Project description
A courier driver wanted to set up his own haulage business. He started with a used Mercedes van and drove as a subcontractor for two large transport companies in Lower Saxony, Germany.
His funding requirement was 50,000 EUR for the vehicle, working capital and bridging the initial phase.
We described his business model and the market and forecast the expected payments in and out – also including private living expenses. The business plan was the basis for the bank to grant the loan.
What banks look at in a haulage business plan
For a start-up haulage or freight business, lenders focus on three things: how stable the revenue is, what it costs to keep the vehicles on the road, and how much cash the owner needs to live on. Anchor contracts with established carriers or shippers show that income is not left to chance, so a good plan documents the expected order volume, the rate per kilometre or per tour, and the payment terms of each client.
On the cost side, the plan needs realistic figures for fuel, tolls, insurance, vehicle tax, maintenance, tyres and repairs, plus a reserve for downtime. When a single vehicle is the whole fleet, one breakdown stops all revenue, so lenders expect a contingency buffer and a clear replacement strategy.
Finally, the liquidity forecast should include private living costs and the gap between invoicing and payment, which in transport is often 30 to 60 days. A monthly plan for the first 24 months shows whether the loan can be repaid from the cash flow of the business.
