business plan for a used tire shop

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Used Tire Business

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How to Start a Used Tire Business

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on May 10, 2022 Updated on March 13, 2024

Investment range

$51,550 - $104,100

Revenue potential

$234,000 - $936,000 p.a.

Time to build

1 – 3 months

Profit potential

$70,000 - $280,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Every vehicle needs tires, and new ones can be expensive. That’s why more and more people are opting to buy used, which cost half as much. You could source from junkyards and tire dealers, start your own used tire business and provide a much-needed product while making good money in a steadily growing $35 billion US industry. 

But before you jump into the junkyard to start digging for gold, you’ll need to know how to launch and market your business, and to learn some financial aspects of business as well. Luckily, this step-by-step guide has you covered with all the information you need to launch a successful used tire business. 

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a used tire business has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Good Money – Acquire tires for cheap and mark them up
• Large Market – All vehicles need tires
• Provide Value – Many people can’t afford new tires
• High Startup Costs – Garage, equipment, and inventory can be expensive
• Crowded Market – Compete with many other used tire businesses

Used tire industry trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth – The US tire dealers industry is worth $35 billion after modest growth during the previous five years.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/tire-dealers-industry/ )) 
• Growth forecast – The US tire dealers industry is projected to continue to grow for the next five years. 
• Number of businesses – In 2022, 31,895 tire dealers are operating in the US.
• Number of people employed – In 2022, the US tire dealers industry employs 170,753 people.

Trends and challenges

Trends in the used tire industry include:

• People are getting back out as the pandemic winds down, and putting more miles on their tires, which should boost the used tire industry.
• Inflation has people seeking to cut costs, which means more people are likely to opt for used tires instead of new ones.

Challenges in the used tire industry include:

• Used tires that fail quickly are a potential liability for used tire businesses.
• Labor shortages are making it difficult for used tire businesses to find workers.

Demand hotspots

• Most popular states –  The most popular states for tire technicians are Iowa, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.(( https://www.zippia.com/tire-technician-jobs/best-states/ ))
• Least popular states – The least popular states for tire technicians are Utah, Massachusetts, and Colorado.

What kind of people work in used tires?

• Gender –  3.5% of tire technicians are female, while 96.5% are male.(( https://www.zippia.com/tire-technician-jobs/demographics/ ))
• Average level of education – The average tire technician is high school educated.
• Average age -The average tire technician in the US is 35.7 years old.

How much does it cost to start a used tire business?

Startup costs for a used tire business range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more. Costs include a garage rental, equipment, inventory, and an operating budget. 

You can take online courses and become certified as a tire technician through the Tire Industry Association . Courses are self-study and cost about $1,000 in total.

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your used tire business, including: 

• Floor jacks
• Air impact gun
• Screwdrivers
• Tire spreader
• Wheel balancer

How much can you earn from a used tire business?

The average cost of a used tire is about $90 and scrap tires will generally cost much less, especially if you’re able to partner with a junkyard. Your profit margin after rent and labor should be about 30%. 

In your first year or two, you could sell 50 tires a week bringing in $234,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $70,000 in profit, assuming that 30% margin. As your shop gains recognition, sales could climb to 200 tires a week. With annual revenue of $936,000, you’d make an outstanding profit of more than $280,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a used tire business. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Funding the startup costs of your tire inventory and operating budget
• Standing out and drawing business in a crowded market

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a used tire business, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Research used tire businesses in your area to examine their products/services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a business that recycles old tires or shredded tires, or a used tire business that also offers automotive repair services.

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as a certain tire brand, or used tires with more than the required tread depth.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your products or services

If you have the skills, in addition to selling and installing used tires, you could offer automotive repair. You could also sell new tires, tire rims, and other car products.

How much should you charge for used tires?

Prices for used tires are generally about 50% of their original cost. After all your costs, you should aim for a profit margin of about 30%. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will be broad, so you should spread out your marketing to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and even LinkedIn.

Where? Choose the location for your used tire shop

The location of your used tire business is crucial to its success. Consider setting up a shop in an industrial area with a high concentration of trucking companies and transportation businesses. This will increase your chances of receiving business from those who require heavy-duty tires for their fleets.

A location near a major highway or interstate is also ideal, as it will attract customers traveling long distances who may need tire replacements. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

Step 3: Brainstorm a Business Name

Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “tires” or “used tires”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “Second Life Tires” over “Commercial Used Tire Solutions”
• Avoid location-based names that might hinder future expansion
• Use online tools like the Step by Step Business Name Generator . Just type in a few keywords and hit “generate” and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Business Plan

Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:

• Executive Summary: Summarize your used tire business, highlighting its focus on selling quality, affordable used tires and related services to vehicle owners.
• Business Overview: Describe your business’s specialization in sourcing, inspecting, and selling used tires for a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
• Product and Services: Detail the types of used tires offered, including various sizes and brands, along with services like tire fitting, balancing, and rotation.
• Market Analysis: Assess the demand for affordable tire options in your area, considering factors like vehicle ownership rates and economic conditions.
• Competitive Analysis: Compare your business to other tire retailers and service centers, focusing on your advantages like lower prices, quality assurance, or customer service.
• Sales and Marketing: Outline your strategy for attracting customers, such as through local advertising, partnerships with auto repair shops, or online marketplaces.
• Management Team: Highlight the experience and qualifications of your team, especially in areas like automotive services, retail management, and customer relations.
• Operations Plan: Describe the process of acquiring, inspecting, storing, and selling used tires, including inventory management and customer service protocols.
• Financial Plan: Provide an overview of financial aspects, including startup costs, pricing strategy, and revenue projections.
• Appendix: Include supplementary documents such as supplier agreements, market research data, or detailed business licenses and permits to support your business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to used tire businesses. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your used tire business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have. 

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2023

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a used tire business. 

Step 8: Apply for Licenses/Permits

Starting a used tire business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Most states have tread depth requirements as well as condition requirements for used tires. Check with your state to make sure the tires you sell are in compliance.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your used tire business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as Shopmonkey , ARI , or Mitchell1 , to manage your scheduling, inventory, workflows, and invoicing. 

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Partnerships with Auto Shops: Forge alliances with local auto repair shops to become their preferred used tire supplier, offering them competitive prices and reliable service.
• Community Events and Sponsorships: Participate in community events or sponsor local sports teams to increase brand visibility and build a positive reputation within your target market.
• Social Media Engagement: Leverage social media platforms to showcase your inventory, share tire maintenance tips, and engage with potential customers, creating a strong online presence.
• Referral Programs: Implement a referral program offering discounts or incentives to existing customers who refer new clients, fostering customer loyalty and expanding your customer base.
• Mobile Tire Services: Offer a mobile tire service, allowing customers to purchase and install tires at their convenience, providing a unique selling point in the market.
• Discounts for Fleet Accounts: Collaborate with local businesses with vehicle fleets to offer bulk discounts, providing cost-effective solutions and attracting consistent business.
• Seasonal Promotions: Run promotions tailored to specific seasons or weather conditions, such as winter tire discounts in colder months or summer specials, to align with customers’ immediate needs.
• Online Marketplaces: Utilize online marketplaces and classified ads to reach a wider audience, tapping into online communities where potential customers actively seek used tires.
• Customer Testimonials and Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials, building trust and credibility among potential buyers.
• Educational Workshops: Organize workshops on tire maintenance and safety, positioning your business as an authority in the field and attracting customers seeking informative resources.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your used tire business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your used tire business could be:

• Reliable used tires for less
• Same-day used tire repair and installation
• We bring great used tires to you, fast 

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a used tire business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in used tires for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in used tires. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a used tire business include:

• Tire Technicians – install used tires
• General Manager – scheduling, ordering accounting
• Marketing Lead – SEO strategies, social media

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Start Making Money!

Used tires are big business, with the industry worth $35 billion and expected to continue to grow in the next decade. By opening your own used tire business, you could make quite a good living. You can easily learn to be a tire technician, and with a bit of an investment, you could build a great company. It will take hard work, and a passion to serve your customers, but you can be very successful while providing a valuable service at the same time.

You’ve got the business part down now, so it’s time to get your lucrative used tire business up and running!

• Used Tire Business FAQs

They may not sound like much, but there’s good money in used tires. You can buy as scrap and sell for a healthy markup. You just need to be dedicated to providing customers with real value and service, and you can be successful.

Generally, used tires sell for about 50% of their original price. Prices will, of course, depend on the condition of the tires. You should also check used tire prices in your area to make sure you’re competitive.

The types and sizes of used tires you should stock in your inventory depend on the local demand, customer preferences, and the types of vehicles commonly seen in your area. It’s important to carry a diverse range of tire sizes to cater to different vehicles, including passenger cars, SUVs, trucks, and commercial vehicles. Focus on popular tire brands and models that are known for their quality and reliability.

Create a professional website or online store that showcases your inventory and provides information on services and pricing. Utilize search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve online visibility. Leverage social media platforms to engage with potential customers, share useful tips, and run targeted advertising campaigns. Collaborate with local auto repair shops, car dealerships, or fleet management companies to establish referral partnerships. 

Starting a used tire business on the side is possible, but it requires careful planning, time management, and adherence to local regulations and licensing requirements. Research the market demand and competition in your area. Ensure you have adequate storage space for the inventory, a reliable supply chain for sourcing used tires, and a suitable infrastructure for managing customer inquiries, sales, and deliveries. Evaluate the time and resources you can dedicate to the business while considering the demands of your primary job.

Check the tread depth using a tire tread depth gauge to determine if the tires have sufficient remaining tread life. Inspect the tire sidewalls for any cracks, bulges, or signs of damage. Look for signs of uneven wear or irregular tire wear patterns, which may indicate alignment or suspension issues. Verify the manufacturing date to ensure the tires are not too old or expired. Check for any repairs or patches and assess their quality. 

where does a used tire shop purchase inventory of used tires? where are used tires purchased in volume at a wholesale price?

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Business Name
• Create a Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Licenses/Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Start Making Money!

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How to Start a Used Tire Business

Used tire businesses sell and install tires that have been previously driven on. Some businesses also offer tire repair services, but the sale of tires accounts for the majority of a business’ revenue.

The used tire industry is strong and growing. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), between 30 and 35 million used tires are sold annually. About 10 percent of drivers have these tires on at least one vehicle.

Learn how to start your own Used Tire Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start a used tire business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Used Tire Business
• Form your Used Tire Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your Used Tire Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Used Tire Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Used Tire Business
• Get Used Tire Business Insurance
• Define your Used Tire Business Brand
• Create your Used Tire Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your used tire business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Used Tire Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your used tire business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a used tire business.

The startup costs for a used tire business go to three primary areas. Business owners need:

• A retail location
• Equipment for installing tires

A good location will have a storage space for inventory, a small retail area and a garage for working on cars. It’ll also be in a low-rent district so that overhead can be kept minimal. Good locations include old auto shops and warehouses that are no longer in use.

Business owners that want to reduce equipment costs can look for used equipment that’s in good condition. Purchasing used, high-quality equipment is preferable to getting new, lower-quality tools because high-quality equipment is often more efficient to use. It’ll save time and reduce labor costs associated with installing purchased tires.

When purchasing tires, business owners should get a large, varied selection. The inventory gathered should include many sizes of car, truck, low-profile and high-performance tires. Good places to purchase tires include junkyards, tire shops and retreading centers.

It’s also a good idea to forge a relationship with a wholesale supplier of rims, but rims can be purchased on an as-needed basis.

In total, these expenses may range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands. The range depends on how much a space costs, what type of equipment is purchased and how large an inventory a business opens with.

What are the ongoing expenses for a used tire business?

The ongoing expenses for a used tire business are manageable. They include lease payments, utilities, employees’ salaries and inventory expenses.

Who is the target market?

The target market of a used tire business is anyone who owns a vehicle and wants to save money. All vehicles need tires, and many drivers are willing to consider used tires because they provide an excellent value.

How does a used tire business make money?

A used tire business makes money by selling used tires to customers. Most tires are sold individually, in pairs of two or in sets of four. Tire Business reports that the average sale at one business, Drakes Tire’s, is a pair. Sales at another business, Rob’s Used Tires, are evenly split between individuals, pairs and sets.

Used tires cost much less than new ones. Gently used tires sell for up to half their initial cost, while more worn tires sell for much less.

Despite these low prices, businesses can still earn a handsome profit. Used tires can be purchased wholesale for very little because other businesses must pay a fee to dispose of old tires if they don’t sell them to a used tire business.

For each tire sold, many businesses charge an additional $15 to $45 to mount and balance the tire.

How much profit can a used tire business make?

Because there is such demand for tires, a used tire business can bring a significant profit. For instance, S & S Distributors, LLC moves 10,000 tires each week. Even at a fraction of the cost of new tires, that amounts to a sizable weekly revenue.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A used tire business can increase its profitability by also selling rims and new tires, and by offering tire repair service. Some businesses may get into more significant automotive repairs.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your used tire business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

All businesses involved in automotive vehicle maintenance must comply with federal and state-level environmental regulations. A checklist for compliance with federal environmental regulations can be found  here .

In most states, it is necessary to obtain an appropriate business license. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting  SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

A used tires shop business is generally run out of a “garage,” a retail location uniquely equipped to store and repair cars. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a  Certificate of Occupancy  (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to an Car Repair business.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening,  it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for you business’ location to ensure your used tires business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Used Tire Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Used Tire Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a used tire business

A used tire business is best marketed through inexpensive marketing tactics that don’t increase how much a business must charge. Radio and online ads work well, as do Craigslist postings.

How to keep customers coming back

One of the challenges of getting customers is convincing drivers that used tires are a safe alternative to new ones. Businesses can do this by telling customers about their pre-sale tire inspections and offering a warranty. Rob’s Used Tires offers two-, four- and eight-week warranties based on tire grade.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Anyone who likes working on vehicles and enjoys working with their hands might be well-suited for running a used tire business. Having basic people skills is also helpful, as business owners must be able to sell tires to customers.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a used tire business?

A typical day at a used tire business consists of:

• Picking up used tires from nearby locations
• Inspecting used tires for condition and quality
• Selling used tires to customers
• Installing used tires that customers purchase

Installing tires involves removing tires that are currently on a vehicle, and mounting and balancing the used tires that are purchased.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful used tire business?

In order to successfully run a used tire business, it’s necessary to know how to inspect used tires and how to install them. Business owners can get an initial education by working at a tire center (either used or new), and they can further their knowledge through courses offered by the Tire Industry Association. Some courses that business owners might want to take include:

• Basic Automotive Tire Service (ATS)
• Certified Automotive Tire Service (ATS)
• Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)

These courses cover topics like dismounting, mounting, installing, removing and repairing tires.

More advanced courses on commercial tires are also available. When starting out, however, business owners should focus on the basic courses that focus on tires for personal vehicles. This is where most of the market demand is.

What is the growth potential for a used tire business?

Some used tire businesses focus on online sales in order to reach buyers across the country. Most, however, have one or two locations that serve a defined geographic area. Hooper’s Tire Outlet is a business that has two locations serving Upstate New York. TireMart.com is an example of an online-based business.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a used tire business?

When opening a used tire business, it’s important to only sell safe, good-quality tires. All tires should be inspected, and they should have a decent amount of life left. Just one bad tire that fails could cause an accident and devastate a business.

Some ways to test tires’ conditions include:

• Performing air tests to check for leaks
• Visually inspecting tires for defects or previous repairs
• Inspecting tread depth and overall wear

How and when to build a team

Used tires businesses usually have a small team of employees from the outset. The number of employees can be kept minimal, but at least a couple people are needed so that someone can talk with customers while another employee is installing tires.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• Tuffy Franchising Opportunity

Real World Examples

• Discount Tire Store
• Town Used Tire

Further Reading

• How to Open a Used-Tire Shop

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

Tire Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Tire Shop Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Tire Shop business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Tire Shops.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Tire Shop business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Tire World is a startup retail tire store business located in Spokane, Washington. The company was founded by Tommy Thompson, a former manager of a national chain tire store company for fifteen years. Tommy was recognized early in his career for both his leadership qualities among the staff members of his former employer, but also for his outstanding ability to assist customers in the best possible ways.

For example, if a customer was grouchy and unhappy about the experience, Tommy would find a way to connect with the customer to indicate some sympathy. If the client was nervous or upset about the costs, Tommy would find ways to assist the customer in feeling more confident in the end result and how the work could be paid for.

Tommy has recruited two of his former staff members to work in Tire World; Jay Goodson, who will act as the Shop Manager, and Clay Maddeson, who will act as the Operations Manager in the main office. Both are experienced in their fields of interest and have experience, along with stellar reviews from clients.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Tire World will provide:

• Complete product line of tires for various vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and motorcycles
• Specialty tires for recreational vehicles and other “heavy load” vehicles, such as tractors and other farm and ranch mobile vehicles
• Tire installation services
• Tire balancing services
• Tire rotation services
• Tire repair services
• Free air fills and tire check as often as customers request those services
• Free bicycle air fills
• Free servicing of tires of childrens’ “mobile vehicles” and safety checks

Customer Focus

The primary target market will include vehicle owners within a 30-mile radius of the shop, including individual customers, commercial fleet owners, and automotive repair shops. In addition, farmers and ranchers will be targeted, along with those individuals who own vehicles with specialty tires.

Management Team

Tire World will be owned and operated by Tommy Thompson, a former manager of a national chain tire store company for fifteen years. Tommy has recruited two of his former staff members to work in Tire World.

Jay Goodson, formerly a shop mechanic at the retail chain tire store, has proven to be a stellar employee during the eight years of his employment in his former position. Jay will now act as the Shop Manager, overseeing all mechanics, inventory, service-related issues and human resource issues within the shop and bays.

Clay Maddesonwill act as the Operations Manager in the main office. He was also recruited from the former employer of Tommy Thompson and has six years of experience as an operations staff member. He will oversee the scheduling for tire service, customer service overall, inventory control and other vital areas that will support the store’s success.

Success Factors

Tire World will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team at Tire World
• In addition to typical tire repair and servicing, Tire World will offer numerous specialty tires for various farm, ranch and recreational vehicles.
• Tire World will offer free air fills and tire checks every time a customer requests the service.
• Tire World will also be known as the Kids Tire Corner, with free air fills and repairs for bicycles and “work” performed on children’s ride-on toys that will be free of charge.

Financial Highlights

Tire World is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch Tire World. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Office space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Tire World.

Company Overview

Who is desert sun tire shoping company.

Tire World is a newly established, full-service retail tire store in Spokane, Washington. Tire World will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and customer-oriented choice for tire replacement, repair and servicing in Spokane and the surrounding region. Tire World will provide a comprehensive menu of tire products and services for any customer to utilize. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive array of tires and a number of unique services for customers and their children.

  Tire World will be able to offer a stellar mix of product quality and service. The team of professionals are highly qualified professionals, experienced in tire placement, repair, servicing and identification of problems, with a known pattern of excellence in the greater Spokane area. Tire World removes all headaches and issues of tires and the problems that arise in serving or replacement and Tire World ensures all issues are taken care of expeditiously, while delivering the best customer service.

Tire World History

Since incorporation, Tire World has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Tire World, LLC to transact business in the state of Washington.
• Has a contract in place at one of the office buildings next to the Tire World service center. The office space will add 10,000 square feet, providing for a customer waiting area.
• Reached out to numerous former customers and contacts to spread the word.
• Began recruiting a staff of six and office personnel to work at Tire World.

