U.S. Towing & Roadside Snapshot

Towing demand is anchored by America’s large vehicle base and insurer-backed roadside programs. AAA affiliates alone report tens of millions of annual assists, which reinforces steady call volume for jumpstarts, tows, and recoveries. City rotation lists remain competitive; operators that publish response-time SLAs, maintain inspection-ready units, and document storage-yard policies tend to win and keep contracts. Heavy-duty recovery is a higher-margin specialty but requires trained personnel, equipment lists, and rigorous incident logs. Lenders and municipalities look for disciplined dispatch, safety, and insurance coverage; they also want to see utilization math, shift coverage, and a plan for fuel/insurance volatility. This template addresses each of those lender cues in plain English and ties them to the 36-month model.

Authority: AAA Newsroom (Roadside Assistance)

What’s Inside the Business Plan

Executive Summary. A lender-style one-pager that explains your coverage zones, vehicle types, rotation ambitions, and funding ask in plain terms. The use-of-funds maps trucks, insurance, and dispatch to revenue capacity. Milestones show when additional units are justified by utilization. A quick credibility line positions owner experience and safety practices. It’s scannable in a minute and sets the tone for approval.

Market Overview. Describes local demand drivers such as commuter corridors, weather, and insurer referrals. Frames competitors honestly and identifies niches (storage lots, heavy-duty recovery) where your speed or gear wins. Includes pricing justifications tied to response time and risk. Seasonality notes explain off-peak strategies. The goal is lender realism, not hype.

Products & Pricing. Lays out light/medium/heavy towing, winch-outs, lockouts, tire changes, and accident recovery with clear rate ladders. Each service links to contribution margin so price decisions are defendable. Shows how insurer and AAA rates fit into your mix. Explains surcharge logic for after-hours and hazardous conditions. Gives you language you can stand behind in a meeting.

Operations & Staffing. Turns dispatch into capacity math—calls per shift, stackable routes, and yard procedures. Outlines preventive maintenance cadence and inspection checklists. Clarifies driver roles, certifications, and on-call rotations. Documents handoffs to storage and invoicing. Protects customer experience and margins at the same time.

Marketing & Sales. Builds a weekly rhythm across maps/reviews, insurer & fleet outreach, and city bids. Shows how to convert stranded motorists into reviews and repeat accounts. Includes partner scripts and PDF packet pointers for AAA/insurer relationships. Keeps spend focused on channels that actually create calls. Consistency creates predictability.

Management & KPIs. Defines owner/dispatcher/driver accountability with a tight KPI set: utilization, average response time, contribution/job, and cash runway. Explains what “healthy” looks like at 1, 3, and 5 units. Adds early-warning triggers so you can adjust before issues grow. It’s the dashboard lenders expect to see.

Financial Model (36-Month). Transparent assumptions connect calls × rate mix to fuel, insurance, payments, and labor. Break-even is explicit and tied to utilization targets. Cash-flow timing reflects insurer pay cycles and storage fees. Exports a lender-friendly PDF in banker-logic order. Update any variable and the model flows.

From Download to Funded — How It Works

1. Download: Instant access to Word + Excel with lender-style sections and a ready 36-month model.
2. Customize: Drop in your zones, rates, shifts, trucks, and insurer/rotation targets; numbers update automatically.
3. Present: Export a clean PDF and attach your SLA packet for lenders, municipalities, and partners.

Most owners finish a solid first draft in an afternoon—then iterate as contracts land.

Lender Review Checklist (SBA-Aligned)

• Clear use-of-funds mapped to revenue capacity (units, staffing, dispatch).
• Utilization targets with shift coverage and response-time SLAs.
• Insurance (auto/on-hook/garagekeepers) and safety documentation.
• Defendable pricing by call type with contribution logic.
• 36-month P&L, break-even, and cash-flow with sensitivity notes.

Mistakes Founders Make — And How This Fixes Them

• Guessing rates: Template ties rate ladders to contribution/job so price is defendable.
• Thin dispatch math: Capacity is modeled by shift and call stack—utilization isn’t a mystery.
• Insurance shocks: Sensitivity notes show how premiums and fuel affect margins, with buffers.
• No SLA packet: Executive summary + SLA language becomes your insurer/city packet.