Digital Display Insider

Issue # 41: How to Start a Mobile Digital Billboard Business

Jerry Teeter — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:41:35 +0000

Editors Note

“How do I start a Mobile Digital Billboard business?” is one of the most searched questions in this industry—and it’s also the question I hear from people who are confident they’ve “done their research,” but still don’t really know what matters most.

Because the truth is, this business isn’t won by buying a truck and hoping it works out. It’s won by building the right foundation in the right order. In this issue, I’m going to walk you through the Four Cornerstones of Success—Truck, Model, System, and Salesperson—with a heavy emphasis on the one most first-time operators underestimate: The System. The difference between inventing your own system and starting with a proven one isn’t a small detail… it’s the difference between momentum and chaos.

Let’s get into it.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

“How do I start a mobile digital billboard business?”

It’s one of the most searched questions in this industry, and it’s the question I get the most from people who are serious enough to be shopping trucks but still early enough to think this is mostly about buying equipment.

Here’s the truth: starting an MDB (Mobile Digital Billboard) business isn’t complicated… but it is layered.

And most people don’t fail because they didn’t work hard. They fail because they built the business in the wrong order, with the wrong assumptions, and with no blueprint for how all the moving parts are supposed to work together.

They buy a truck first.

Then they “do some research.”

Then they start creating random packages, running random routes, taking random jobs, and trying to make it all work in real time.

It feels productive… until you realize you’re building the airplane while trying to take off.

So in this issue, I want to give you a real answer. Not motivational fluff. Not generic “start an LLC and post on social media.” I’m going to lay out the framework I use to evaluate every operator’s odds of success.

It’s the Four Cornerstones of Success:

The Truck
The Model
The System
The Salesperson

If any one of these is missing, the business becomes fragile. And the cornerstone most new operators underestimate—by a mile—is The System.

Because without a system, you don’t have a business.

You have a truck and a bunch of activity.

The biggest myth: “I’ve done my research.”

When someone tells me they’ve “done their research,” I usually hear one of two things:

They researched trucks (mostly marketing claims).
Or they researched the industry (mostly surface-level info).

What they almost never researched is the hardest part: what it actually takes to operate and scale this business in the real world.

Because you can’t Google your way into a proven operating blueprint.

And the market won’t give you a pass while you experiment.

Your first clients will judge you based on whether you look legit, whether you deliver cleanly, and whether you communicate like a real media company—not a guy with a screen.

That’s why the order matters.

Let’s walk through the Four Cornerstones the right way.

Cornerstone #1: The Truck

You’re not buying a vehicle. You’re buying reliability, credibility, and uptime.

A Mobile Digital Billboard truck is the platform that delivers the service. If the platform fails, everything fails—revenue, reputation, renewals, referrals, resale value.

Most first-time buyers don’t know what to look for, so they default to what’s easy to understand:

“How big is the screen?”
“What’s the pixel pitch?”
“How much does the LED truck cost?”

Those are not useless questions. But they’re not the questions that determine whether you’ll still be operating two years from now.

The truck you choose should be evaluated like an income-producing asset, not a toy:

Can it run daily routes without constant breakdowns?
Does it look professional enough that a serious business will pay you recurring money?
Can you service it quickly without waiting weeks for mystery parts?
Does it have the right control system and A/V setup to handle real-world jobs?
Do you have spare parts, especially spare LED modules, so the screen stays marketable as it ages?

A good truck doesn’t just make your life easier.

It protects your business from random, expensive surprises. And in this industry, surprises are what crush cash flow.

Cornerstone #2: The Model

Most new operators unknowingly choose a model based on whatever job shows up first.

That’s backwards.

The Model is the business concept you’re committing to. In simple terms, most operators live in one of two worlds:

Exclusive Use: The truck is dedicated to one client for a set amount of time.
Shared: Multiple advertisers share the truck over a recurring period, typically built around a defined route or zone.

Both can make money.

But they behave very differently.

Exclusive Use tends to feel easier at first because it’s straightforward: time for money. But it can become volatile fast—feast or famine, inconsistent scheduling, inconsistent cash flow, and too many operators end up discounting just to keep the truck moving.

Shared is harder to set up because you must define a repeatable offer and deliver it consistently. But when it’s done right, it creates stability and predictability.

This is where you need to decide what you actually want:

Do you want to constantly chase the next job… or do you want to build recurring revenue?

Because the Model you pick changes everything downstream—pricing, routing, contracts, fulfillment, staffing, and how you sell.

Cornerstone #3: The System

This is the cornerstone nobody respects until they’ve paid “tuition” for ignoring it.

The System is how you execute your Model—consistently, predictably, and in a way that can scale.

And here’s where most people make the most expensive mistake in the industry:

They try to invent the system while selling it.

They think the system is something you “improve over time.”

That sounds reasonable… until you realize the “improvement” process is paid for with:

underpriced contracts you can’t fix for 90 days
poor fulfillment that creates churn
inconsistent messaging that confuses the market
random one-off jobs that keep you busy but don’t build momentum
stress from constantly changing what you’re doing

The system is not a logo. It’s not a website. It’s not “posting content.”

The system is the machine.

A real system answers questions like:

Offer Design

What exactly are you selling?
What’s included and not included?
What are the rules of the offer (capacity, timing, creative changes, cancellations)?
How do you package value so you’re not selling “screen time” like a commodity?

Route and Delivery

What zone are you committing to?
How many hours per week are you running it?
What proof do you provide?
What are your quality standards so the service looks premium every day?

Fulfillment

How do you intake creative?
Who approves it and how fast?
What happens when something goes wrong?
How do you communicate with clients so they feel taken care of?

Renewals and Continuity
If you don’t have continuity in your business, you don’t have a business—you have a promotion.

Continuity is simple: recurring revenue that comes in month after month because you’ve designed the offer to retain customers.

Without that, you’re constantly restarting your month from zero.

Scaling
A real system isn’t just designed to “work once.” It’s designed to be duplicated. That’s the difference between owning a truck and owning a company.

Inventing vs. using a proven system

This is where Total360 matters, and why I talk about it the way I do.

Total360 isn’t “information.” It’s an operating framework that collapses years of trial-and-error into a structured playbook—offer design, route structure, fulfillment standards, sales process, and how it all fits together.

When you use a proven system, you can start selling with confidence because you already know what you’re delivering.

When you invent it, you’re guessing in public, and your first customers become your test market.

That’s an expensive way to learn.

Cornerstone #4: The Salesperson

A great system doesn’t sell itself.

This is where a lot of operators get humbled.

They assume: “The truck is cool, so businesses will buy.”

But you’re not selling a truck.

You’re selling an outcome.

More customers. More foot traffic. More awareness. More legitimacy. More attention in the places that matter.

If you can’t clearly communicate what your service does for the customer—without drowning them in technical talk—you’ll struggle.

And in the early days, you don’t need to be a charismatic closer.

You need to be consistent, confident, and focused on the right prospects.

The best operators aren’t the ones who talk the most.

They’re the ones who can diagnose what the customer actually wants and connect it to a simple offer that makes sense.

So how do you start—practically?

If you want the cleanest path, here’s the order I recommend:

Decide your Model (don’t let random jobs decide it for you)
Choose a Truck that supports the Model (reliability, uptime, spares, control system, serviceability)
Implement a System (offer, route structure, fulfillment, renewals, proof, contracts)
Develop the Salesperson (outcome-based communication, pipeline discipline, follow-up consistency)

That’s it.

Not easy. But simple.

And if you do it in that order, you drastically reduce the risk of becoming another operator who works hard for 12 months and then starts thinking about getting out—because nothing worked the way they thought it would.

Final thought

You can absolutely start this business by inventing the system from scratch.

Plenty of people try.

But don’t confuse “possible” with “smart.”

A proven system doesn’t just save time. It protects you from expensive mistakes and delayed profitability—two things that quietly kill more Mobile Digital Billboard businesses than anything else.

Keep it simple, keep it profitable, and build the legacy while you build the business.

Industry Discovery Day

Legion LED Trucks is the FIRST and ONLY option to learn detailed information about the mobile digital billboard industry BEFORE buying a truck.

For people who are on the fence about whether they should invest into this business, this is a way to figure that out for a few hundred dollars before spending $200k+. The information taught can not be found on Google or through Ai and the LED truck demo is your chance to be up close and personal with a brand new LED truck from Legion LED Trucks.

These events are small with limited seating. Only 2 VIP tickets available! Reserve your seat now before they are gone.

Get More Info On Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Legion LED Trucks has partnered with Ascentium Capital to offer flexible financing and options for both new and used LED trucks! Whether you’re looking to start or grow your MDB business, these financing plans provide an affordable way to get on the road with minimal upfront investment.

Ascentium’s flexible structures combined with 100% financing means you avoid substantial out of pocket costs. Apply without financials up to $400k. Most credit decisions within 1-2 hours.

Check Payment Amount Here

Bonus Content

Watch on Youtube

Equipment For Sale

Brand New Legion 714 P3.9 For Sale

Before You Decide to Own an LED Truck, Spend One Day Here

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 21:22:22 +0000

Editors Note

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’ve been thinking about a Mobile Digital Billboard for a while.

Not casually.
Not as a passing idea.

But as one of those thoughts that keeps coming back.

You’ve watched the industry.
You’ve seen LED trucks in the wild.
You’ve run the numbers—at least in your head.
And you’ve wondered, “Could this actually work for me?”

Most people stop there.

They stay interested.

And there’s nothing wrong with interest. Interest is where every meaningful decision begins.

But there’s a point—usually quiet, usually uncomfortable—where interest either turns into commitment… or fades away.

Discovery Day exists for people who are standing at that crossroads.

Interested vs. Committed

Over the years, I’ve noticed a clear difference between people who like the idea of owning a Mobile Digital Billboard business—and those who actually build one.

Interested people:

Read articles
Watch videos
Ask good questions
Keep researching

Committed people:

Block time on their calendar
Get on a plane
Show up
Make decisions

Discovery Day is designed for the second group.

Not because they’re smarter.
Not because they’re braver.

But because they’re ready to move from thinking to owning.

The Bigger Shift Happening Right Now

For decades, billboard advertising was controlled by a small group of large operators.

They owned the land.
They controlled the permits.
They set the rules.

Business owners and entrepreneurs were left with one option: rent attention.

Month after month.
Campaign after campaign.
Always paying—never owning.

Mobile Digital Billboards quietly changed that.

No land acquisition.
No zoning battles.
No expensive regulatory barriers that once kept ownership out of reach.

For the first time, billboard advertising is being democratized—placed directly into the hands of business owners and entrepreneurs who want control, flexibility, and upside.

This isn’t a trend.

It’s a structural shift.

And movements like this don’t get built by people on the sidelines—or by large institutions trying to protect the status quo.
They’re built by entrepreneurs willing to take a risk, think differently, and step forward before the path is fully paved.

Why Discovery Day Exists

On February 27, 2026, we’re hosting a small, in-person LED Truck Discovery Day in Omaha.

Not a seminar.
Not a pitch.
Not a motivational event.

It’s a full-day, hands-on experience designed to give committed buyers absolute clarity before they make a six-figure decision.

You’ll see:

The trucks—up close and inside
The Total360 model that allows owners to control their advertising or monetize it
How real operators structure revenue without drowning in complexity
The mistakes that cost people $100k+ when they rush—or guess

This is where theory ends and reality begins.

Who This Day Is For

Discovery Day is built for:

Business owners who want control.
If you’re already spending serious money on marketing, this is your opportunity to own the platform instead of renting it. Some owners use their truck to promote their own business. Others monetize it as a media asset. Many do both.

Entrepreneurs who want ownership.
If you’re tired of building someone else’s future—or feeling capped by systems you don’t control—this is a chance to step into an asset that puts leverage back in your hands.

Different starting points.
Same destination: ownership, control, and potential legacy.

Why Discovery Day Is Intentionally Limited

This experience is small by design.

Not because we want to manufacture scarcity—but because meaningful decisions require space, access, and real conversation.

Discovery Day works because:

Everyone in the room is serious
Every question matters
Every attendee is treated like a future owner, not a lead

Which brings us back to Interested vs. Committed.

“Why Do You Charge for Discovery Day?”

This is a question we hear often.

And the answer is simple—and honest.

Discovery Day is not for people who are merely interested.

It’s for people who are committed to making a decision.

Commitment always has a cost.
In business.
In health.
In relationships.
In life.

And one of the clearest signals of commitment is the wallet.

For those who are still in the interest phase, we’re more than happy to:

Answer questions by phone
Do video calls
Help you think through whether this business fits

But Discovery Day is reserved for a small group of people who are ready to step into the decision-making phase.

Because when someone shows up in person, invests in the experience, and blocks a full day—they approach the opportunity differently.

More focused.
More serious.
More honest with themselves.

The Invitation

If you’ve been circling this idea…
If you feel the pull toward ownership…
If you know you’re capable of more—but want clarity before committing…

Discovery Day is your next step.

Spend one day with us.
Get real answers.
And decide—with confidence—whether this is the path you want to take.

📅 Discovery Day
🗓 February 27, 2026
📍 Omaha, NE

We’re not watching the billboard industry change.

We’re building what’s next.

And Discovery Day is where committed owners begin.

Keep it simple, keep it profitable, and build the legacy while you build the business.

I’m Committed…Where Do I Register?

M.D.B. Startup Focus

Industry Discovery Day

Legion LED Trucks is the FIRST and ONLY option to learn detailed information about the mobile digital billboard industry BEFORE buying a truck.

These events are small with limited seating. Only 2 VIP tickets available! Reserve your seat now before they are gone.

Get More Info On Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Ascentium’s flexible structures combined with 100% financing means you avoid substantial out of pocket costs. Apply without financials up to $400k. Most credit decisions within 1-2 hours.

Check Payment Amount Here

From The Vault: Past M.D.B. Campaigns

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Issue #40: The Two Sentences That Cost New Mobile Digital Billboard Operators the Most...

Jerry Teeter — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 16:56:11 +0000

Editors Note

The Two Most Expensive Sentences in This Industry.

“I’ve done my research” and “I’ll figure it out.”

Most first-time Mobile Digital Billboard operators say those with total confidence—and I don’t blame them. You can watch a few videos, skim a few websites, learn a couple buzzwords, and feel like you’ve got a handle on what you’re doing. But this industry has an iceberg nobody sees coming: the truck is the easy part… the system underneath it is what determines whether you get traction or get stuck.

In this issue, I’m breaking down why those two sentences sound smart, but quietly cost new operators years—and sometimes millions—in missed revenue. Because “figuring it out” isn’t free. It’s just a hidden bill you pay later through underpricing, churn, chaos, and delay.

Let’s get into it.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

I’ve heard the same sentence more times than I can count:

“Jerry… $40k is just too much money” or my favorite is “I’ve done my research.”

And I get it.

When you’re shopping for a truck, thinking about leaving your job, trying to make a smart move for your family, forty thousand dollars feels like a lot. Especially when you’re already staring down a multiple six-figure truck purchase, insurance, startup costs, and the mental weight of starting something new.

But here’s what most people don’t realize in that moment:

They’re not actually evaluating the cost of the Total360 operating system.
They’re evaluating it against a plan in their head that sounds like this:

“I’ll just figure it out.”

And that’s where the real problem starts.

Because “I’ll figure it out” sounds free… but it’s one of the most expensive sentences you can say in business.

“I’ll figure it out” sounds free… but it’s one of the most expensive sentences you can say in business.

Not expensive in theory. Expensive in real dollars, real time, real stress, and real missed revenue.

The reason I know that is because I’ve lived both sides of it—first as an operator trying to invent the whole thing, and now as someone who has watched hundreds of operators repeat the same painful learning curve… because they didn’t know what they didn’t know.

So in this issue, I want to do something different.

I want to show you the invisible part of this business.

The part you can’t see in the truck brochure.
The part you won’t learn from watching a couple YouTube videos.
The part that determines whether this becomes a stable business… or a very expensive hobby.

The Two Operators Story (same truck, different outcomes)

Let me introduce you to two fictional operators. I’m making them up, but if you’ve been in this industry for more than five minutes you’ve met both of them.

Operator #1: The Inventor

He buys a truck.

He’s excited. Motivated. All-in.

He has the same plan most people start with:

“I’ll get a website up, post on social media, call some businesses, and I’ll sell a few packages.”

He’s not lazy. He’s not dumb. He’s just new.

So he starts building things.

A logo. A website. A few “packages.” A pitch. A route.

But within 30 days, he starts running into reality.

People ask questions he can’t answer confidently.

“How many times will my ad show?”
“What area are you covering?”
“What happens if it rains?”
“Can I switch creatives?”
“How do I know you ran it?”
“What’s the difference between this and a billboard?”
“Why are you more expensive than the other guy?”

So he adjusts.