Tire World Services

The following will be the services Tire World will provide:

Industry Analysis

The retail tire store industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $145 billion. The growth will be driven by increased numbers of vehicles owned and operated. The growth will also be driven by the increasing numbers of tires that are especially made to fit with certain vehicles of manufacturers, including “run flat” tires and other features. The growth will also be driven by the desire by drivers to obtain the maximum amount of miles per gallon spent on fuel as fuel prices rise. Tire performance is directly related; new types of designs will be developed to assist in maximum efficiency rates. Costs will likely be reduced by greater availability of all types and sizes of tires. Costs will also likely be reduced by larger inventory of stock tire sizes at tire manufacturer facilities.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Tire World will primarily target vehicle owners within a 30-mile radius of the shop, including individual customers, commercial fleet owners, and automotive repair shops. In addition, farmers and ranchers will be targeted, along with those individuals who own vehicles with specialty tires.

Customer Segmentation

Tire World will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Vehicle owners
• Commercial fleet owners
• Automotive repair shops
• RV repair and servicing shops
• Farmers and ranchers with work-related vehicles

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Tire World will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

National Tire Store

National Tire Store is one store within a national retail chain of tire stores. There are 355 stores across the U.S., each carrying the same stock tires to meet the needs of 80% of the U.S. population, depending on which kind of vehicles are driven. Foreign cars (German, etc) with specialty tires will not find tires in this national chain.

National Tire Store was founded in 1990 by Hugh Morrison and his wife, Patti, who had been operating a tire store for five years on a small scale in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. They were approached by a company that funds startup franchise stores and they bought into the plan to develop their single store into a national brand and numerous stores. Although they’ve retired, Hugh and Patti continue to remain active in the oversight of the chain and the changes that have occurred. The chain is focused on U.S. vehicles that run on U.S. tires, made for the greater population rather than for all types of vehicles. Farm, ranch, and recreational vehicle tires are not inventoried at the chain stores.

Grainger’s Tire Store

Grainger’s Tire Store is owned and operated by Lou Grainger. It was established in the city of Spokane in 1979 and currently has ten employees who focus on service and selection for their customers. Grainger’s Tire Store is a direct competitor to Tire World; however, differences are apparent for customers when making comparisons. Grainger’s Tire Store does not offer free air fills or tire checks, nor do they service bicycles, or children’s mobile vehicles. The store does not carry specialty tires, nor does it carry tires for ranch or farm vehicles.

Lou Grainger has built a reputation of being a community-minded business owner, having assisted with several Spokane city departments in their tire repairs and replacements. This includes the police department and other vehicles that are regularly driven by city employees. The relationship has become a collaborative one, with the two entities contracted for long-term services and products for ten years to come.

Tube n’ Lube

In 2020, brothers Lucas and Nico Porterro decided to open a tire store in an abandoned convenience store on the southside of the city of Spokane. The store was purchased and the brothers cleaned and stocked the store with a variety of tires and tire accessories. They added a 2-bay tire installation and lube service area in 2021 and have since run a modest business by acting as the service technicians at the same time they provide customer service and product sales. They currently sell tires for cars, trucks, and motorcycles.

In addition to selling and servicing tires, the Porterro brothers offer lubrication service for area vehicle owners. They charge modest prices for basic lube services.

Competitive Advantage

Tire World will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Tire World will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• In addition to offering tire replacements or repairs to virtually all kinds of tires, Tire World will become known for their stellar customer service.
• Tire World will offer free air fills and repairs for bicycle tires
• Tire World will offer free air fills and “repairs” for children’s mobile vehicles.
• Tire World will offer services beyond the norm, providing for area ranchers and farmers with specialty tires for their mobile equipment

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Tire World is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Tire World has built up an extensive list of contacts and former clients over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to clients. Former customers will follow the management of the new company and help spread the word about the launch of Tire World.

Professional Associations and Networking

Community groups and government offices in Spokane invite business owners to meet with them regularly; the Tire World staff will do so. Special discounts and offers can be made to assist local law enforcement, while providing a service that meets the needs of residents, as well. Networking will begin before the tire store opens and continue indefinitely.

Print Advertising

A direct mail piece will be sent to all residents within the greater Spokane area two weeks prior to the opening of the tire store. Special discounts will be offered for the first three months of business. Referrals to new customers will also be rewarded with perks and special tire packages.

Website/SEO Marketing

Tire World will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all their products and services that Tire World provides. The website will also list their contact information and services offered. The website will employ SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “tire company” or “tire store near me”, Tire World will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Tire World will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Tire World. Operation Functions:

• Tommy Thompson will be the Owner and President of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations. Tommy has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Clay Maddeson will act as the Operations Manager who will oversee scheduling, customer relations, and other administrative duties.
• Jay Goodson will act as the Shop Manager, overseeing all staff and management of the shop and bay areas of the store.

Milestones:

Tire World will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for Tire World
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Tire World wholesalers
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at community events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Tire World
• 7/1/202X – Tire World opens its doors for business

Tire World is owned and operated by Tommy Thompson, a former manager of a national chain tire store company for fifteen years. Tommy was recognized early in his career for both his leadership qualities among the staff members of his former employer, but also for his outstanding ability to assist customers in the best possible ways. Tommy has recruited two of his former staff members to work in Tire World.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Tire World are the fees they will charge customers for their products and services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff Tire World. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Tire World is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch Tire World. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Customers Per Month: 300
• Average Revenue per Month: $90,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, tire shop business plan faqs, what is a tire shop business plan.

A tire shop business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your tire shop business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Tire Shop business plan using our Tire Shop Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Tire Shop Businesses? 

There are a number of different kinds of tire shop businesses , some examples include: Retail, Discount, and Full-service.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Tire Shop Business Plan?

Tire Shop businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Tire Shop Business?

Starting a tire shop business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Tire Shop Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed tire shop business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your tire shop business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your tire shop business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Tire Shop Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your tire shop business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your tire shop business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Tire Shop Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your tire shop business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your tire shop business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful tire shop business:

• How to Start a Tire Shop

Tire Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Tire Shop Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 500 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their tire shops.

If you’re unfamiliar with creating a tire shop business plan, you may think creating one will be a time-consuming and frustrating process. For most entrepreneurs it is, but for you, it won’t be since we’re here to help. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write a tire shop business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your tire shop as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan

If you’re looking to start a tire shop or grow your existing tire shop, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your tire shop to improve your chances of success. Your tire shop business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Tire Shops

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for tire shops are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for tire shops.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a business plan for a tire shop.

If you want to start a tire shop or expand your current one, you need a business plan. The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your tire shop business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of tire shop you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a tire shop that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of tire shops?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the tire shop industry.
• Discuss the type of tire shop you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of tire shop you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of tire shops:

• Retail : this type of tire shop offers tires in all price ranges, new and used, affordable, and luxury. They mainly offer the most popular brand names of tires.
• Discount: this type of tire shop focuses on selling discount tires that are affordable to their client base. They will also carry used and gently worn tires that can be sold at a discounted price.
• Full-service: this type of tire shop will sell tires, but also perform tire rotations, oil changes, and other small mechanical jobs.

In addition to explaining the type of tire shop you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, the number of customers with positive reviews, reaching X number of customers served, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the tire shop industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the tire shop industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends.

The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your tire shop business plan:

• How big is the tire shop industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your tire shop? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your tire shop business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, and businesses.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of tire shop you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than businesses, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other tire shops.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This includes car dealerships, large big box retailers, or auto shops. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of tire shop are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide other mechanical services aside from tire replacement?
• Will you offer products that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a tire shop business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of tire shop company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you provide oil changes, complimentary tire rotations,tire leak or damage repair, or auto inspections?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your tire shop. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your tire shop located in a busy retail district, a busy neighborhood, a standalone location, or adjacent to an auto mechanic shop? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your tire shop marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your tire shop, including taking tire inventory, customer service and billing, scheduling staff hours and payroll, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to sell your Xth tire, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your tire shop to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your tire shop’s potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing tire shops. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing a tire shop or successfully running an automotive repair shop.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you sell 5 tires per day, and/or offer multiple tire purchase discounts? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your tire shop, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a tire shop:

• Cost of equipment and tire inventory
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your tire shop location lease or a list of tires you plan to offer.  

Writing a business plan for your tire shop is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will understand the tire shop industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful tire shop.  

Tire Shop Business Plan Template FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my tire shop business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily write your tire shop business plan.

How Do You Start a Tire Shop Business?

Starting a tire shop business is easy with these 14 steps:

• Choose the Name for Your Tire Shop Business
• Create Your Tire Shop Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Tire Shop Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Tire Shop Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Tire Shop Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Tire Shop Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Tire Shop Business Equipment
• Develop Your Tire Shop Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Tire Shop Business
• Open for Business

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Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Start a Used Tire Business

Breathing New Life into Old Wheels: The Visionary Potential of a Used Tire Business

USED TIRE BUSINESS

Related business ideas, discover your perfect domain, used tire mini business plan, a. expected percent margins:, b. earnings expectations:, c. actions to hit those numbers:, i. inventory management:, ii. marketing and customer acquisition:, iii. sales and customer experience:, iv. cost control:, v. business operations:, not what you had in mind here are more ideas, grab your business website name, step 1: determine if starting a used tire business is the right endeavor, breakdown of startup expenses, breakdown of ongoing expenses, examples of ways to make money, step 2: name the business, step 3: obtain necessary licenses and permits, step 4: secure a location, considerations for choosing a location, negotiate a lease, step 5: establish suppliers, research potential suppliers, negotiate terms, step 6: purchase necessary equipment, research potential equipment, negotiate terms of purchase, step 7: market the business, step 8: hire employees, determine necessary positions, research potential candidates, step 9: monitor the business, track expenses. tracking expenses is an important part of running a used tire business. it is important to know exactly how much is being spent on materials, labor, and other expenses. by tracking expenses, it is possible to identify areas where costs can be reduced and profits can be increased. additionally, tracking expenses can help to identify any potential issues that may arise, such as unexpected costs or delays in production., monitor sales. monitoring sales is also an important part of running a used tire business. it is important to know which products are selling well and which products may need to be discounted or removed from the inventory. additionally, monitoring sales can help to identify any potential issues that may arise, such as slow sales or customer dissatisfaction. by monitoring sales, it is possible to adjust the business strategy to ensure that the business is meeting its goals and objectives., explore more categories, take the next steps.

How To Start A Used Tire Business

To start a used tire business, one should perform market research, secure a location, obtain necessary permits and licenses, source for quality used tires, establish a pricing structure, and develop a marketing strategy.

• Last Update: November 23, 2023

• Steps in this Guide: 11

Starting a business in the automotive industry can be a lucrative venture, and one area with great potential is the used tire market. With millions of vehicles on the road, there is a constant demand for affordable, quality tires. If you have a passion for cars and an entrepreneurial spirit, starting a used tire business might be the perfect opportunity for you. In this blog post, we will explore the essential steps to set up and run a successful used tire business, from sourcing high-quality tires to marketing your products and ensuring customer satisfaction. So, if you’re ready to dive into the world of used tires and turn your passion into profit, read on!

How To Start A Used Tire Business: Step-by-Step

Step 1: business plan formation,.

In order to build a successful business in the used tire industry, it is crucial to create a detailed business plan that outlines target market, startup costs, operations, pricing, marketing strategies, and addresses upcoming trends and challenges within the industry.

Step 2: Market Research,

Conducting comprehensive market research is essential to determine the demand for used tires in the desired area. It involves identifying the specific customer base, their preferences, and requirements, as well as determining the most sought-after type of used tires.

Step 3: Legal Considerations,

To establish your business legally, make sure to register your business name, obtain a tax ID number, and acquire the permits and licenses required. Research the specific laws and regulations in your location to ensure you meet all necessary legal requirements.

Step 4: Location Selection,

When selecting a location for your used tire business, aim for high customer traffic areas like auto repair shops or gas stations. Opt for easily accessible spots with ample space for storing and showcasing your products.

Step 5: Source Used Tires,

It is essential to establish strong partnerships with trustworthy suppliers who can offer a wide selection of used tires that meet your quality standards and are priced competitively.

Step 6: Insurance,

One crucial step in safeguarding your business and its assets is to acquire the appropriate insurance coverage. This could involve comprehensive protection such as liability, property, and worker’s compensation insurance, ensuring financial security in case of unforeseen events.

Step 7: Storage and Organization,

Developing a systematic approach to store and organize used tires ensures efficient customer service. By categorizing tires based on their types and sizes, it becomes effortless to locate and retrieve them when customers require specific ones.

Step 8: Staff Hiring,

Recruit and train competent staff who possess knowledge of tire size codes, are proficient in assessing the condition of used tires, and possess exceptional customer service skills, ensuring your business operates smoothly and efficiently.

Step 9: Pricing Strategy,

Developing a pricing strategy that balances affordability for the target market while also ensuring sufficient profitability is vital. It requires careful consideration of costs, market research, competition analysis, and value of the product to create a pricing structure that resonates with customers and supports the business’s financial sustainability.

Step 10: Marketing and Advertising,

Develop a comprehensive marketing and advertising strategy that utilizes a mix of offline and online channels to effectively target and engage potential customers.

Step 11: Offering Additional Services,

To attract more customers and boost revenue, consider offering additional services like tire installation, balancing, and rotation. Pricing these services effectively is crucial to ensure profitability in your business.

Starting a used tire business can be a profitable and rewarding venture. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you will be well-prepared to enter the market and attract customers. Remember to thoroughly research your local laws and regulations, establish strong partnerships with suppliers and distributors, and implement effective marketing strategies. With dedication, hard work, and attention to detail, your used tire business has the potential to thrive in this ever-growing industry. So take the plunge and start turning those used tires into a successful enterprise today!

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Rev Up Profit: Creating a Used Tire Shop Financial Model

By henry sheykin, resources on used tire shop.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• Sales & Revenues
• Running Costs

Are you considering starting a used tire shop? One of the key steps in launching any successful business is to create a detailed financial model. This model should include financial projections , revenue models , a marketing plan , and SWOT analysis to ensure your tire shop is profitable and sustainable. Moreover, it's crucial to evaluate the profit margins and industry trends to make informed decisions. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process of creating a business plan , competitive analysis , start-up costs , and pricing strategy for your used tire shop.

Used Tire Shop Revenue & Sales Forecast

In any used tire shop business plan, financial projections play a crucial role in determining its success. A solid revenue model that includes sales forecast is necessary to make informed decisions regarding pricing, inventory, and marketing. When creating a projection, important factors like start-up costs, pricing strategy, profit margins, competitive analysis, SWOT analysis for used tire shops, and industry trends should be taken into account. Once you have determined your launch date, sales ramp-up time, walk-in traffic and growth assumptions, customer and purchases assumptions, and sales seasonality, you can then begin to create a revenue and sales forecast that will set the foundation for your used tire shop's success.

Used Tire Shop Launch Date

The launch date of a used tire shop is a critical and strategic decision that can determine the success or failure of your business. It is the date when your business is officially open to the public, and it is also when you start selling your products and services to your target customers. Therefore, it is crucial to select the appropriate launch date that aligns with your financial projections, industry trends, marketing plan, and pricing strategy.

In addition, the Used Tire Shop revenue model template assumes a specific month for business launch. Therefore, it is essential to take into consideration the start-up costs, the profit margins, and the competitive analysis when deciding on the launch date. For instance, you may want to launch your business during the peak season when demand is high, or you may choose to launch your business during the off-season when the start-up costs are lower.

Tips & Tricks:

• Conduct a SWOT analysis for your used tire shop to identify your strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats that can affect your launch date.
• Research industry trends to determine the best time to launch your business and anticipate the demand for your products.
• Create a comprehensive marketing plan to promote your business launch and attract potential customers.
• Develop a pricing strategy that aligns with your financial projections and profitability goals.
• Plan and budget for the start-up costs, including rent, inventory, equipment, and marketing expenses, to avoid financial setbacks after the launch date.

Overall, the launch date of your used tire shop can significantly impact your business success, and it is essential to consider various factors before deciding on a specific date. As a result, taking your time to carefully plan and prepare for your launch date can help you achieve long-term success and profitability.

Used Tire Shop Ramp-Up Time

When forecasting sales projections, it is important to consider the ramp-up time to sales plateau. This period refers to the time it takes for a business to reach its full potential in terms of revenue. The ramp-up time is critical to financial projections, as it can help determine start-up costs and expected revenue.

What is the sales ramp-up period for your business? This is how much time your business will need to reach the sales plateau. In the used tire shop industry, it can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months to reach the sales plateau. During this ramp-up period, businesses can expect to see gradual increases in revenue as they establish their customer base and grow their brand.

Tips & Tricks

• Develop a solid business plan that includes a detailed SWOT analysis and marketing plan.
• Research industry trends and competitive analysis to determine your pricing strategy and profit margins.
• Consider start-up costs such as equipment, inventory, and marketing expenses.

By forecasting the ramp-up time to sales plateau, businesses can strategically plan for growth and budget accordingly. Keep in mind that every business is unique and may experience variations in their ramp-up time. However, with a solid business plan, competitive pricing strategy, and focused marketing efforts, used tire shops can reach their full potential and become successful in this industry.

Used Tire Shop Walk-In Traffic Inputs

After the ramp up period, the average walk-in daily traffic of visitors in the used tire shop industry is typically highest over the weekends. Saturday traffic is usually 30% more than that of Monday, whilst Sunday traffic is a further 20% more. A significant percentage of the remaining traffic is generated during the weekdays.

The average daily walk-in traffic for an established used tire shop on weekdays can range from 100-300 visitors with weekends having 400-700 visitors depending on location and other factors. This walk-in traffic plays an important role in building a financial model for the used tire shop industry, as it determines and affects revenue projections for the business.

Assuming a 3% annual growth for walk-in traffic, the projected average daily visitors for five years is:

• Monday: 125
• Tuesday: 130
• Wednesday: 136
• Thursday: 141
• Friday: 146
• Saturday: 556
• Sunday: 667
• Utilize digital marketing to reach potential local customers on platforms such as Google Maps, Facebook and other social media sites
• Participate in community events and sponsor activities to increase brand awareness and drive traffic
• Partner with complementary businesses such as auto repair shops, detail shops, and car washes to offer incentives and mutually beneficial promotions

Understanding the projected walk-in traffic for used tire shops, as per their breakdown by weekdays, is essential in building a strong financial plan. By keeping this data analysis in mind, business owners can set realistic financial goals and implement a suitable pricing strategy. Analyzing the numbers required for a financial plan can also help grow profitable sales margins, and it can be concluded that a strong strategy and plan can drive more revenue to the most popular weekdays, to make this growth process even more profitable.

Used Tire Shop Visits to Sales Conversion & Repeat Sales Inputs

Let's say that a used tire shop has 100 visitors in a month. Based on the shop's marketing efforts and competitive pricing strategy, 20% of those visitors convert into new customers, which means that the shop has acquired 20 new customers in that month. This is an essential input for the shop's revenue model as it helps ascertain the shop's sales and revenue projections.

According to industry trends, around 60% of the shop's sales come from their repeat customers. This means that out of the 20 new customers, the shop can expect around 12 of them to become repeat customers eventually. If each repeat customer has an average of ten purchases per month, the shop can expect 120 purchases from their repeat customers in that month.

This assumption is crucial because it helps build the shop's financial model by projecting sales and revenue realistically. Without conversion and repeat sales inputs, the shop won't be able to know their expected cash flow and can't make informed decisions on how to grow their business.

• Offer loyalty program to encourage repeat purchases from customers.
• Provide excellent customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.
• Keep track of visitors and customer conversion rates to evaluate the effectiveness of marketing efforts and pricing strategy.

Used Tire Shop Sales Mix Inputs

At our used tire shop, we sell a variety of products that are categorized into five distinct categories: passenger tires, truck tires, off-road and agricultural tires, high-performance tires, and all-season tires. In order to estimate our financial projections for the next five years, we need to create a sales mix assumption on the product category level.

