Provide Great Customer Service
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Hiring Tips
• Top Towing Influencers
• Conclusion [/su_note]

Tow Truck Business Case Study: ASAP Towing

Vincent grew up working in auto repair shops owned by his dad, but he wanted to have a business to call his own. They already owned a tow truck and had land, so they decided to start a new tow truck company.

The business venture was mostly Vanice and one employee during its first year. About 18 months in, Vincent had to quit his day job and work at ASAP full time because it was making $250K per year.

The local tow truck company offers towing services for breakdowns, lockouts, accidents, impounds, and more. Check out our interview with Vincent and Vanice below.

Learn About the Towing Industry

Before we discuss how to start a towing company, it’s important to learn all about towing and how the industry operates. We’ll discuss:

• The cost to start a tow truck business
• The amount towing vehicles makes
• Industry profit margins
• Major players
• Industry outlook
• Legal requirements
• How to get a tow truck driver license

How much does it cost to start a tow truck business?

Vincent told us starting your own towing company requires around $10,000 to get a truck, licenses, and towing equipment. We’ll discuss individual costs more in other sections.

How much do tow truck drivers make?

As of January 26, 2024, the average salary for a U.S.-based tow truck driver is $44,198, with a range of $38,820–$50,211, and an average hourly rate of $18.54.

You’ll normally want to pay yourself this salary in addition to some profits from the business when you are an owner-operator.

Your location, experience, employer, skills, and education may impact the pay for tow truck driver jobs. Some drivers will also get bonuses and tips.

According to Indeed, the tow truck driver salary is highest in the following cities:

1. Milwaukee, WI
2. Sacramento, CA
3. Los Angeles, CA
4. Austin, TX
5. Las Vegas, NV

How much profit can a towing business make?

Transportation businesses normally make 30.59% gross margins and 5.91% net margins. Some people who own towing companies make up to 33.65% profit, which means that the Serranos are likely bringing in somewhere between $700K and $4 million in profits.

Who are the major players in the towing business?

Because many tow truck businesses are privately held companies, it is difficult to find accurate revenue numbers for the largest towing businesses. Along with ASAP Towing, some other large tow truck businesses include:

• United Road Towing: Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) estimates United Road Towing’s annual revenue to be $99M.
• Jamie Davis Towing: ZoomInfo estimates annual revenue is under $5M for this towing company.
• Certified Towing: Revenue is estimated at $1M, according to D&B.

What is the towing industry’s outlook?

IBIS World values the U.S. towing industry at $12.5B and expects it to grow around 2.9% in 2024. They expect it to continue growing at a faster rate after inflation settles down.

Any industry that exceeds the GDP growth in the U.S. is a great one to enter as a business owner.

What are the requirements for a tow company?

Before starting a tow truck company, you will need various tools, permits, and licenses. Consult your local small business office, the DMV, or a lawyer who specializes in tow truck businesses.

A tow trucking company will normally need:

• Drivers with class B driver’s licenses
• Business structure as a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation
• Comprehensive auto insurance with uninsured motorist insurance and higher limits than the state minimum (no less than $250K, but $1M is better)
• Business insurance
• High physical damage insurance
• An oversized vehicle permit (depending on what you will be towing)
• Indictment management permit (if towing without consent)

How to Get a Tow Truck License

To drive a truck with below a 26,000-pound towing capacity, you only need a regular driver’s license. You’ll need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) for anything bigger.

That means you’ll need to take a CDL course, which takes about a month. Then you’ll need to pass the DMV test.

Next, we’ll look at how to start a tow truck business.

How to Start a Tow Truck Business

Starting a tow truck business requires special considerations because of the nature of dealing with vehicular accidents and repossessions. You’ll want to follow the process below to start a successful towing business:

Keep reading to learn how to start a towing business.

Step #1. Identify Your Target Market

Tow truck companies use multiple business strategies to bring in revenue. An indispensable strategy is identifying your target market. Potential customers include:

1. Insurance companies: Companies like AAA and Roadside America need towing and roadside assistance for their customers.
2. Government agencies: These entities impound cars and need someone to tow them. Not that there may be minimum truck requirements.
3. Banks and lenders: Repossession services work with banks and lenders. Learn more about repo laws on the American Recovery Agency website.
4. Motorists: Towing businesses can also work with civilians to tow vehicles when they break down or are otherwise immovable.
5. Subcontracting: Many businesses outsource their towing needs.
6. Automotive companies: A towing business might also work with car dealerships and auto auctions to deliver cars to dealerships or customers.

Step #2. Research Local Regulations

Every towing business needs to understand the local, state, and federal laws that the automobile towing industry operates under. Make sure to check the regulations for all levels of government based on the towing services you provide.

