The best owner-operators have at least $5,000 in reserve before they ever go into business. That amount should be maintained and increased, especially with a truck that ages. The purpose of the reserve account is to set aside money for large or unforeseen items that could put a large drain on your operating cash -- major maintenance items, tires, quarterly estimated taxes and insurance deductibles, for example.
The Partners in Business program is produced by Overdrive and the consultants at ATBS, the nation’s largest owner-operator business services firm. Download the comprehensive "Partners in Business" owner-operator business manual, covering topics from start-up to expansion with multiple trucks. There, find much more information about the ins and outs of safety, maintenance and business processes, among a myriad other topics.