Entering the sales mix assumption on the product category level will make it much easier for us to understand how we can allocate our resources and create an effective marketing plan for our used tire shop. Here are the sales mix by product category assumptions that we have made:

• Passenger Tires - 40%
• Truck Tires - 20%
• Off-Road and Agricultural Tires - 10%
• High-Performance Tires - 20%
• All-Season Tires - 10%
• Make sure to regularly update your sales mix assumptions based on industry trends and changes to your business plan.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis for your used tire shop to identify areas where you can improve your sales mix and increase your profit margins.
• Use a competitive analysis to see how your pricing strategy compares to other used tire shops in your area.
• Be sure to factor in your start-up costs when creating your financial projections.

Used Tire Shop Average Selling Amount Inputs

When estimating financial projections for used tire shops , it is important to take into account the average selling amount of each product category . Our store sells several different used tire products, each belonging to a specific category. To simplify the process, we enter assumptions on the product category level instead of the individual product level.

For example, we have a category for passenger car tires and assume an average selling amount of $50 per tire for the first year, $55 for the second year, and $60 for the third year. Another category is for truck tires with an assumed average selling amount of $75 for the first year, $80 for the second year, and $85 for the third year.

All product categories in our used tire shop revenue model have their own assumed average selling amounts per year. Using these inputs and the sales mix, our model calculates the average ticket size for each transaction.

• Include every product category in your marketing plan for used tire shops to maximize profit margins.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis for used tire shops to identify areas of opportunity and potential threats.
• Consider the used tire shop industry trends when developing your pricing strategy for used tire shops .
• Conduct a competitive analysis for used tire shops to identify your store's unique selling points.
• Estimate your used tire shop start-up costs carefully to ensure financial stability.

Used Tire Shop Sales Seasonality

When it comes to running a used tire shop, understanding the seasonality of sales is essential to success. Different seasons will bring different levels of demand for your services, and failing to take this into account could leave you with excess inventory, lost profits, or both.

For example, in the winter months, customers may be more likely to come to your shop for snow tires or other types of specialized tires. You may also see an increase in business following storms or other severe weather events. In the summer months, however, demand may drop off significantly as fewer people are thinking about their tires.

Using historical data, you can develop a Sales Seasonality assumption that takes into account these fluctuations. For example, you may assume that sales in December will be 10% higher than the annual average, while sales in July may be 20% lower.

• Review industry trends to identify potential fluctuations in demand
• Consider regional variations in climate and weather patterns
• Factor in holidays and other seasonal events that may impact sales
• Regularly monitor sales trends and adjust your projections as needed

By incorporating your Sales Seasonality assumption into your financial projections and revenue model, you can more accurately forecast your expected revenues and expenses throughout the year. This will enable you to create a more effective marketing plan, choose the right pricing strategy, and make other business decisions with confidence.

Used Tire Shop Operational Expenses Forecast

Operational expenses forecast is a vital component of the financial model for used tire shops. It provides an estimate of monthly expenses that the business requires to operate efficiently. These expenses include Cost of Goods Sold by Products %, Employee Salaries and Wages, Rent, Lease or Mortgage Payment, Utilities, and Other Running Costs.

The above table provides an estimated range of monthly expenses that used tire shops might incur. Bearing in mind that operational expenses vary with the size of the business, location, and other factors.

Used Tire Shop Cost Of Goods Sold

Cost Of Goods Sold (COGS) is a vital component in calculating the profit margins for used tire shops. COGS is the cost of the product that a company sells, including labor and materials. For a used tire shop, the COGS includes the cost of purchasing tires, transportation costs, and any associated labor fees.

Calculating the COGS is essential when determining the revenue model for a used tire shop. Typically, the COGS percentage range for tire shops is between 40-60%, with the labor fees accounting for approximately 10-15%.

Let's assume that a used tire shop has four primary product categories: Passenger Tires, Light Truck Tires, Heavy Truck Tires, and Specialty Tires.

• Passenger Tires: COGS percentage: 40%
• Light Truck Tires: COGS percentage: 45%
• Heavy Truck Tires: COGS percentage: 50%
• Specialty Tires: COGS percentage: 60%

Using these COGS assumptions, a used tire shop can create accurate financial projections for their business plan. Additionally, the COGS percentage can help the tire shop create a pricing strategy and determine the level of profitability they desire.

By conducting a SWOT analysis and competitive analysis, a used tire shop can identify industry trends and develop a marketing plan that maximizes their profit margins while still remaining competitive.

Used Tire Shop Employee Salaries and Wages

In our Financial Projections for Used Tire Shops, we have created assumptions about employee salaries and wages. For our Used Tire Shop, we have identified four different positions that need to be filled: Manager, Sales Associate, Mechanic, and Assistant.

The Manager will be hired from day one and will be involved in daily operations, marketing plan for used tire shops, revenue model and SWOT analysis for used tire shops. The Manager will earn $50,000 annually. The Sales Associate and the Mechanic positions will be filled by the end of the first quarter. Sales Associate will earn $30,000 annually, while the Mechanic has a higher salary of $35,000 annually. The Assistant position will be filled by the end of the second quarter, earning $25,000 annually.

Regarding Full-Time Equivalent staff, we believe that one Manager, two Sales Associates, two Mechanics and one Assistant is enough. However, depending on how busy the shop is, more FTEs may be required, especially during the peak season.

• Consider offering benefits to your staff, such as a 401(k) plan or health insurance, to attract and retain employees.
• Regularly review employee salaries and wages to ensure they are competitive and fair.
• Offer bonuses or incentives to reward employees for their hard work and performance.

Used Tire Shop Rent, Lease or Mortgage Payment

When starting a used tire shop, one of the biggest expenses will be the cost of the physical space. There are three main options for acquiring a location: renting, leasing, or buying with a mortgage.

Rent: If you choose to rent a space, you will be paying a monthly fee to a landlord. This can be a good option if you do not have a lot of upfront capital and do not want to commit to a long-term lease or mortgage. However, be sure to factor in potential rent increases over time when creating financial projections for used tire shops .

Lease: A lease is similar to renting, but typically a longer-term commitment (e.g. three to five years). A lease can often give you more stability and control over the space, as well as potential cost savings over renting in the long run. Be sure to include lease payments in your used tire shop revenue model .

Mortgage: If you have the capital or are able to secure financing, buying a space with a mortgage can be a good option for long-term stability and control over your location. However, it will be a larger upfront investment and you will be responsible for maintenance and repairs. Include mortgage payments in your financial projections for used tire shops .

• Research the local real estate market and factor in any trends when making a decision
• Consider negotiating with landlords or sellers to get a better deal on the space
• Be realistic about how much space you need and choose a location that fits your business needs and goals.

Used Tire Shop Utilities

When creating a financial projection for used tire shops , it is important to take into account the expenses required for used tire shop utilities . These utilities include electricity, water, gas, and internet.

The used tire shop revenue model should incorporate the cost of utilities into the overall operating expenses. One way to reduce these costs is to implement energy-efficient solutions such as LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and smart thermostats.

The pricing strategy for used tire shops could also factor in utility costs. For example, if a shop owner decides to charge slightly higher prices for their tires, they could use the additional revenue to cover the costs of utilities.

• Research energy-efficient solutions to reduce utility costs.
• Incorporate utility costs into the overall operating expenses when creating a financial projection.
• Consider adjusting pricing strategies to cover utility costs.

Overall, by considering used tire shop industry trends and implementing smart utility solutions, shop owners can ensure they have a sustainable used tire shop business plan with healthy profit margins for used tire shops while conducting a competitive analysis for used tire shops and SWOT analysis for used tire shops to create a successful marketing plan for used tire shops .

Used Tire Shop Other Running Costs

Apart from the start-up costs and profit margins, running a used tire shop involves other expenses as well, which need to be accounted for while building a financial model. These costs include rent, utilities, repairs, maintenance, insurance, and salaries of employees.

To keep the shop running, the owner needs to pay rent, utilities, and other bills, which could vary based on location, size, and type of building. Similarly, repairs and maintenance costs could arise from equipment breakdowns, installations, or improvements.

To protect the shop and its assets, the owner might need to pay insurance premiums against theft, fire, accidents, or other kinds of liabilities. Finally, if the shop hires employees, their salaries and benefits need to be accounted for in the financial model.

Used Tire Shop Financials Forecast

Financial projections for used tire shops are a crucial part of creating a successful business plan. As part of this projection, it is important to include a Profit and Loss Statement as well as a Sources and Uses Report. A Profit and Loss Statement breaks down the revenue, cost of goods sold, and expenses to determine your net income, while a Sources and Uses Report shows where your funds are coming from and where they will be allocated.

Used Tire Shop Profitability

Once you have built financial projections for your used tire shop, including revenue models, marketing plans, SWOT analysis, industry trends, profit margins, business plan, competitive analysis, start-up costs, and pricing strategies, you can check the Profit and Loss (P&L) statement.

By analyzing the P&L statement, you can see the overall profitability of your used tire shop. This includes analyzing the gross profit and EBITDA margin. You need to ensure that your used tire shop is generating enough gross profit to cover your expenses and create a net profit at the end of the day.

• Avoid underpricing your tires as this may lead to low-profit margins.
• Keep a close eye on your inventory to avoid overstocking, which will reduce profitability.
• Don't ignore the additional revenue streams such as selling and installing new tires or providing tire-related services, which can have a significant impact on profit margins.

It's essential to track your profitability regularly, update your financial projections regularly, and create a budget to plan and monitor your expenses. Remember, a successful used tire shop is not only about generating profit, but it's also about creating a sustainable business model that withstands any market changes.

Used Tire Shop Sources and Uses chart

The sources and uses of funds statement within the financial model in Excel for Used Tire Shop provides users an organized summary of where capital will come from Sources and how this capital will be spent in the Uses. It is important for the total amounts of sources and uses to be equal to each other. The sources and uses statement is particularly critical when the company is considering or going through a recapitalization, restructuring, or mergers & acquisitions (M&A) procedure.

Having a solid understanding of your Used Tire Shop Sources and Uses chart is key to forecasting and managing revenue streams. There are many factors in determining how much money you will need to keep your business afloat, and where the money will be coming from will dictate how you allocate funds. It's important to regularly review and adjust your sources and uses statement to keep your business running smoothly.

• Create a detailed Uses section, including a breakdown of expenses such as rent, equipment, and payroll.
• Be realistic with your revenue projections in the Sources section.
• Review and update your sources and uses statement regularly.

Understanding your Sources and Uses chart is just one aspect of creating a successful used tire shop business plan. Conducting a SWOT analysis, developing a marketing plan, and analyzing industry trends can all contribute to creating a profitable revenue model. It's also important to consider start-up costs, profit margins, and pricing strategies when developing your business plan.

Financial modeling is an essential tool in planning and managing a used tire shop. With a well-structured business plan , including financial projections , a revenue model , and a marketing strategy , you can gain a thorough understanding of the profit margins and start-up costs involved in the industry. A SWOT analysis and competitive analysis can help you identify potential challenges and opportunities, while keeping up with industry trends can help you stay ahead of the game. A carefully considered pricing strategy can make all the difference in building a profitable and sustainable business.

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Tire Shop Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting a tire shop business can be a daunting task, but with the right plan in place, it can be one of the most rewarding investments you make. The #1 Tire Shop Business Plan Template & Guidebook provides a comprehensive roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs, covering all the essentials from financial planning and market research to marketing strategies and operations management. Get ready to hit the road to success with this comprehensive template and guidebook.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Tire Shop Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Tire Shop Business Ideas [2023]

How to Write a Tire Shop Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your tire shop business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your tire shop business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a tire shop business:

Our mission at ABC Tire Shop is to provide our customers with quality tires, reliable and trustworthy service, and competitive prices in order to create long-term customer loyalty. We are committed to running a profitable business that provides job security for our employees and contributes positively to the community.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Tire Shop Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your tire shop business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your tire shop business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your tire shop business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your tire shop business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a tire shop business?

To run a Tire Shop business, you will need the following equipment, supplies, and permits:

• Tire Changing Equipment (such as tire spoons, tire spreaders, and lug nut removers)
• Tire Balancers
• Tire Alignment Machine(s)
• Automotive Shop Equipment (such as lift gates and vehicle jacks)
• Wheel Alignment Tools
• A Good Selection of Tires for Vehicles
• Proper Protective Gear for Employees
• Appropriate Business Licenses and Permits from Local Authorities

5. Management & Organization of Your Tire Shop Business.

The second part of your tire shop business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your tire shop business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Tire Shop Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a tire shop business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a tire shop business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your tire shop business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your tire shop business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your tire shop business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tire Shop Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a tire shop business.

A business plan for a tire shop business can help owners outline the goals that they want to achieve and the strategies that they will use to reach those goals. It provides an overview of the company, the products and services it offers, its market and its competition, as well as a financial and operational plan. A business plan helps identify potential problems and opportunities before they become issues, enabling owners to make informed decisions.

Who should you ask for help with your tire shop business plan?

It is advisable to seek professional assistance from an experienced business consultant or a qualified accountant who can provide advice tailored to the local market, regulations and other factors that are specific to the tire shop business. Additionally, a small business consultant or mentor with experience in the tire industry may be able to provide valuable insights and contacts that could help with the creation of a successful business plan.

Can you write a tire shop business plan yourself?

Writing a business plan for a tire shop can be a daunting task. However, it is possible to write your own tire shop business plan with some research and preparation. To write your own business plan, you should research the tire industry, create a detailed business plan that outlines your target market, financial projections, and operational plans, and seek professional guidance when necessary. Additionally, you should be prepared to make revisions to your plan as needed in order to reflect the ever-changing dynamics of the tire industry.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

How to open a tire shop?

Are you keen to open a tire shop but don't know where to begin? Then you're in luck because this guide will lead you through all the steps required to check if your business idea can be profitable and, if so, turn it into a reality. 

Our guide is for prospective entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting a tire shop no matter how far they are in their journey - whether you’re just thinking about it or in the middle of market research this guide will be useful to you.

Think of this as your blueprint: we cover everything you need to know about opening a tire shop and what key decisions you’ll need to make along the way.

Ready? Let’s get started!

In this guide:

• Understanding how a tire shop works

Assembling your tire shop's founding team

• Conducting market research for a tire shop
• Choosing the right concept and positioning for your tire shop

Deciding where to base your tire shop

• Choosing your tire shop's legal form
• Calculating the budget to open a tire shop
• Creating a sales & marketing plan for your tire shop
• Building your tire shop's financial forecast

Finding a name and registering your tire shop

Deciding upon the corporate identity of your tire shop.

• Understanding the legal and regulatory steps involved in opening a tire shop

Writing a business plan for your tire shop

• Financing the launch of your tire shop
• Launching your tire shop and monitoring progress against your forecast

Key takeaways

What is the business model of a tire shop.

Before thinking about starting a tire shop, you'll need to have a solid understanding of its business model (how it generates profits) and how the business operates on a daily basis.

Doing so will help you decide whether or not this is the right business idea for you, given your skillset, personal savings, and lifestyle choices.

Looking at the business model in detail will also enable you to form an initial view of the potential for growth and profitability, and to check that it matches your level of ambition.

The easiest ways to acquire insights into how a tire shop works are to:

Speak with tire shop owners

Undertake work experience with a successful tire shop, participate in a training course.

Talking to seasoned entrepreneurs who have also set up a tire shop will enable you to gain practical advice based on their experience and hindsight.

Learning from others' mistakes not only saves you time and money, but also enhances the likelihood of your venture becoming a financial success.

Gaining hands-on experience in a tire shop provides insights into the day-to-day operations, and challenges specific to the activity.

This firsthand knowledge is crucial for effective planning and management if you decide to start your own tire shop.

You'll also realise if the working hours suit your lifestyle. For many entrepreneurs, this can be a "make or break" situation, especially if they have children to look after.

First-hand experience will not only ensure that this is the right business opportunity for you, but will also enable you to meet valuable contacts and gain a better understanding of customer expectations and key success factors which will likely prove advantageous when launching your own tire shop.

Undertaking training within your chosen industry is another way to get a feel for how a tire shop works before deciding to pursue a new venture.

Whichever approach you go for to gain insights before starting your tire shop, make sure you familiarise yourself with:

• The expertise needed to run the business successfully (do you have the skills required?)
• How a week of running a tire shop might look like (does this fit with your personal situation?)
• The potential turnover of your tire shop and long-term growth prospects (does this match your ambition?)
• The likely course of action if you decide to sell the company or retire (it's never too early to consider your exit)

At the end of this stage, you should be able to decide whether opening a tire shop is the right business idea for you given your current personal situation (skills, desires, money, family, etc.).

Create your business plan online!

Think your business idea could be profitable? Find out how with a business plan

The next step to opening your tire shop is to think about the ideal founding team, or to decide to go in alone.

Starting and growing a successful business doesn't have to be a solo journey and setting up a tire shop with several co-founders is generally easier. The business benefits from a management team with a wider skillset, decisions are made together, and the financial risk is shared among the partners, making the journey more collaborative and less daunting.

But, running a business with several partners brings its own challenges. Disagreements between co-founders are quite common, and these can pose risks to the business. That's why it's crucial to consider all aspects before starting your own business.

We won't go into too much detail here, as this is a complex topic that deserves its own guide, but we do recommend that you ask yourself the following questions:

What is the ideal number of co-founders for this venture?

Are you on the same wavelength as your potential partners in terms of vision and ambition , how will you deal with potential failure.

Let's look at each of these questions in more detail.

To answer this question you will need to consider the following:

• What skills do you need to run the business? Are you lacking any?
• How much startup capital do you need? How much do you have?
• How are key decisions going to be made? - It is usually advisable to have an odd number of partners (or a majority shareholder) to help break the tie.

Put simply, your co-founders contribute skills, capital, or both. Increasing the number of partners becomes advantageous when there is a deficiency in either of these resources.

Your business partners should share the same short and long-term vision, be it business expansion or social responsibility, to avoid future frustrations and simplify decision-making. Different views are natural, but alignment is ideal.

In any case, you should think of having an exit mechanism in place in case one of the partners wants to move on.

We wish you nothing but success when starting up and growing your tire shop, but it's always wise to have a backup in case things don't go as planned.

How you deal with a potential failure can vary significantly based on the relationship you have with your business partner (close friend, spouse, ex-colleague, etc.) and the personal circumstances of each of you. 

For instance, starting a business with your spouse might seem appealing, but if it doesn't succeed, you risk losing 100% of the household income at once, which could be stressful.

Similarly, going into a partnership with a friend can put pressure on the friendship in the event of failure or when you need to make difficult decisions.

There is no wrong answer, but it is essential to carefully evaluate your options before starting up to ensure you're well-prepared for any potential outcomes.

Is there room for another tire shop on the market?

The next step in starting a tire shop is to undertake market research. Now, let's delve into what this entails.

The objectives of market research

The goal here is straightforward: evaluate the demand for your business and determine if there's an opportunity to be seized.

One of the key points of your market analysis will be to ensure that the market is not saturated by competing offers.

The market research to open your tire shop will also help you to define a concept and market positioning likely to appeal to your target clientele.

Finally, your analysis will provide you with the data you need to assess the revenue potential of your future business.

Let's take a look at how to carry out your market research.

Evaluating key trends in the sector

Market research for a tire shop usually begins with an analysis of the sector in order to develop a solid understanding of the its key players, and recent trends.

Assessing the demand

After the sector analysis comes the demand analysis. Demand for a tire shop refers to customers likely to consume the products and services offered by your company or its competitors.

Looking at the demand will enable you to gain insights into the desires and needs expressed by your future customers and their observed purchasing habits.

To be relevant, your demand analysis must be targeted to the geographic area(s) served by your company.

Your demand analysis should highlight the following points:

• Who buys the type of products and services you sell?
• How many potential customers are there in the geographical area(s) targeted by your company?
• What are their needs and expectations?
• What are their purchasing habits?
• How much do they spend on average?
• What are the main customer segments and their characteristics?
• How to communicate and promote the company's offer to reach each segment?

