How Much Does It Cost to Start a Freight Brokerage?
Last updated: May 2026
National Average
Low
$16,000
Medium
$36,000
High
$80,000
Start a freight brokerage connecting shippers with trucking carriers and earning a margin on freight transactions.
Time to Launch
1-3 months
Profit Margins
15-25%
Break-Even Timeline
3-12 months
Interactive Cost Calculator
Select a state below to see state-adjusted costs.
Startup Cost Calculator
Freight Brokerage in Nationally
Budget:
$2,500
$2,000
$600
$1,500
$400
$1,500
$600
$25,000
Options
Employees:
Startup Costs
$34,100
Monthly Costs
$6,000
First Year Total
$106,100
Startup Costs by State
| State | Low | Medium | High | LLC Fee | Sales Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $12,320 | $27,720 | $61,600 | $50 | 7.0% |
| West Virginia | $12,320 | $27,720 | $61,600 | $100 | 6.0% |
| Oklahoma | $12,800 | $28,800 | $64,000 | $100 | 4.5% |
| Alabama | $12,960 | $29,160 | $64,800 | $200 | 4.0% |
| Arkansas | $12,960 | $29,160 | $64,800 | $45 | 6.5% |
| North Dakota | $13,120 | $29,520 | $65,600 | $135 | 5.0% |
| Iowa | $13,280 | $29,880 | $66,400 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Kansas | $13,280 | $29,880 | $66,400 | $160 | 6.5% |
| Missouri | $13,280 | $29,880 | $66,400 | $50 | 4.2% |
| South Dakota | $13,280 | $29,880 | $66,400 | $150 | 4.2% |
| Kentucky | $13,440 | $30,240 | $67,200 | $40 | 6.0% |
| Louisiana | $13,440 | $30,240 | $67,200 | $100 | 5.0% |
| Wyoming | $13,440 | $30,240 | $67,200 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Nebraska | $13,600 | $30,600 | $68,000 | $105 | 5.5% |
| Indiana | $13,760 | $30,960 | $68,800 | $95 | 7.0% |
| Michigan | $14,080 | $31,680 | $70,400 | $50 | 6.0% |
| Ohio | $14,080 | $31,680 | $70,400 | $99 | 5.8% |
| New Mexico | $14,400 | $32,400 | $72,000 | $50 | 4.9% |
| South Carolina | $14,400 | $32,400 | $72,000 | $110 | 6.0% |
| Wisconsin | $14,560 | $32,760 | $72,800 | $130 | 5.0% |
| Tennessee | $14,720 | $33,120 | $73,600 | $300 | 7.0% |
| Texas | $14,720 | $33,120 | $73,600 | $300 | 6.3% |
| Georgia | $15,040 | $33,840 | $75,200 | $100 | 4.0% |
| Minnesota | $15,040 | $33,840 | $75,200 | $155 | 6.9% |
| Illinois | $15,200 | $34,200 | $76,000 | $150 | 6.3% |
| Idaho | $15,360 | $34,560 | $76,800 | $100 | 6.0% |
| North Carolina | $15,360 | $34,560 | $76,800 | $125 | 4.8% |
| Pennsylvania | $15,360 | $34,560 | $76,800 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Montana | $15,520 | $34,920 | $77,600 | $35 | 0.0% |
| Utah | $16,000 | $36,000 | $80,000 | $54 | 6.1% |
| Delaware | $16,640 | $37,440 | $83,200 | $110 | 0.0% |
| Nevada | $16,800 | $37,800 | $84,000 | $425 | 6.8% |
| Virginia | $17,120 | $38,520 | $85,600 | $100 | 5.3% |
| Vermont | $17,440 | $39,240 | $87,200 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Arizona | $17,600 | $39,600 | $88,000 | $50 | 5.6% |
| Colorado | $17,600 | $39,600 | $88,000 | $50 | 2.9% |
| Florida | $17,920 | $40,320 | $89,600 | $125 | 6.0% |
| Oregon | $17,920 | $40,320 | $89,600 | $100 | 0.0% |
| Rhode Island | $17,920 | $40,320 | $89,600 | $150 | 7.0% |
| Maine | $18,240 | $41,040 | $91,200 | $175 | 5.5% |
| New Hampshire | $18,720 | $42,120 | $93,600 | $102 | 0.0% |
| Washington | $18,880 | $42,480 | $94,400 | $200 | 6.5% |
| Connecticut | $19,040 | $42,840 | $95,200 | $120 | 6.3% |
| Maryland | $19,360 | $43,560 | $96,800 | $100 | 6.0% |
| New Jersey | $20,000 | $45,000 | $100,000 | $125 | 6.6% |
| Alaska | $20,320 | $45,720 | $101,600 | $250 | 0.0% |
| New York | $22,240 | $50,040 | $111,200 | $200 | 4.0% |
| California | $24,320 | $54,720 | $121,600 | $70 | 7.3% |
| Massachusetts | $24,640 | $55,440 | $123,200 | $500 | 6.3% |
| Hawaii | $30,880 | $69,480 | $154,400 | $50 | 4.0% |
Cheapest & Most Expensive States
5 Cheapest States
- Mississippi$27,720
- West Virginia$27,720
- Oklahoma$28,800
- Alabama$29,160
- Arkansas$29,160
5 Most Expensive States
- Hawaii$69,480
- Massachusetts$55,440
- California$54,720
- New York$50,040
- Alaska$45,720
Frequently Asked Questions
Starting a freight brokerage typically requires a low-to-mid five-figure investment, covering the FMCSA-required surety bond premium, FMCSA authority filing (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration), TMS software, load board subscriptions, and a working-capital reserve sized to bridge the carrier-payment gap (carriers want quick pay; shippers settle on 30-60 day terms).
Freight brokers earn the spread between what shippers pay and what carriers accept. On a typical truckload, the broker books the carrier at one rate and bills the shipper at a higher rate; the spread is gross margin and is typically a mid-single-digit to low-double-digit share of the load value. High-volume brokers move hundreds of loads monthly, with monthly gross revenue scaling with load count and average margin per load.
Yes — FMCSA freight broker authority (MC number) is required to legally broker freight for compensation (https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/registration). The application carries a low three-figure filing fee and requires the FMCSA-mandated surety bond or trust fund. Authority typically takes a few weeks to activate. Operating without authority is illegal and can result in significant fines.
Cold calling is the primary prospecting method — call 20–50 companies per day when starting. Target manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who ship regularly. LinkedIn outreach to logistics and supply chain managers works well. Cold email sequences convert at low single-digit rates. Once you have 3-5 active accounts, referrals grow the business.