Commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships make vehicles for almost any type of business, so take advantage of this and hit the road with your business. The increased revenues you will obtain by taking your business to your customers should offset the costs of these special vehicles.

Go to several dealerships with your special vehicle in mind to compare their rates. Consider used vehicles that the dealerships took in trade. Usually these vehicles will come with some warranty, although it may be just 30 days. Check the following for pricing and costs of commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships:

1. Determine the costs of special delivery vans.

2. Consider buying a commercial vehicle used to save money.

3. Find prices on mobile kitchens so you can deliver meals to your busy customers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at a commercial van for your delivery business

Choose from cargo vans, window vans, step-in vans or extra long vans. Ask about conversion vans if you have a special need.

I recommend: Stetson Ford sells commercial trucks and can deliver them anywhere in the country. They also offer financing on their vehicles to qualified buyers. Call them toll free for their prices. Bachman Commercial sells utility vans starting at about $18,000 up to about $20,000. Look at the inventory of this specialty van provider before you make your decisions.

Save when buying a business vehicle used

Used vehicles can save thousands of dollars, so consider this angle in your search for the right vehicle. Make sure you take it for a test drive and see that it is operating properly.

I recommend: Commercial Vehicle Sales sells various kinds of commercial vans. Prices range from under $8,000 to under $11,000 for these used commercial vans. Bus Crazy provides a list of used buses available. They range in price from just under $4,000 to over $129,000 depending on the year and condition.

Select mobile kitchens and lunch specialty trucks for your food business

Take the food to the people and you will never starve. Pricing and costs of commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships that sell food service trucks vary widely depending on the type of vehicle you need.

I recommend: Custom Concessions sells concession trailers starting at under $30,000 up to about $34,000. Features included for this price include your basic food set up, but if you want anything additional then you will pay extra. Mobile Kitchens sells custom manufactured kitchens for your exact purposes. Call toll free, email or fill out their online form for a quote for your project. Russell Concessions sells mobile food units starting at around $11,000 for shaved ice carts, $16,000 for an entry level concession trailer, and $24,000 for a mobile kitchen. Look at the complete list for details on their entire inventory.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure used specialty vehicles have a warranty, since many times they sell them 'as is.' If they sell 'as is,' ask a mechanic you trust to come with you before purchase to inspect the vehicle.

It makes sense to shop at commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships when buying a commercial vehicle. These dealerships specialize in just this type of vehicle and keep basic models in stock for your immediate purchase. They also provide business vehicle service departments for after the sale ongoing maintenance.

Your one stop shopping at commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships includes locating whatever type of vehicle you need for your business. Industrial catering needs specialty trucks such as mobile kitchens or lunch trucks. Other specialty trucks include medical vans, box trucks and semi tractor-trailers.

1. Shop dealerships when buying a commercial vehicle.

2. Choose commercial van specialty trucks for special needs.

3. Consider used specialty vehicles and save money.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select commercial dealerships when buying a business vehicle

Commercial dealerships offer selection and immediate availability of the more common business vehicles you may need such as a commercial delivery truck or commercial van. Their service departments also understand you need your business vehicle, so they are prepared to get you in and out for oil changes and other routine maintenance your commercial vehicle needs.

I recommend: GM Fleet provides an easy directory of every commercial dealership by simply typing in the city name, zip or dealership name. All listings for that city display in the next pane. Visit the location, and browse their business fleets. Call and advise the dealership that you are buying a business vehicle and your exact needs, and they can tell you if they stock your vehicle or they can provide ordering information.

Choose specialty trucks for special needs

Commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships include special vehicles such as medical or food product mobile vehicles. You can also find a custom commercial van, such as mobile car detailing units, included in this list. Ask your dealership representative to personalize your custom van to fit your business needs.

I recommend: Farber offers medical specialty trucks such as bloodmobiles, as well as dental, mammography and general health screening trucks. They also make bookmobiles and computer labs mobile units. Armenco designs and sells mobile catering trucks and kitchens. Look at their entire line of food specialty vehicles. Quality Van Sales is a commercial van dealer specializing in custom van conversions. They make hotel shuttle vans for your limousine service and wheelchair vans for para-transit businesses. Ask if they can custom design a van conversion for your business.

Purchase used specialty vehicles and save

Buying a commercial truck is quite expensive, so check into used vehicles available for your business.

I recommend: GM certified used vehicles locates all used vehicles in your area, after you tell them the make, model, year and zip code you are looking for. You can also check your local newspaper want ads or trade journals, such as Truck Trader, for used specialty vehicles. Use the search tool and find the exact used truck per your specifications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider commercial van leasing as an alternative to buying a commercial vehicle. Business vehicles need updating every few years, and the cost of leasing may be less than the actual purchase price. Ask your business vehicle provider about the lease programs available for the commercial vehicle you want to obtain.

