# How much does it cost to start a medical transportation business?

ProfitDrawer's medical transportation business guide gives an example budget of about $3,000 to $36,100. The vehicle decides most of it: a van down payment ($0 if you already own a reliable minivan, up to $15,000), a wheelchair ramp or lift with securement straps ($0 to $8,000) and commercial auto insurance for the first months ($1,500 to $6,000). The guide also sets aside a $1,000 to $4,000 cash buffer for repairs. These are example ranges; your costs will differ.

**Example budget (your costs will differ):**

| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle down payment (low: minivan you own) | $0 | $15,000 |
| Wheelchair ramp or lift, securement straps | $0 | $8,000 |
| Commercial auto insurance (first months) | $1,500 | $6,000 |
| Business registration and local licenses | $100 | $800 |
| Background checks, driving records, first aid and CPR training | $200 | $1,000 |
| Phone and scheduling tools | $100 | $500 |
| Marketing (flyers, cards, visits to clinics) | $100 | $800 |
| Cash buffer for repairs and slow weeks | $1,000 | $4,000 |
| **Total** | **$3,000** | **$36,100** |

For Medicaid trips the rate comes from your state program, so you do not set it. For private pay and facility trips, you do.

In the guide's worked example, a 30 mile round trip to a clinic takes 1.5 hours including the wait: $30 of your time at $20 an hour, $18 of van running cost, $8 of insurance and $5 of other overhead, for $61. Adding 20% to the cost (a 20% markup) gives $73.20, rounded to $75 per round trip. Wheelchair trips take longer, so time and price them separately. Put your own quotes into the free startup cost calculator.

- Source: [How to Start a Medical Transportation Business (ProfitDrawer guide)](https://profitdrawer.com/guides/how-to-start-a-medical-transportation-business.html)
- Updated: 2026-10-29
- Published: 2026-10-29
- Category: Start a business
- Canonical: https://profitdrawer.com/answers/how-much-does-it-cost-to-start-a-medical-transportation-business.html
- Publisher: ProfitDrawer (https://profitdrawer.com)