Analyzing demand helps pinpoint customer segments your tire shop could target and determines the products or services that will meet their expectations.

Assessing the supply

Once you have a clear vision of who your potential customers are and what they want, the next step is to look at your competitors.

Amongst other things, you’ll need to ask yourself:

• What brands are competing directly/indirectly against your tire shop?
• How many competitors are there in the market?
• Where are they located in relation to your company's location?
• What will be the balance of power between you: are your competitors independent players or franchises?
• What types of services and products do they offer? At what price?
• Are they targeting the same customers as you?
• How do they promote themselves? 
• Which concepts seem to appeal most to customers?
• Which competitors seem to be doing best?

The aim of your competitive analysis will be to identify who is likely to overshadow you, and to find a way to differentiate yourself (more on this see below).

Regulations

Market research is also an opportunity to look at the regulations and conditions required to do business.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you need a special degree to open a tire shop?
• Are there necessary licences or permits?
• What are the main laws applicable to your future business?

At this stage, your analysis of the regulations should be carried out at a high level, to familiarize yourself with any rules and procedures, and above all to ensure that you meet the necessary conditions for carrying out the activity before going any further.

You will have the opportunity to come back to the regulation afterwards with your lawyer when your project is at a more advanced stage.

Take stock of the lessons learned from your market analysis

Market research should give you a definitive idea of your business idea's chances of commercial success.

Ideally, the conclusion is that there is a market opportunity because one or more customer segments are currently underserved by the competition.

On the other hand, the conclusion may be that the market is already taken. In this case, don't panic: the first piece of good news is that you're not going to spend several years working hard on a project that has no chance of succeeding. The second is that there's no shortage of ideas out there: at The Business Plan Shop, we've identified over 1,300 business start-up ideas, so you're bound to find something that will work.

Don't start from scratch!

With dozens of business plan templates available, get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like

How should I position my tire shop on the market?

The next step to start your tire shop is to define precisely the market positioning your company will adopt in order to capitalise on the opportunity identified during your market research.

Market positioning refers to the place your product and service offering occupies in customers' minds and how they differ from the competition. Being perceived as a low-cost solution, for example.

To find a concept and a market positioning that will resonate with your customers, you need to address the following issues: 

How can you differentiate yourself from your competitors?

Do you have the option of joining a franchise to reduce risk, is it better to start or buy a tire shop already in operation, how will you validate your concept and market positioning before investing in the business.

Let's look at these aspects in more detail.

Opening a tire shop means starting with a major disadvantage compared with competitors already active on the market. 

While you will have to create everything from scratch, your competitors already have everything in place.

Your competitors' teams know the business well, whereas yours has only just been recruited, their customers are loyal and they benefit from word of mouth that you don't yet have.

So you're going to need a solid plan to succeed in taking market share from your competitors and making your mark.

There are a number of aspects to consider in order to try to avoid direct confrontation if possible: 

• Can you target a different customer base than your competitors?
• Can you offer products or services that are different from or complementary to what your competitors already sell?
• How will your competitors react to your tire shop entering their market?
• Can you build a sustainable competitive advantage that will enable you to compete with your current and future competitors?

A proven way of reducing the risk of your business venture is to join a franchise.

Joining a tire shop franchise means you don't have to start from scratch. You benefit from the brand recognition of a group and support with operational processes, relations with suppliers, recruitment, etc.

On the flip side, being part of a franchise will restrict your personal freedom, and you'll have to pay an entry fee and an annual royalty (typically a percentage of your sales).

Nevertheless, where possible, starting up as a franchise is generally a good way of reducing risks, especially if you're up against competitors with well-known brands.  

Please note, however, that franchising opportunities vary from country to country and region to region, so there is no guarantee that you'll be able to find a franchise.

The other alternative to setting up a new independent business is to buy out and take over a tire shop already in operation. 

Here too, a takeover is a good way of reducing the risk of your project compared with a pure start-up.

Taking over a business has two enormous advantages over setting up a new one: you start out on an equal footing with your competitors since you take over the team and the customer base, and you don't increase the supply on the market enabling you to maintain the existing balance on the market where the business operates.

However, as with franchising, the capital requirements for a takeover are higher because the business will have to be bought from its previous owners.

However you decide to set up your business, you will need to ensure that there is a good fit between what you sell and what customers are looking to buy.

To do this, you'll need to meet your target customers to present your products or services and check that they meet their expectations.

The next step to opening a tire shop is deciding where you want to set up your business.

Choosing the right location for your business is like finding the perfect stage for a play. Without it, your business may lack the spotlight it deserves.

Whilst there is no “perfect” location for your tire shop, one that meets as many of the following factors as possible could be ideal:

This list is obviously not exhaustive and will have to be adapted to the particularities of your project. 

Once you’ve considered the factors above, it’s important to think about the budget that your startup has at its disposal. You’ll need to find a location that meets your business requirements but is affordable enough, especially short-term.

If you opt for renting instead of buying your premises, make sure to take into account the terms of the lease, including aspects such as the duration, rent increase, renewal, and so on.

The lease contractual terms vary greatly from country to country, so be sure to check the terms applicable to your situation and have your lease reviewed by your lawyer before signing.

Decide on a legal form for your tire shop

It's now time to think about the legal structure for your tire shop.

The legal form of a business simply means the legal structure it operates under. This structure outlines how the business is set up and defines its legal obligations and responsibilities.

What are the most common legal structures?

Naturally, the names and intricacies of business structures differ by country. However, they typically fit into two main categories:

Individual businesses

Individual businesses are usually a good fit for self-employed individuals and freelancers who want limited administrative work. These types of entrepreneurs are commonly referred to as sole traders or sole proprietorships.

As mentioned above, the main benefit of being a sole trader is that minimal paperwork is required to launch and operate the business. Tax calculations are also relatively simple and annual accounts are not always required (and when they are, usually don't need to be audited) which saves a bit of time and money on bookkeeping and accounting fees.

Decision-making is also easy as the final decision is fully dependent on the sole trader (even if employees are hired).

However, being a sole trader also has drawbacks. The main disadvantage is that there is no separation between the individual running day-to-day operations and the business.

This means that if the business were to file for bankruptcy or legal disputes were to arise, the individual would be liable for any debts and their personal assets subsequently at risk. In essence, sole traders have unlimited liability.

This also means that profits earned by the business are usually taxed under the personal income tax category of the sole trader.

Another drawback is that sole traders might find it harder to finance their business. Debt (bank loan for example) is likely to be the only source of external financing given that the business doesn't have a share capital (effectively preventing equity investors from investing in their business).

Companies are more flexible and more robust than individual businesses. They are suitable for projects of all sizes and can be formed by one or more individuals, working on their own or with employees.

Unlike individual businesses, companies are recognised as distinct entities that have their own legal personality. Usually, there is also a limited liability which means that founders and investors cannot lose more than the capital they have invested into the business.

This means that there is a clear legal separation between the company and its owners (co-founders and investors), which protects the latter's personal assets in the event of legal disputes or bankruptcy.

Entrepreneurs using companies also gain the advantage of being able to attract equity investment by selling shares in the business.

As you can see companies offer better protection and more financing options, but this comes at a trade-off in terms of red-tape and complexity.

From a taxation perspective, companies are usually liable for corporation tax on their profits, and the income received by the owners running the business is taxed separately (like normal employees).

Normally, companies also have to produce annual accounts, which might have to be audited, and hold general assemblies, among other formalities.

How should I choose my tire shop's legal setup?

Choosing the right legal setup is often simple once you figure out things like how many partners you'll have, if you hire employees, and how much money you expect to make.

Remember, a great business idea can work well no matter which legal structure you pick. Tax laws change often, so you shouldn't rely too much on getting specific tax benefits from a certain structure when getting started.

You could start by looking at the legal structures most commonly utilised by your competitors. As your idea evolves and you're ready to officially register your business, it's a good idea to confirm your choice using inputs from a lawyer and an accountant.

Can I switch my tire shop's legal structure if I get it wrong?

Yes, you have the flexibility to change your legal setup later, which might include selling the existing one and adopting a new structure in certain situations. Keep in mind, though, that this restructuring comes with additional expenses, so making the right choice from the start is usually more cost-effective.

How much money do I need to start a tire shop?

To answer this key question, we first need to look at the resources you'll need to launch your tire shop and keep it running on a daily basis. Let's take a look at what that entails.

Since each venture is distinct, providing an average budget for starting a tire shop is impossible.

We strongly advise careful consideration when reading estimates on the web. It’s best to ask yourself the following questions:

• Is my project similar (location, concept, planned size, etc.)?
• Can I trust where this information is coming from?
• Is the data fresh or stale?

Your thinking behind the investments and human resources required to launch and operate the business will then enable you to cost each item and include them in your financial forecast (which we'll look at later in this guide).

Once complete, the forecast will give you a precise idea of the initial investment required and profitability potential for your business idea.

Startup costs and investments to start a tire shop

Let's start with the investments. To set up a tire shop, initial working capital and investments can include the following items:

• Tire balancing machine: This is an essential piece of equipment for a tire shop as it ensures that the weight distribution of a tire is even, leading to a smoother ride and longer tire life. You will need to invest in a quality machine to provide accurate balancing for different types of tires.
• Tire changer: Another crucial piece of equipment for a tire shop is a tire changer. This machine allows you to easily remove and install tires on rims, saving you time and effort. Make sure to choose a tire changer that can handle different tire sizes and types.
• Wheel alignment system: Proper wheel alignment is important for optimal vehicle handling and tire wear. Investing in a wheel alignment system will allow you to provide this service to your customers, generating additional revenue for your tire shop.
• Tire storage racks: To efficiently store and organize your inventory of tires, you will need to invest in tire storage racks. These racks come in various sizes and can be customized to fit the space in your tire shop.
• Diagnostic equipment: Having the right diagnostic equipment is crucial for any tire shop. This includes tools such as tire tread depth gauges, tire pressure gauges, and tire tread depth scanners. These tools will help you provide accurate and efficient services to your customers.

Of course, you will need to adapt this list to your company's specific needs.

Staffing requirements to operate a tire shop

You'll also need to think about the staff required to run the business on a day-to-day basis.

The human resources required will vary according to the size of your company.

Once again, this list is only indicative and will need to be adjusted according to the specifics of your tire shop.

Operating expenses of a tire shop

The final point to consider when analyzing the resources required is the question of operating costs.

Operating expenses for a tire shop may include:

• Staff costs: This includes salaries, benefits, and training for your employees. As a tire shop, you will need staff to help with customer service, tire installation, and maintenance.
• Rent or lease payments: Whether you are leasing a space or paying rent for your store, this is a necessary expense for your tire shop.
• Utilities: This includes electricity, water, and gas bills for your shop. Depending on the size of your shop, this can be a significant expense.
• Inventory costs: As a tire shop, you will need to purchase inventory to sell to your customers. This includes the cost of purchasing tires from suppliers.
• Equipment maintenance: In order to keep your shop running smoothly, you will need to regularly maintain and repair equipment such as tire changers, balancers, and air compressors.
• Marketing and advertising: To attract customers to your shop, you will need to invest in marketing and advertising efforts. This can include print ads, online ads, and sponsorships.
• Accounting fees: It is important to keep track of your finances, so you will likely need to hire an accountant to help with bookkeeping, taxes, and other financial matters.
• Insurance costs: As a business owner, it is important to protect your assets with insurance. This can include liability insurance, property insurance, and workers' compensation insurance.
• Software licenses: In this digital age, you may need to purchase software to help with tasks such as inventory management, bookkeeping, and scheduling.
• Banking fees: Your tire shop will likely have business bank accounts and credit card processing, which will incur fees such as transaction fees and monthly account fees.
• Office supplies: This includes items such as paper, pens, and printer ink for your office and customer service needs.
• Professional fees: You may need to hire consultants or attorneys to help with legal or business matters.
• Waste disposal: As a tire shop, you will need to properly dispose of used tires and other waste, which may incur fees.
• Training and development: It is important to invest in the skills and knowledge of your employees through training and development programs.
• Repairs and maintenance: In addition to equipment maintenance, you may also need to budget for repairs and maintenance for your shop space or company vehicles.

Here also, this list will need to be tailored to the specifics of your tire shop but should be a good starting point for your budget.

How will I promote my tire shop's?

The next step to starting a tire shop is to think about strategies that will help you attract and retain clients.

Consider the following questions: 

• How will you attract as many customers as possible?
• How will you build customer loyalty?
• Who will be responsible for advertising and promotion? What budget can be allocated to these activities?
• How many sales and how much revenue can that generate?

Once again, the resources required will depend on your ambitions and the size of your company. But you could potentially action the initiatives below.

Your tire shop's sales plan will also be affected by variations in consumer demand, like changes in activity during peak holiday seasons, and the dynamics within your competitive environment.

How do I build my tire shop financial forecast?

Let's now look at the financial projections you will need to prepare in order to open a tire shop.

What is a tire shop's financial projection?

Your financial forecast will help you budget your project so that you can evaluate:

• Its expected sales and growth potential
• Its expected profitability, to ensure that the business will be viable
• Its cash generation and financing requirements

Making your financial forecast is the only way to determine the amount of initial financing required to create your tire shop.

There are lots of business ideas out there, but very few of them are viable, and making a financial forecast is the only way to ensure that your project makes economic and financial sense.

Creating a tire shop financial projection is an iterative process, as you'll need to refine your figures as your business idea matures.

You'll start with a first high-level version to decide whether or not to continue working on the project.

Then, as your project takes shape, your forecasts will become increasingly accurate. You'll also need to test different assumptions to ensure that your idea of starting a tire shop holds up even if your trading environment deteriorates (lower sales than expected, difficulties in recruiting, sudden cost increases or equipment failure problems, for example).

Your financial forecast will be part of your overall business plan, which we'll look at in more detail later. Your financial partners will use your business plan to decide if they want to finance you.

Once you've launched your business, you can compare your actual accounting figures with your forecasts, to analyze where the discrepancies come from, and then update your forecasts to maintain visibility over your future cash flows.

Financial forecasts are, therefore, a financial management tool that will be with you throughout the life of your company.

What does a financial projection look like?

Your tire shop forecast will be presented using the following financial tables.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for a tire shop shows how much revenue and profits your business is expected to generate in the future.

The projected balance sheet of your tire shop

Your tire shop's projected balance sheet provides a snapshot of your business’s financial position at year-end.

The cash flow forecast

A projected cash flow statement for a tire shop is used to show how much cash the business is expected to consume or generate in the years to come.

Which solution should you use to make a financial projection for your tire shop?

Using an online financial forecasting tool , such as the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop, is the simplest and safest solution for forecasting your tire shop.

There are several advantages to using specialised software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You have access to complete financial forecast templates
• You get a complete financial forecast ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• The software helps you identify and correct any inconsistencies in your figures
• You can create scenarios to stress-test your forecast's main assumptions to stress-test the robustness of your business model
• After you start trading, you can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast, and recalibrate your forecast to maintain visibility on your future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you are interested in this type of solution, you can try our forecasting software for free by signing up here .

The next step in starting a tire shop is to decide on a name for your entity. 

For starters, you cannot take a name similar to a name already registered by a competitor or protected by a trademark without inevitably risking getting sued. So you’ll need to find a name available, and reserve it before others can.

In addition, you will probably want to use the same name for:

• Your company’s legal name - Example LTD or Example Inc
• Your trading name - Example
• A trademark - Example ® 
• Your company’s domain name - Example.com

The issue is that you’ll need to register your name in three different places almost simultaneously, but with each place having its own timeframes:

• Registering a domain name is instantaneous
• Registering a trademark takes at least 3 months (if your application is accepted)
• Registering a company depends on the country, but it's generally fairly quick

You will therefore be faced with the choice of either registering everything at once in the hope that your name will be accepted everywhere, or proceeding step by step in order to minimise costs, but taking the risk that someone else will register one of the names you wanted in the meantime.

Our advice is to discuss the strategy with your legal counsel (see further down in this guide) and to give priority to your domain names and your registered trademark. You'll always have the option of using a trading name that's different from your company's legal name, and that's not a big deal.  

To check that the name you want is not already in use, you should consult:

• Your country's business register
• The register of trademarks where you wish to obtain protection
• Your preferred search engine
• A domain name reservation company (such as GoDaddy)

If the name you want is available, you can go ahead and register it.

The next step in opening a tire shop is to look at your company's visual identity. 

Your company's “visual identity” plays a crucial role in shaping your brand image. It helps you to be recognizable and to stand out from your competitors. 

Although you can define your visual identity yourself, it is generally advisable to call on the services of a designer or marketing agency to achieve a professional result.

At a minimum, you will need to define the following elements: 

Brand guidelines

Business cards, website theme.

Your tire shop's logo allows others to quickly identify your company. It will be used on all your communication media (website, social networks, business cards, etc.) and official documents (invoices, contracts, etc.).

In addition to its design, it's important that your logo is available in a variety of colors, so that it can be seen on all media (white, dark background, etc.).

Having brand guidelines enables you to maintain consistency in formatting across all your communications media and official documents. 

Brand guidelines define the font (family and size), design and colours used by your brand. 

In terms of fonts, for example, you may use Roboto in size 20 for your titles and Lato in size 14 for your texts. 

The colours used to represent your brand should generally be limited to five: 

• The main colour, 
• A secondary colour (the accent),
• A dark background colour (blue or black),
• A grey background colour (to vary from white),
• Possibly another secondary colour.

Designing business cards for your tire shop is a must, as they will allow you to communicate your contact details to your customers, suppliers, partners, potential recruits, etc. 

In principle, they will include your logo and the brand guidelines that we mentioned above.

In the same way, the theme of your tire shop website will be based on your logo and the brand guidelines we mentioned above.

This involves defining the look and feel of your site's main graphic elements:

Navigate the legal and regulatory requirements for launching your tire shop

The next thing to do in getting a tire shop off the ground is to handle all the legal and regulatory requirements. We recommend that you be accompanied by a law firm for all of the steps outlined below.

Intellectual property

One of your priorities will be to ensure that your company's intellectual property is adequately protected.

As explained before, you can choose to register a trademark. Your lawyer can help you with a detailed search to make sure your chosen trademark is unique and doesn't clash with existing ones.

They'll assist in preparing the required documents and steer you in picking the right categories and locations for trademark registration.

Moreover, your lawyer can offer guidance on additional measures to protect other intellectual property assets your company may have.

Getting your tire shop paperwork in order

For day-to-day operations, your tire shop will need to rely on a set of contractual documents. 

Your exact needs in this respect will depend on the country in which you are launching your tire shop, the number of partners and the envisaged size of the company. 

However, you will probably need at least the following documents:

• Employment contracts 
• General terms and conditions of sale
• General terms and conditions of use for your website
• Privacy Policy for your website
• Cookie Policy for your website

Applying for licences and permits and registering for various taxes

Operating your business legally may require licences and business permits. The exact requirements applicable to your situation will depend on the country in which you set up your tire shop.

The lawyers who advise you will also be able to guide you with regard to all the rules applicable to your business.

Similarly, your accountant will be able to help you take the necessary steps to comply with the tax authorities.

The next step in opening a tire shop is to draw up your business plan.

What is a tire shop's business plan?

A business plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap outlining the objectives, strategies, and key components of your venture. 

There are two essential parts to a business plan:

• A numerical part, the financial forecast we mentioned earlier in this guide, which highlights the amount of initial financing needed to launch the business and its potential profitability over the next 3 to 5 years,
• A written part, which presents in detail the project of creating a tire shop and provides the necessary context to enable the reader of the business plan to judge the relevance and coherence of the figures included in the forecast.