Specialty trucks are available for almost any industry or you can have one custom made. No matter whether you are a doctor, food service professional or car wash owner, there is a specialty vehicle to get you on the road to making more money. Specialty dealerships will provide the excellent workmanship your business vehicle needs.

Take your trade to the people instead of making them come to you. Specialty dealerships will create the custom vehicle you need. Consider the following when making the most of commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships:

1. Choose a business vehicle provider that makes medical mobile vans.

2. Find a specialty van provider and put your office on the road.

3. Create the special vehicle your business needs when buying a business vehicle.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase a commercial van for medical office use

Whether it is a blood drive, providing shots to school children or visiting housebound patients, you can provide excellent care while on the move, since your vehicle is your doctor's office.

I recommend: La Boit offers mobile medical, dental or veterinary clinics. Choose the vehicle you need and have them customize it for your medical office. Farber Specialty provides medical and dental mobile offices. They will customize your vehicle with flexibility so you can change it when technology changes.

Provide mobile offices to your staff when buying a commercial vehicle

When you call on your customers from your mobile office, you will always have everything you need at your fingertips. When the staff needs to go to an out-of-town meeting, bring the entire office. This way there is no danger of leaving important documents behind.

I recommend: Waldoch makes conversion vehicles. Bring your office with you on the road when you travel or choose a shuttle bus conversion when you need to take the whole staff. Evolution Custom Coach will make you a custom office or you can choose from their existing floor plans. Bring them your ideas and they will convert a bus to your specifications.

Create the vehicle you need when making the most of commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships

No matter what you need for your business, from classrooms, banks, mobile fitness centers or beauty salons, run it by a professional at a specialty dealership and they will turn your idea into a mobile business for you.

I recommend: Mobile Applications makes many kinds of mobile offices including a remote bank branch. Great for banks that are starting up or want to try a location before going to the expense of purchasing land and erecting a building. Winnebago provides specialty vehicles such as mobile classrooms, veterinary clinics, beauty salon or fitness training. If you have an idea, tell them and they will custom design a vehicle for your business. Ford will customize a vehicle for you such as a taxicab or shuttle bus. Bring your ideas to them and they will bring the vehicle to you. Burlington RV Specialty Vehicles offers vehicles for almost any industry from emergency response to retail marketing. Advise them of your ideas so they can customize your mobile business.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take your ideas to more than one commercial van dealer so you can compare prices.
• •  Call your insurance agent immediately so you get complete coverage on your entire business vehicle service.

Commercial and specialty vehicle dealerships have their own language specific only to them. There may be terms one already knows, but it pays to learn the new context so you can understand what they will do for your business.

Learn what lease means in a commercial sense or what customizable means for a specialty vehicle. Expand your knowledge of commercial and specialty vehicles dealerships key terms and get the right vehicle and features for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Customizable

In regards to specialty vehicle dealerships, customizable refers to the process of making the vehicle changes that a customer desires. Fully customizable specialty vehicles cost more, but serve the needs of an individual business.

I recommend: TDCI offers detailed information about choices the customer and the dealership must make in order to make the vehicle customizable to the customer's specifications.

Lease

Lease in regards to commercial and specialty vehicles dealerships refers to commercial leasing your vehicle instead of buying it outright. This makes sense in many businesses when the commercial vehicles need upgrading every few years.

I recommend: Read more about commercial auto and equipment leasing at ProLease.

Utility vehicles

Utility vehicles are vehicles designed for off-road usage engaged in recreational and work pursuits. Specialty vehicle dealerships that carry all terrain vehicles will likely stock utility vehicles as well.

I recommend: Popular Mechanics offers an article comparing utility vehicles and their uses. Farm Industry News offers information on utility vehicles, including how they are made and used.

All terrain vehicles (ATVs)

All terrain vehicles, or ATVs, are sold by specialty vehicle dealerships. Many of these dealerships sell motorcycles and other special vehicles in the same vein as ATVs.

I recommend: ATV Source provides detailed information about all terrain vehicles, their uses, statistics and government findings.

Specialty Vehicle Dealers Association (SVDA)

Specialty Vehicle Dealers Association (SVDA) is a group of dealers offering a more extensive network of specialty car buying than any of them could provide by themselves.

I recommend: SVDA provides information on who they are, their goals, local auctions and other activities.

Mobile food equipment

Mobile food equipment, in regards to specialty vehicle dealerships, refers to food catering trucks, mobile kitchens and other food vehicles that bring food to workers in the field.

I recommend: Custom Sales and Service provides extensive information about mobile food equipment.