A tow truck operator will normally be governed by federal law in two scenarios:

1. Maximum towing capacity for different types of trucks
2. Interstate commerce laws, which come into play when commercial vehicles cross state lines

States and local governments will often have laws and regulations that govern the tow truck industry, including minimum tow truck insurance and CDL requirements.

Step #3. Create a Tow Truck Business Plan

You don’t have to write a towing business plan, but it won’t hurt. It will help you keep track of how your towing company is progressing toward its goals. Tow truck business plans should follow a process similar to this:

1. Find customers.
2. Get your permits and licenses to drive a tow truck.
3. Start your company.
4. Buy a tow truck.
5. Start towing vehicles.
6. Follow a marketing plan to take on more work.
7. Buy more trucks.

Download our business plan template, then check out our interview with Mike Andes on how to write a business plan below:

Step #4. Consider a Startup Loan

Starting a towing business isn’t cheap. With the cost of a flatbed truck, tow truck insurance, commercial auto insurance, and small business insurance, you can expect to spend $10K to start a towing company. Other sites estimate the tow truck business startup cost can range from $62 to $2M.

• Personal funds or assets
• A loan from family or friends
• Funds from a business partner
• Government programs
• Crowdfunding
• Credit cards
• Home equity loans
• Business loans (Check out our partners.)
• Rollover for business startups (ROBS)

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers free courses on financing options and funding programs. For info on using personal funds to start a business, check out this article from The Hartford.

Step #5. Register Your Business

Registering a tow truck business will require you to:

1. Choose a business name: You’ll want a tow truck business name that is available as a website domain name, social media handle, and registered business name with your secretary of state and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Check domain availability on GoDaddy.
2. Create a business structure: You’ll want to get either an LLC or a corporation when starting a tow company. You do not want to get a sole proprietorship because it will expose your personal assets to a lawsuit if you get in a wreck with the tow truck.
3. Apply for an EIN: An employer identification number (EIN) is required to file taxes for business entities on the IRS website. It is also used to associate employee payroll taxes with the correct company.
4. Acquire a sales tax permit: Most states have a sales tax, and you need to adhere to their requirements. This blog isn’t the place to discuss the permits for all 50 states, but Avalara has a guide on sales tax permits. Check it out.
5. Labor law posters: All employers must display workplace posters that signal they’re following labor laws. You can download them from the Department of Justice website. You must also follow all hiring laws.
6. Unemployment Insurance (UI): You’ll have to pay about $420 per employee on a federal level plus any state UI. Check the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for more information.

Step #6. Open a Business Bank Account

Having an open bank account for your business is crucial to keeping your personal finances and tow truck business finances separate. If you have a limited liability company or a corporation, you’ll also need it to get business loans and personal liability protection.

If you have a business bank account, you can also get a business credit card and potentially commercial truck financing.

Step #7. Get Tow Truck Business Insurance

You’ll want a variety of insurance policies when you own tow trucks. You’ll want:

• Auto liability insurance: covers the vehicle owner if one of their tow truck drivers gets in a wreck
• Uninsured motorist insurance: covers your flatbed truck and your employee if an uninsured driver hits the vehicle
• Workers compensation insurance: covers the medical fees and lost work if employees get hurt or killed on the job

When you own tow truck company assets, you’ll also want various types of business insurance, like general liability, a business owner's policy, and commercial property insurance. Try Simply Business to get quotes from many of the best business insurance companies.

Step #8. Get the Required Licenses and Permits

As stated, tow trucks may require you to apply for additional permits and licenses. We suggest anyone who wants to tow vehicles reach out to a local business law attorney to verify that they have complied with all laws and regulations.

Step #9. Buy Equipment and Tools

One of the major business expenses for a successful towing company is the cost of flatbed trucks for hauling wrecked vehicles. Some of the places you can find the different types of tow trucks include:

• A bank repoed tow truck sale
• Craigslist
• Auto auctions
• Failing tow truck businesses
• Commercial Truck Trader

Step #10. Develop and Implement a Marketing Strategy

You’ll want to focus on marketing when starting a tow truck business. Vincent suggests using the following marketing for tow trucks:

• Website
• Google Ads
• Instagram and Facebook
• Videos platforms

Launch a Website

Creating a website helps people get the information they need about the services you offer, how much they cost, and where your business is located.

Some services you might list on your website include:

• Roadside assistance
• Repossession services
• Impounding and storage
• Vehicle auctions
• Heavy-duty towing services

Tow places should optimize their website for search engines for search engines. For example, adding a Google Map location to their website’s footer can help it show up higher on Google.