He changes pricing. He changes packages. He changes the route. He rewrites the pitch. He makes a new flyer. He tries to sell a different type of customer. He takes a few random exclusive jobs “just to get money coming in.”

He stays busy… but nothing stacks.

And the whole time, he’s telling himself:

“This is normal. I’m learning. I’ll figure it out.”

Then year one hits.

He has some revenue, but it’s inconsistent. The jobs are scattered. The effort is high. The cash flow is unpredictable. And worst of all, he can’t really explain what his business is in one sentence—because even he isn’t sure yet.

That’s when the thought starts creeping in:

“Maybe this business doesn’t work.”

And within 12-18 months… many operators are already thinking about getting out.

Not because the truck doesn’t work.
Because their system doesn’t work.
And they didn’t realize they were responsible for inventing one.

Operator #2: The Builder

This operator buys a truck too.

But instead of inventing, he starts with a proven system.

He doesn’t wake up trying to “think” his way through the business. He wakes up and executes.

His route isn’t a guess.
His pricing isn’t emotional.
His packages weren’t created on a napkin.
His fulfillment isn’t winging it.
His sales process is structured.
His renewals aren’t a surprise every month.

He can start selling with confidence because he knows what he’s selling—and more importantly, he knows how it gets delivered.

Which means while Operator #1 is still “figuring it out”… Operator #2 is stacking MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue).

Same industry. Same type of truck.
Completely different outcomes.

And the only difference is whether they built a business on invention… or on a blueprint.

The Iceberg: What people see vs. what actually makes this work

Most first-time buyers think they’re buying an LED truck and selling advertising.

That’s the part above the waterline.

But what you’re actually building is something much bigger:

A media company.
A local route operation.
A sales machine.
A fulfillment system.
A retention engine.
A cash flow strategy.

And all of those pieces must work together, or you end up with chaos.

This is why I like the iceberg visual so much.

Because the visible part of this business is small:

Buy a truck
Get a few advertisers
Run the route

But under the surface is where success is won or lost.

The offer has to be designed correctly.
The route has to be designed correctly.
The fulfillment has to be consistent.
The reporting has to match expectations.
The contracts have to protect you.
The pricing has to support the model.
The sales process has to be repeatable.

And the biggest problem for most new operators is simple:

They don’t even realize these decisions exist until they’ve already made the wrong ones.

The “$40k is too much” lie — and what it’s really costing you

Here’s the hard truth:

Most people aren’t comparing Total360 to another system.

They’re comparing it to their imagination.

They’re assuming that “figuring it out” is cheap because they aren’t writing a check for it.

But you pay for it anyway.

You pay for it in:

years of delay before you have stable recurring revenue
underpricing early contracts that lock you into bad margins
churn because you promised outcomes you couldn’t consistently deliver
random one-off jobs that keep you busy but don’t build a base
missed opportunities because you weren’t positioned confidently
stress and overwhelm because nothing feels predictable

And there’s also the biggest cost of all:

the revenue you could have earned sooner if you had started with a real system.

Let’s use simple example math.

If a proven system helps you reach $20-30k/month in recurring revenue even 6 months sooner than you would on your own, that’s $120k-180k in revenue you didn’t have to wait for.

And that doesn’t even include what you save by pricing correctly, reducing churn, improving close rates, and avoiding the “anything I can get” trap.

So when someone says, “$40k is too much,” what they’re really saying is:

“I can’t see what I’m buying.”

And that’s on me to communicate better.

Because you’re not buying videos.
You’re not buying documents.
You’re buying compressed time and proven integration.

“Because you’re not buying videos.
You’re not buying documents.
You’re buying compressed time and proven integration.”

You’re buying the part most operators spend years trying to cobble together.

Why “making it up as you go” fails in this business

In some industries, you can wing it for a while.

If you’re mowing lawns or power washing driveways, you can start simple and refine as you grow. You’ll still make money. The learning curve is survivable.

This business is different.

Because the moving parts aren’t independent.

They’re connected.

If you change pricing without changing capacity rules, you create churn.
If you sell whatever the client wants without defined deliverables, you create fulfillment chaos.
If your route boundaries aren’t deliberate, you can’t articulate value.
If you don’t have a tight process for proof of performance, clients doubt you.
If you don’t have a renewal structure, every month becomes a resell.
If you don’t have a real sales system, your pipeline becomes inconsistent.

What looks like “flexibility” in the beginning becomes instability by month six.

And most people don’t realize the damage until they’ve already trained the market to treat them like a commodity.

What you’re actually buying when you buy a franchise-level system

When someone buys the Total360 system, the biggest thing they get isn’t the content.

It’s the integration.

It’s the fact that the hundreds of decisions under the iceberg have already been figured out and were engineered to work together.

High level, that includes things like:

an offer structure that isn’t confusing
pricing logic that supports recurring revenue
route principles that can be duplicated
fulfillment standards that retain clients
sales messaging that sells outcomes, not screen time
systems that keep you consistent even when you’re tired

It’s the difference between being an operator who constantly wonders what to do next… and being an operator who knows exactly what to execute.

And that’s why the real value isn’t “education.”

It’s speed. It’s confidence. It’s avoiding expensive trial-and-error.

The blueprint analogy (and why intuition doesn’t count)

Here’s the part that trips up first-time buyers:

Most people build their plan based on intuition, basic research, and conversations with the guy trying to sell them a truck.

They don’t have a blueprint made by someone who has already done it.

So what do they do?

They try to create the blueprint themselves… with zero experience.

That’s like saying:

“I’ve lived in a house my whole life, so I can probably build one.”

You might be able to build something.
But it probably won’t be efficient.
It probably won’t be scalable.
And it will definitely cost you more than you expected.

Wise builders start with a blueprint.

And that’s exactly what Total360 is.

The real question isn’t “Is it too much?”

The real question is:

“How much is it going to cost you to not have it?”

How many years will you spend tinkering?
How many contracts will you underprice?
How much churn will you create before you tighten your fulfillment?
How many times will you rebuild your website, your pitch, your packages?
How many thousands will you spend learning lessons you could have avoided?

Because here’s what I know for sure:

Every operator pays tuition in this business.

The only question is whether you pay it with:

time, mistakes, and missed revenue…
or
a system that collapses years into weeks.

Final thought

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I can just figure it out,” you might be right.

But don’t confuse “possible” with “smart.”

The market is getting more competitive. The buyers are getting more educated. And the operators who win the next decade of this industry won’t be the ones with the cheapest truck or the cheapest pricing.

They’ll be the ones with the cleanest system that the value can easily be articluated to the customer.

Because the system is what creates MRR.
MRR is what creates stability.
Stability is what creates scale.

And scale is what creates freedom.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re serious about starting an MDB (Mobile Digital Billboard) business—and you don’t want to spend the next 12 months paying “tuition” through trial and error—come spend a day with us at Discovery Day on February 27th.

You’ll get the information you can’t find on Google or AI, you’ll see the business and system in real life, and you’ll get hands-on time with a brand new Legion 714 so you can decide—clearly—whether this business is for you.

Details and tickets are here: www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday

Keep it simple, keep it profitable, and build the legacy while you build the business.

Industry Discovery Day

Legion LED Trucks is the FIRST and ONLY option to learn detailed information about the mobile digital billboard industry BEFORE buying a truck.

These events are small with limited seating. Only 2 VIP tickets available! Reserve your seat now before they are gone.

Get More Info On Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Ascentium’s flexible structures combined with 100% financing means you avoid substantial out of pocket costs. Apply without financials up to $400k. Most credit decisions within 1-2 hours.

Check Payment Amount Here

Bonus Content

Want to hear me talking more in depth about todays topic? Click below to watch the bonus video on Youtube.

Equipment For Sale

2023 Spark 510 P2.9 / Mercedes 3500 LED Truck For Sale

Issue #39: How Much Do Mobile Digital Billboards Make? The Honest Math (+ Free Revenue Calculator)

Jerry Teeter — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 19:54:37 +0000

Editors Note

Every week I hear some version of the same question: “Jerry, how much do these trucks actually make?” And every time, I’m reminded of how misleading that question can be—because most people aren’t really asking about revenue. They’re asking, “Can I build a real business with this? Can this replace my income? Is this worth the leap?”

I get it.
I’ve been there.
And I wish someone had given me the straight answer when I started.

The problem is, the internet is full of numbers with no context—operators quoting their best weeks, manufacturers selling hype, and blog posts written by people who’ve never run a single mile on a real route. None of that helps you build a profitable, predictable business.

So in today’s issue, I’m giving you the honest breakdown of how the money actually works—what Exclusive jobs really bring in, why Shared Route MRR is the foundation of a stable business, and how to run the math for your city using the calculator I built for you. No fluff. No inflated benchmarks. Just what I wish someone had shown me 10 years ago.

If you’ve ever wondered whether this industry can support your family, help you transition out of your current job, or build the kind of freedom you’re chasing…
this is the issue you need to read.

Let’s get into it.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

How Much Do Mobile Digital Billboards Make?

If you’ve researched this industry at all, you’ve probably typed some version of this into Google:

“How much do mobile digital billboards make?”
“Are digital billboards profitable?”
“Is mobile advertising a good business?”

And if you’ve clicked around long enough, you’ve probably realized the same thing everyone else does—the answers online are either vague, wildly inflated, or written by someone who has never actually operated a truck.

So in this issue, I’m going to give you the real answer.
Not a hype number.
Not a “best case scenario.”
And not the kind of math that assumes every day is sunny and every client pays on time.

Just the truth from someone who has lived it for more than a decade.

But before we get into the numbers, let’s level-set something up front:

How much your truck makes has far less to do with the truck itself… and everything to do with the business model you run.

There are two primary revenue lanes in this industry—Exclusive Use and Shared Route MRR—and they behave nothing alike. Most new operators don’t understand the difference, so they end up frustrated, cash-poor, burned out, or worse… convinced the business doesn’t work.

The business works.
But you have to understand the math behind each lane.

Let’s start with the one everyone assumes is the moneymaker.

Exclusive Use Revenue (Hourly/Day-Rate Jobs)

This is the takeover-style job: one client “owns” the truck for a set number of hours or days. Product launches. Brand activations. Grand openings. Rally events. Political pushes. Concerts. These jobs feel big and look big… and when priced correctly, they can be great.

But here’s the part most people don’t know:

Most operators drastically overestimate how many exclusive hours they’ll sell—and underestimate the volatility.

In most markets, retail pricing sits around $125–$150/hr.
Wholesale to brokers is typically $100–$125/hr.

And then there’s the bottom tier—the operators who accept anything because they “need the job” or think they’ll “make it up on volume.”
Let me be blunt: you don’t make up profit on volume when your margin is already gone.

That myth has crushed more new operators than any other belief in this business.

Even when priced correctly, exclusives are unpredictable. Weather kills days. Events cancel. Agencies change budgets. And many of these jobs pay on Net-30, Net-60, even Net-90 terms, which means your cash flow gets stretched thin exactly when you need stability.

Yes—an exclusive job can bring in a strong week or month. But treating exclusives as your model is how operators end up with beautiful websites, a truck they love, and a bank account that keeps shrinking.

Let me give you the math many operators never run:

At $150/hr, an 8-hour day is $1,200.
Three days a week gets you $3,600.
Multiply that by four weeks and you’re at $14,400/month gross—if everything goes perfectly and if you can consistently sell that many days.

Most don’t.

Which brings us to the lane that actually builds a stable business.

Shared Route Revenue (Monthly Recurring Revenue)

If Exclusive Use is a project-based business, Shared Routes are your subscription business.

This is the lane the Total360 Model was built on. I won’t go into proprietary detail here, but here’s what you need to know:

A well-designed route, with clearly defined packages and consistent fulfillment, creates predictable recurring revenue.
And predictable recurring revenue is what makes this business scale.

Shared route revenue is simple math:

Number of advertisers × monthly package price = your MRR.

Once you hit the point where your MRR covers your hard operating costs (driver + fuel), every additional advertiser becomes clean margin. That’s why the Total360 approach works—because it builds stability first and growth second.

Most people think the “big money” is in the exclusives.
It’s not.
The big money is in the MRR… and exclusives are the cherry on top.

When your route becomes your baseline revenue, you’re no longer desperate for every job that comes your way. You stop underpricing. You stop accepting low-margin wholesale jobs. You stop saying yes because you’re scared to say no.

MRR makes you selective.
Selectivity makes you profitable.
Profitability makes you sustainable.

So how much can a truck make?

You’ll hear operators throw around numbers all over the place… but the truth is, you can determine it yourself with simple math.

That’s why I built a FREE revenue calculator that you can use to run different scenerios—because your market, your pricing, and your utilization matter far more than someone else’s headline claim.

You can plug in your own assumptions for:

Exclusive hourly rates
Expected hours sold (not hoped for)
Shared route pricing
Advertiser count
Driver cost
Fuel cost
Insurance + overhead

The calculator will show you both the gross and the net, and it will quickly reveal which lane will stabilize your business.

Spoiler: it’s almost always the Shared Route.

Click the button below to get instant access to our revenue calculator.

LED Truck Revenue Calculator

https://www.ledtrucks.com/how-much-do-mobile-digital-billboards-make

I want to take a moment to offer a disclaimer here. This calculator is meant to be a tool for you to run different scenerios to see whats possible. At the end of the day, there are many factors that affect your success or failure.

Why most people get this wrong

Operators don’t fail because the trucks don’t work.
They fail because their math doesn’t work.

They price everything off a single hourly rate—as if a 3-hour exclusive should be priced the same as 40 hours of route delivery. They chase every job because they don’t have a base to stand on. They assume a great month means a great model. They underprice wholesale jobs out of fear. And they underestimate how a lack of spare parts or downtime can wipe out their profit for the week.

This is a business where the numbers—not the hopes—decide your success.

The good news? When you understand the math, this becomes one of the cleanest, simplest media businesses you can run.

What to do this week

Run your numbers with the calculator.
See what your realistic exclusive revenue looks like.
See how a shared route changes the baseline.
Blend both lanes into a plan you can actually execute.

And if you’re serious about learning the deeper model behind the Total360 approach, come to Discovery Day. There’s no substitute for seeing the business live, asking the hard questions, and putting your hands on a brand new Legion 714.

Details are here: www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday
Prefer to read the whole story first? Grab my free + shipping book: www.ledtrucks.com/freebook

Do the math.
Choose your model with clarity.
And build a business that doesn’t just look good online—but pays you every single month.

Industry Discovery Day

Legion LED Trucks is the FIRST and ONLY option to learn detailed information about the mobile digital billboard industry BEFORE buying a truck.

These events are small with limited seating. Only 2 VIP tickets available! Reserve your seat now before they are gone.Get More Info On Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Ascentium’s flexible structures combined with 100% financing means you avoid substantial out of pocket costs. Apply without financials up to $400k. Most credit decisions within 1-2 hours.

Check Payment Amount Here

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Only A Few Spots Left

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 22:34:34 +0000

Issue #38: It's Way Beyond The Truck

Jerry Teeter — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 20:25:36 +0000

Editors Note

“Success isn’t measured by what you build, but by the lives you impact while building.”

That one line has reshaped how I think about business, money, and the kind of legacy I want my kids to talk about long after I’m gone.

This week’s issue isn’t about screens or specs—it’s about why we build at all. When you pre-decide that your MDB company will exist for more than profit, your calendar and your checkbook start telling a different story. You stop chasing revenue for revenue’s sake and start aiming your effort at outcomes that outlive you.

You’ll read about Faith in this issue—a 35-year-old mom of three who fought ovarian cancer while her husband left and the vehicles went with him. Without a car she missed oncology appointments, juggled reschedules, and felt the weight of foreclosure pressing in. The day she saw her vehicle at the Blessing, hope landed on her face—you could see the weight lift off her shoulders and hope enter her life. That’s what impact looks like in real time.

As you launch or scale your MDB business, I want to challenge you to make the same pre-decision we did: choose your cause, pick your percentage, and let your business become a tool for good. The trucks are the platform; the lives you impact while building—that’s the measure that matters.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

When you’re starting a Mobile Digital Billboard business, there’s a decision you can make before you buy a truck, print a logo, or open a bank account: pre-decide that your company will exist for more than profit. Not the slogan version—the kind that actually shows up in your calendar and your checkbook.

Here’s what I’ve learned: corporate generosity scales. One household can help; one business—committing a simple percentage from day one—can move mountains. Aim that percentage at a smaller nonprofit in your own city and it keeps the lights on, closes waitlists, and changes real lives. Many faith-based nonprofits also struggle to qualify for grants because of their mission, so they rely on private partners to keep serving. This is why I believe entrepreneurs should lead the way with generosity, and it’s why I serve several non-profits at various levels with not only my money, but my time and my talents.

