How much does a towing business make? (2026)
A realistic look at the money in a towing business — revenue, what it costs to run, and what the owner actually takes home. Cash retail calls are the gravy; contracts and networks are the meal. Get on the lists first.
What it costs to start
$25,000–$100,000+ (truck is the big cost)
Where the first customers come from
Motor-club vendor applications, police rotation lists, and repair-shop partnerships.
Where the customers come from
Motor club networks (AAA, Agero, Urgent.ly)
Low costSign up as a provider. Steady volume at set rates — the base your business runs on.
Police/municipal rotation lists
Low costApply for the non-consent rotation. Requirements are strict but the volume is reliable.
Body shop & dealership relationships
FreeThey need cars moved constantly. Be the reliable call.
Google Business Profile + reviews
FreeFree, and the single highest-ROI channel for almost every local service. Verify it, add photos and every service, then ask every happy customer for a review the day you finish. Ten real reviews beats any ad.
Turn this into your plan
FirstBearing builds a step-by-step roadmap for your exact business and city — formation, licenses, taxes, filled-in forms — then a 12-week plan to grow it, one move a week. $99/month, cancel anytime.
Build my plan Or try the take-home calculatorFrequently asked
How much can you make owning a towing business?
$120,000–$350,000/yr per truck. Solo owner-operators land in the lower half; adding a crew or recurring contracts moves you up. After costs, a working owner typically takes home $50,000–$110,000 per truck.
Is a towing business profitable?
30–45% after fuel, insurance (high), and truck payments. The owners who do best price by the job (not the hour), keep costs tight, and build recurring or referral revenue so they're not starting from zero every month.
How long until a towing business replaces a full-time income?
Contract-dependent. Getting on a rotation list or a motor-club network is the unlock. Getting there faster is mostly about how aggressively you ask for reviews and referrals in the first 90 days.
How do you price towing work?
Hook fee plus per-mile; storage fees; contract rates for motor clubs and municipalities.
What's the fastest way to get customers for a towing business?
Start with the free channels: Body shop & dealership relationships, Google Business Profile + reviews. Add paid only once your reviews and offer are solid.
Figures are commonly-cited ranges for a US owner-operator, last reviewed 2026-01. Your market, crew size, and pricing will move them a lot — this is orientation, not a projection. Educational information, not financial advice.