Your business plan helps guide decision-making by showcasing your vision and financial potential in a coherent manner.

Your business plan will also be essential when you're looking for financing, as your financial partners will ask you for it when deciding whether or not to finance your project to open a tire shop. So it's best to produce a professional, reliable, and error-free business plan.

In essence, your business plan is the blueprint to turn your idea into a successful reality. 

What tool should you use to create your tire shop business plan?

If you want to write a convincing business plan quickly and efficiently, a good solution is to use an online business plan software for business start-ups like the one we offer at The Business Plan Shop.

Using The Business Plan Shop to create a business plan for a tire shop has several advantages :

• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete startup business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast by importing accounting data
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows

If you're interested in using our solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

How to raise finance for my tire shop?

Once your business plan has been drafted, you’ll need to think about how you might secure the financing necessary to open your tire shop.

The amount of initial financing required will obviously depend on the size of your tire shop and the country in which you wish to set up.

Businesses have access to two main categories of financing: equity and debt. Let's take a closer look at how they work and what sources are available.

Equity funding

At a high level, the equity of your tire shop will consist of the money that founders and potential investors will invest to launch the company.

Equity is indispensable as it provides the company with a source of long-term (often permanent) financing and demonstrates the founders' conviction in the company's chances of success, since their investments would be lost in the event of bankruptcy.

Equity investors can generate a return on their investment through dividends (which can only be paid out if the company is profitable) or capital gains on the resale of their shares (if the company is attractive enough to attract a buyer).

As you can see, the equity investors' position is extremely risky, since their capital is at risk and can be lost in the event of bankruptcy, and the company must be profitable or resellable before they can hope to generate a return on their investment.

On the other hand, the return on investment that equity investors can expect to generate by investing in a tire shop can be very substantial if the company is successful.

This is why equity investors look for start-up ideas with very high growth or profitability potential, in order to offset their risk with a high potential return on investment.

In technical terms, equity includes:

• Share capital and premiums: which represent the amount invested by the shareholders. This capital is considered permanent as it is non-refundable. In return for their investment, shareholders receive shares that entitle them to information, decision-making power (voting in general assembly), and the potential to receive a portion of any dividends distributed by the company.
• Director loans: these are examples of non-permanent capital advanced to the company by the shareholders. This is a more flexible way of injecting some liquidity into your company than doing so as you can repay director loans at any time.
• Reserves: these represent the share of profits set aside to strengthen the company's equity. Allocating a percentage of your profits to the reserves can be mandatory in certain cases (legal or statutory requirement depending on the legal form of your company). Once allocated in reserves, these profits can no longer be distributed as dividends.
• Investment grants: these represent any non-refundable amounts received by the company to help it invest in long-term assets.
• Other equity: which includes the equity items which don't fit in the other categories. Mostly convertible or derivative instruments. For a small business, it is likely that you won't have any other equity items.

The main sources of equity are as follows:

• Money put into the business from the founders' personal savings.
• Money invested by private individuals, which can include business angels, friends, and family members.
• Funds raised through crowdfunding, which can take the form of either equity or donations (often in exchange for a reward).
• Government support to start-ups, for example, loans on favourable terms to help founders build up their start-up capital.

Debt funding

The other way to finance your tire shop is to borrow. From a financial point of view, the risk/return profile of debt is the opposite of that of equity: lenders' return on investment is guaranteed, but limited.

When it borrows, your company makes a contractual commitment to pay the lenders by interest, and to repay the capital borrowed according to a pre-agreed schedule.

As you can see, the lenders' return on investment is independent of whether or not the company is profitable. In fact, the only risk taken by lenders is the risk of the company going bankrupt.

To avoid this risk, lenders are very cautious, only agreeing to finance when they are convinced that the borrowing company will be able to repay them without problems.

From the point of view of the company and its stakeholders (workforce, customers, suppliers, etc.), debt increases the risk of the venture, since the company is committed to repaying the capital whether or not it is profitable. So there's a certain distrust towards heavily indebted companies.

Companies borrow in two ways:

• Against their assets: this is the most common way of borrowing. The bank finances a percentage of the price of an asset (a vehicle or a building, for example) and takes the asset as collateral. If the company cannot repay, the bank seizes the asset and sells it to limit its losses.
• Against their future cash flows: the bank reviews the company's financial forecast to estimate how much the company can comfortably borrow and repay, and what terms (amount, interest rate, term, etc.) the bank is prepared to offer given the credit risk posed by the company.

When creating a tire shop, the first option is often the only one available, as lenders are often reluctant to lend on the basis of future cash flows to a structure that has no track record.

The type of assets that can be financed using the first method is also limited. Lenders will want to be sure that they can dispose of foreclosed assets if needed, so they need to be assets that have an established second-hand market.

That being said, terms and conditions also depend on the lender: some banks are prepared to finance riskier projects, and not all have the same view of your company's credit risk. It also depends on the collateral you can offer to reduce risk, and on your relationship with the bank.

In terms of possible sources of borrowing, the main sources here are banks and credit institutions.

In some countries, it's also possible to borrow from private investors (directly or via crowdlending platforms) or other companies, but not everywhere.

Takeaways on how to finance a tire shop

Multiple options are available to help you raise the initial financing you need to launch your tire shop.

There are two types of financing available to companies. To open a tire shop, an equity investment will be required and may be supplemented by bank financing.

What to do after launching my tire shop?

Launching your tire shop is the beginning of an exciting entrepreneurial adventure, and the culmination of your efforts to turn your idea into a reality. But this is also when the real work begins.

As you know, nearly half of all new businesses fail, so you'll need to do everything you can to make your business sustainable right from the start.

Estimating the future financial performance of a tire shop inevitably involves a degree of uncertainty. That's why we recommend simulating several scenarios: a central case with the most likely scenario, an optimistic case, and a pessimistic case designed to test the limits of your business model.

Normally, your company's actual financial performance, observed after you start trading, should fall somewhere between your pessimistic and optimistic cases.

The important thing will be to quickly measure and compare this actual performance with the figures in your forecast to see where you stand, then update the forecast to re-estimate the future cash flows and cash position of your tire shop.

This forward-looking financial management exercise is the only way to know where you stand and where you're going. And, when your figures fall short of expectations, to quickly implement actions to turn things around before the company runs out of cash.

There's nothing more dangerous than waiting until you have your accounts, which takes up to nine months after the end of your financial year (if you are in the UK, abroad your mileage will vary), to then realize that you're not on the right track and that your tire shop won't have enough cash to operate over the next twelve months.

This is where using a forecasting solution that integrates actuals vs. forecast tracking, like The Business Plan Shop's financial dashboards do, can simplify the financial management of your business and help reduce the risk associated with your start-up project.

• There are 15 key steps to opening a tire shop.
• Your financial forecast will enable you to accurately assess your initial financing requirements and the potential profitability of your project.
• Your business plan will give your financial partners the context they need to be able to judge the consistency and relevance of your forecast before deciding whether or not to finance the creation of your tire shop.
• Post-launch, it's essential to have an up-to-date forecast to maintain visibility of your business's future cash flows.
• Using a financial planning and analysis platform that integrates forecasts, business plans and actual performance monitoring, such as The Business Plan Shop, makes the process easier and reduces the risks involved in starting a business.

We hope this guide has helped you understand how to open a tire shop. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to share your experience as an entrepreneur.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• Start-up business plan examples

Know someone who wants to start a tire shop? Share this guide with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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How to Start a Tire Shop in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   March 19, 2024

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The global tire market reached $12,925.0 million in 2022 and could reach $19,383.4 million by 2032 if it continues to grow at the rate it is. Currently, the projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is 4.3% from 2022 to 2032.

When launching a new tire business, research and planning are key. You must understand your target customers’ needs to stock the right tire brands and sizes. Locating your shop strategically to attract those customers will also be critical. Handling tire installations, maintenance, rotations, and balancing in-house requires an equipment inventory.

This guide will walk you through how to start a tire shop. Topics include market research, obtaining business insurance, forming an LLC, sourcing equipment for a tire shop business, opening a business bank account, and offering excellent customer service.

1. Conduct Tire Market Research

Market research is integral to starting a business in tire repair services. Research offers insights into your target market, trends among tire market products and services, and market saturation.

Some details you might learn through market research include:

• Leading distribution channels include independent tire dealers, auto repair shops , and service centers.
• Locating strategically near such dealers presents partnership opportunities.
• Retail pricing factors like speed ratings, consumer perception, and warranties allow markups between 30-50% over wholesale costs.
• High-end performance tires retail for 2x-5x the manufacturing costs.
• A startup tire shop requires approximately $200,000-$350,000 to launch.
• Key expenses are real estate, equipment like balancers and alignment systems, inventory, marketing, and working capital.
• Operating margins range from 10-15%, with payback potentially between 5-7 years.
• Customer acquisition costs typically require $200-$1000 spent per newly retained customer.
• Market trends benefiting tire dealers are rising EV sales requiring specialized tire compounds and designs, growth in online tire sales, and partnerships with on-demand installation networks.
• Investing in digital channels and services to align with these trends spells more revenue potential.

Given tire demand forecasts and financial dynamics, the market indicates room for new specialty players catering to anticipated consumer needs. A startup tire shop can successfully enter and expand in this sector with the right business plan focused on targeted offerings and competitive positioning.

2. Analyze the Competition

Starting a new tire business requires thorough competitive analysis. This covers both offline and online competitors in your geographic area. Smart competitive positioning must also inform your offerings and marketing.

Some ways to learn about tire business competitors include:

• Research brick-and-mortar rivals within a 15-20 mile radius.
• Visit competitor shops to gauge pricing, inventory, services, and facility quality.
• Also note their opening hours, staff friendliness and customer volumes.
• Evaluating web presence and digital marketing activity is also essential nowadays.
• Search online review sites to see the ratings and feedback local tire shops receive.
• Cross-check directories like Google Maps for basic information on competitors.
• Check what paid ads rival dealers buy on Google by searching terms like “affordable tires near me”.
• Study competitor websites and social media.
• Any gaps in competitors’ digital presence represent untapped opportunities to win market share.

Ongoing competitive analysis even after launching your tire business lets you calibrate offerings, prices, or promotions when needed to stay both relevant and profitable.

3. Costs to Start a Tire Business

Starting a tire business requires significant upfront capital and ongoing investments. Based on industry research and my extensive small business expertise, here is a detailed analysis of likely costs:

Start-Up Costs

• Location Lease or Purchase – For leasing, budget $4,000-$7,000 monthly rent depending on size from 1-3 bays. Purchasing existing tire shops averages $350,000-$850,000. Property down payment is typically 30%.
• Equipment – New tire changing machines, wheel balancers, lifts, and alignment systems range from $25,000-$100,000 depending on capability and capacity. Shop furnishings and tools are another $15,000.
• Initial Tire and Parts Inventory – Stock 2-3x monthly sales estimates. With average monthly volumes of $30,000-$50,000 for an independent, stock $100,000+. Wholesale tire costs are 30-50% below retail pricing.
• Staffing – Technicians average $40,000-$60,000 salary. Assume $60,000 for an experienced service manager. Budget $40,000 for an office administrator.
• Licenses, Permits, Insurance – Business license fees average $50-$500 depending on location. Garage liability insurance averages $4,000 annually.
• Working Capital – With 3 months of operating expenses on hand, approximately $30,000-$50,000 to handle low cash flow periods early on.
• Marketing Launch Budget – $5,000-$10,000 for branding, website, listings, brochures, and grand opening promotions to announce your arrival.
• Total Estimated Starting Costs: $380,000-$630,000

Ongoing Costs

• Rent + Utilities OR Mortgage – Rent of $4,000-$7,000 monthly / $50,000-$85,000 annually.
• Mortgage including property taxes of $250,000 x 5% interest = $13,500 monthly / $160,000 annually. Utilities are around $750 monthly / $9,000 annually.
• Staffing = Technicians at $40,000 + Service Manager at $60,000 Administrator at $40,000 = $140,000+ annual for staff salaries.
• Tire and Parts Inventory = Estimate 30% of revenue, averaging $250,000 inventory expense annually for a $1M revenue shop.
• Equipment Maintenance and Replacement = $5,000 – $10,000 annually
• Marketing = $3,000-$6,000 monthly ($35,000-$75,000 annually) for PPC ads, website upkeep, loyalty program, community events, and promotions.
• Miscellaneous supplies, professional services, etc of $500+ monthly / $7,500 annually
• Total Estimated Ongoing Operating Costs: $550,000-$800,000

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

To start a successful shop in the tire industry, you must first form a legal business entity. There are four types of business formations to choose between when considering tire service offerings as a business. Let’s break them down here.

Sole Proprietorship

Simplest and most affordable, with complete owner control. However, the owner assumes unlimited personal liability for debts and legal claims. Their assets can be seized. Additional ownership or selling the business is difficult. This makes sole proprietorships ill-suited when planning to grow a tire company.

Partnership

Allows multiple owners to combine expertise and investment. Partners split profits according to an agreement. Each partner’s assets are still at risk as with sole proprietorships. Decision-making authority should be clearly defined but can become complex with multiple partners. Admitting new partners later means revising the partnership agreement.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

LLCs limit owner liability and protect personal assets if the business has legal or debt issues. Profits pass directly to owners avoiding corporate double taxation. LLCs permit additional owners through simple ownership redistribution. Long-term business viability is facilitated via this flexibility. Startup costs and administration are reasonable.

Corporation

Corporations require substantial legal paperwork and reporting, adding operating costs. Business finance options are flexible with the ability to hold share sales to raise funds. However, corporate income incurs double taxation – at the corporate and shareholder levels. Unless franchise outlets nationally, the higher costs rarely benefit single-location tire businesses.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) serves as a unique tax ID for a business entity. The IRS requires tire shops to obtain an EIN for key reasons:

• Helps open a bank account under your shop’s name
• Allows registering your LLC or corporation formation properly
• Enables buying inventory wholesale avoiding higher retail prices
• Simplifies filing business tax returns and employment paperwork

Applying online takes under 10 minutes via the IRS EIN Assistant . You must identify your business structure first – sole proprietor, LLC, partnership, or corporation. Provide contact details and principal business location. Submitting online generates your EIN immediately.

Registering for state sales tax requirements is also crucial. This permits purchasing wholesale tire inventory sales tax-free for resale. States levy additional tire recycling fees needing registration. Filing monthly or quarterly sales tax returns ensures compliance. Third-party accounting services like Avalara can aid in tracking obligations across states.

6. Setup Your Accounting

Managing finances appropriately is vital for tire business success and IRS compliance. Adopting accounting best practices from the outset prevents issues down the road.

Accounting Software

Deploying small business accounting software like QuickBooks greatly simplifies money management. Connecting bank accounts allows transactions to download automatically into predefined categories. Bill tracking, invoicing clients, and reconciling credit card charges become streamlined.

Hire an Accountant

Engaging an accountant fosters expertise an owner may lack for bookkeeping, payroll, taxes, and advisory services. Typical duties like monthly reconciliations, producing financial statements and sales tax filing will run $150 monthly. Come tax season, preparation and filing for a tire business may cost $700 depending on inventory value, assets, and income sources across the LLC.

Open a Business Bank Account

Separating personal and tire business accounts strictly avoids muddying transactions when filing taxes or seeking financing. Personal funds should never pay for business expenses directly.

Apply for a Business Credit Card

Applying for a dedicated business credit card also segments expenditures. Limits are lower initially – often a percentage of the maximum balance you can cover fully every month. Responsible use builds significant available credit over time.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

Operating a compliant tire business relies on securing the necessary licenses and permits beforehand. Find federal license information through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA also offers a local search tool for state and city requirements.

Virtually every US state requires obtaining a business license (or tax registration in some areas) to legally transact as a commercial entity. Fees are typically $50-$500 paid after filing details on business activities. This permit allows for opening a dedicated bank account, securing insurance, hiring employees, and advertising services.

To sell new tires purchased through wholesale distribution channels, tire dealers must hold valid licenses. States levy environmental handling fees on tire purchases. Registering as an approved dealer simplifies compliance. Permits also qualify for collective marketing by manufacturer associations.

Tire installation creates rubber particulates and rim dust requiring extraction systems. An Air Pollution Control permit ensures your systems meet acceptable standards for venting cleaned air. Separate state and county registrations may apply for environmental health. Renewing this permit periodically is mandatory.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration mandates tire business owners to provide adequate workplace protections for employees like machine guarding, ventilation, and safety protocols. Submitting the OSHA 300A summary form annually confirms legal adherence.

8. Get Business Insurance

Operating a tire business sans insurance invites financial disaster through liability gaps. The right coverage protects against losses that could otherwise shut down operations.

Scenarios exposing businesses without policies include:

• Customer injury from an equipment breakdown leading to a lawsuit
• A fire from faulty wiring destroyed premises and inventory
• Employee theft draining the cash register over months

Obtaining business insurance closes these loopholes. Packages bundle property coverage, liability, commercial auto, workers’ comp, and more.

Getting insured necessitates multiple steps:

• Determine needed coverage areas and liability limits based on operations, inventory value, and local requirements.
• Have key details on hand like payroll, revenue, customer contracts, security measures, and ownership structure.
• Use a broker like Next Insurance ‘s online platform for quotes customized for tire shops rather than agents offering generalized recommendations.
• Review options and discuss particular vulnerability areas with the broker to optimize protection.

Insurance allows properly covering risks intrinsic to tire operations. It’s an asset protection every registered business must continually carry.

9. Create an Office Space

An administrative office is invaluable for tire businesses to run operations smoothly and interface with customers professionally. Dedicated workspace facilitates:

• Handling phone/email bookings and inquiries away from the noisy garage
• Consultations to explain recommendations and upsell services
• Securely storing customer data along with business and inventory records
• Owner and staff meetings to coordinate workflows plus sales and marketing planning

Coworking Space

Shared offices through providers like WeWork grant flexibility to scale up business activities. With meeting rooms, printing/scanning, high-speed internet, and cleaning/security included, owners focus more on customers and less on administrative hassles. Membership for a 3-desk private office averages $800-$1200 monthly.

Retail Office

For tire shops with enough space on-site, a retail office is a great option. It allows you to keep tabs on employees and customers while managing administrative duties. Retail offices don’t require additional contracts or costs outside of your standard retail space lease agreement for sales.

Commercial Office Lease

Established tire shops could require a larger standalone office, especially when co-located on the same commercial property as the garage itself. This facilitates customer paperwork processing and consultations in a quieter setting. Expect leasing rates of $15-$25 per square foot in nicer buildings.

10. Source Your Equipment

Launching a tire business necessitates sourcing essential equipment either new or pre-owned from reliable suppliers. Strategic purchases control capital outlays while meeting operational requirements.

New Tire Shop Equipment

Core tire service equipment like wheel balancers, alignment systems, and tire changers can cost $2,500+ individually when buying new. Commercial grade lifts run $5,000.

Dealers like ASA Automotive Systems offer deep tire tool and machinery discounts for startup owners. Attractive financing options are available too. New hardware warranties grant peace of mind.

Used and Refurbished Equipment

Quality pre-owned tire shop gear is widely available via auctions and classifieds. Commercial auction platform GovDeals lists nationwide dealer closeouts. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist routinely have lift and wheel service equipment available locally. Purchase prices can be 40% less than new options.

Necessary tools like steam cleaners or specialty sensors can be rented affordably short-term instead of buying outright. National chains like Sunbelt Rentals deliver equipment and handle maintenance included for tire techs. Rental fees apply fully towards purchase too.

Leasing Essentials

Customers lacking capital for equipment buys can access essential tire shop hardware via flexible lease-to-own terms from suppliers like TEC . This pays just for usage without huge down payments. Leasing preserves capital for smooth day-to-day business operations.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Establishing a professional brand builds visibility and credibility for tire businesses aiming to attract local customers. A coherent identity across touchpoints like logos, websites, signage, and uniforms reinforces recognition and trust in service quality.