I haven’t always thought this way. My wife and I have supported nonprofits for most of our adult lives, but in the last three to four years we made a shift: we stopped viewing business as the thing we had to do so we could give later—and started treating business as the tool to create impact now. That mindset has changed the way we build.

When you make that shift, your questions change. Instead of chasing revenue for revenue’s sake, you start asking: Who does this help? What will this decision change five years from now? What story do I want my kids to tell about what Mom and Dad built?

“Success isn’t measured by what you build, but by the lives you impact while building.” That’s not a line—it’s a filter. It shapes how we price, who we partner with, and where every extra dollar of margin goes.

There’s also a personal side no one talks about enough: generosity and gratitude don’t just help the recipient; they transform the giver. When you build rhythms of giving your time, talent, and treasure, pressure loses its grip and purpose sharpens. You feel lighter, and the scoreboard you play by changes.

Our commitment: 500 Blessings by 2035

This year at Legion LED Trucks, we put our belief on paper. We pre-decided that a defined portion of the profit from every new truck would fund a vehicle through Chariots4Hope—an organization that restores transportation for people fighting their way back to stability.

Here’s how it works.

C4H partners with local nonprofits to find candidates, takes them through a rigorous vetting process (with real “skin in the game”), and matches them with a reliable car that is donated by people and businesses like us. When the match is ready, supporters gather for a Blessing—keys handed over, a chapter turned.

For each truck our client buys, Legion LED Trucks will purchase and donate a entry level vehicle AND we sponsor a JumpStart in the truck buyers name—a $2,500 commitment that helps recondition the car and provides a warranty for the recipient. When the blessing is scheduled, you’re invited to the Blessing at Legion LED Trucks headquarters. You’ll get a plaque, and we’ll hang a copy on our Legacy Wall—a physical reminder that a business decision became a life decision for a family.

Our scorecard is simple: 500 Blessings by 2035.
One truck. One family. One set of keys at a time.

Faith’s story

Faith was 35 when doctors said “ovarian cancer.” She’s a mom of three young kids. In the middle of treatment, her husband decided he didn’t want to continue this journey and left—taking the vehicles—and leaving the bills to start piling up. Without transportation, she missed oncology appointments, had a hard time finding work, and had to rely on her faith to get her through. Every day became a choice between survival logistics and showing up for her kids.

If you’ve never lived without a car, it’s hard to grasp how heavy that gets.

In August, because of partners like you and the quiet work C4H does week after week, we were able to help bless Faith with a vehicle. The moment she saw the car, you could see relief on her face—that breath you can hear more than see. Hands to the heart. Emotion boiled over. Hope entered her life.

Keys in hand didn’t end her story, but it turned it. Appointments became possible. She now has a steady job. Childhood for her kids started feeling like childhood again.

Watch Faith’s reaction when she received her “blessing”

This is why we build trucks.
This is why we sell them to owners who want more than a shiny asset or a cash cow.
This is why I write this newsletter.

Your next step—and your legacy

If you’re just getting started, pre-decide your generosity now. Don’t wait for “someday.” Pick a nonprofit in your city. Meet the director. Ask what it costs to move one person from stuck to stable. Write that number on your whiteboard and point your business at it.

And if our mission resonates, I’d be honored for your first act of corporate generosity to start here.

When you purchase a new truck from Legion LED Trucks, you don’t just acquire a platform. You step into someone else’s story. You help hand over keys. Your name goes on a plaque that isn’t about status—it’s about service. From there, we’ll help you design your own Legacy Journey so your business fuels generosity in your city, too.

Still deciding if this industry is a fit? Come see it up close. Discovery Day is our one-day, in-person deep dive. We’ll walk the model, demo a brand-new Legion 714, answer the questions you can’t Google, and—most importantly—help you see what your platform could fund in the lives of people who need it.

Seats are limited. Details and tickets: www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday.

Let’s build something that outlives us.
Five hundred Blessings by 2035—one family, one business decision, one act of generosity at a time.

Industry Discovery Day

Legion LED Trucks is the FIRST and ONLY option to learn detailed information about the mobile digital billboard industry BEFORE buying a truck.

For people who are on the fence about whether they should invest into this business, this is a way to figure that out for a few hundred dollars before spending $200k+. The information taught can not be found on Google or through AI and the LED truck demo is your chance to be up close and personal with a brand new LED truck from Legion LED Trucks.

These events are small with limited seating. Only 2 VIP tickets available! Reserve your seat now before they are gone.

Get More Info On Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Ascentium’s flexible structures combined with 100% financing means you avoid substantial out of pocket costs. Apply without financials up to $400k. Most credit decisions within 1-2 hours.

Check Payment Amount Here

Equipment For Sale

See Full Listing Here

Issue #37: How to Judge LED Screen Quality (It’s Not “P3.9”)

Jerry Teeter — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:46:08 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome to this issue of Digital Display Insider. In this issue, we will be giving you valuable information as you navigate the mobile digital billboard (M.D.B.) startup process.

I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “It’s a P3.9—so it’s high quality.” Pixel pitch is resolution, not quality. And on a moving LED truck, quality is the difference between a screen that still looks clean in year three and one that’s already showing dead pixels, color shifts, and those ugly rolling lines in your photos and videos.

Here’s the truth almost no one leads with: LED screens were built to live on poles and walls—fixed, stable, often running 24/7. A mobile digital billboard lives a completely different life: bad streets, potholes, vibration, thermal swings, road spray, constant on/off in every season. That harsh environment exposes weak components fast. This is why the system behind the pixels matters—gold-plated terminations (not just bare copper), solid PCB/soldering, high-refresh driver ICs (≥3,840 Hz) that shoot clean on camera, consistent LED binning, higher-level receiving cards, and a real multi-input controller/scaler.

In this issue, I break it all down in plain English—what each component does, how it fits into the bigger picture, and exactly what to look for before you write the check. If you’ve ever wondered why some trucks photograph like national campaigns while others stripe and flicker the moment you hit record, this will connect the dots and save you from expensive, avoidable mistakes.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

I hear this a lot when someone says they’ve “done their research” on LED trucks:

“It’s a P3.9. So it’s high quality.”

Pixel pitch isn’t quality. It’s resolution. The “P” number is simply the distance (in millimeters) from the center of one pixel to the next. P3.9 means ~3.9 mm spacing—more pixels per square meter and better detail up close. That’s it. It tells you nothing about durability, color accuracy, refresh behavior on camera, or control hardware.

And here’s the bigger truth almost nobody leads with: LED screens were designed to live on poles and walls, not on moving vehicles. In their native world they’re fixed, often running 24/7 in a controlled, stationary setup. A mobile digital billboard is the exact opposite—bad streets, potholes, constant vibration, thermal swings, road spray, and repeated on/off cycles in every season. It’s a harsh, mechanical environment that accelerates wear and exposes weak engineering fast.

That’s why quality matters so much more on a truck than it does on a building. Low-end modules and bargain driver chips that look “fine” on day one start failing early in mobile use—dead pixels, flicker, color shift, and (the big giveaway) rolling camera lines from low-refresh drivers. If you want screens that still look clean in year three (and photograph clean every day), you have to evaluate the system behind the pixels: wiring metallurgy, PCB and soldering, driver ICs, LED binning, receiving cards, and the controller/scaler feeding it all.

1) Wiring & Terminations (Gold vs. Copper)

What it is: The power and signal pathways that keep voltage stable and data clean.

Why it matters: Mobile environments are brutal—cold starts, heat soak, condensation, road salt, vibration. Copper is a great conductor, but it oxidizes. Oxidation increases contact resistance, which in turn increases heat and voltage drop right where you can least afford it: at connectors, lugs, and terminations. That’s when you start chasing intermittent flicker, random reboots, and “ghost” module faults—especially in winter.

Gold is the fix. Gold doesn’t oxidize. Gold-plated contact surfaces (ring lugs, header pins, backplane connectors, bus bars, and critical terminations) keep contact resistance low and stable even with moisture and temperature cycling. In cold weather, where contraction/expansion and micro-movement can “frett” a copper-only joint, gold plating maintains a clean, reliable interface. The net effect is fewer mystery failures, fewer weekend service calls, and more stable brightness/color under load.

What to look for / ask:

Gold-plated terminations on high-current and high-cycle connectors (not just bare copper).
Fine-strand, oxygen-free copper conductors for flexibility in the cold (no CCA/copper-clad aluminum).
Properly crimped and strain-relieved terminations so vibration doesn’t loosen the joint.

Bottom line: in outdoor mobile use, gold wiring over copper wiring is worth every penny. It’s a quiet upgrade you feel in reliability, not in a spec sheet.

2) PCB & Soldering (Inside Each Module)

The printed circuit board is the foundation. Thin copper, sloppy reflow, and poor thermal design crack under vibration and temperature swings—exactly what an LED truck sees every day. Premium modules use heavier copper, clean and consistent solder joints (no dull/cold joints or bridges), and thermal paths that pull heat away from driver ICs. Look closely: even, flush LED seating and tidy conformal coating in critical areas are strong tells that the manufacturer expects the product to live outside, on the move, for years.

3) Driver ICs (Where Most Camera Problems Start)

These chips drive the LEDs and control PWM refresh and grayscale. If you’ve ever filmed a truck and seen rolling lines/banding, that’s almost always a low-refresh driver IC, not your camera and not the pixel pitch. For outdoor MDB, insist on ≥3,840 Hz refresh (often called 3.84 kHz). Lesser ICs at 960–1,920 Hz will stripe in photos and video, especially under street lighting or at night. Also look for high bit-depth (14–16-bit) grayscale that stays smooth when you dim the screen at dusk; cheap drivers “fall apart” at low brightness, turning gradients into bands. Yes, these higher-spec ICs cost more—that’s exactly why better screens are more expensive—and exactly why they look clean on camera.

4) LED Packages (Pixels, Binning, and Uniformity)

Two “P3.9” modules can look completely different if the LEDs come from different bins. Binning groups LEDs by wavelength (tint) and luminous flux (brightness). Mixing bins creates checkerboards, color casts, and brightness bands you can’t fully calibrate out. For an outdoor truck, demand same-batch/bin modules across the build and get the batch IDs on your paperwork. Black-surface SMDs improve contrast in daylight, and stable brightness at operating temperature keeps the picture from “washing” in heat. Pair that with adequate brightness headroom (you’ll dim at night) and you get a screen that looks great at noon and doesn’t bloom at 9pm.

5) Power Supplies (Quiet Reliability)

Undersized or bargain PSUs sag under load, causing color shift and flicker that look like “screen problems” but trace back to power. Look for reputable brands sized with thermal headroom, good EMI performance, and clean distribution—no single supply carrying a whole cabinet. In cold climates, derating and surge protection matter. Good PSUs rarely make the brochure; they do make the difference between a route that runs and a route that calls you back to the shop.

6) Receiving Cards (Calibration, Uniformity, Serviceability)

Receiving cards translate controller data into what the driver ICs can use. Entry-level cards limit per-module calibration, diagnostics, and uniformity tools. Higher-tier cards in the same ecosystem unlock better low-brightness behavior, HDR profiles, and mapping that “sticks” so a swapped module blends in. If you plan to keep your screens clean for years—and swap modules without visible seams—invest here. It pays you back every time you service in the field.

7) Control System (Controller/Scaler Matters More Than You Think)

This is the “front of house” for your screens. A multi-input all-in-one controller with onboard scaling (e.g., VX600-class) gives you flexibility for advertising routes and live/event sources, proper EDID handling, and clean scaling at your total pixel load. Pair that with a cloud-managed media player for scheduled ads and keep project/config backups (USB + cloud) for quick recovery. Beware of builds that say “Novastar control” but hide a single-input entry controller and the cheapest cards—they technically check the brand box, but you’ll feel the limitations the first time you try to film clean video or run mixed sources.

What “Good” Looks Like (Outdoor, P3.x Class)

For mobile use, these are practical targets that translate to fewer headaches and better photos:

Brightness: true outdoor daylight readability (often 4,500–6,500 nits class for P3.9); ample headroom so you’re not at 100% at noon.
Refresh Rate: ≥3,840 Hz for camera-clean operation (no rolling lines in photo/video).
Processing/Grayscale: 14–16-bit with stable low-brightness performance for dusk/night.
Ingress Protection: IP65 front with cabinet design that actually sheds water and resists wicking.
Uniformity & Calibration: same-batch modules + receiving cards that support per-module calibration and store mapping.
Wiring/Terminations: gold-plated contact surfaces over high-quality copper conductors for corrosion-proof connections, especially in cold climates.

These aren’t vanity specs; they’re the difference between a truck that photographs like a national campaign and one you’re embarrassed to post.

Field Test Before You Accept Delivery (or Buy Used)

Run this at real operating brightness:

Full white: check for blotches or banding across cabinets.
5–10% gray: the best uniformity detector; lines = trouble.
Full R/G/B: look for color seams and module mismatch.
Motion graphics: verify smoothness and absence of scan artifacts.
Phone video: record at normal frame rates; there should be no rolling lines.
Dusk test: dim to night levels and watch gradients; they should stay smooth without stepping.

If it fails now, it will haunt you later—on every photo, every reel, every pitch deck.

My Recommendations (Outdoor MDB, today)

Modules/Driver ICs: Choose outdoor modules documented at ≥3,840 Hz refresh with strong low-brightness grayscale. This is where most camera problems start—and it’s why premium screens cost more.
Receiving Cards: Use the higher-level cards in your chosen ecosystem so you get proper calibration, mapping, and diagnostics.
Controller/Scaler: Go multi-input (VX600-class) to handle routes and events cleanly with low latency and reliable scaling.
Wiring/Terminations: Specify gold-plated contact surfaces on critical terminations and connectors; pair with fine-strand, oxygen-free copper conductors.
Spares: Take delivery with ~20 same-batch modules (see Issue 36). Keep the spares in your possession, labeled and logged, not at the builder.
Docs: Leave with project/config files, module batch IDs, and a written spares list.

Final Word

“P3.9” tells you how many pixels you have. It doesn’t tell you whether those pixels will shoot clean, stay uniform in year three, or survive winter vibration without turning into intermittent headaches. If you remember one thing from this issue, make it this: pay for the driver ICs, control system, and gold-plated contact paths that keep your screens stable and camera-clean. That’s the difference your clients (and your own marketing) will feel every single day—and it’s exactly why the best outdoor screens cost more up front but save you far more over the life of the truck.

Before You Buy a Truck: Find Out If This Business Is Really for You!

If you’re seriously considering a Mobile Digital Billboard business, Discovery Day is the fastest way to get real clarity. In one in-person day, we cut through the noise and show you what it actually takes to succeed—operating models that work (and ones that don’t), how MRR changes everything, the truth about screens/control systems/spares, and the sales system that fills a route. This isn’t theory you can find on Google or ask an AI for; it’s the hard-won playbook from years of daily operations and hundreds of buyer conversations.

You’ll also get a hands-on demo of a brand-new Legion 714, so you can see build quality, control software, input workflows, and real-world brightness/refresh performance up close. We modeled Discovery Day after franchise discovery events: direct access, unscripted Q&A, and transparent numbers so you can make a confident yes/no decision before you spend six figures.

Seats are intentionally limited (we cap attendance to keep the day interactive and useful). If you attend and decide the business isn’t for you, you’ll have saved yourself months of headaches and a very expensive mistake. If you see the vision and choose to move forward, you’ll leave with a clear launch plan—and we’ll credit your ticket toward your next step.

Click the graphic below to reserve your spot at Discovery Day.

Learn More About Discovery Day

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

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LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

I’m excited to announce that Legion LED Trucks has partnered with Currency to offer flexible financing and lease options for both new and used LED trucks! Whether you’re looking to start or grow your MDB business, these leasing plans provide an affordable way to get on the road with minimal upfront investment.

Leasing is an excellent option for operators who want to keep cash flow steady while upgrading their equipment regularly. With 36-, 48-, and 60-month turnback leases available, you can keep your fleet up to date without the commitment of long-term ownership. For example:

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

To qualify, applicants need a minimum 670+ credit score and three months of bank statements. Additional requirements may apply. Financing is subject to credit approval, and terms may vary based on creditworthiness and truck selection.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

In this week’s bonus video, I break down why “P3.9” isn’t quality—it’s just resolution—and show you the real differences that matter on a moving LED truck: high-refresh driver ICs (so your photos and videos don’t show rolling lines), gold-plated terminations that survive winter and vibration, and the simple delivery-day acceptance test that can save you $60K. If you’re evaluating a truck—or trying to fix why yours won’t shoot clean—watch this first.