Vincent told us he has one company that does his videos, another that does search engine optimization, and a third that does social media. You can find all-encompassing services, as well.

Google Ads

Your business budget should include some expenses for advertising on Google. Vincent told us:

[su_quote]We’re spending a little over $1,000 per month on Google right now.[/su_quote]

Instagram and Facebook

Vincent told us that he is fairly new to Instagram, but it is starting to provide some returns. He said he has found success on Facebook.

Videos

Like many business owners, Vincent is starting to get into video marketing.

When you start a tow truck business, you can create videos about the common types of calls a tow operator gets. You can also explain how to do things like change a battery, replace a tire, and what to do in an accident—but make sure not to give any legal advice.

How much should a towing business spend on marketing?

Established tow truck companies should spend between 2% and 10% of desired revenue on marketing, depending on whether they are marketing their towing business to businesses or consumers. Business-to-consumer companies normally spend more on marketing.

According to entrepreneur Thomas Minieri, new companies should spend up to 20% of their target revenue on marketing to help them grow faster. You will normally want to spend between 15% and 20% of your budget on advertising costs.

Despite the suggestions, many small business owners spend much less on marketing. For instance, both Kenneth and Vanice spend less than 1% of their revenue on marketing.

Step #11. Provide Great Customer Service

Tow companies need to provide great customer service. Whether you’re towing for law enforcement, a business, or people in need of repairs, you should try to be compassionate.

Towing companies often provide emergency roadside assistance, but some partner with other businesses to transport vehicles that are (often unintentionally) parked illegally. When someone gets their car towed, remember they may not have known that their car was parked improperly.

Now that you know how to start a tow truck business, let’s look at some frequently asked questions about the industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ll start with the question on everyone’s mind:

How much do tow trucks cost?

There are a few different types of trucks:

• Flatbed tow truck for sale
• Ramp trucks for sale
• Wrecker truck for sale
• Integrated tow truck for sale

In most cases, expect to spend $25K or more.

How can I start a successful tow truck business with no money?

You have to start somewhere. Kenneth suggested the following solutions:

1. Can you finance?
2. Can you get a lease on a truck?
3. Can you ask friends and family?

He also told us:

[su_quote]I went looking for a loan so I could buy a tow truck and found out that you can’t get a loan to start a business unless you’ve been in business for two years.

I wound up going into it on a lease, rent to own. The truck sold for $50,000. By the time I’m done paying for the truck, it’ll be $106,000.[/su_quote]

He went on to say:

[su_quote]The benefit of leasing is you can get into a vehicle with a limited amount of money. The downfall of it is, if you don’t find the right leasing company, you’re gonna be paying them to double whatever the original amount was. So do a little diligence and find out. If they say there’s no puny penalty for prepayment, make sure that the amount is going to be adjusted.[/su_quote]

There are more ways to fund a towing company.

Common funding paths include:

• Personal funds or personal assets
• A loan from family or friends
• Funds from a business partner
• Government programs

The SBA offers free courses on financing options and funding programs. For info on using personal funds to start a business, check out this article from The Hartford.

Running the tow truck company is what you will spend most of your time doing. This includes aspects like hiring employees, helping customers, keeping inventory in stock, accounting, and payroll.

Hiring Tips

Kenneth had a lot to say about hiring drivers. He said the most important aspects of drivers are:

1. Do they have the required licensing?
2. Do they stay in communication with the owner?
3. Do they have mechanical experience, or are they willing to learn?

Without the required licensing, they won’t be able to earn money. But the other aspects are more important to focus on for the bigger picture. Here’s what he had to say about communication:

[su_quote][An employee is valuable] when they stay in contact with you and they keep you aware of what’s going on with your vehicle. If they’re having any problems, just tell me what your problem is. And I will give you the answer, ’cause my job is to help you.[/su_quote]

He also emphasized the importance of being mechanically inclined:

[su_quote]I’ve hired three people in the last month. I had to fire one quick because I explained to ’em, you know, the truck needs maintenance. I can’t be driving 16 hours a day and work on my truck, your truck, and everybody else’s truck.

It’s just not gonna happen. You have to take care of the truck. So, if you don’t know how to be a car mechanic, that probably is a tough spot to begin with.

I’m even willing to teach you what you need to know. I don’t have a problem with that because we succeed together as a team or we fail as a team.[/su_quote]

Top Towing Influencers

Find out what other people in the industry are doing:

• Jamie Davis Towing: Check out his YouTube Channel
• Get Hooked: A towing industry Podcast

Conclusion

We’ve covered how to start a tow truck company; now it’s your turn to get the licenses and permits, find some customers, get a truck, and start towing.

If you’ve already started one, what has been the most challenging part of starting an independent towing service?