Well, first here'* the scoop. The service station/gas station uptown near me has a sling type tow truck for sale. I believe it'* a 1985 Chevy 3500 dually with a 4bbl 454. I am waiting for the info on the truck such as the mileage and price. Now my question is, what is involved in starting a tow truck business? This is not for me, it'* for a friend, and he is interested in as much info he can get. Thanks!

Wrecker license, secured yard, and a several-million dollar insurance policy...
you wouldn't believe how much liabilty insurance for towing costs...

I love to gamble...

But I like to make money when I do. And with one truck you wouldn't make enough to cover the cost of insurance, gas and mechanical expense'* every month with only one truck.

An old sling type? Don't bother. There aren't many cars (and only a few trucks) you can tow with that.

Isn't worth it. Have a friend in towing. Like Wren said sling tows have gone of the dodo and towing requires A LOT of money up front to even get started let alone stay in business

Sling towing works great in a world of steel reinforced bumpers.

Find me 5 steel reinforced bumpers in the average parky lot.

I own a photography/videography business literally about 15% is photography/videography the other 85% is everything else, finances, write offs, licensees, taxes, advertising, organizing, paperwork, clients, customer service, ect.

If your wrecker doesn't have a wheel-lift, you're limited pretty much to towing only damaged cars. I agree with WillWren & squeeeala, don't bother with a sling truck.

Ideally you want a truck with a wheel lift & sling, and a flatbed truck. You'll also need a second driver (more $$ flowing out). It'* a tough business, and plan on having every other person you tow attempt to sue you for "damages" to their car - especially the DUI tows. Dudes will get drunk, go curb-hopping with their car, get busted by the fuzz and get the car towed, then try to claim YOU did all the front end (or transmission, rear end, oil pan, alignment, etc.) damage when you towed it.

There are a ton of costs to consider. Insurance, fuel costs, advertising, phone service, time, maintenence. Those trucks get abused and things break. When your truck goes down you not only have the cost of repair to deal with, you're also losing money when your truck'* not on the road. If you've never been in business before, plan on being shocked at all the charges you pay for "business services", like your checking account (you get charged for every check you write), phone service (what costs $20/month for residential will cost $100+ for commercial), internet (again, $50/month residential hi-speed, $200/month commercial). Ever price a yellow pages ad?

Chances are even if it is the old school sling type wrecker it has a wheel lift. but still a very very expensive venture.

trick to the sling is WOOD under the coresuport on a front wheel drive car spent a few years in them and i can usually tow just about anything without damage but it takes a very long time to figurout every car and how to get them in the sling properly but for a novice to jump in one and go and hook something up and lift it would be asking for trouble and lots of damage

insurance will be very expensive for someone not in the bisness under some other company for awhile to start out and learn as well most places want some kind of experience

here in Colorado we have to register with the state and get clearance (aka pay a fee for the bisness to be on the state roads )

and don't forget the D.O.T. registration as well as tags for a commercial "FOR HIRE" tags dot inspections of the vehicle witch have to be done once a year and having to stop at ports and mobile scales dot physicals on the driver and depending on the state the licensing of the driver