Equipment For Sale

See Full Listing Here

2023 Spark 510 P2.9 LED Truck — Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Diesel (Electric LED Body, No Generator) - Legion Led Trucks

Price: $164,995 • Miles: ~5,000 • Available at: Legion LED Trucks — Omaha, NE Looking for a premium mobile digital billboard that’s turnkey, quiet, and ready to earn? This 2023 Spark 510 is mounted on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 diesel and features Spark’s generator-free electric LED body powered by an Anker battery system. Delivered new in April 2025, it’s practically brand new and already dialed for P2.9 outdoor advertising—the sweet spot […]

www.inventory.ledtrucks.com/listing/2023-mercedes-3500-spark-510-p2-9-new

Issue #36: The Hidden Cost That Kills LED Truck Value (And How to Avoid It)

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 21:09:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome to this issue of Digital Display Insider. In this issue, we will be giving you valuable information as you navigate the mobile digital billboard (M.D.B.) startup process.

If there’s one lesson I wish every first-time LED truck buyer heard on day one, it’s this: the box of spare modules you leave with matters more to your long-term success than half the specs in the brochure. Most folks don’t know to ask, most builders don’t slow the sale to explain it, and most screen manufacturers ship only 1–2% spares. On a 300–400 module truck, that’s 4–6 tiles—you’ll burn through those well before year three if you’re running real routes.

Why does that matter so much? Because modules aren’t like power supplies or cables you can reorder anytime. Modules must visually match—color, brightness, uniformity. Manufacturers “bin” LEDs into batches so panels look seamless; mix in a different bin a few years later and you’ll see checkerboards, color casts, or brightness bands your clients won’t miss. That’s when operators learn the hard way that a rear rescreen to harvest matching tiles runs $15k–$20k+—and resale takes a hit.

This week’s feature is a practical deep dive into the stuff nobody tells you: how to think in years 5–7 (not just through the 2-year warranty), what “enough spares” actually means, the exact questions to put in writing before you sign, and a simple SOP to track, swap, and calibrate so your screens stay clean and your asset value holds.

Whether you buy from me or not, take this standard with you. Protect your future self—and your balance sheet—by leaving delivery day with more than a shiny truck. Leave with a plan, the right inventory, and the confidence that you can keep your screens looking new long after the ribbon-cutting.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

If you’re new to LED trucks, here’s the truth nobody leads with: the long-term value of your truck has less to do with the brochure specs and more to do with a cardboard box in your shop labeled “SPARES.”

Most first-time buyers don’t know to ask about it. Most new truck builders don’t want to slow a sale by talking about it. And most screen manufacturers ship only 1–2% spare modules with an order. On a truck with ~300–400 modules across the sides/front/rear, that’s 4–6 spare modules total. You’ll burn through those well before year three if you’re running routes.

Once you’re out… the clock starts on expensive decisions.

Why this matters more than you think

LED panels weren’t designed for the way we use them. In their native habitat, panels:

hang on a wall (stationary LED billboards), or
get assembled/dismantled at venues (rental/staging), then sit still during shows.

Trucks are different. Daily vibration, potholes, temperature swings, hard stops and curb hits accelerate wear. That pretty spec sheet “lifetime” assumes a lab, not a delivery route at rush hour. Which means field failure rates are higher and sooner.

When (not if) modules fail, you start seeing:

clusters of dead pixels
color shifts and brightness mismatches
colored squares (typically blue or pink)
intermittent flicker

A few defects are manageable—if you have matching spares. Without them, the problem becomes a patchwork you can’t hide.

The moment the math turns against you

What happens after those 4–6 spares are gone?

With power supplies, receiver cards, and cables, you can order replacements as needed. They’re commodity parts; brand and spec matter, but visual uniformity doesn’t. Modules are different. A module is a visual surface composed of hundreds of LEDs that must match the surrounding tiles in color, brightness, and uniformity. That’s why manufacturers bin LEDs—grouping them by wavelength (tint), luminous flux (brightness), and sometimes forward voltage—so panels assembled from the same batch/bin look seamless.

Two consequences follow:

You can’t just “buy two more later.”
Even if a vendor still carries your model number, the LEDs used today are almost certainly from a different bin (and often a different PCB/driver IC/mask revision). Mix-binning creates visible seams: checkerboard effects, color casts, brightness bands, or lines that your clients will notice.
Discontinued lines make matching nearly impossible.
Over a 3–5 year span, manufacturers change suppliers, components, and calibration profiles. Finding a few same-batch modules years later is like hunting NOS car parts—rare and expensive.

So when you hit year 3 or 4 and a side develops four bad tiles, the practical path usually becomes: rescreen one entire panel (most operators choose the rear) and harvest the good modules from the old panel to fix the sides. In today’s market, that’s $15,000–$20,000+ for quality product—before labor and downtime.

It also crushes resale. A truck with visible blemishes and no spare inventory is a hard pass for serious buyers. My rule of thumb when evaluating used trucks: if there aren’t at least 5–10 spare modules included at years 4–5, I immediately discount the offer by a minimum of $15k-40k, depending on the severity of the issue, because that’s what it will cost me to make the screens marketable again.

Why many builders miss this (and why you can’t)

Most builders optimize around two milestones:

Delivery day (get it off the lot), and
Warranty horizon (often ~2 years on screens).

Very few engineer their spare strategy for years 5–7, which is exactly how an owner/operator must think. Pair that with the fact that most MDB buyers are first-time truck buyers, and you get the same painful pattern: people don’t know what to ask; they learn the lesson only when it’s expensive.

The three questions smart buyers ask up front

Ask these—verbatim—before you sign:

“Exactly how many spare LED modules—from the same production batch/bin as the installed panels—are included? (Put the quantity and batch ID(s) on the invoice.)”
“If I need to order spare modules, what is the cost per module and minimum order quantity”
(This questions is more for used LED trucks)
“How many total spares—modules, power supplies, receiver cards, data/power jumpers—are in the crate today, and are all part numbers/batch IDs listed on the packing list?”
(Open and count together before final payment.)

What “enough spares” actually means

Here’s the standard I coach operators to hold (this is primarely for new trucks):

Spare module count:
For a typical 300–400-module truck, ~20 spare modules minimum at delivery. That’s ~5–7%—enough to carry you into years 5–7 if you’re running routes.
At Legion LED Trucks, we order at least 20 spares per new build and frequently more, plus essential electronics. Most trucks we see elsewhere ship with 4–6. That difference shows up in year 4.
Same-batch matching:
Spares should come from the exact same production batch/bin to minimize color/brightness mismatch. Ask for batch IDs on your invoice and keep them with the spares.
Beyond modules:
Keep at least: 2–4 spare power supplies (per screen family), receiver cards, data/power jumpers, and weather gaskets. Those are easy to source later; modules aren’t.

Your spare parts playbook (day one → year seven)

Day one setup

Label & log every spare with screen location compatibility (L/R/Rear/Front), batch code, and date.
Store right: dry, climate-controlled, with desiccant packs. No truck cabs.
Save configs: export and back up your control system configs (Novastar/Colorlight). Keep a copy in the truck and offsite (USB + cloud).

Annual maintenance

Inventory check: count remaining spares by screen family.
Visual audit: night and day inspections for emerging artifacts.
Plan ahead: if your spare count drops below 8–10 remaining and your truck is <5 years old, start budgeting for a rear rescreen to harvest good tiles before you’re forced to.

The economics—why this pays for itself

Let’s keep it simple.

Scenario A (thin spares): 6 spares included. You average 3 module swaps per year across screens. By late year 3 you’re at zero. In year 4 a side develops four bad tiles. You rescreen the rear to harvest good modules: $17,500 parts + labor/downtime. Resale still suffers if the harvest doesn’t perfectly color-match.
Scenario B (proper spares): 20 matching spares included. Same 3 swaps/year. You hit year 5 with ~5–8 spares left, buy another 4–6 from the same vendor (if available) or plan a strategic rear rescreen on your timeline before year 7. The difference isn’t just the dollars—it’s control. You keep your route clean, your clients happy, and your resale strong.

A $4–6k increase in day-one spares often avoids a $15–20k panic rescreen and preserves $15–30k in resale value. That’s a 5–10x swing in your favor.

What to look for in a contract or invoice (copy/paste checklist)

Ask your builder to include these lines in writing:

“Includes __ spare LED modules from the same production batch as installed screens.”
“Includes spare power supplies, receiver cards, data/power jumpers, and gaskets.”
“Builder provides batch IDs and control system config backups (USB + cloud link) at delivery.”
“Spare inventory target supports 5–7 years of normal mobile operation.”

If a vendor won’t add plain-language commitments like these, believe their silence.

If you’re buying used (real-world guardrails)

Non-negotiable: at least 5–10 spare modules included.
Visible artifacts: price it as if you’ll rescreen the rear immediately (because you probably will).
Test drive with content: play full-white, full-red/green/blue, motion graphics, and a 5%–10% gray to expose uniformity issues.

Bottom line

Most people don’t discover the spare-parts problem until they’re staring at a mosaic of dead pixels with no matching tiles left. By then, it’s expensive and urgent.

You can avoid all of it by thinking like an owner, not a buyer:

Plan for year 5–7 on day one.
Demand proper spare inventory and same-batch modules. A BIG part of this is that YOU get the spare inventory. Don’t let the manufacture keep posession of the spares.
Build a simple SOP to track, swap, and calibrate.
Protect your resale with clean screens and documented spares.

At Legion, we spec every new build with a minimum of 20 spare modules plus essential electronics because we know where the pain shows up—and we want you to skip it. Whether you buy from us or not, take this standard with you. Your future self (and your balance sheet) will thank you.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

Industry Discover Day: See It. Touch It. Decide

If you’re seriously considering a Mobile Digital Billboard business, Discover Day was built for you. This one-day, in-person session goes far beyond anything you’ll find on Google or AI—pulling from years of real operator experience to answer the questions that actually determine success.

You’ll get a clear framework to decide IF this business is the right fit for you (and your market), plus a hands-on demo of a brand-new Legion 714—so you can see the build quality, control systems, and operating workflow up close. We modeled the day after franchise discovery events: direct access, unscripted Q&A, and practical guidance you can’t get from a brochure.

Seats are limited. If you want the fastest path to clarity—and a true, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes—reserve your spot at www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday.

Reserve you tickets TODAY! Space is limited!
www.LEDtrucks.com/DiscoveryDay

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Equipment For Sale

Pre-listed: This truck just came into our inventory and won’t last long. It’s a brand new LED body build on a 2018 Ford Transit 350HD with 79k mi. For more information, call Jerry 402-403-4097

Issue #35: The Opportunity We’ve Been Building Toward

Jerry Teeter — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:04:41 +0000

Editor’s Note

We’re Back—And We’re Building Something Bigger.
Since my last issue in mid-July, I’ve been heads down—family vacation, my oldest daughter getting engaged, a lot of miles delivering LED trucks, finishing four new LED truck builds, the 50-Mile March (a nonprofit supporting veterans that I’m heavily involved with), and laying the groundwork for something I’ve been talking about for a long time.

Today I’m back in the saddle and pulling back the curtain on where this is headed: the vision behind our Total360 Local Model licensing program and the official launch of Discovery Day, our one-day live event for serious operators who want to know whether an MDB business is right for them—and, if so, a proven path forward.

Since day one of this industry, the process of buying an LED truck has been incomplete and, to a large degree, broken. As many of you know, I lost $100,000 on my first LED truck.

Even today, there’s virtually no practical, unbiased information—outside of what I’ve published—that helps a potential buyer understand the truck itself, the operating models, and the realities of actually running an MDB business.

For most first-time buyers, you’re taking a huge gamble by committing $100,000–$250,000 to a truck while not knowing which questions matter, buying into a business with no operating blueprints, and trying to “build the plane while it’s taking off.” It’s no wonder so many well-intentioned operators feel stuck and tap out within 24 months.

In my book, How to Start a Mobile Digital Billboard Business Without Losing $100K, I talk about the Four Cornerstones of Success required to build a profitable, scalable MDB business.
First: a high-quality LED truck—reliable, professional, and not plagued by breakdowns or screen failures in the first five years.
Second: an operating model that’s profitable, predictable, and scalable—and built on MRR (monthly recurring revenue).
Third: a sales system that consistently and predictably feeds that MRR.
Fourth: a salesperson/team who can actually sell media.

Remove any one of these and your risk skyrockets.

For years I’ve worked to help new operators avoid the pitfalls that cost me hundreds of thousands in cash and millions in missed revenue. But until December 2024, I did what most owners do—I guarded my best strategies and tactics for my own billboard business.

So where is this going? When we made the strategic decision to transition from being both a mobile billboard company and an LED truck manufacturer to focusing solely on manufacturing, it freed me to stop holding back and serve operators at the highest level.

With that said, I’m excited to give you—my newsletter subscribers—the first shot at our inaugural Discovery Day. This in-person event is modeled after a franchise discovery day: if you’re serious about starting an MDB business, come to Omaha and learn what it really takes to own and operate one—the kind of information you won’t find on Google. You’ll also get a full tour of a brand-new Legion 714 LED truck, see how it operates, and experience firsthand the quality differences between a Legion build and the rest of the industry.

My goal is that by day’s end, you’ll know whether this business is for you. If it isn’t, this event could literally save you hundreds of thousands of dollars and a mountain of stress. If it is, you’ll leave with a high-quality truck option, a detailed start-up plan, and a level of community support this industry has never had.

Up front: this is a paid event. One of the hardest-earned lessons in my entrepreneurial journey is simple—when you pay, you pay attention. We have limited seats and production capacity, so we’re looking for the most serious operators and biggest action-takers who want to build a legacy company. If you get through the truck demo and feel the day was a waste, I’ll refund you—no questions asked. But if you catch the vision for where this industry is headed and decide you’re ready to get started, we’ll apply 100% of your ticket price toward the irresistible offer I’m preparing for you.

If you’re truly serious about starting an MDB business, attending this live event is a no-brainer. Having something like this in 2014 would have saved me hundreds of thousands. On the flip side, the information we’ll share can be the difference between a business that struggles to reach $100K/year and one that crosses $1,000,000/year in the first couple of years. You decide.

MDB Industry Discovery Day is November 14. Tickets are limited to 10 businesses (you may bring a spouse/partner). Of those, only 2 VIP tickets are available. Get details or reserve your spot at www.ledtrucks.com/discoveryday.

I can’t wait to meet you in person.
And don’t forget—Legacy Starts Here.

Reserve you tickets TODAY! Space is limited!
www.LEDtrucks.com/DiscoveryDay

Issue #34: Legacy Starts Here

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 13:51:13 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider.

This week’s issue is a little different.

We’re not talking about routes or rates or screen specs. We’re talking about why you started this journey in the first place.

For me, it wasn’t just about starting a business—it was about building a life that meant something. I spent years in survival mode, doing what I had to do just to keep going. But as things started to grow, I realized I had the chance to build something bigger than a paycheck. Something that could outlive me.

That’s where legacy comes in.

Not the kind of legacy that’s about buildings with your name on them—but one rooted in impact. In time freedom. In creating opportunities for your family. In being irrationally generous to the people and missions that matter most to you.

Today, I get to do that through the businesses I’ve built—and through moments like this, when I get to pour into others who are just a few steps behind where I’ve been.

If you’ve been feeling that tug to create something bigger—this issue is for you.

Let’s talk about why you started… and what’s possible when you stay the course.

Legacy starts here.

M.D.B. Startup Focus: Start With Why—Finish With Legacy

We live in a culture that praises comfort and labels risk-takers as reckless. Go to school. Get a job. Climb the ladder. Retire with a pension and hope your body still works well enough to enjoy it.

The problem?
That ladder is leaning against the wrong wall for most people.

According to Gallup, over 70% of employees in the U.S. are disengaged from their jobs. They’re not energized. They’re not fulfilled. They’re clocking in, doing what’s required, and counting down to the weekend.

And yet, we’ll spend over 90,000 hours of our lives working—most of it helping build someone else’s dream. We give away our best energy, our most creative years, and our time with family… in exchange for the illusion of security.

But if you’re reading this, chances are—you’ve already started to question that narrative.

That Voice in the Back of Your Mind

It starts as a whisper: “There has to be more than this.”

Most people ignore it. They dismiss it as unrealistic. Risky. Selfish even.

But some people—people like you—choose to listen.

That voice isn’t wrong. It’s not naïve. It’s not a midlife crisis. It’s a calling. A pull toward ownership. Toward autonomy. Toward legacy.

And once you start feeding it… it doesn’t go away.

The Myth of Job Security

I believed in it once too. I thought a steady paycheck meant I was doing the responsible thing. Until the company I worked for shut down—and I was left scrambling.

That moment rewired something in me. I realized that true security doesn’t come from a paycheck. It comes from owning the platform you stand on. From having something no one else can take away from you. From building your own table instead of waiting for a seat at someone else’s.

That’s what entrepreneurship offers—not just the chance to make money, but the chance to own your time, your future, and your story.

