Free calculator
Hotshot Startup Cost Calculator
Add up what it takes to start a hotshot business: truck and trailer, paid in cash or financed, the insurance down payment, official registration fees, ELD, gear and enough working capital to run until brokers pay. This hotshot startup cost calculator shows the cash you need to start and your monthly fixed costs.
Updated · Runs in your browser, nothing you type is sent to us · Estimates, not advice
EXAMPLE defaults, not prices. Use your real quotes.
Fixed costs before fuel, maintenance and per-load fees. Divide by your expected monthly miles for your fixed cost per mile.
You'd need about $26,325 to start and $2,785 a month in fixed costs. Every week a truck sits costs part of that. Dispatch with us adds no setup fee and only charges on loads you haul.
Apply for dispatchHow to read the result
- Cash to start is everything you pay before the first broker payment arrives: equipment money down (or the full price if you pay cash), registrations, the insurance down payment, gear and tech, and working capital.
- Monthly fixed costs are what you owe every month whether the truck moves or not: payments, insurance, the ELD plan and other fixed bills. Fuel, maintenance and per-load fees aren't included, because they depend on miles.
- Working capital is the cushion: months you choose × (monthly fixed costs + fuel and running cash).
How it's calculated
- Equipment = truck (price or down payment) + trailer (price or down payment) + hitch
- Registrations = $300 operating authority + UCR + BOC-3 + business filing
- Monthly fixed = truck payment (if financed) + trailer payment (if financed) + insurance per month + ELD plan + other monthly costs
- Working capital = months × (monthly fixed + fuel and running cash per month)
- Cash to start = equipment + registrations + insurance down payment + ELD, gear and other + working capital
Assumptions and sources
- Operating authority is $300 per authority (49 CFR 360.3). A USDOT number has no charge (FMCSA), and an EIN is free from the IRS.
- UCR for 0-2 vehicles is $46 for 2026 and $55 for 2027 (UCR Plan).
- BOC-3 and business filing prices are set by the process agent you choose and by your state, so you enter them.
- CDL setups also pay IFTA and IRP fees set by their base state; add them under other one-time costs.
- Equipment, insurance and gear defaults are EXAMPLE numbers. Replace them with real prices and quotes.
How to use it before you buy
- Get two or three insurance quotes for the exact truck and trailer you're considering. Insurance can change which equipment makes sense.
- Enter the equipment as you'd actually buy it, cash or financed.
- Pick working capital months honestly; new authorities often take longer to get steady loads.
- Divide monthly fixed costs by the miles you realistically expect to run. That's your fixed cost per mile, the base of your minimum rate.
- Copy the result link and save it with your plan.
The line-by-line breakdown behind this calculator is in our hotshot startup cost guide, and what moves the insurance line is in hotshot insurance cost. When you're ready to run, hotshot dispatch with us adds no setup fee.
An estimate, not financial advice. Use real prices and quotes; equipment and insurance costs vary widely.
FAQ
Calculator FAQ
How much cash do I need to start a hotshot business?
It depends mostly on the truck and trailer (cash or financed) and the insurance down payment. Official fees are small: $300 for operating authority, a free USDOT number and EIN, and UCR. Enter your quotes above to get your number.
Which UCR fee should I use?
The UCR fee for 0-2 vehicles is $46 for 2026 and $55 for 2027, per the UCR Plan. The 2027 fee took effect October 1, 2026, when 2027 registration opened. Registration is due before January 1 of each year, so if you're starting late in the year you may pay both.
How many months of working capital should I plan for?
At least one to two months of fixed costs plus fuel, because brokers usually pay on terms measured in weeks. Plan more if you won't use quick pay or factoring, or if your first loads are likely to be slow to find on a new authority.
Sources
- 49 CFR 360.3, filing fees (eCFR) (checked October 2026)
- FMCSA FAQ, Who needs to get a USDOT number? (no charge) (checked October 2026)
- Unified Carrier Registration Plan, fee brackets (checked October 2026)
- IRS, Get an employer identification number (checked October 2026)