Getting a Business Phone Line

Calls are likely the prime lead source for shops selling tires. Using a reliable business phone system facilitates professionally answering tire quotes or booking requests anywhere. Top providers like RingCentral provide toll-free numbers, call routing, voicemail, and text messaging across devices.

Creating Logos and Brand Assets

A custom tire shop logo symbolizes expertise and approachability to prospects. Common styles like lettermarks, badges, or crests should align aesthetically with other visual branding on the website, signboard, and print materials. Engaging graphic designers via Looka ‘s logo maker produces polished results using just a business name.

Business Cards and Signage

Vibrant shop signage captures the attention of passing traffic. Matching business cards enables memorable sharing of shop addresses, web links, and contact info during community networking or point-of-sale interactions with customers. Vistaprint ‘s affordable design services and printing help tire business owners project professionalism through branded collateral.

Purchasing a Domain Name

The right domain builds organic visibility as customers search areas like “best value tires” plus a location. Once purchased, a domain not only hosts the website but also emails with the brand name. Providers like Namecheap make registering and claiming domains easy, with ample extensions to convey “tires” uniquely.

Building a Responsive Website

A mobile-friendly website communicates brand persona while capturing contact details of site visitors for follow-up quotes. Owners can opt for convenient DIY builders like Wix or hire an affordable web developer from sites like Fiverr for a fully customized responsive website.

Carefully executing these brand-building steps cements memorable and engaging digital and tangible branding to draw the local customer base in.

12. Join Associations and Groups

Besides formal distribution partnerships with manufacturers, independent tire shops can benefit tremendously from localized peer networking, advice sharing, and industry trend insights. Developing connections via multiple channels paves success.

Local Associations

Joining the state or regional Tire Dealers Association opens guidance on licensing, equipment buying, and shop management from fellow owners. The TRIB Group offers East Coast dealers collective bargaining power with vendors. Membership fees give access to their expertise.

Local Meetups

Attending regular tire shop meetups helps cultivate referral relationships, stay atop regulations, and even find talent. Sites like Meetup list gatherings of auto services business owners across counties to trade ideas over coffee. Regional tire shows often host seminars on the newest wheel technologies and market trends.

Facebook Groups

With over 191 K members, the Rims & Tires For Sale and Trade drives lively idea exchange online. Threads cover everything from top rims to local tires for trade or sale. The Mechanics advice and more forum and Made in USA Tires group also inform purchasing and consumer education.

13. How to Market a Tire Business

Growing a tire business relies heavily on multidimensional marketing outreach to drive customer acquisition and retention. As word-of-mouth referrals accelerate organically, investing simultaneously in targeted online and offline tactics expands reach.

Referral Marketing

Satisfied clients are powerful brand ambassadors. Offering referral rewards like discount coupons or giveaways motivates sharing positive experiences with their networks. Loyalty programs also incentivize repeat visits for routine tire maintenance.

Digital Marketing Ideas

• Run Google/Facebook PPC ads geo-targeting local searchers for affordable tire installation
• Create YouTube DIY videos on checking tire tread wear to build community trust
• Guest blog on regional automotive websites to gain backlinks and site visitors
• Leverage Google Business Profile to rank for searches like “tire shops near me”
• Send email newsletters with safety tips and coupons to encourage patronage

Traditional Marketing Tactics

• Distribute printed flyers at parking lots and rest stops to capture passerby attention
• Sponsor a local Little League team to support the community and gain exposure
• Advertise on highway billboards leading into town for commuter visibility
• Partner with a radio station on seasonal giveaways like free tire rotations
• Canvass new neighborhoods with door hangers announcing shop opening deals

Blanketing both digital and tangible channels with consistent branding ensures maximal awareness of afforded services and current promotions to prompt sales inquiries. Monitoring engagement and conversions then steer ongoing marketing budget allocations between platforms.

14. Focus on the Customer

Delivering exceptional customer service is the strongest driver of loyalty and referrals for tire shops. Owners who instill a customer-centric culture and equip staff to resolve issues promptly stand to gain.

Consider an instance where a regular customer notices unexpected tread wear on their recently installed tires. A swift reinspection and rotation for better alignment, along with complimentary balancing, demonstrates accountability. It assures them of consistent quality.

Such individuals then evangelize that commitment to friends locally when asked for shop recommendations. They highlight the transparent, non-pushy consultations received when choosing tires initially.

Another case could involve a single mother whose car tire blows out, stranding her roadside with two young kids. Dispatching a mobile technician ASAP to swap the spare for a good used tire gets her safely home again. She then sings praises on community Facebook groups about the lifesaving assistance received despite being unable to afford a new tire just then.

Word travels fast when independent shops make extra efforts to educate customers, adapt solutions to budgets, and resolve issues promptly. Goodwill guarantees repeat business and referral sales exceeding advertising costs considerably.

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March 1, 2024

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Tire Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Automotive Industry » Auto Parts Store » Tire Shop

Are you about starting a tire retail shop? If YES, here is a complete sample tire shop business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a tire shop . We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample tire shop marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for tire shop. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

Why Start a Tire Shop?

Of course there are businesses that someone with little schooling and no serious business background and training can start.

One of such businesses is to open a tire retailing shop. The basic things you would need to have in place to make success from this type of business is a good location, easy access to wholesale supply of quality tires and good customer service skill.

Usually, if you shop is located in an area with good human and vehicular traffic, and you have stocked in your shop quality tires from different brands, you may not have to struggle to get people to visit your shop and make purchase.

So if you have decided to open a tire shop, then you should ensure that you carry out feasibility studies and also market survey. This will enable you properly locate the business and then hit the ground running.

Business plan is yet another very important business document that you should not take for granted in the bid to launching your own business. Below is a sample tires retail shop business plan template that can help you to successfully write your own with little or no difficulty.

A Sample Tire Shop Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Tire is a major component in the automobile industry hence the regular demand for tires from automobile owners. Establishment in the retail market for auto tires industry sell automobile tires and tubes that are used on all types of passenger vehicles and freight vehicles.

The Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry, just like most businesses in the retailing industry, depends on strong consumer spending to spur the demand for industry products. Over the last half a decade, the economy has begun recovering from recessionary declines with both the Consumer Confidence Index and disposable income increasing.

Going forward, as the economy of the united states continues to recover and consumers are expected to loosen their discretionary budgets, the industry is anticipated to thrive. This is why rising disposable income and vehicle mileage will support demand for industry products

Research conducted by IBISWORLD shows that, the tire retail market for automobile tires has stabilized following the aftermath of the recession, with low single-digit growth in each of the past three years. The report also stated that as demand picks up across all sectors of the economy, revenue growth will continue in the five years to 2019.

In particular, shifting consumer preference towards fuel-efficient tires will present a growth market for tire retailers. Government fuel-efficiency regulation will also stimulate demand for high quality tires

The Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry is indeed a thriving and profitable industry in most countries of the world. It is a major sector of the economy of the United States of America and they generates a whooping sum of well over $35 billion annually from more than 56,199tires retail outlets scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of well over 190,899 people. Experts project that the industry will grow at a 6.2 percent annual rate. The establishment in this industry that has dominant market shares in the United States of America are; Discount Tire and Sumitomo Corporation.

Available statistics shows that an estimated two-thirds of the United States’ gross domestic product (GDP) comes from the general retail industry of which the tires retail shops industry contributes greatly.  This is why the United States of America’s economy is measured with the yardstick of how well the retailing business is fairing in the U.S.

In essence, when there is an unstable economy, purchasing power drops and it impacts the Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry negatively which may result in the closure of some furniture retail stores.

Over and above, the Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry is a profitable industry and it is open for any aspiring entrepreneur to come in and establish his or her business; you can chose to start on a small scale in a street corner or you can chose to start on a large scale with several outlets in key cities through the United States of America and Canada retailing quality tires from top brands.

2. Executive Summary

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is a standard and registered tire retail shop business that will be located in one of the busiest streets in Augusta – Maine.

We have been able to lease a facility that is big enough to fit into the design of the kind of standard tire retail shop that we intend launching and the facility is located in a corner piece facility in the center of the commercial center in Augusta – Maine.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will be involved in retailing new passenger vehicle tires, used passenger vehicle tires, new light vehicle tires, used light vehicle tires, new medium- and heavy-duty truck tires, used medium- and heavy- duty truck tires et al from different manufacturers (brands) from the United States and abroad. We are set to services a wide range of clientele in and around Augusta – Maine.

We are aware that there are several large and small chains of tire retail shop outlets all around Augusta – Maine, which is why we spent time and resources to conduct a thorough feasibility studies and market survey so as to be well positioned to favorably compete with all our competitors.

We have an online – service option for our customers, and our outlet is well secured with various payments of options. We will also offer vulcanizing services as demanded by our clients.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will ensure that all our customers are given first class treatment whenever they visit our shop. We have in place, a CRM software that will enable us manage a one on one relationship with our customers no matter how large the numbers of our customers’ base may grow to.

We will ensure that we get our customers involved in the selection of tire brands that will be in our shops and also when making some business decisions.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will at all times demonstrates her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business best practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our customers’ needs precisely and completely whenever they patronize our products. We will cultivate a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our customers.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is a family business that is owned by Victory Jacobson and his immediate family members. Victory Jacobson has a B.Sc. in Business Administration from University of Southern Maine – Portland, with well over 5 years of experience in the auto tire retailing stores industry, working for some of the leading brand in the United States.

Although the business is launching out with just one outlet in Augusta – Maine, but there is a plan to open other outlets all around major cities in the United States and Canada.

3. Our Products and Services

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is in the Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry to service a wide range of corporate and individual clients and of course to make profits, which is why we will ensure we go all the way to make available a wide range of tires from top manufacturing brands (Dunlop, Good Year, Bridgestone, Cooper, Firestone, Uniroyal and Michelin et al) in the United States and other countries of the world.

We will ensure that we do all that is permitted by the law of the United States to achieve our aim and ambition of starting the business. Our product offerings are listed below;

• Retailing new passenger vehicle tires
• Retailing used passenger vehicle tires
• Retailing new light vehicle tires
• Retailing used light vehicle tires
• Retailing new medium- and heavy-duty truck tires
• Retailing used medium- and heavy- duty truck tires
• Retailing of tubes
• Retailing of tire rims (alloy and non – alloy)
• Vulcanizing services (replacing tires, wheel alignment, wheel balancing and tire repairs et al)

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to become one of the leading brands in the auto tire retail shops industry in Maine and to establish a one stop tire retail shop in Augusta – Maine and in other key cities in the United States of America and Canada.
• Our mission is to establish a world – class tire retail shop business that will make available a wide range of tires from top tire manufacturing brands at affordable prices to the residence of Augusta – Maine and other key cities in the United States of America and Canada where we intend opening of chains of tire retail shops and franchise.

Our Business Structure

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. do not intend to start a tire retail shop business like the usual mom and pop business around the street corner; our intention of starting an auto tire retail shop business is to build a standard and one stop auto tire retail shop outlet in Augusta – Maine.

Although our tire retail shop business might not be as big as Discount Tire and Sumitomo Corporation et al, but will ensure that we put the right structure in place that will support the kind of growth that we have in mind while setting up the business.

We will ensure that we hire people that are qualified, honest, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. In view of that, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)
• Shop Manager
• Human Resources and Admin Manager

Merchandize Manager

Sales and Marketing Manager

Information Technologist

• Accountants / Cashiers
• Sales Agents / Customer Services Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Reports to the board

Admin and HR Manager

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities.

Shop Manager:

• Responsible for managing the daily activities in the shop
• Ensures that proper records of tires and rims are kept and warehouse does not run out of products
• Ensures that the store facility is in tip top shape and goods are properly arranged and easy to locate
• Interfaces with third – party suppliers (vendors)
• Controls shoes distribution and supply inventory
• Supervises the workforce in the tire sales floor.
• Manages vendor relations, market visits, and the ongoing education and development of the organizations’ buying teams
• Help to ensure consistent quality of tires from different manufacturers are purchased and retailed in good price that will ensure we make good profit
• Responsible for planning sales, monitoring inventory, selecting the merchandise, and writing and pricing orders to vendors
• Ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.
• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company
• Manages the organization website
• Handles ecommerce aspect of the business
• Responsible for installing and maintenance of computer software and hardware for the organization
• Manages logistics and supply chain software, Web servers, e-commerce software and POS (point of sale) systems
• Manages the organization’s CCTV
• Handles any other technological and IT related duties.

Accountant / Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Client Service Executive

• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the human resources and admin manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries (answer customer queries regarding the store and the merchandise)
• Finds out the customer’s needs, recommend, select and help locate the right merchandise, describe a product’s features and benefits.
• makes suggestions and encourage purchase of products
• Provides information about warranties, manufacturing specifications, care and maintenance of merchandise and delivery options
• Responsible for cleaning all the tires, rims and the store facility at all times
• Ensures that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Cleans both the interior and exterior of the store facility
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the store manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Our plan of starting with just one outlet of our tire retail shop in Augusta – Maine is to test run the business for a period of 2 to 5 years to know if we will invest more money, expand the business and then open other outlets all over major towns in Maine and key cities in the United States and Canada.

We are quite aware that there are several tire retail shops all over Augusta – Maine and even in the same location where we intend locating ours, which is why we are following the due process of establishing a business.

We know that if a proper SWOT analysis is conducted for our business, we will be able to position our business to maximize our strength, leverage on the opportunities that will be available to us, mitigate our risks and be well equipped to confront our threats.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. employed the services of an expert HR and Business Analyst with bias in retailing to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives. This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc.;

The location of our shop, the business model we will be operating on both (physical store and online store), varieties of payment options, wide range of tires from different manufacturers and our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. So also our team of highly qualify staff members is also a plus for us.

A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new tire retail shop outlet in Augusta – Maine and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with multi – million dollars tire retail shop outlets like Discount Tire, Sumitomo Corporation and co when it comes to retailing at a rock bottom prices for all their tires.

• Opportunities:

The fact that we are going to be operating our tire retail shop in one of the busiest streets in Augusta – Maine couple with the rising number of car automobile owners provide us with unlimited opportunities to sell our tires to a large number of individuals and corporate organizations.

We have been able to conduct thorough feasibility studies and market survey and we know what our potential clients will be looking for when they visit our tire retail shop outlets; we are well positioned to take on the opportunities that will come our way.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new tire retail outlet in same location where ours is located. So also, unfavorable government policies may also pose a threat for businesses such as ours.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Going forward, as the economy of the united states continues to recover and consumers are expected to loosen their discretionary budgets, the industry is anticipated to thrive. This is why rising disposable income and vehicle mileage will support demand for industry products.

Lastly, in recent time, the tire retail shops landscape has seen tremendous changes in the last 20 years; it has grown from the smaller outlets to a more organized and far reaching venture. The introduction of franchise and online store makes it easier for tire retailers to reach out to a larger market far beyond the areas where his physical tire retail store is located.

8. Our Target Market

Possibly it will be safe to submit that the auto tire retail shops industry has a wide range of customers; every individual and corporate organization who owns automobile would at one point or the other change the tires that can with their vehicle.

In view of that, we have positioned our tire retail shop to service the residence of Augusta – Maine and every other location where franchise cum outlets of our tire retail shops will be located all over key cities in the United States of America and Canada.

We have conducted our market research and feasibility studies and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to retail a wide range of tires to the following groups of people and corporate organizations;

• Transport and haulage companies
• Car dealership shop
• Corporate organization
• Taxi and car hire companies

Our competitive advantage

A close study of the tire retail shops industry reveals that the market has become much more intensely competitive over the last decade. As a matter of fact, you have to be highly creative, customer centric and proactive if you must survive in this industry.

We are aware of the stiffer competition and we are well prepared to compete favorably with other leading tire retail shops in Augusta – Maine and throughout the United States and Canada.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is launching a standard one stop tire retail shop that will indeed become the preferred choice of residence of Augusta – Maine and every other location where our outlets will be opened. Our tire retail shop is located in a corner piece property on a busy road directly opposite one of the largest residential estates in Augusta – Maine.

We have enough parking spaces that can accommodate well over 20 cars per time. One thing is certain; we will ensure that we have a wide range sizes of tires from leading manufacturers available in our shop at all times. It will be difficult for customers to visit our shop and not see the type and size of tire they are looking for.

One of our business goals is to make Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. a one stop tire shop for both individual and corporate organizations. Our excellent customer service culture, online store, various payment options and highly secured facility will serve as a competitive advantage for us.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category (startups tire retail stores) in the industry meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives.

We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is in business to retail a wide range of tire to the residence of Augusta – Maine. We are in the tire retail shops industry to maximize profits and we are going to go all the way out to ensure that we achieve or business goals and objectives.

In essence, our source of income will be the retailing of a wide range of tires at affordable prices. Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will generate income by selling the following products;

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain when it comes to tire retail shop business, if your shop is well stocked with various types of tires from different brands and centrally positioned, you will always attract customers cum sales and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Augusta – Maine and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six month of operations and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the Retail Market for Auto Tires Industry and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projections are based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in Augusta – Maine.

Below is the sales projection for Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. it is based on the location of our business and other factors as it relates to tire retail shops startups in the United States;

• First Fiscal Year-: $250,000
• Second Fiscal Year-: $450,000
• Third Fiscal Year-: $750,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor retailing same tire brands and customer care services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing a location for Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market and become the preferred choice for residence of Augusta – Maine.

We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the auto tire retail shop industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market in Augusta – Maine.

In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell the tires that are available in our store which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver. In summary, Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to win customers over;

• Open our tire store in a grand style with a party for all
• Introduce our auto tire store by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to organizations, households and key stakeholders in Augusta – Maine
• Ensure that we have a wide range of tires from different brands at all times.
• Make use of attractive handbills to create awareness and also to give direction to our tire store
• Position our signage / flexi banners at strategic places around Augusta – Maine
• Position our greeters to welcome and direct potential customers
• Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our regular customers
• Engage on road shows within our neighborhood to create awareness for our tire shop
• List our business and products on yellow pages ads  (local directories)
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing and sales
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Despite the fact that our shoe store is well located, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for the business. We are going to explore all available means to promote our shoe store.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. has a long term plan of opening outlets in various locations all around Maine and key cities in the United States and Canada which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Augusta before venturing out.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for winning customers over but to effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc.;

• Place adverts on community based newspapers, radio stations and TV stations.
• Encourage the use of word of mouth publicity from our loyal customers
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Badoo, Google+  and other platforms to promote our business.
• Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Augusta – Maine
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas in and around our neighborhood
• Contact corporate organizations, households, landlord associations and schools by calling them up and informing them of Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. and the products we sell
• Advertise our shoe store business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site
• Brand all our official cars and trucks and ensure that all our staff members and management staff wears our branded shirt or cap at regular intervals.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Aside from quality, pricing is one of the key factors that gives leverage to retailing business such as tire retailing business, it is normal for consumers to go to places (tire retail outlets) where they can get tire at cheaper price which is why big player in the auto tire retail shops industry like Discount Tire, Sumitomo Corporation and co will attract loads of corporate and individual clients.

We know we don’t have the capacity to compete with Discount Tire, Sumitomo Corporation and co but we will ensure that the prices and quality of all the tire products that are available in our shop are competitive with what is obtainable amongst tire retail stores within our level.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards / Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our client make payment for farm produces purchase without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for our tires and other products.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

In setting up any business, the amount or cost will depend on the approach and scale you want to undertake. If you intend to go big by renting / leasing a big facility, then you would need a good amount of capital as you would need to ensure that your employees are well taken care of, and that your facility is conducive enough for workers to be creative and productive.