What Legacy Really Means

For me, building a business was never just about income. It was about impact.

Today, I’m finally starting to live the kind of life I only used to dream about—not because I made the most money, but because I built something that gave me options.

I’m able to be irrationally generous with organizations that align with our faith and values.
I’m creating opportunities for my children—and their children—that weren’t available to my parents.
And I’m helping other entrepreneurs do the same in their lives and communities.

That’s legacy.
It’s not about fame or fortune—it’s about creating something that outlives you. Something that continues to bless others long after you’re gone.

If You Feel the Pull… Lean In

Look, not everyone is called to start something. And that’s okay.

But if you’ve read this far, you probably are.

You may not have all the answers. You may feel fear. You may wonder if you’re too late, too old, too underqualified.

You're not.

You’re early—because most people never even start asking the questions you're asking right now.

And if building a business that helps others succeed sounds like the kind of legacy you’d be proud of… I’ll tell you this: the Mobile Digital Billboard industry is still in its early innings. There are major opportunities on the horizon for those willing to take action.

But whether you choose that path or not—don’t settle for a life that looks good on paper but feels empty in your soul.

You were meant for more.

Legacy Starts Here

This isn’t just a catchy phrase. It’s a mindset.

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to take the first step—and keep walking.
Brick by brick. Ad by ad. Relationship by relationship.

That’s how you build something worth passing down.
That’s how you build legacy.
And it all starts… right here.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Since I’m already doing things a little differently with this issue, I’m continuing that theme here—with a personal look into my life. But make no mistake—this has everything to do with leaving a legacy.

This is my legacy.

I’m a girl dad. I started my first real business in 2002, just a few weeks before my oldest daughter was born. My girls have never known a life where their dad had a “normal” 9-to-5 job. They’ve had a front-row seat to the struggles, the stress, the long hours, and the constant phone calls.

But because of that, they’ve also witnessed—and absorbed—some of life’s most valuable lessons: resilience, persistence, and work ethic.

One thing I pre-decided when I launched that business was that my family would always be the top priority. I grew up with a dad who worked nights and weekends. I barely saw him throughout my childhood, and as a result, we never really had a relationship as adults. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad… it was just nothing.

I didn’t want that for my girls. So I made a vow: I would invest in my relationship with them even if it meant going back to the office after bedtime just so I could show up at their activities.

If I could give you just one piece of advice as you begin your entrepreneurial journey, it would be this:
Pre-decide that your relationship with your spouse and your kids will always matter more than your business. Yes, there will be seasons where you have to grind. But balance that hustle with intentional time—and communicate clearly about why you’re doing what you’re doing.

I did that well with my kids. But I didn’t do it well with my wife—and it nearly cost me my marriage, and the best thing that ever happened to me.

By God’s grace, we put the pieces back together. And as we head into this next phase of life, I’m grateful to say we’re in a strong place—together.

This week, I had the honor of watching and capturing my oldest daughter’s engagement, just one day before we left on what will likely be our final family vacation before she gets married.

And all I can think about is how thankful I am—thankful for every unseen sacrifice, every late night, every tough decision that allowed me to build the legacy I care about most: my family.

As you start your journey, remember this:
Businesses will come and go.
But your relationships? They’re for life.

No level of success will ever fill the space meant for deep, lasting connection with your spouse and kids. Don’t sacrifice what matters most on the altar of “making it.”

Your greatest legacy isn’t what you build.
It’s who you build it with.

Equipment For Sale

Legion LED Trucks has the largest inventory of used LED trucks in the country. We have multiple units on our lot in Omaha, NE ready for a new home.

Inventory is changing weekly. If you see a truck you like, don’t wait because it might be gone.

Issue #33: The 5 Biggest Mistakes New MDB Operators Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:02:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! If you're new here, this newsletter is built for current and future Mobile Digital Billboard operators who want to build a real business—not just a truck with a screen.

Over the last decade, I’ve talked with hundreds of operators—from people who just got their first truck to those running multiple units in multiple markets. And while everyone’s story is different, I can tell you one thing that’s always the same: the first year is where most of the biggest mistakes happen.

Some of them are painful but fixable. Others are nearly impossible to recover from. And the worst part? Almost all of them are totally avoidable if someone would just tell you the truth up front.

That’s what I’m doing this week.

In this issue, I’m laying out the five most common—and most costly—mistakes I’ve seen Mobile Digital Billboard owners make in their first year. From buying the wrong truck to following the wrong advice, these are the decisions that quietly kill momentum and drain bank accounts. But I’m not just pointing out the problems—I’m showing you how to avoid each one by building your business on the Four Cornerstones of MDB Success.

If you’re just getting started, this is the roadmap I wish I had when I bought my first truck. And if you’ve already been at it a while, this might be the checklist that helps you course-correct before it’s too late.

Let’s dig in.

M.D.B. Startup Focus: The 5 Biggest Mistakes New MDB Operators Make (and How to Avoid Them)

When someone buys a truck from me, I usually ask the same question:
“Do you want to build a real business—or just try this out and see what happens?”

Because the truth is, this industry is still so new—and the barriers to entry are so low—that it attracts people who are excited about the opportunity, but completely unprepared to build it right.

They’ve seen the videos, maybe even followed some of my content, and they think, “It’s just a truck with a screen. How hard can it be?”

But what they don’t realize is that Mobile Digital Billboards aren’t just about the screen. They’re about building an entire sales, media, and operations system—and most first-year operators make the same 5 mistakes that either keep them from growing or run them out of the business completely.

And every one of those mistakes ties back to what I’ve taught in nearly every issue of this newsletter:

Success is built on Four Cornerstones—the Truck, the Model, the Sales System, and the Salesperson (you).

Here’s where new operators go wrong… and how to make sure you don’t follow the same path.

1. Choosing the Cheapest Truck Instead of the Best Truck

🧱 Cornerstone: The Truck

This is the mistake that costs more than just money—it costs momentum, credibility, and trust. It’s one of the hardest to recover from, and sadly, one of the most common.

A new operator sees a truck listed for $75–$150K—well below the price of a premium build. The pictures look solid. The seller promises national brand work will be sent their way. And it all sounds like the shortcut they’ve been looking for.

But here's what usually happens six months later:

The screens start having issues… and there are no spare parts.
The seller, who promised help and leads, ghosts them as soon as the check clears.
They’ve had to cancel multiple jobs at the last minute because the screens glitched or the control system malfunctioned.
Their reputation is taking hits they can't afford to absorb this early in the game.

And now, they’re stuck. No support. No pipeline. No stability. Every repair is a scramble, and worse—clients start questioning whether they’re a real company or just a side hustle.

I’ll say it again: You don’t save money by buying cheap. You delay the expense—and make it harder to earn anything while you wait.

Your truck is the foundation. If the foundation is unstable, the whole business cracks under pressure.

2. Jumping in With No Real Model—and No Real Plan

🧱 Cornerstone: The Model

This is the equivalent of walking onto a construction site with no blueprint and saying, “I’ll figure it out.”

Just because you’ve seen a house doesn’t mean you know how to build one. Same goes for MDB.

I’ve watched countless operators buy a truck without:

A defined pricing structure
A mapped-out route
A clear understanding of their target client
Any plan to generate consistent, predictable income

They try to do a little of everything—events one week, exclusive jobs the next, maybe a route here and there—and it becomes a reactive mess.

Real momentum only comes when you pick a model and run with it for a minimum of 6–12 months. That’s what we did when we stopped pivoting and started building—and that’s when everything started to change.

You can’t evaluate or improve a business you never actually committed to.

3. Trying to Build the Business Without Targeting a Clear Audience

🧱 Cornerstone: The Sales System

“If you’re for everyone, you’re for no one.”
And in this business, trying to market to everyone means you’ll close no one.

Too many operators waste months chasing random leads, sending generic pitches, and trying to convince people to care about mobile billboards—when instead, they should be laser-focused on who they’re for.

Your first step is identifying the types of businesses already spending money on marketing and looking for more visibility in your city. Start with your Dream 100:
Retail. Restaurants. Local service businesses. Higher ed. Event venues. Real estate groups. Medical practices.

Then go build your route around where they are. Create a pricing strategy and offer tailored to them. Speak to their pain points and goals—not just what your truck can do.

When you build for someone specific, you don’t just get more leads—you start closing better clients with longer contracts.

4. Selling Spots Instead of Building Offers

🧱 Cornerstone: The Salesperson (You)

This is where most operators leave hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table every year.

They sell the truck like a utility. “It’s $150/hour. We’ll run your ad 10x an hour.” They’re selling time on a screen instead of an outcome for the client.

That’s like Tesla trying to sell you a car based on how many hours it can run.

Your job as the owner/operator is to build offers—packages that deliver specific results to your ideal client. Offers that solve their pain point, position their brand with dominance, and make your service the obvious choice.

Think beyond the truck. Your offer might include:

Design assistance
Monthly reporting
Priority booking
Social media promotion
Two exclusive campaign slots per month
Guaranteed impressions or visibility zones

When you package like this, you separate yourself from every other operator still pitching day rates. You move from vendor to partner. And your pricing becomes a reflection of value—not time.

5. Trying to Figure It All Out Alone

🧱 Every Cornerstone is Affected

This is the mistake that quietly crushes dreams.

Most first-year operators go into the business thinking they have a plan. They’ve watched a few videos, followed some operators on social, maybe even talked to a guy selling trucks who seems to know what he’s talking about. They piece together a strategy based on instinct, surface-level research, or advice from someone who has something to sell.

But here’s the problem: that’s not a blueprint. That’s guessing.

It’s like building a skyscraper because you once rented an apartment. You might know what it’s supposed to look like, but you have no idea how to design the foundation, wire the electricity, or pass inspection. And in this business, that kind of guesswork is expensive.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
— Luke 14:28

Wise builders count the cost before they start building. And they don’t try to wing it—they follow a proven plan.

Every successful operator I’ve coached made the same decision early on: I don’t want to learn everything the hard way. They found a system, got support, and stayed accountable to something outside of their own gut instincts.

You don’t get extra points for doing it solo. You get stuck.

Final Thoughts

Every one of these mistakes is avoidable. But they’re only avoided when you choose to build this business like a business—not a side hustle.

So here’s what I’ll leave you with:

Invest in the right truck, not the cheapest one.
Follow a proven model, not your gut.
Speak directly to your audience, not the masses.
Build compelling offers, not hourly invoices.
And for the love of all things efficient—stop trying to do it all alone.

If you're serious about building a Mobile Digital Billboard business that lasts, these aren’t suggestions—they’re non-negotiables. Skip them, and you’ll be back at square one in six months, wondering where it all went wrong. Stick to them, and you’ll have something that doesn’t just survive—but grows.

There’s no prize for doing it the hard way. Get the blueprint. Follow the system. Build it right the first time.

Your future self—and your bottom line—will thank you.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

If you're thinking about buying a used LED truck—or wondering what really makes one build better than another—you need to see this. In this quick side-by-side comparison, I show two 7-year-old LED trucks with similar hours, but drastically different screen conditions and resale value.

Click to watch: What you’ll see could save you tens of thousands in the future.

Equipment For Sale

Looking for a lucritive side hustler? This used Legion 613 P5 LED trailer is the perfect start to your screen rental business.

See the full listing here: https://www.inventory.ledtrucks.com/listing/2020-legion-led-video-wall-trailer-6%e2%80%b2-x-13%e2%80%b2-p5/

Issue #32: The Secret Weapon Every MDB Owner Needs (That Has Nothing to Do with the LED Truck)

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:18:00 +0000

Editors Note

I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures. Even before I owned a camera that could do anything beyond “point and shoot,” I felt like I had an eye for a good shot. But for years, I never took the time to actually learn how to use a camera the way it was meant to be used.

That changed when I was asked to join the photography team at my church. I was paired with a mentor who patiently walked me through shooting in full manual mode and introduced me to editing tools like Adobe Lightroom. That one decision radically transformed the quality of my photography—and that skill spilled over into every area of my life. Now I’m the guy who gets the best family photos, and it’s also become one of the most valuable things I bring to the table in my business.

Learning how to shoot professional-level photos has saved me thousands of dollars in marketing content, but even more than that, it’s elevated our brand. There’s nothing better than sending a client beautifully edited pictures of their campaign—shots they didn’t ask for, didn’t expect, and didn’t have to pay extra for. It creates loyalty, makes your work look top-tier, and gives you a constant stream of content to feed your marketing engine.

If you’re serious about growing your mobile digital billboard business, don’t underestimate the value of learning this skill. It’s one of the most overlooked and highest-ROI tools in your arsenal.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

One of the smartest business moves I’ve made—by far—was learning how to take professional-grade photos of my trucks and my clients’ ads. Not just for them, but for me.

Your truck is a mobile media platform. But when all people ever see are low-quality, blurry, poorly-lit photos taken out a driver’s window, it doesn’t matter how good your service is—it looks cheap.

Photos are the first impression. They’re what fill your website, your social channels, your pitch decks, and your media kits. And they’re the single fastest way to either earn trust—or lose it.

If you want to look like a premium advertising platform, then you need to start showing up like one. And it starts with photos.

Why Great Photos Are One of the Smartest Investments You Can Make

Let’s talk ROI.

Most operators rely on their drivers to take campaign photos while the truck is out on the route. We used to require 5–10 photos per hour, which meant 40–80 total per day. But here’s the problem: from that batch, we were lucky to get 5 usable ones. The rest were either:

Blown out from the screen brightness
Cut off (missing half the truck or ad)
Crooked or tilted
Taken while moving with motion blur
Captured with nothing in the frame but the truck and a wall or parking lot

This is what many operators think “good enough” looks like—no context, no people or cars in the shot, and the cab partially cut off. A missed opportunity to showcase the campaign.

The difference between that kind of photo and a well-shot, street-level scene with people and context is everything. One looks like a real media company. Here is an example of a well shot photo:

In this photo, you have everything: a person looking at the truck, a well known venue in the background with crowds of people in direct view of the advertisment, and the mobile digital billboard front and center.

If you want shots like this, you can pay a professional photographer $500–$1,000 per shoot, or you can invest in a camera like mine, which is a Canon R6 mirrorless camera with a 70–200mm RF f/2.8 zoom lens. It cost me about $5,000—but it’s paid for itself 10x over. Every great photo you take becomes a piece of evergreen content you can use in:

Cold outreach
Social media
Your media kit
Landing pages
Pitch decks
Canva ads
Client handoffs

And most importantly, it elevates how your business is perceived.

What Makes a Great Truck Photo?

The goal of a great truck photo isn’t just to show the screen—it’s to show how your truck functions in the real world.

You want potential advertisers to look at the image and immediately think,
“I can see my brand on that.”

To do that, you need to:

Show the truck in busy, real-life settings
Include people and cars in the foreground and background
Capture angles that frame the ad in action, not isolation
Shoot at eye level or slightly above, never downward or warped

This shot tells a complete story without a single word: the brand, the market, the location, the density. It’s premium all the way through.

By contrast, here’s the kind of image that doesn’t help your brand:

A screen in a random parking lot with no visible people, no landmark, and no energy. It doesn’t feel real or active. This could be anywhere—and that’s the problem.

How to Plan a Photoshoot (And Why You Should Be Doing It Yourself)

Planning a shoot isn’t hard—but you do need to be intentional. This is a creative task, not just documentation.

Start by choosing 2–3 locations per campaign. Look for:

High-traffic intersections
Areas with interesting backdrops (murals, iconic buildings, downtown)
Venues where your target audience will naturally be

Then bring a driver to operate the truck while you shoot. You can’t do both well at the same time. Have them circle the block 2–3 times per location so you can get shots from different angles, distances, and lighting.

Post up 15–20 yards away using a zoom lens, and try to capture:

45° angles of the front and rear corners
Side profiles with people walking nearby
The truck in motion with traffic or foot traffic around it
A wide shot that includes a landmark or recognizable feature

Shot at a corner in Omaha during College World Series on a phone. This photo gives instant location context, visual balance, and ad clarity—even during early evening light.

Best Practices and Tips for Capturing Strong Shots

Photography is a craft—but you don’t have to be a professional to make it work for your business. Here’s what to focus on:

1. Time of Day:
Shoot during golden hour—about 1 hour after sunrise or before sunset. Avoid direct mid-day light unless you’re working with high contrast scenes.

2. Screen Brightness:
Always lower your screen brightness before shooting. At dusk or in shaded areas, the LED screen can overpower the rest of the image, washing out the ad entirely.

3. Camera Position:
Shoot from just above eye level when possible. Avoid shooting downward unless for dramatic effect. Use your zoom to compress depth and make the ad feel closer and sharper.

4. Variety:
Capture the truck parked, moving, near crosswalks, in intersections, and alongside pedestrians. These “social proof” shots build confidence.

Look at the composition here. The brand is clear, the traffic sets the scene, and the photo feels grounded in a real city moment.

B-Roll: The Bonus Asset Nobody Tells You to Collect

Even if you’re not doing video editing yet, you should be capturing B-roll on every campaign.

What is B-roll?
It’s the quiet background footage that fills social videos, highlight reels, or ads. It doesn’t need to have audio or a narrator—it’s the “cutaway” footage that shows your truck doing what it does best.

Capture:

30–60 second clips of the truck parked with foot traffic moving nearby
Walkaround shots where you slowly circle the truck while filming
Cross-street shots with the truck driving through a crowd
Crowd reaction if people stop or take pictures

Events, stadiums, concerts, food truck festivals—these are the perfect places to get this type of content. And even if you don’t know how to edit, a Fiverr editor can turn that B-roll into a 15–30 second sizzle reel for under $100.

Or, import your footage into Canva Pro and create vertical reels for Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn—without ever touching a timeline editor.

This is content you can use for months. And the cost to you is… nothing. Just your time.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Want to see a gallery of one of our Lead Innovations events? This was the NCAA March Madness Round 2 in Omaha and this gallery includes a mixture of action shots of the truck along with staged “hero” shots of just the LED truck.

March Madness 2024 Mobile Digital Billboard Pictures

Check out this weeks Bonus Video where I give more examples of great LED truck photography and show additional examples from my work.

Equipment For Sale

We currently have 10+ used LED trucks on our lot in Omaha, NE starting at just $74k

Issue #31: What Nobody Tells New Mobile Digital Billboard Operators About Event Pricing

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:02:00 +0000

Editors Note

Over the years, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in this business—but few were as costly as this one: treating live events like advertising jobs. I didn’t know any better at the time. A client wanted to play a video at a fundraiser? Great—same truck, same screen, same hourly rate. What I didn’t realize is that I was leaving thousands of dollars on the table every single time.

See, event clients aren’t buying impressions. They’re buying experience. And when you show up with an LED truck that enhances the energy of a tailgate, a corporate movie night, or a city festival—you’ve become the main attraction. That’s worth more. A lot more. And it took me years to understand just how big that opportunity really is.

In this issue, I’m sharing what most new MDB operators don’t realize about event pricing—and how you can start turning single-day rentals into $3K–$5K wins. I’ll also explain why this model can not only coexist with your shared route, but it is an important part of the Total360 Local Model that we train.

Let’s flip the switch on this revenue stream.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

After more than a decade in this business, one of the most expensive lessons I’ve learned—both from my own experience and watching others—is that most LED truck operators are dramatically undercharging for event rentals. They treat live events like they’re just another version of advertising, simply plugging in a new video file and showing up with the truck.

But these are two completely different business models. And if you treat them the same, you’ll never unlock the true income potential that event work can provide.

Advertising is about repetition and visibility. Events are about experience and execution. And because of that, the value you deliver—and the expectations you have to meet—are on a completely different level. It’s why video wall rental companies regularly charge $8,000–$10,000 for a single-day event. They know they’re not just bringing gear—they’re delivering the tech backbone for the event.

That’s the opportunity. If you can provide a high-quality screen, solid sound, basic A/V capabilities, and show up like a pro, you can offer these clients a premium experience for a fraction of the traditional cost—and still earn a much higher margin than you’d ever make running ads.

Events Aren’t Ads—They’re a Whole Different Product

Live events require a totally different approach from your daily ad model. When you sell advertising, you’re selling rotation, reach, and frequency. Your pricing is tied to hours and impressions. But when you show up to an event, the screen isn’t just broadcasting—it’s a central part of the experience.

You’re no longer selling based on how many people pass by. You’re selling based on how the screen enhances the moment for everyone there.

And that means the expectations shift. Clients expect you to be there early. They expect everything to work without issues. They may want video loops, live streams, slide decks, music, or sponsor reels. If the event kicks off at 6:00 PM, they expect you to be set up by 4:30 and ready to troubleshoot anything.

That prep, that pressure, and that responsibility is why A/V companies charge what they do. And if you’re offering similar outcomes, you need to charge accordingly.

The Best Niche: Underserved Events With Mid-Level Budgets

Most of the biggest A/V companies chase massive concerts and stadium shows. That leaves a wide-open opportunity for events that still have good budgets but aren’t looking to spend $10,000 on a screen.

These aren’t backyard birthdays. These are community and corporate events that want something impressive but manageable.

Some of the best opportunities I’ve found include:

Corporate Movie Nights: These are often client appreciation events, employee family nights, or sponsored community engagements.
College Football Tailgates: In many cases, these are booked by corporate sponsors or the university itself—not individual fans.
5Ks and Marathons: Organizers use the screen for pre-race loops, sponsor promotion, countdowns, and post-race entertainment.
Concerts and City Festivals: LED screens can be used for performer intros, sponsor loops, live feeds, or schedules.

These clients often have $2,500–$4,500 to spend on a screen, but want to avoid the complexity of full-scale A/V production teams. That’s where your mobile billboard comes in—providing a high-quality experience, delivered locally, at a better price point than traditional alternatives.

Be Ready to Deliver—Not Just Show Up

One of the biggest disconnects in the operator mindset is assuming that the client will supply everything and just plug into your truck. While that might be true for some jobs, most clients expect you to handle at least some of the A/V responsibilities.

That means you need more than just the screen.

At a minimum, you should be prepared to:

Provide loud, clean sound—especially for movie nights or any event with music or speaking.
Play back multiple formats—videos, slideshows, sponsor loops, streaming content, DVDs.
Offer setup support and be on-site early to test and troubleshoot.
Handle switching between content sources (loop > live feed > back to loop).
Work with their timeline, parking access, and event flow.

You don’t need to be a professional A/V technician. But if you’re going to charge premium pricing, you do need to provide a premium experience. At the very least, get familiar with the basics—or have someone on call who can help you handle the technical side when needed.

How to Price Events the Right Way

This is where most operators get it wrong. They charge $125 or $150 an hour—same as their route pricing—without factoring in the unique value and labor involved in delivering a smooth event experience.

That hourly mindset doesn’t work here. This is a custom, one-time-use, high-touch engagement. You need to price accordingly.

For most markets, I recommend:

Half-Day Rental (4–5 hours): $1,500–$2,500
Full-Day Rental (8–10 hours): $2,500–$4,500
Sound System Upgrade or Add-Ons: +$250–$750
Custom Content Setup: +$150–$500
A/V Technician On-Site: +$500
Evening Setup or Early Access Load-In: +$500–$1,000

This puts you in a sweet spot: well below the $8–10k range of full A/V firms, but well above the cost of advertising. And when you deliver, clients are usually thrilled with the outcome—and quick to refer you for the next event.

When to Add a Trailer

The truck is the best way to break into events. It gets attention. It’s turnkey. It doesn’t require as much of a learning curve. But once you start getting consistent bookings, you’re going to feel the tension between your event work and your route advertising schedule.

That’s when it’s time to invest in a trailer.

A trailer solves several key problems:

The screen raises up in the air above the crowd and rotates to get the perfect angle.
It can be staged ahead of time—no driver required during the event.
It doesn’t interfere with your route schedule or advertising clients.
It opens up multi-day or late-night events that aren’t a good fit for your truck.
The cost of ownership is much lower than a LED truck, and most of the labor is already done when it’s parked.
Job margins are often 90%+.

If you plan to make event rentals a real part of your business, having a dedicated trailer allows you to do it without compromising your ad revenue model. It’s one of the smartest scaling moves you can make once you have a few solid clients locked in.

Here is an example of an event focused LED trailer. This one is available for sale at Legion LED Trucks (click picture to view listing).

Where to Start: Movie Nights and Tailgates

If you’re brand new to event rentals, I recommend starting simple.

Launch with corporate movie nights—easy to explain, high perceived value, and a format most people understand. Offer the full experience for $1,600 including content playback and audio.
After that, go after football tailgates—especially during college season. These are short-duration events but often command a higher price because of brand involvement and urgency.

Start by partnering with a local business or sponsor to run your first event at cost. Capture video, get testimonials, and use it to market future opportunities. One event can easily lead to three or four more

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Looking for a dependable starter truck to launch your mobile digital billboard business? We’ve got several nearly identical units available, all built on 2015 GMC Savana chassis with four P4-resolution LED screens—one on each side, plus front and rear. These are workhorse trucks that were used in real-world campaigns and are perfect for operators looking to get into the business at an affordable price point.

Each truck runs strong with mileage ranging from 120k–200k, and prices start at just $75,000. Whether you’re starting your first route or adding a second unit for special events and overflow jobs, these trucks are proven performers and offer a great entry-level opportunity with reliable LED display power on all sides.

Full inventory at www.LEDtrucks.com

Issue #30: How to Use ChatGPT to Launch Your First Route in 60 Days (Without Paid Ads)

Jerry Teeter — Wed, 21 May 2025 11:31:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! If you’ve made it this far, you’ve officially reached the final chapter in our 5-part Startup Series on launching your Mobile Digital Billboard business—and this is where everything we’ve built finally comes together.

Over the last five issues, we’ve walked through the foundation: your brand, your legal setup, your route strategy, your pricing, and how to find your first customers. But now it’s time to stop planning and start executing.

In this issue, I’m showing you how to use ChatGPT to build the daily marketing and sales engine that gets your first route off the ground. We’re not talking about theory—we’re talking about a real 30–60 day window, with real outreach, real posts, and real conversations. This is the same process I’ve followed myself and have coached others through, and it works when you commit to showing up every single day.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to launch, this is it. Let’s go.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

If you’ve followed along from Issue# 25 to now, you’ve done what most entrepreneurs never do: you built a real foundation before trying to make a sale.

You created a business plan, established your brand, set up your legal structure, built your media kit and website, and learned how to pitch. And now you’re standing at the starting line of what actually matters: Getting your first route live, with paying clients, and making money.

But this is also where most operators stall out. They get overwhelmed. They don’t know what to do each day. They’re unsure if they’re “ready.” So they wait.

Let me be clear: You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need paid ads. What you need is a daily rhythm, a clear 60-day goal, and a tool like ChatGPT to help you execute it without burning out.

This issue is your execution plan.

The Goal: Launch Your First Route in the Next 30–60 Days

Once your business infrastructure is in place, you need to pick a launch date. Not for a soft opening or test run—your real, fully functioning route. I recommend setting your route launch date 30–60 days out from today depending on your readiness and how aggressive you want to be.

But—and this is critical—you do not start selling until a few non-negotiables are in place:

✅ Your legal structure is complete (LLC, EIN, bank account)
✅ Your business name, logo, and brand identity are dialed in
✅ Your website is live (at minimum a home page with route description and pricing)
✅ Your media kit is built and downloadable from the site
✅ Your Google Business Profile is created
✅ Your route is mapped and ready to run (25–35 square miles, 40 hours/week)

Once those pieces are complete, it’s time to launch—not your truck, but your local presence. What you do next will determine how fast your first route fills.

Step 1: Build Your Local Marketing Engine (Bootstrap Style)

You don’t need to spend thousands on Facebook ads or hire a digital agency. You just need to make your business visible everywhere locally that matters. Start by building a free, organic marketing presence across every major local channel. This includes your social profiles, Google listing, community groups, and business networking organizations.

The key here is positioning. You want to show up like a business that is here to stay. A business that local professionals and decision-makers are already starting to see everywhere. That kind of visibility builds trust before your first sale ever happens.

ChatGPT can help you quickly generate a full checklist of local visibility channels. Once you have the list, dedicate 2–3 days to get everything set up. This is your infrastructure—don’t rush it, but don’t drag it out. Done is better than perfect.

💬 GPT Prompt – Local Marketing Setup Checklist

Create a comprehensive checklist for promoting a new local business using free and organic methods. The business is a Mobile Digital Billboard company. Include setting up Google Business Profile, social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok), joining local Facebook community groups, registering with the Chamber of Commerce, finding local BNI and Toastmasters chapters, and any other cost-free visibility opportunities that will help bootstrap my marketing.

Your goal here is presence. You want people to say, “I’ve been seeing your company everywhere lately.”

Step 2: Post Daily (Without Burning Out)

Visibility without consistency doesn’t work. You can’t build top-of-mind awareness with one great post—you do it by showing up day after day, week after week. The key is to keep it simple and repeatable.

You don’t need professional photography. You don’t need a big content calendar. What you need is a system that helps you post once per day across the platforms you’re already setting up: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Google Business Profile.

This is where ChatGPT shines. You can give it a prompt to create a full 60-day content calendar with post ideas, photo suggestions, and even sample captions. Then batch your content on Sundays. Spend an hour scheduling the week. Don’t overthink it. The goal isn’t to go viral—it’s to stay visible.

Use a rotation of content themes like:

Behind the scenes (your route, your truck, your screen)
Industry education (how MDBs work, why they’re effective)
Customer success stories
Special offers
Local shout-outs and community tie-ins

This builds real equity in your city—and positions you as the go-to local expert in mobile advertising.

💬 GPT Prompt – 60-Day Organic Content Calendar

Create a 60-day marketing calendar for launching a Mobile Digital Billboard business. Include one organic marketing action per day such as a social media post idea, a story prompt, a video concept, or a Google Business Profile update. Rotate through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok. Keep it simple enough for a solo operator to execute.

You don’t need likes—you need recognition. Show up daily.

Step 3: Sell Every Day With Structure

If you’ve been following the Total360 Model, you know what the goal is:
3 to 4 advertisers committed to a 3-month contract before launch day. That’s the milestone that takes you from idea to income.

But this isn’t something you “fit in” between errands. For the next 4–8 weeks, selling needs to be your full-time job. That means phone calls, emails, DMs, walk-ins, networking groups, and follow-ups—every day.

The problem most new operators face isn’t laziness—it’s a lack of structure. They don’t know what to do each day, so they end up doing nothing. That’s where GPT comes in. You can use it to generate an 8-week sales calendar that includes daily outreach goals, weekly follow-up plans, and scheduled in-person visibility efforts like networking events or chamber mixers.

If you can commit to showing up every day—even if it’s just for 2 focused hours—you’ll win. But if you don’t have a plan, you’ll drift. Let GPT create that plan for you.

💬 GPT Prompt – 8-Week Sales Calendar

Create an 8-week sales calendar for a Mobile Digital Billboard business. Each week should include daily outreach goals, follow-up reminders, and one in-person networking action. The goal is to sign 3–4 advertisers on 3-month contracts before the route launch. Focus on consistent, manageable daily actions for a solo operator.

You don’t need magic—you need momentum. Sales is a muscle. Work it every day.

Step 4: Use NEPQ to Guide Your Conversations

You’ve heard me say this before: people don’t buy LED screens—they buy outcomes.
But even if you know that, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overselling and talking too much. That’s where NEPQ (Neuro-Emotional Persuasion Questions by Jeremy Miner) comes in.

This isn’t about manipulation. It’s about asking the right questions in the right order so the prospect can discover—for themselves—why they need your service. NEPQ helps you lead conversations with curiosity instead of pressure.

GPT can help you build both a cold call script and a walk-in script based on NEPQ principles. These scripts guide you through asking questions like:

“What are you currently doing to promote your business locally?”
“Has that been generating the kind of visibility or traffic you’re hoping for?”
“If there was a way to reach more people for less than a traditional billboard, would you be open to hearing how it works?”

This approach builds trust. It positions you as a problem-solver, not a pitchman. And it works.

💬 GPT Prompt – NEPQ-Based Sales Scripts

Create two cold outreach scripts for a Mobile Digital Billboard company. One is for in-person walk-ins, and one is for cold calls. Use NEPQ-style question frameworks to identify the prospect’s pain points, guide the conversation around local visibility and results, and present the service as a solution. Avoid pushy sales language—focus on curiosity and problem discovery.

If you want to go deeper, I highly recommend The New Model of Selling by Jeremy Miner. His NEPQ framework has been one of the most powerful tools I’ve used to improve how I sell and how I teach others to sell.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Starting Over—You’re Starting Up

This issue closes out our 5-part Startup Series.
You’ve now got everything you need to launch a real, profitable mobile digital billboard business. Not a side hustle. Not a part-time project. A business.

The only thing left to do is commit.
Set the date.
Show up daily.
Sell with confidence.

Let ChatGPT be your assistant. Let your system do the heavy lifting.
And let your story be the next success we feature inside this newsletter.

Let’s launch.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

In this week’s bonus video, I’m walking you through how to launch your first mobile billboard route in the next 30–60 days—without spending a dime on paid ads. I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT as your personal assistant to build your local marketing presence, create a daily content rhythm, structure your sales calendar, and write NEPQ-style outreach scripts that actually convert. This is a step-by-step game plan to go from zero to revenue and get your first 3–4 advertisers signed before your route even rolls. If you’re ready to stop planning and start executing, this is the video to watch.