This means that the start-up can either be low or high depending on your goals, vision and aspirations for your business. The tools and equipment that will be used are nearly the same cost everywhere, and any difference in prices would be minimal and can be overlooked.

As for the detailed cost analysis for starting an auto tire retail store business; it might differ in other countries due to the value of their money. This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;

• The Total Fee for Registering the Business in the Unites States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• Cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
• Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• Cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
• Cost for Shop remodeling (construction of racks and shelves) – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $60,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of tires tubes, rims and other tire accessories from different brands) – $250,000
• The cost for counter area equipment – $9,500
• Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
• Cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $10,000
• The cost for the purchase of office furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al): $4,000.
• The cost of launching a Website: $600
• The cost for our opening party: $7,000
• Miscellaneous: $10,000

We would need an estimate of $750,000 to successfully set up our shoe retail store in Charleston – West Virginia. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of all the staff for the first month of operation.

Generating Funds / Startup Capital for Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is a private registered business that is solely owned and financed by Victory Jacobson and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $250,000 (Personal savings $200,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $500,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without the need for injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over is to retail our wide range of quality auto tires and accessories a little bit cheaper than what is obtainable in the market and we are well prepared to survive on lower profit margin for a while.

Victory Express Tire Shop®, Inc. will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of six years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility and remodeling the shop: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• writing of business plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
• Compilation of our list of products that will be available in our store: Completed
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – manufacturers and suppliers of auto tires: In Progress

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• Car Service Center Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Mobile Oil Change Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Mobile Alloy Wheel Repair Business Plan [Sample Template]
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Moscow-City – The Moscow International Business Center

• 3 years ago

Moscow-City is an iconic location for life and work in Russia’s capital. Enormous skyscrapers, business centers, the best restaurants and retail spaces – all this is concentrated in one place. The ultramodern Moscow-City towers are truly striking in their outward appearance, and the layout of the apartments inside and the fantastic views that can be seen from the higher floors are nothing short of impressive.

This skyscraper compound, often referred to as Moskva-City, is the Russian take on Manhattan, where businessmen strike multi-million dollar deals daily while ordinary life goes on next door. Its state of the art spaces offer the ultimate convenience. The infrastructure of this business district is so well-developed that anyone can find something interesting for themselves here: from residential apartments to boutiques, clubs, exhibitions and more.

When the foundations for the Moscow-City skyscrapers were laid, a special kind of concrete was used, the properties of which are amplified by many times compared to standard concrete. Even in the event of a plane crashing into one of the buildings, the structural integrity of the towers will be preserved.

The architects of the Moscow-City Business Center have created a unique locality that has integrated into itself the hub of the capital’s business life and a whole ensemble of historical monuments. Anyone can admire the beauty of these skyscrapers from within or without the compound. There are also a number of apartments for sale or rent available in the MIBC itself. But first, let’s have a look at some more interesting facts about the financial core of Russia’s capital.

• 1 How It All Began
• 2.1 Moscow-City Central Core
• 2.2 Tower 2000
• 2.3 Evolution Tower
• 2.4 Imperia Tower
• 2.5 Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower
• 2.6 Steel Peak Tower
• 2.7 Federation Tower
• 2.8 Mercury City Tower
• 2.9 OKO Tower Complex
• 3.1 Afimall City Shopping Center
• 3.2 Bagration Bridge
• 3.3 Expocentre Fairgrounds
• 4 Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

How It All Began

The history of Moscow-City goes all the way back to 1992. The government of Moscow at the time wanted to bring into existence its own skyscrapers like the ones in London or New York. And the idea caught on. In 1992 the project for the construction of the huge “Moscow-City” MIBC compound was enthusiastically approved, kick-starting the painstaking preparatory works. The original intention was that the skyscrapers would only house office space. However, as time went on, the towers began to welcome in ordinary residents who wanted to live on the territory of this business and finance hub.

Moscow-City is undoubtedly a city within a city. Its grandeur is mind-boggling. It is perfect in every way: from location to infrastructure. And today, anyone can get a feel of the atmosphere of the “capital city” of Russia’s business world – many of the apartments in Moscow-City are available for rent. Any citizen of Russia and even nationals of other countries can make use of these offers.

What It’s Like in 2021

Today Moscow-City is not just a magnificent and fascinating sight, but also a real hub for the work, life and leisure of thousands. Its infrastructure is organized in such a way that there is no need to leave the territory of the “city within a city” at all. This business district contains everything one may need for work and recreation. And if one does decide to venture out into the larger metropolis, the MIBC’s three subway stations make this remarkably simple to do.

Moscow-City stands on the Presnenskaya Embankment . Each of the buildings in the district has a name, which simplifies its identification. Some of the buildings form complexes that are united under one name, such as the Neva Towers and the Naberezhnaya Tower complex of two skyscrapers and one high rise. There are a total of 16 towers in the MIBC, of which the most popular are:

• Moscow-City Central Core;
• Tower 2000;
• Evolution Tower;
• Imperia Tower;
• City of Capitals (Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower);
• Steel Peak Tower;
• Federation Tower;
• Mercury City Tower;
• OKO Tower Complex.

Moscow-City Central Core

This is the most complex building within the MIBC compound. Its total floor area is a whopping 1 476 378 sqft (450 000 m²). It consists of two massive parts, each of which boasts a truly impressive infrastructure. The underground part includes 3 Moscow Metro stations, a parking lot for automobiles and a shopping mall. The aboveground part houses a concert hall and a hotel.

Tower 2000 is a skyscraper having 34 stories. Its total floor area is 200 318 sqft (61 057 m²), most of which is office space. The key feature of this skyscraper is its direct connection to the Bagration Bridge, which has its own shopping arcade. The tower has everything one may need while working here, including a large parking lot and several restaurants.

Evolution Tower

This elegant structure is 836 feet (255 m) high – that’s a whole 54 stories! The total floor area here is 554 462 sqft (169 000 m²). The Evolution Tower’s key feature is that it has its own Wedding Hall. This skyscraper houses large office spaces, a parking lot and several restaurants.

Imperia Tower

MIBC’s Imperia Tower is the undeniable focal point of the MIBC’s business life. Its height is 784 feet (239 m), which means one can hold conferences and resolve key business matters on the 59 th floor! And that really is amazing! The tower has everything: offices, hotels, restaurants and parking lots. But if you want a truly unforgettable experience, visit the viewing platform! It is situated on the 58 th floor and a simply astounding view of Moscow can be seen from it.

Moscow Tower and St. Petersburg Tower

The Moscow and St. Petersburg Towers are the chief representatives of the MIBC. The Moscow Tower has 76 stories and is 990 feet (302 m) high, while the St. Petersburg Tower has 65 stories and stands 843 feet (257 m) tall. Both towers offer fantastic views of the capital city.

Most of the floors of these two skyscrapers are taken up by luxurious sky apartments. There are also several recreational and entertainment centers, office spaces, restaurants, etc.

Steel Peak Tower

Also known as the Eurasia Tower of Moscow-City, this supertall skyscraper has a total of 680 912 sqft (207 542 m²) of floor space. Most of this is taken up by offices, and the rest – by residential quarters (around 65 616 sqft or 20 000 m²). The tower also houses a number of the greatest restaurants, studios and shopping centers.

Federation Tower

The Federation Tower is a complex of two skyscrapers, known as Tower East and Tower West. Tower East is the second highest building in Europe (the first is a skyscraper recently erected in the city of St. Petersburg). Its height is a colossal 1 223 feet (373 m) and that makes 95 stories! Tower West, on the other hand, is noticeably shorter at 794 feet (242 m).

The Federation Tower is a multifunctional complex.

Mercury City Tower

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper is widely known as one of the tallest buildings in Europe. Its height is 1 112 feet (339 m) and it has 75 stories. It is multifunctional by concept, holding within its walls shopping centers, offices and all kinds of other spaces. It is also possible to rent apartments here.

OKO Tower Complex

The OKO Tower Complex consists of two towers – the North Tower (49 stories and 803 ft or 245 m in height) and the South Tower (85 stories and 1 155 ft or 352 m in height).

Each of the MIBC’s tower complexes has its own recreational and entertainment areas, restaurants and parking lots. The top floors of most of these buildings contain luxurious fully-furnished apartments. At night, the towers shine with bright lights, while inside them the panoramic windows reveal astounding views of Moscow. This breathtaking view of the capital of Russia is why visiting Moscow-City is a must!

What Not to Miss

There are many interesting landmarks within the Moscow-City compound, but three of them are truly deserving of special attention:

• The Afimall City Shopping Center;
• The Bagration Bridge with two galleries and a shopping arcade;
• The Expocentre Fairgrounds.

Afimall City Shopping Center

The Afimall City Shopping and Entertainment Center is located in Moscow-City’s Central Core. It is divided into 4 zones, each with its own theme – one for every season of the year. The shopping center houses the biggest indoor fountain found worldwide. The height of this watery wonder is 118 feet or 36 meters.

The shopping and entertainment center contains everything one might expect from one of the largest centers of its kind:

• Retail brand stores;
• Exhibitions;
• Game rooms;
• and Restaurants.

The main recreational space is roofed with a giant transparent dome, which is an impressive sight to behold.

Bagration Bridge

Bagration Bridge with its upper and lower galleries has a shopping center all of its own and was the first structure to be built as part of the Moscow-City business district. Its lower gallery is a shopping arcade and its upper gallery is an open-air viewing platform with a spectacular view of the MIBC and the Moskva River. The hall of the bridge houses the 23 foot tall sculpture called “Tree of Life”. Having gone through the bridge via either one of its two galleries, a pedestrian would find themselves standing right on the Kutuzovsky Prospekt.

Expocentre Fairgrounds

The Expocentre Fairgrounds exhibition venue is located at the very heart of the capital. The first exhibition held at the Expocentre happened all the way back in 1959, much earlier than the MIBC was erected. Today it is the venue of many interesting events.

Exhibitions with very diverse themes are regularly held at this complex. An up-to-date schedule can be found on the official webpage of the Expocentre. The events can be free or fixed-price entry, depending on their type.

Renting and Buying Real Estate in Moscow-City

Moscow-City is not only a work and business hub, but also a residential neighborhood. Any citizen of Russia can rent or buy apartments or elite sky lounges here. The variety of residential real estate available inside the skyscrapers is impressive, including options for any pocket. The following buildings in the MIBC contain residential blocks:

This skyscraper has a mirror glass façade which reflects the passing clouds. Just imagine how beautiful that looks! Anyone can buy an apartment in the Federation Tower. Such properties are not only a good investment, but also a mark of prestige. The average price of residential real estate here is 45 million rubles for an apartment with a total floor area of 334 sqft (102 m²). The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is in the range of 650 to 700 thousand rubles. There are two- and three-room apartments available in the Federation Tower, each with its own loggia. As for rent, the minimum price of one month’s stay in a three-room apartment in this skyscraper is 300 000 rubles per month.

The Mercury City Tower skyscraper welcomes citizens from all parts of Russia. This building is no less tall than the world-famous Dubai skyscrapers. Living in its apartments is a delight. The minimum cost of an apartment in the Mercury City Tower is 75 million rubles. The average price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 800 thousand rubles. And for those looking for a lower price point, some of the properties are also available for rent – in this case you will pay a minimum of 250 thousand rubles per month.

The Imperia Tower is a key cluster of interesting offers. The best options for buying and renting apartments within the MIBC can all be found in this skyscraper. The lowest price of a residential apartment here is 40 million rubles. A square meter (3.28 square feet) in a luxurious apartment in the Imperia Tower currently costs 600 thousand rubles, while the price range of the listings available for rent in this skyscraper is from 350 thousand all the way up to 1 million rubles per month.

This complex, standing on a faceted or “crystal” base, is an architectural engineering project boasting spectacular design. Behind its impressive façades is an abundance of penthouses and apartments having floor areas in the range of 262 sqft (80 m²) to 984 sqft (300 m²). The minimum price of an apartment in the OKO Tower Complex is 40 million rubles (the price of a square meter (3.28 square feet) is 500 thousand rubles). You can rent an apartment here starting from 400 thousand rubles per month.

City of Capitals

The City of Capitals is an exemplary architectural complex. Its sum appearance gives the impression of a huge city. Inside its walls are spacious apartments available for purchase and rent. This complex is considered to be especially prestigious. The prices of apartments here start from 50 million rubles, while the minimum cost of renting is 400 thousand rubles per month.

Please note! The price of real estate available for purchase or rent depends on: the tower, the floor, the total floor area, the furnishings and/or interior design, and other factors.

The key advantages of buying/purchasing real estate in Moscow-City are:

• Favorable location;
• Convenient transportation links;
• Well-developed infrastructure;
• High safety level;
• Efficient architecture;
• Panoramic windows.

Buying real estate in Moscow-City is very much a rational decision, most appealing to those who value the ultimate level of comfort. The residential apartments here boast impressive interior design solutions executed in the contemporary style.

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Property tax in russia, the best international schools in moscow.

Our Rating of the Best Districts of Moscow for Living In

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem

The former republican national committee chairwoman was hired by nbc and then let go after an outcry..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Today, the saga of Ronna McDaniel and NBC and what it reveals about the state of television news headed into the 2024 presidential race. Jim Rutenberg, a “Times” writer at large, is our guest.

It’s Monday, April 1.

Jim, NBC News just went through a very public, a very searing drama over the past week, that we wanted you to make sense of in your unique capacity as a longtime media and political reporter at “The Times.” This is your sweet spot. You were, I believe, born to dissect this story for us.

Oh, brother.

Well, on the one hand, this is a very small moment for a major network like NBC. They hire, as a contributor, not an anchor, not a correspondent, as a contributor, Ronna McDaniel, the former RNC chairwoman. It blows up in a mini scandal at the network.

But to me, it represents a much larger issue that’s been there since that moment Donald J. Trump took his shiny gold escalator down to announce his presidential run in 2015. This struggle by the news media to figure out, especially on television, how do we capture him, cover him for all of his lies, all the challenges he poses to Democratic norms, yet not alienate some 74, 75 million American voters who still follow him, still believe in him, and still want to hear his reality reflected in the news that they’re listening to?

Right. Which is about as gnarly a conundrum as anyone has ever dealt with in the news media.

Well, it’s proven so far unsolvable.

Well, let’s use the story of what actually happened with Ronna McDaniel and NBC to illustrate your point. And I think that means describing precisely what happened in this situation.

The story starts out so simply. It’s such a basic thing that television networks do. As elections get underway, they want people who will reflect the two parties.

They want talking heads. They want insiders. They want them on their payroll so they can rely on them whenever they need them. And they want them to be high level so they can speak with great knowledge about the two major candidates.

Right. And rather than needing to beg these people to come on their show at 6 o’clock, when they might be busy and it’s not their full-time job, they go off and they basically put them on retainer for a bunch of money.

Yeah. And in this case, here’s this perfect scenario because quite recently, Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee through the Trump era, most of it, is now out on the market. She’s actually recently been forced out of the party. And all the networks are interested because here’s the consummate insider from Trump world ready to get snatched up under contract for the next election and can really represent this movement that they’ve been trying to capture.

So NBC’S key news executives move pretty aggressively, pretty swiftly, and they sign her up for a $300,000 a year contributor’s contract.

Nice money if you can get it.

Not at millions of dollars that they pay their anchors, but a very nice contract. I’ll take it. You’ll take it. In the eyes of NBC execs she was perfect because she can be on “Meet the Press” as a panelist. She can help as they figure out some of their coverage. They have 24 hours a day to fill and here’s an official from the RNC. You can almost imagine the question that would be asked to her. It’s 10:00 PM on election night. Ronna, what are the Trump people thinking right now? They’re looking at the same numbers you are.

That was good, but that’s exactly it. And we all know it, right? This is television in our current era.

So last Friday, NBC makes what should be a routine announcement, but one they’re very proud of, that they’ve hired Ronna McDaniel. And in a statement, they say it couldn’t be a more important moment to have a voice like Ronna’s on the team. So all’s good, right? Except for there’s a fly in the ointment.

Because it turns out that Ronna McDaniel has been slated to appear on “Meet the Press,” not as a paid NBC contributor, but as a former recently ousted RNC chair with the “Meet The Press” host, Kristen Welker, who’s preparing to have a real tough interview with Ronna McDaniel. Because of course, Ronna McDaniel was chair of the party and at Trump’s side as he tried to refuse his election loss. So this was supposed to be a showdown interview.

From NBC News in Washington, the longest-running show in television history. This is “Meet The Press” with Kristen Welker.

And here, all of a sudden, Kristin Welker is thrown for a loop.

In full disclosure to our viewers, this interview was scheduled weeks before it was announced that McDaniel would become a paid NBC News contributor.

Because now, she’s actually interviewing a member of the family who’s on the same payroll.

Right. Suddenly, she’s interviewing a colleague.

This will be a news interview, and I was not involved in her hiring.

So what happens during the interview?

So Welker is prepared for a tough interview, and that’s exactly what she does.

Can you say, as you sit here today, did Joe Biden win the election fair and square?

He won. He’s the legitimate president.

Did he win fair and square?

Fair and square, he won. It’s certified. It’s done.

She presses her on the key question that a lot of Republicans get asked these days — do you accept Joe Biden was the winner of the election?

But, I do think, Kristen —

Ronna, why has it taken you until now to say that? Why has it taken you until now to be able to say that?

I’m going to push back a little.

McDaniel gets defensive at times.

Because I do think it’s fair to say there were problems in 2020. And to say that does not mean he’s not the legitimate president.

But, Ronna, when you say that, it suggests that there was something wrong with the election. And you know that the election was the most heavily scrutinized. Chris Krebs —

It’s a really combative interview.

I want to turn now to your actions in the aftermath of the 2020 election.

And Welker actually really does go deeply into McDaniel’s record in those weeks before January 6.

On November 17, you and Donald Trump were recorded pushing two Republican Michigan election officials not to certify the results of the election. And on the call —

For instance, she presses McDaniel on McDaniel’s role in an attempt to convince a couple county commissioner level canvassers in Michigan to not certify Biden’s victory.

Our call that night was to say, are you OK? Vote your conscience. Not pushing them to do anything.

McDaniel says, look, I was just telling them to vote their conscience. They should do whatever they think is right.

But you said, do not sign it. If you can go home tonight, do not sign it. How can people read that as anything other than a pressure campaign?

And Welker’s not going to just let her off the hook. Welker presses her on Trump’s own comments about January 6 and Trump’s efforts recently to gloss over some of the violence, and to say that those who have been arrested, he’ll free them.

Do you support that?

I want to be very clear. The violence that happened on January 6 is unacceptable.

And this is a frankly fascinating moment because you can hear McDaniel starting to, if not quite reverse some of her positions, though in some cases she does that, at least really soften her language. It’s almost as if she’s switching uniforms from the RNC one to an NBC one or almost like breaking from a role she was playing.

Ronna, why not speak out earlier? Why just speak out about that now?

When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team, right? Now, I get to be a little bit more myself.

She says, hey, you know what? Sometimes as RNC chair, you just have to take it for the team sometimes.

Right. What she’s really saying is I did things as chairwoman of the Republican National committee that now that I no longer have that job, I can candidly say, I wished I hadn’t done, which is very honest. But it’s also another way of saying I’m two faced, or I was playing a part.

Ronna McDaniel, thank you very much for being here this morning.

Then something extraordinary happens. And I have to say, I’ve never seen a moment like this in decades of watching television news and covering television news.

Welcome back. The panel is here. Chuck Todd, NBC News chief political analyst.

Welker brings her regular panel on, including Chuck Todd, now the senior NBC political analyst.

Chuck, let’s dive right in. What were your takeaways?

And he launches right into what he calls —

Look, let me deal with the elephant in the room.

The elephant being this hiring of McDaniel.

I think our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation.