Equipment For Sale

Legion LED Trucks currently has EIGHT used LED trucks on our lot that are ready for a new home. We are the nations ONLY licensed used LED truck dealer with an inventory of new and used LED trucks. Go to www.LEDtrucks.com to see the current inventory.

Issue #29: How to Use ChatGPT to Land Your First Clients and Start Generating Revenue

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 13 May 2025 20:00:24 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! We’re now in Part 4 of our 5-part Startup Series, where I’m showing you how to use ChatGPT to build every major part of your Mobile Digital Billboard business—from branding and legal setup to route strategy and now… revenue.

Last week, we talked about building your online presence with a clean media kit, Google Business Profile, and a website that actually works.
This week, we’re tackling what most new operators avoid (and what really moves the needle): sales.

Whether you’ve got a truck on order or it’s already in your garage, nothing happens until you land your first advertiser. In this issue, I’m walking you through how to use ChatGPT to help you build your Dream 100 prospect list, create a smart pricing structure tied to a correctly designed route, and write an outcome-based pitch that actually gets people to say yes.

It’s a lot easier than you think—especially when you have the right tools, strategy, and prompts.

Let’s help you start generating real revenue.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

If you've followed along since Issue 1, you already know that success in this business depends on more than just having a great truck. In our Four Cornerstones of Mobile Digital Billboard Success, two of the most overlooked—but absolutely critical—cornerstones are:

A sales system
A person who can actually sell media

You can have a rock-solid vehicle, flawless screens, and killer creative—but if you can’t sell, none of it matters. Getting your first advertisers isn’t just a milestone—it’s the real proof that you’re running a business and not just owning a truck.

The good news? You don’t have to be a “natural closer” or hire an expensive salesperson to get started. What you need are three things:

A Dream 100 list of ideal clients in your city
A smart, tiered pricing strategy tied to a well-designed route
A confident, outcome-driven pitch that’s rooted in how people make buying decisions

In this issue, I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT to help you build all three—so you can start generating revenue before your screens ever light up.

Step 1: Build Your Local “Dream 100” Prospect List

Back in Issue #18, we talked about building your Dream 100—a curated list of businesses in your market that would benefit the most from being seen consistently, repeatedly, and locally.

That’s where you start—not by blasting every business with a billboard pitch, but by intentionally targeting the industries where mobile visibility moves the needle.

Focus on:

Businesses with local or regional customer bases
Industries that rely on foot traffic, brand familiarity, or community presence
Specific verticals like retail, restaurants, service providers (plumbers, HVAC, realtors), and higher education institutions trying to recruit students or drive event attendance

Let ChatGPT help you build and expand your Dream 100 list:

💬 GPT Prompt: Build Your Dream 100 Prospect List

I’m starting a Mobile Digital Billboard company in [City, State]. Based on my market, give me a list of 25 local business types that rely on local visibility, repeat exposure, or geographic targeting. Include categories such as retail, restaurants, service providers, and higher education. These businesses should benefit from reaching customers where they live, shop, and drive.

💬 Bonus Prompt: Add Real Examples

Based on that list, give me 3 real-life businesses in each category located in [City].

This gives you a hyper-relevant list of actual local companies. You can sort it by zone, route, or even organize them based on their visibility spend (many have billboards, mailers, radio ads, etc.—which tells you they already believe in advertising).

Step 2: Price and Structure Your Route the Right Way

Here’s where most new operators follow bad advice:
They charge $125–$150 per hour across the board—for everything.
Whether it’s advertising, running in a parade, or acting as a video wall at an event—it all gets the same rate. No strategy, no positioning, no tiering.

I coach my clients to do things differently.

Start by asking:

What service am I actually offering?
Is this a daily advertising model? A special event activation? A branded exclusive?
What value is the client getting?
Is this helping them drive walk-ins? Boost event turnout? Launch a new location?
What do comparable services cost?
- What does it cost to rent a video wall trailer?
- What would it take to build a parade float?
- What would a digital takeover at a festival cost?

Once you understand the value of the service, you can build a pricing model that’s based on perceived outcome—not just time.

Then build in tiered pricing based on quantity:

A 2-hour booking should cost more per hour than a multi-day campaign
A client who books all three days of a weekend event should get a lower hourly rate than someone popping in for just one

Use ChatGPT to help you create your first set of tiered options:

💬 GPT Prompt: Shared Route Pricing

Create a sample rate card for a Mobile Digital Billboard company offering 3 tiers of ad packages on a shared daily route. Each tier should be based on the frequency of ad rotation and total display time per week. Include clear descriptions and sample pricing designed to appeal to small and mid-sized local businesses.

💬 Bonus Prompt: Tiered Exclusive/Event Pricing

Create a tiered rate card for a Mobile Digital Billboard company offering exclusive use during events. Include pricing for 2-hour, 4-hour, 8-hour, and multi-day bookings. Add brief explanations of use cases (e.g., parades, festivals, product launches) and explain why longer commitments offer better per-hour value.

Now, Let’s Talk Route Strategy

This is where most new operators spin their wheels.
They try to launch multiple routes at once, build custom routes for every inquiry, and say yes to every opportunity that shows up.

Don’t do that.

In the Total360 Model, everything starts with one core route that:

Covers 25–35 square miles
Runs 40 hours per week (ideally 5 days x 8 hours)
Focuses on multiple retail shopping zones and known high-traffic corridors
Is designed to be repeatable and scalable

You commit to prioritizing the sale of this route and nothing else until it’s at least 60% full.
No secondary zones. No distractions with “special” one-off routes. Just one focused campaign that you can scale with consistency.

Here’s why it matters:

At 25% capacity, the hard costs of running the route—driver pay and fuel—are covered.
At 75–80% capacity, it’s time to begin planning your second route.
This model ensures you don’t just grow—you scale in a way that’s predictable, profitable, and duplicable.

The Total360 route strategy isn’t just about operations—it’s designed to help you sell with clarity and confidence.

When you can show a business exactly where their ad will be, how often it’ll run, and what kind of exposure they’ll get in familiar zones—they say yes faster.

Step 3: Write a Pitch That Works (Psychology Over Features)

Most pitches fall flat because they focus on “what the truck does,” not “what the truck delivers.”
Business owners don’t care about pixel pitch—they care about outcomes.

This is where sales psychology comes in. A strong pitch:

Identifies the prospect’s current frustration (low foot traffic, expensive advertising, poor visibility)
Paints a future where their business is more visible, more respected, and more top-of-mind
Positions your truck as the bridge that gets them there

ChatGPT can help you write a pitch that leads with outcomes instead of specs.

💬 GPT Prompt: Outcome-Based Cold Outreach (Email or DM)

Write a cold outreach message I can send to a local business owner to introduce my Mobile Digital Billboard service. Focus on outcomes like increased visibility, better local awareness, and standing out in a crowded market. Keep it conversational and helpful. Don’t focus on technical specs—just the results they’ll get. Offer to send a media kit or book a short call.

💬 GPT Prompt: Psychology-Based In-Person Pitch

Write a short in-person sales script I can use when walking into a local business to pitch my Mobile Digital Billboard service. Use a consultative, question-based approach that starts by identifying their pain points and then introduces the truck as a solution. Avoid pitching features—instead focus on results, customer perception, and local impact.

If you want to go deeper into sales psychology, I recommend checking out The New Model of Selling by Jeremy Miner. It’s one of the best breakdowns of how to lead with problems, not pressure.

Final Thoughts: You Can Do This

This isn’t just about tactics. It’s about mindset.

If you’ve been stuck wondering when it’s time to start selling—this is your green light.

You don’t need a polished portfolio. You don’t need to be a sales expert.
You just need three things:

A Dream 100 list of the right local businesses
A smart pricing model tied to a well-planned route
A confident, outcome-focused pitch that makes business owners say, “This is exactly what I need.”

ChatGPT can give you the structure.
You just have to take the first step.

Next Week:
In the final part of this Startup Series, we’ll bring it all together with a 30-Day Launch Plan—how to take everything you've built and turn it into your first campaign with momentum, clarity, and revenue.

Let’s keep building.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Most mobile digital billboard operators are pricing their services all wrong. Whether you're running ads on a shared route, covering a parade, or offering exclusive event packages, one-size-fits-all pricing won't cut it.

In this video, Jerry Teeter shares his Tiered Value Pricing Framework—a smarter approach to pricing your Mobile Billboard services based on value, service type, and client outcomes.

Equipment For Sale

Issue #28: How to Use ChatGPT to Build Your Local Presence and Get Found Online

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 06 May 2025 15:02:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! We’re now in Part 3 of our 5-part Startup Series, where I’m showing you how to use ChatGPT to build your Mobile Digital Billboard business faster, cheaper, and with more clarity—without hiring expensive consultants or designers.

If you’ve been following along, you’ve already built your business plan (Issue 25), created your brand identity (Issue 26), and set up your legal and operational structure (Issue 27). Today, we’re shifting focus to something you can start building before your truck is even ready to hit the road—your local presence.

In this issue, I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT to create three essential pieces of your marketing foundation:

A clean, professional media kit
A strong Google Business Profile
A website you can actually build and edit yourself without paying thousands

These are the exact tools I used to start selling advertising before we ever finished building our trucks—and they still work today.

Best part? You don’t need a degree in design or copywriting. With the right ChatGPT prompts (which I’ll give you), and the tools I recommend inside, you can start building your presence this week.

Let’s show your city that your business is open—even if your screens haven’t lit up yet.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

How to Use ChatGPT to Build Your Local Presence and Get Found Online

If there’s one mistake almost every new Mobile Digital Billboard operator makes, it’s this:

They wait until their truck is built and ready before they do anything public.

No website. No Google listing. No media kit.
They tell themselves, “I’ll do all that once the truck is here and I can take pictures.”

But here’s the truth:

The operators who win long-term start building local awareness and professional credibility before their truck ever hits the street.

You don’t need footage or testimonials to build trust. You just need to look like a real business, with a clear message, clear offer, and a clean brand.

And the best part? You can use ChatGPT to help you create every single one of these assets.
You don’t need to hire a designer or copywriter or SEO consultant. In this article, I’ll show you how to generate your media kit, Google Business Profile content, and website copy using simple GPT prompts that save you time and money—while giving you a polished local presence.

Create a Professional Media Kit That Makes You Look Established

Even if you don’t have clients yet, you need a media kit.

Why? Because:

It shows you're serious and professional.
It gives businesses something tangible they can share or review with a decision-maker.
It helps you control the narrative on pricing, packages, and the value you offer.

I exclusively use Canva to build all my media kits, marketing materials, and presentations.
If you’re still trying to piece together designs with PowerPoint or Google Slides, stop. Canva will save you thousands of dollars in design costs every year—and it’s simple enough for anyone to use.

With the prompt below, you can ask ChatGPT to give you a clean structure for your kit—then build it in Canva using your colors, fonts, and logo (see Issue 26 if you haven’t done that yet).

💬 GPT Prompt: Create a Professional Media Kit Layout

Create a professional media kit layout for a Mobile Digital Billboard company that runs a local advertising route. The kit should include a company overview, screen specs, pricing packages (like a shared route model), campaign examples, and why this medium is effective for local businesses. Use clear and simple language—avoid jargon. This should look like a clean, easy-to-follow document that builds trust with small to mid-sized local advertisers.

Once GPT lays out the structure, just open Canva and start building. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Download my actual media kit as an example. This is the one we used at Lead Innovations in Omaha to close real deals.

📥 Download the Free Total360 Media Kit Example (PDF Only)
Want the editable version? It’s included in the Total360 Coaching Program.
👉 Download it here

Set Up a Google Business Profile That Builds Trust and Boosts Local SEO

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful free tools you have. It builds trust, helps you rank in local search, and makes your business feel legitimate to people who Google you.

Here’s what you need:

A strong business description
Clear service listings
Basic FAQs
High-quality photos and sample ads (as soon as you have them)
Regular posts and updates (like a social feed)

You can use ChatGPT to generate the content for all of this.

You can also host your company email with Google, which I recommend. It’s part of the same Google Business subscription, and it helps you keep everything centralized and professional.

To get started, visit:
https://www.google.com/business/

💬 GPT Prompt: Google Business Profile Content

Create the content for a Google Business Profile for a Mobile Digital Billboard company in [city name]. The business offers mobile LED truck advertising, local advertising routes, and event-based campaigns. Write a compelling business description, 3 service descriptions, and an FAQ entry. Keep the tone professional, clear, and local-focused to improve SEO.

Once your profile is live, make sure you use all of the available features:

Upload quality photos regularly
Post weekly updates or offers
Add your service areas
Encourage your early clients to leave reviews

These small actions compound over time to improve your visibility and credibility.

Build a Website with ClickFunnels That You Control and Can Actually Use

Your website doesn’t need to be fancy—but it does need to be done.
And more importantly, you need to be able to edit it yourself anytime you want without begging a developer or paying someone $150/hour to change a headline.

That’s why I exclusively recommend ClickFunnels.
I’ve used Wix. I’ve used WordPress. Nothing compares to how easy, powerful, and marketing-focused ClickFunnels is.

Not only does it give you full control over your pages, SEO, and tracking, but it also comes with built-in templates, form builders, automation tools, and a ton of education around how to turn clicks into leads.

ClickFunnels has a massive library of templates to choose from, so all you’re doing is:

Swapping in your logo
Changing the colors to match your brand
Replacing the words and images (which GPT helps you write)

If you join my Total360 Coaching Program, I’ll even give you a ready-to-use MDB-specific website template I’ve already designed and used for my own business.

To start your free trial, scroll down to the bottom of this issue or visit my recommended tools page.

💬 3 GPT Prompts to Build Your Website Copy

1. About Page Copy

Write the About Page for a Mobile Digital Billboard company called [Your Company Name]. We’re a local business focused on helping other local businesses stand out with affordable, high-impact advertising using digital LED trucks. Our mission is to help companies take control of their advertising future. Make it friendly, authentic, and clear.

2. Services Page Overview

Write the copy for a Services page for a Mobile Digital Billboard company. The company offers rotating local advertising packages, special event packages, and fully exclusive brand takeovers. Explain the differences in plain English, and highlight how each one helps businesses get seen by more people in high-traffic areas.

3. Why Choose Us Section

Write a 'Why Choose Us' section for a Mobile Digital Billboard company. Highlight that our trucks are high-quality, our service is professional, and we’re built from the ground up for advertisers—not converted box trucks. We help businesses stand out without paying for traditional billboards or expensive agency campaigns.

Use these to write every key section of your site. Then go into ClickFunnels, choose a layout, and launch it in hours instead of weeks.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a fleet of trucks or years of experience to start building trust. You need a media kit. A Google listing. A simple, compelling website. And now you know exactly how to create all three—with zero outside help—using ChatGPT.

The operators who win don’t wait until they’re “ready.” They build while they’re in motion.

Get your name out there now. Let people know you're coming.

📥 Download the Free Total360 Media Kit Example (PDF Only)
This is the same structure I used to close real clients at Lead Innovations.
👉 Download it here

Next Week:
I’ll show you how to use ChatGPT to get your first paying advertisers—with real email and message prompts, sales strategy, and how to position your pricing with confidence.

Let’s keep building.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Legion LED Trucks has partnered with Currency to offer flexible financing and lease options for both new and used LED trucks! Whether you’re looking to start or grow your MDB business, these leasing plans provide an affordable way to get on the road with minimal upfront investment.

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Your website is often the first impression your business makes—and in this week’s bonus video, I’ll show you how YOU can build a professional one without hiring a developer or spending thousands on design using two amazing tools…ChatGPT and Clickfunnels.

Equipment For Sale

Issue #27 - How to Use ChatGPT to Set Up the Legal and Operational Backbone of Your MDB Business

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:50:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! If you’re just joining us, we’re in the middle of a special series teaching you how to use ChatGPT to build and grow your Mobile Digital Billboard business smarter, faster, and with less startup cost.

Last week, we talked about branding—how to create a professional identity that actually builds trust before you ever hit the street.
👉 If you missed it, you can catch up here: Issue 26 – How to Build a Real Brand (Not Just a Logo) for Your MDB Business

This week, we’re shifting gears into the side of the business that most new operators ignore until it’s too late: the legal, financial, and operational foundation.

This isn’t the fun part of building a business. But it’s the stuff that separates real companies from expensive hobbies.

Forming your entity, setting up your banking, getting the right insurance, documenting truck maintenance, having real service contracts—this is how you protect everything you’re working so hard to build.

The good news? You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars hiring attorneys, consultants, or accountants to do it.

With the right ChatGPT prompts (which I’m giving you in this issue), you can create the essential documents and checklists yourself—fast, cheap, and with confidence.