And he proceeds, on NBC’S air, to lace into management for, as he describes it, putting Welker in this crazy awkward position.

Because I don’t know what to believe. She is now a paid contributor by NBC News. I have no idea whether any answer she gave to you was because she didn’t want to mess up her contract.

And Todd is very hung up on this idea that when she was speaking for the party, she would say one thing. And now that she’s on the payroll at NBC, she’s saying another thing.

She has credibility issues that she still has to deal with. Is she speaking for herself, or is she speaking on behalf of who’s paying her?

Todd is basically saying, how are we supposed to know which one to believe.

What can we believe?

It is important for this network and for always to have a wide aperture. Having ideological diversity on this panel is something I prided myself on.

And what he’s effectively saying is that his bosses should have never hired her in this capacity.

I understand the motivation, but this execution, I think, was poor.

Someone said to me last night we live in complicated times. Thank you guys for being here. I really appreciate it.

Now, let’s just note here, this isn’t just any player at NBC. Chuck Todd is obviously a major news name at the network. And him doing this appears to just open the floodgates across the entire NBC News brand, especially on its sister cable network, MSNBC.

And where I said I’d never seen anything like what I saw on “Meet the Press” that morning, I’d never seen anything like this either. Because now, the entire MSNBC lineup is in open rebellion. I mean, from the minute that the sun comes up. There is Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski.

We weren’t asked our opinion of the hiring. But if we were, we would have strongly objected to it.

They’re on fire over this.

believe NBC News should seek out conservative Republican voices, but it should be conservative Republicans, not a person who used her position of power to be an anti-democracy election denier.

But it rolls out across the entire schedule.

Because Ronna McDaniel has been a major peddler of the big lie.

The fact that Ms. McDaniel is on the payroll at NBC News, to me that is inexplicable. I mean, you wouldn’t hire a mobster to work at a DA’s office.

Rachel Maddow devotes an entire half hour.

It’s not about just being associated with Donald Trump and his time in the Republican Party. It’s not even about lying or not lying. It’s about our system of government.

Thumbing their noses at our bosses and basically accusing them of abetting a traitorous figure in American history. I mean, just extraordinary stuff. It’s television history.

And let’s face it, we journalists, our bosses, we can be seen as crybabies, and we’re paid complaining. Yeah, that’s what we’re paid to do. But in this case, the NBC executives cannot ignore this, because in the outcry, there’s a very clear point that they’re all making. Ronna McDaniel is not just a voice from the other side. She was a fundamental part of Trump’s efforts to deny his election loss.

This is not inviting the other side. This is someone who’s on the wrong side —

Of history.

Of history, of these moments that we’ve covered and are still covering.

And I think it’s fair to say that at this point, everyone understands that Ronna McDaniel’s time at NBC News is going to be very short lived. Yeah, basically, after all this, the executives at NBC have to face facts it’s over. And on Tuesday night, they release a statement to the staff saying as much.

They don’t cite the questions about red lines or what Ronna McDaniel represented or didn’t represent. They just say we need to have a unified newsroom. We want cohesion. This isn’t working.

I think in the end, she was a paid contributor for four days.

Yeah, one of the shortest tenures in television news history. And look, in one respect, by their standards, this is kind of a pretty small contract, a few hundred thousand dollars they may have to pay out. But it was way more costly because they hired her. They brought her on board because they wanted to appeal to these tens of millions of Americans who still love Donald J. Trump.

And what happens now is that this entire thing is blown up in their face, and those very same people now see a network that, in their view, in the view of Republicans across the country, this network will not accept any Republicans. So it becomes more about that. And Fox News, NBC’S longtime rival, goes wall to wall with this.

Now, NBC News just caved to the breathless demands from their far left, frankly, emotionally unhinged host.

I mean, I had it on my desk all day. And every minute I looked at that screen, it was pounding on these liberals at NBC News driving this Republican out.

It’s the shortest tenure in TV history, I think. But why? Well, because she supports Donald Trump, period.

So in a way, this leaves NBC worse off with that Trump Republican audience they had wanted to court than maybe even they were before. It’s like a boomerang with a grenade on it.

Yeah, it completely explodes in their face. And that’s why to me, the whole episode is so representative of this eight-year conundrum for the news media, especially on television. They still haven’t been able to crack the code for how to handle the Trump movement, the Trump candidacy, and what it has wrought on the American political system and American journalism.

We’ll be right back.

Jim, put into context this painful episode of NBC into that larger conundrum you just diagnosed that the media has faced when it comes to Trump.

Well, Michael, it’s been there from the very beginning, from the very beginning of his political rise. The media was on this kind of seesaw. They go back and forth over how to cover him. Sometimes they want to cover him quite aggressively because he’s such a challenging candidate. He was bursting so many norms.

But at other times, there was this instinct to understand his appeal, for the same reason. He’s such an unusual candidate. So there was a great desire to really understand his voters. And frankly, to speak to his voters, because they’re part of the audience. And we all lived it, right?

But just let me take you back anyway because everything’s fresh again with perspective. And so if you go back, let’s look at when he first ran. The networks, if you recall, saw him as almost like a novelty candidate.

He was going to spice up what was expected to be a boring campaign between the usual suspects. And he was a ratings magnet. And the networks, they just couldn’t get enough of it. And they allowed him, at times, to really shatter their own norms.

Welcome back to “Meet the Press,” sir.

Good morning, Chuck.

Good morning. Let me start —

He was able to just call into the studio and riff with the likes of George Stephanopoulos and Chuck Todd.

What does it have to do with Hillary?

She can’t talk about me because nobody respects women more than Donald Trump.

And CNN gave him a lot of unmitigated airtime, if you recall during the campaign. They would run the press conferences.

It’s the largest winery on the East Coast. I own it 100 percent.

And let him promote his Trump steaks and his Trump wine.

Trump steaks. Where are the steaks? Do we have steaks?

I mean, it got that crazy. But again, the ratings were huge. And then he wins. And because they had previously given him all that airtime, they’ve, in retrospect, sort of given him a political gift, and more than that now have a journalistic imperative to really address him in a different way, to cover him as they would have covered any other candidate, which, let’s face it, they weren’t doing initially. So there’s this extra motivation to make up for lost ground and maybe for some journalistic omissions.

Right. Kind of correct for the lack of a rigorous journalistic filter in the campaign.

Exactly. And the big thing that this will be remembered for is we’re going to call a lie a lie.

I don’t want to sugarcoat this because facts matter, and the fact is President Trump lies.

Trump lies. We’re going to say it’s a lie.

And I think we can’t just mince around it because they are lies. And so we need to call them what they are.

We’re no longer going to use euphemisms or looser language we’re. Going to call it for what it is.

Trump lies in tweets. He spreads false information at rallies. He lies when he doesn’t need to. He lies when the truth is more than enough for him.

CNN was running chyrons. They would fact check Trump and call lies lies on the screen while Trump is talking. They were challenging Trump to his face —

One of the statements that you made in the tail end of the campaign in the midterms that —

Here we go.

That — well, if you don’t mind, Mr. President, that this caravan was an invasion.

— in these crazy press conferences —

They’re are hundreds of miles away, though. They’re hundreds and hundreds of miles away. That’s not an invasion.

Honestly, I think you should let me run the country. You run CNN. And if you did it well, your ratings —

Well, let me ask — if I may ask one other question. Mr. President, if I may ask another question. Are you worried —

That’s enough. That’s enough.

And Trump is giving it right back.

I tell you what, CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them. You are a rude, terrible person. You shouldn’t be working for CNN.

Very combative.

So this was this incredibly fraught moment for the American press. You’ve got tens of millions of Trump supporters seeing what’s really basic fact checking. These look like attacks to Trump supporters. Trump, in turn, is calling the press, the reporters are enemies of the people. So it’s a terrible dynamic.

And when January 6 happens, it’s so obviously out of control. And what the traditional press that follows, traditional journalistic rules has to do is make it clear that the claims that Trump is making about a stolen election are just so abjectly false that they don’t warrant a single minute of real consideration once the reporting has been done to show how false they are. And I think that American journalism really emerged from that feeling strongly about its own values and its own place in society.

But then there’s still tens of millions of Trump voters, and they don’t feel so good about the coverage. And they don’t agree that January 6 was an insurrection. And so we enter yet another period, where the press is going to have to now maybe rethink some things.

In what way?

Well, there’s a kind of quiet period after January 6. Trump is off of social media. The smoke is literally dissipating from the air in Washington. And news executives are kind of standing there on the proverbial battlefield, taking a new look at their situation.

And they’re seeing that in this clearer light, they’ve got some new problems, perhaps none more important for their entire business models than that their ratings are quickly crashing. And part of that diminishment is that a huge part of the country, that Trump-loving part of the audience, is really now severed from him from their coverage.

They see the press as actually, in some cases, being complicit in stealing an election. And so these news executives, again, especially on television, which is so ratings dependent, they’ve got a problem. So after presumably learning all these lessons about journalism and how to confront power, there’s a first subtle and then much less subtle rethinking.

Maybe we need to pull back from that approach. And maybe we need to take some new lessons and switch it up a little bit and reverse some of what we did. And one of the best examples of this is none other than CNN.

It had come under new management, was being led by a guy named Chris Licht, a veteran of cable news, but also Stephen Colbert’s late night show in his last job. And his new job under this new management is we’re going to recalibrate a little bit. So Chris Licht proceeds to try to bring the network back to the center.

And how does he do that?

Well, we see some key personalities who represented the Trump combat era start losing air time and some of them lose their jobs. There’s talk of, we want more Republicans on the air. There was a famous magazine article about Chris Licht’s balancing act here.

And Chris Licht says to a reporter, Tim Alberta of the “Atlantic” magazine, look, a lot in the media, including at his own network, quote unquote, “put on a jersey, took a side.” They took a side. And he says, I think we understand that jersey cannot go back on him. Because he says in the end of the day, by the way, it didn’t even work. We didn’t change anyone’s mind.

He’s saying that confrontational approach that defined the four years Trump was in office, that was a reaction to the feeling that TV news had failed to properly treat Trump with sufficient skepticism, that that actually was a failure both of journalism and of the TV news business. Is that what he’s saying?

Yeah. On the business side, it’s easier call, right? You want a bigger audience, and you’re not getting the bigger audience. But he’s making a journalistic argument as well that if the job is to convey the truth and take it to the people, and they take that into account as they make their own voting decisions and formulate their own opinions about American politics, if tens of millions of people who do believe that election was stolen are completely tuning you out because now they see you as a political combatant, you’re not achieving your ultimate goal as a journalist.

And what does Licht’s “don’t put a jersey back on” approach look like on CNN for its viewers?

Well, It didn’t look good. People might remember this, but the most glaring example —

Please welcome, the front runner for the Republican nomination for president, Donald Trump.

— was when he held a town hall meeting featuring Donald J. Trump, now candidate Trump, before an audience packed with Trump’s fans.

You look at what happened during that election. Unless you’re a very stupid person, you see what happens. A lot of the people —

Trump let loose a string of falsehoods.

Most people understand what happened. It was a rigged election.

The audience is pro-Trump audience, was cheering him on.

Are you ready? Are you ready? Can I talk?

Yeah, what’s your answer?

Can I? Do you mind?

I would like for you to answer the question.

OK. It’s very simple to answer.

That’s why I asked it.

It’s very simple. You’re a nasty person, I’ll tell you that.

And during, the CNN anchor hosting this, Kaitlan Collins, on CNN’s own air, it was a disaster.

It felt like a callback to the unlearned lessons of 2016.

Yeah. And in this case, CNN’s staff was up in arms.

Big shakeup in the cable news industry as CNN makes another change at the top.

Chris Licht is officially out at CNN after a chaotic run as chairman and CEO.

And Chris Licht didn’t survive it.

The chief executive’s departure comes as he faced criticism in recent weeks after the network hosted a town hall with Donald Trump and the network’s ratings started to drop.

But I want to say that the CNN leadership still, even after that, as they brought new leadership in, said, this is still the path we’re going to go on. Maybe that didn’t work out, but we’re still here. This is still what we have to do.

Right. And this idea is very much in the water of TV news, that this is the right overall direction.

Yeah. This is, by no means, isolated to CNN. This is throughout the traditional news business. These conversations are happening everywhere. But CNN was living it at that point.

And this, of course, is how we get to NBC deciding to hire Ronna McDaniel.

Right. Because they’re picking up — right where that conversation leaves off, they’re having the same conversation. But for NBC, you could argue this tension between journalistic values and audience. It’s even more pressing. Because even though MSNBC is a niche cable network, NBC News is part of an old-fashioned broadcast network. It’s on television stations throughout the country.

And in fact, those networks, they still have 6:30 newscasts. And believe it or not, millions of people still watch those every night. Maybe not as many as they used to, but there’s still some six or seven million people tuning in to nightly news. That’s important.

Right. We should say that kind of number is sometimes double or triple that of the cable news prime time shows that get all the attention.

On their best nights. So this is big business still. And that business is based on broad — it’s called broadcast for a reason. That’s based on broad audiences. So NBC had a business imperative, and they argue they had a journalistic imperative.

So given all of that, Jim, I think the big messy question here is, when it comes to NBC, did they make a tactical error around hiring the wrong Republican which blew up? Or did they make an even larger error in thinking that the way you handle Trump and his supporters is to work this hard to reach them, when they might not even be reachable?

The best way to answer that question is to tell you what they’re saying right now, NBC management. What the management saying is, yes, this was a tactical error. This was clearly the wrong Republican. We get it.

But they’re saying, we are going to — and they said this in their statement, announcing that they were severing ties with McDaniel. They said, we’re going to redouble our efforts to represent a broad spectrum of the American votership. And that’s what they meant was that we’re going to still try to reach these Trump voters with people who can relate to them and they can relate to.

But the question is, how do you even do that when so many of his supporters believe a lie? How is NBC, how is CNN, how are any of these TV networks, if they have decided that this is their mission, how are they supposed to speak to people who believe something fundamentally untrue as a core part of their political identity?

That’s the catch-22. How do you get that Trump movement person who’s also an insider, when the litmus test to be an insider in the Trump movement is to believe in the denialism or at least say you do? So that’s a real journalistic problem. And the thing that we haven’t really touched here is, what are these networks doing day in and day out?

They’re not producing reported pieces, which I think it’s a little easier. You just report the news. You go out into the world. You talk to people, and then you present it to the world as a nuanced portrait of the country. This thing is true. This thing is false. Again, in many cases, pretty straightforward. But their bread and butter is talking heads. It’s live. It’s not edited. It’s not that much reported.

So their whole business model especially, again, on cable, which has 24 hours to fill, is talking heads. And if you want the perspective from the Trump movement, journalistically, especially when it comes to denialism, but when it comes to some other major subjects in American life, you’re walking into a place where they’re going to say things that aren’t true, that don’t pass your journalistic standards, the most basic standards of journalism.

Right. So you’re saying if TV sticks with this model, the kind of low cost, lots of talk approach to news, then they are going to have to solve the riddle of who to bring on, who represents Trump’s America if they want that audience. And now they’ve got this red line that they’ve established, that that person can’t be someone who denies the 2020 election reality. But like you just said, that’s the litmus test for being in Trump’s orbit.

So this doesn’t really look like a conundrum. This looks like a bit of a crisis for TV news because it may end up meaning that they can’t hire that person that they need for this model, which means that perhaps a network like NBC does need to wave goodbye to a big segment of these viewers and these eyeballs who support Trump.

I mean, on the one hand, they are not ready to do that, and they would never concede that that’s something they’re ready to do. The problem is barring some kind of change in their news model, there’s no solution to this.

But why bar changes to their news model, I guess, is the question. Because over the years, it’s gotten more and more expensive to produce news, the news that I’m talking about, like recorded packages and what we refer to as reporting. Just go out and report the news.

Don’t gab about it. Just what’s going on, what’s true, what’s false. That’s actually very expensive in television. And they don’t have the kind of money they used to have. So the talking heads is their way to do programming at a level where they can afford it.

They do some packages. “60 Minutes” still does incredible work. NBC does packages, but the lion’s share of what they do is what we’re talking about. And that’s not going to change because the economics aren’t there.

So then a final option, of course, to borrow something Chris Licht said, is that a network like NBC perhaps doesn’t put a jersey on, but accepts the reality that a lot of the world sees them wearing a jersey.

Yeah. I mean, nobody wants to be seen as wearing a jersey in our business. No one wants to be wearing a jersey on our business. But maybe what they really have to accept is that we’re just sticking to the true facts, and that may look like we’re wearing a jersey, but we’re not. And that may, at times, look like it’s lining up more with the Democrats, but we’re not.

If Trump is lying about a stolen election, that’s not siding against him. That’s siding for the truth, and that’s what we’re doing. Easier said than done. And I don’t think any of these concepts are new.

I think there have been attempts to do that, but it’s the world they’re in. And it’s the only option they really have. We’re going to tell you the truth, even if it means that we’re going to lose a big part of the country.

Well, Jim, thank you very much.

Thank you, Michael.

Here’s what else you need to know today.

[PROTESTERS CHANTING]

Over the weekend, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in some of the largest domestic demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Israel invaded Gaza in the fall.

[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

Some of the protesters called on Netanyahu to reach a cease fire deal that would free the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. Others called for early elections that would remove Netanyahu from office.

During a news conference on Sunday, Netanyahu rejected calls for early elections, saying they would paralyze his government at a crucial moment in the war.

Today’s episode was produced by Rob Szypko, Rikki Novetsky, and Alex Stern, with help from Stella Tan.

It was edited by Brendan Klinkenberg with help from Rachel Quester and Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Marion Lozano, Dan Powell, and Rowan Niemisto and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you tomorrow.

• April 2, 2024   •   29:32 Kids Are Missing School at an Alarming Rate
• April 1, 2024   •   36:14 Ronna McDaniel, TV News and the Trump Problem
• March 29, 2024   •   48:42 Hamas Took Her, and Still Has Her Husband
• March 28, 2024   •   33:40 The Newest Tech Start-Up Billionaire? Donald Trump.
• March 27, 2024   •   28:06 Democrats’ Plan to Save the Republican House Speaker
• March 26, 2024   •   29:13 The United States vs. the iPhone
• March 25, 2024   •   25:59 A Terrorist Attack in Russia
• March 24, 2024   •   21:39 The Sunday Read: ‘My Goldendoodle Spent a Week at Some Luxury Dog ‘Hotels.’ I Tagged Along.’
• March 22, 2024   •   35:30 Chuck Schumer on His Campaign to Oust Israel’s Leader
• March 21, 2024   •   27:18 The Caitlin Clark Phenomenon
• March 20, 2024   •   25:58 The Bombshell Case That Will Transform the Housing Market
• March 19, 2024   •   27:29 Trump’s Plan to Take Away Biden’s Biggest Advantage

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jim Rutenberg

Produced by Rob Szypko ,  Rikki Novetsky and Alex Stern

With Stella Tan

Edited by Brendan Klinkenberg ,  Rachel Quester and Paige Cowett

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Dan Powell and Rowan Niemisto

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

Ronna McDaniel’s time at NBC was short. The former Republican National Committee chairwoman was hired as an on-air political commentator but released just days later after an on-air revolt by the network’s leading stars.

Jim Rutenberg, a writer at large for The Times, discusses the saga and what it might reveal about the state of television news heading into the 2024 presidential race.

On today’s episode

Jim Rutenberg , a writer at large for The New York Times.

Background reading

Ms. McDaniel’s appointment had been immediately criticized by reporters at the network and by viewers on social media.

The former Republican Party leader tried to downplay her role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. A review of the record shows she was involved in some key episodes .

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Jim Rutenberg is a writer at large for The Times and The New York Times Magazine and writes most often about media and politics. More about Jim Rutenberg

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