Let’s get your foundation built the right way.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

How to Use ChatGPT to Set Up the Legal and Operational Backbone of Your MDB Business

Save Thousands in Professional Fees and Build a Rock-Solid Foundation in Days

One of the biggest advantages you have today as a new entrepreneur is access to tools that didn’t even exist a few years ago. At the top of that list? ChatGPT.

When I launched my first business, setting up the legal and operational side meant paying attorneys, consultants, and accountants thousands of dollars—or risking major mistakes by trying to DIY it.

Today, for about $20 a month, you can use ChatGPT to build the documents, checklists, and systems you need to run a legitimate Mobile Digital Billboard business—without blowing your startup capital.

This issue is part of our special series on how to use ChatGPT to start and grow your MDB business. Last week we talked about branding and building your identity.
This week, we’re getting into the less glamorous (but absolutely critical) work of setting up the legal, financial, and operational foundation you’ll need to survive—and thrive.

And don’t worry—I’m not just telling you what to do. I’m giving you specific, detailed prompts you can copy straight into ChatGPT to create professional-grade assets in minutes.

Let’s dig in.

Use LegalZoom for Entity Creation (Then Use ChatGPT to Finish the Setup)

I recommend LegalZoom for forming your LLC.
It’s what I personally used. It's affordable, simple, and it gets the job done without needing to pay an expensive attorney.

But forming the LLC is just the first step.
After your Articles of Organization are filed, there’s a whole list of tasks you’ll need to complete to be fully operational.

Here’s where ChatGPT can help you knock it out quickly.

💬 GPT Prompt: Business Startup Checklist

I’m starting a Mobile Digital Billboard company, and I am using LegalZoom to create my LLC because it’s a cost-effective way to make sure it’s done right without hiring an expensive attorney. I need you to create an exhaustive checklist of everything I need to do from a legal and business setup standpoint once the LLC is created to get my business fully operational. Include steps like registering the business, obtaining an EIN, setting up a business bank account, securing necessary licenses, getting commercial auto insurance, setting up bookkeeping, and anything else a new MDB business owner would need to have in place to be legally ready to operate.

When you run this prompt, you’ll get a clean list covering things like:

Obtain your EIN (tax ID) from the IRS
Open your business bank account
Apply for local business licenses (if required)
Purchase commercial auto and general liability insurance
Set up bookkeeping (QuickBooks, Wave, etc.)
Separate personal and business finances

You’ll have a clear action plan instead of flying blind.

Your Truck Isn’t Just a Billboard — It’s a Regulated Vehicle

If your truck’s GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or actual weight is 10,001 pounds or higher, you are legally required to register it with the DOT (Department of Transportation) and comply with commercial vehicle rules—even if you’re only operating locally.

DOT compliance includes:

USDOT number registration
Annual inspections
Maintenance logs
Pre-trip and post-trip inspections
Driver qualification files

Even if your truck is under 10,001 lbs, it's smart to implement some of these disciplines early.
Not only will it protect you legally if something happens, it will make your operation look much more professional to insurance companies, event organizers, and bigger clients.

Here are two systems you should set up from day one:

💬 GPT Prompt: Daily Pre-Trip Inspection Checklist

Create a basic daily pre-trip inspection checklist for a Mobile Digital Billboard truck. The checklist should cover vehicle safety (lights, tires, brakes), generator function (oil levels, startup checks), LED screen operation (functionality, loose panels), and proper documentation of any issues found before starting the day’s route or event.

💬 GPT Prompt: Maintenance Log Template

Create a simple maintenance log template for a Mobile Digital Billboard truck. It should include fields for truck mileage, generator hours, oil changes, fuel fills, LED screen inspections, electrical system checks, and notes for any minor repairs or service updates.

Daily inspections and proper recordkeeping don’t just help you stay compliant—they extend the life of your truck, protect your warranties, and build a strong case if you ever need to file an insurance claim.

Contracts: The Difference Between a Real Business and a Hobby

If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this:

“Never run a single ad campaign without a signed contract. Period.”

Too many new operators skip this step because they’re excited to close a deal or they "trust" the client.
But in advertising, money moves slow. Clients change their minds.
If you don’t have the agreement in writing, you’ll have no legal ground to stand on when payment doesn’t come—or when a client demands refunds or sues over “performance” claims.

Here’s the other thing most new operators miss:
Different models require different contracts.

Shared Route Model Agreements need to clearly define:
- How many minutes per week ads will display
- Number of creative swaps included
- Terms around missed routes (weather, truck downtime, etc.)
- Payment schedule (monthly, not "after campaign ends")
Exclusive Event or Takeover Agreements need to clearly define:
- Exact days and times the truck will be running
- Backup plans for rainouts or event cancellations
- Content standards for ad creatives
- Payment terms (often upfront or net-7 at latest)

Trying to use one contract for both models will leave you exposed.

💬 GPT Prompt: Client Service Agreement Starter

Create a simple service agreement template for selling Mobile Digital Billboard advertising. It should include sections for campaign start and end dates, payment terms, content guidelines for ads, cancellation policy, truck uptime guarantees, and basic service expectations.

This will give you a strong starting point to customize.

📢 Want proven, time-tested agreements that match the exact MDB models?
In my MDB University Coaching Program, I include both a Shared Route Agreement and an Exclusive Campaign Agreement—documents that have been refined over years of real-world campaigns.

These aren’t generic templates—they’re battle-tested contracts that have protected real operators through missed payments, service disputes, and high-value event contracts.

Cover Your Website Too

If you’re collecting leads on your website (and you should be), you’re legally required to have basic Privacy and Terms pages in place.

💬 GPT Prompt: Privacy Policy and Website Terms Template

Create a basic Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions page for a Mobile Digital Billboard company website. The company will be collecting customer information via lead capture forms, such as names, emails, and phone numbers, and may use cookies for basic analytics. Keep it simple but professional, compliant with U.S. laws, and appropriate for a small business.

It’s easy to add to your site—and it shows you’re a legitimate business that plays by the rules.

Build It Like It Matters

It’s tempting to rush through the legal and operational setup so you can “get to the good stuff.”

But building a business that lasts starts with doing the boring things right the first time.

Thanks to tools like ChatGPT (and smart shortcuts like LegalZoom), it’s never been easier—or cheaper—to build the foundation of a real business without spending thousands in attorney’s fees.

Set it up right now, while things are simple. Later, when the clients come faster and the trucks multiply, you’ll be glad you did.

Next Week:
We’re shifting from behind-the-scenes to front-of-house—Building Your Local Presence: Media Kits, Google Profiles, and Local Domination Strategies.

Let’s keep building your future legacy.

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Setting up the legal and operational side of your Mobile Digital Billboard business doesn’t have to be overwhelming—or expensive. In this bonus video, I’ll show you exactly how to use ChatGPT to create a complete business startup checklist that covers everything from forming your LLC to securing insurance and staying DOT compliant. If you want to launch faster, save thousands, and build your MDB business the right way from day one, don’t miss this walk-through.

Equipment For Sale

Inventory Spotlight: 2018 Ford Transit 350HD Spark 510

If you're looking for a clean, ready-to-run mobile billboard truck, we just added a 2018 Ford Transit 350HD Spark 510 to our inventory. This truck features P3.9mm black LED screens on all sides, powered by a Kubota diesel generator and managed through a Novastar control system — giving you professional-grade performance at a fraction of the cost of new.

Only 63,000 miles on the chassis, with a clean body and fully operational screens and generator. Priced at $111,500.

👉 View full details and photos here: https://www.inventory.ledtrucks.com/listing/2018-ford-transit-350hd-spark-510/

If you’ve been waiting for a solid truck to launch or expand your mobile digital billboard business, this could be it!

Issue #26 - How To Use ChatGPT To Build A Brand Identity For Your MDB Business

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 15:02:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! If you’ve been following along, you know we just wrapped up a critical discussion on why every MDB operator needs a real business plan. This week, we’re building on that foundation by diving into something that gets overlooked far too often—branding and identity.

I’ve worked with a lot of entrepreneurs over the years, and here’s what I’ve seen time and time again: most people don’t spend nearly enough time thinking through how their business shows up. They might wrestle with a name for a few days and maybe get a logo designed—but that’s where it ends. There’s no thought given to colors, fonts, tone, or voice. No cohesive strategy that ties everything together.

And it shows.

Websites feel disconnected. Marketing materials feel off. The business may be solid, but the brand doesn’t feel like a real company—and that costs you trust before you ever get a chance to pitch.

In this issue, I’m showing you how to use one of the most powerful tools available to new entrepreneurs—ChatGPT. For just $20 a month, it can help you do the kind of work most people spend thousands outsourcing. I’m talking about naming your business, writing your mission statement, creating brand colors and fonts, drafting your website copy, even generating logo concepts and pitch language. Done right, this tool can easily save you $10,000 or more in your first few months—and the best part is, you don’t have to be a designer or copywriter to use it well. I’ll show you exactly how.

Let’s get your brand locked in.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

When you’re first starting your Mobile Digital Billboard business, there are a hundred things competing for your attention. What truck should you buy? What should you charge? How are you going to get clients?

But there’s one piece that almost every first-time operator overlooks—branding.

I’m not just talking about your name or your logo. Most people will at least spend some time coming up with those. I’m talking about your identity—the visual and verbal signals that tell the world who you are and what you’re about.

Most people just start creating. They pick a name, throw together a logo in Canva, choose some random colors for their website, and write a few lines of copy without thinking about voice or tone. Then they wonder why it all feels disconnected.

I’ve seen logos that scream “trucking company” on websites that feel like a wedding photographer made them. Facebook posts that sound like a startup, and business cards that look like a landscaping company.

And look—I’ve made those mistakes too. I rushed through this part in the beginning because I thought, “The work will speak for itself.” But what I learned the hard way is this:

If your brand feels amateur, people will assume your business is too.

The Power of Brand Consistency

Before a potential client ever hears your pitch, they’ve already made a decision about you. They’ve Googled your business, checked out your website, glanced at your logo, maybe even scrolled through your social media.

If what they see is clean, professional, and cohesive—it builds trust.
If it’s sloppy, inconsistent, or all over the place—it creates friction.

And here’s the thing: you don’t get a second chance at a first impression.

This is especially true in the early days when you’re still building credibility. People need to feel like you’re the real deal before they’re willing to give you thousands of dollars to advertise with you.

That’s why now—before you launch—is the best time to define your brand.

The Good News: You Don’t Need to Be a Designer

You don’t need to hire a branding agency. You don’t need to be a graphic designer. And you definitely don’t need to spend weeks in decision paralysis trying to figure it out.

If you’ve got a rough idea of the vibe you’re going for, ChatGPT can help you bring it to life.

This is exactly how I’ve helped new operators get from “no idea what to call this thing” to a clean, consistent brand across their website, social media, pitch deck, and truck wrap—in just a few days.

Before I go any further, I want to HIGHLY encourage you to get the “Plus” version of ChatGPT. It’s only $20/mo and will give you much better content.

Not sure how to use ChatGPT? It’s easy! Just pretend you are giving instructions to an assistant and type the exact way you would talk to that person. Think of it as a two way conversation with the computer. Your instructions are called “prompts” and the quality of your prompting is equal to the quality of the results.

Use These Prompts to Build Your Brand with GPT

Here are some sample promots to help you build out your brand identity.

1. Naming Your Business

Most people make this harder than it needs to be. You want something memorable, professional, and flexible enough to grow with you. Not something you’ll want to change in a year.

Prompt:

I’m launching a Mobile Digital Billboard company in [City/State]. Give me 10 professional and brandable business name ideas. Avoid clichés like “media,” “360,” or “blitz.” Aim for names that feel modern and could grow into a national brand.

Want a little extra direction? Add:

“Inspire the tone from names like Tesla, Clear Channel, or Roku.”

2. Writing a Mission Statement

Your mission statement isn’t for your pitch deck—it’s for you. It anchors your messaging, sets your tone, and keeps your content aligned.

Prompt:

Write a short, powerful mission statement for a Mobile Digital Billboard company helping small businesses take control of their advertising by owning their own media.

You can follow it up with:

“Now give me 3 punchy tagline options under 7 words each.”

3. Choosing Brand Colors and Fonts

This is where most people go off the rails. They choose colors they personally like, without thinking about what it says about the brand. You want colors that feel confident, trustworthy, and modern—not like you’re selling smoothies.

Prompt:

Give me 3 modern color palettes (HEX codes) and matching Google Fonts for a Mobile Digital Billboard brand that wants to feel bold, innovative, and professional.

Want even more clarity? Ask:

“Which of these palettes would most appeal to small business owners in [City]?”

4. Writing Website Copy

Forget hiring a copywriter for $2,000. GPT can write a solid first draft of your entire homepage in minutes—as long as you tell it who you are and who you’re serving.

Prompt:

Write a homepage headline and subheadline for a Mobile Digital Billboard company targeting small businesses who are frustrated with traditional billboards. The messaging should feel modern, helpful, and local.

Pair this with a clean ClickFunnels site (affiliate link here:
👉 https://www.clickfunnels.com/signup-flow-new-plans?aff=9c6643d4-ad56-49b9-9217-3ec4f5a0b3d6) and you’ll have a website that looks 10x better than 90% of your competitors.

With Clickfunnels, they provide you with lots of professionally designed templates that you can start with and modify without knowing ANY code. It’s a simple to use platform designed for entrepreneaurs to manage their own web presence.

5. Writing Your Media Kit

Your media kit is one of the most important tools in your sales process. It’s where your branding really needs to shine. GPT can help you write the intro paragraph and polish the tone throughout.

Prompt:

Write a short intro paragraph for a media kit that explains what Mobile Digital Billboards are and why they deliver higher engagement than traditional outdoor advertising.

Want to include a stat? Add:

“Include one compelling stat about engagement or ROI from a trusted source like Nielsen.”

Get It Done Now—Before You’re Too Busy

Once your truck is ready, your plates are in, and leads are coming in—it gets harder to slow down and fix brand issues. Trust me on this one.

This is the time to set the tone. To build something that feels like a real business from day one.

You don’t need perfection. You need clarity.

And with GPT in your corner, you’ve got no excuse to launch with a brand that feels like an afterthought.

Let’s build something that looks as legit as the vision you’re chasing.

Next week, we’ll dive into the unsexy—but critical—side of the business: legal, financial, and operational setup. This is where you get your foundation locked in so you don’t get crushed under the weight of your own momentum.

But for now—get your name, your mission, your colors, and your voice figured out.

Your future self (and your first sales call) will thank you.

Download a FREE PDF guide on using ChatGPT to help you build your brand!

DOWNLOAD FREE PDF INSTANTLY

Don’t waste time (or money) hiring a web designer. ClickFunnels gives you everything you need to launch your MDB website fast—and it’s free to try.

CLAIM MY FREE TRIAL OF CLICKFUNNELS NOW

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

BRAND NEW LISTINGS!!!

On consignment is multiple and near identical LED trucks with P4 screens. These are great starter trucks for the operator who isn’t able to start with a brand new LED truck.

All trucks are priced between $75k-85k. Apply for financing with our finance partner, Currency (see link above).

Issue #25 - How a Real Business Plan Can Save You Tens of Thousands

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:03:00 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome back to Digital Display Insider! If you’re new here, this weekly newsletter is built to equip Mobile Digital Billboard operators with the insights, tools, and strategies needed to build a profitable, lasting business. Whether you’re still in the research phase or you’ve got a truck on the road, you’re in the right place.

This week we’re talking about something that, if I’m being honest, I skipped when I started—and it cost me.

When I launched my MDB business, I didn’t have a business plan. Not because I didn’t care, but because I believed two big lies: one, that business plans were just for banks and loans, and two, that the numbers would be meaningless since I had no history to base them on. Add to that the fact that, at the time, there were only a couple dozen LED trucks in the country and virtually zero public information to reference—I was basically flying blind.

And like most operators starting out, I fell into the trap of chasing anything that brought in revenue. One day we were doing events, the next day local advertisers, the next day running exclusive jobs across the state. It wasn’t until I chose a model, built a plan around it, and committed to sticking with that plan for at least 12 months that we started gaining traction.

So in this issue, I’m laying out why having a business plan matters—even if you’re bootstrapping. And at the end, I’ll give you something I wish I had when I started: a free MDB-specific business plan template you can download and customize to your vision.

Let’s build something real.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

The One Thing That Could Save You Thousands Before You Ever Hit the Street

Why Every Mobile Digital Billboard Business Needs a Real Business Plan—And What Happens If You Don’t

When I launched my mobile digital billboard business over a decade ago, I did what a lot of first-time operators still do today—I jumped in with both feet and no business plan. It wasn’t because I didn’t care or wasn’t serious about succeeding. There were two reasons I skipped that step—maybe you can relate.

First, I bought into the lie that business plans are just for banks or investors. I believed it was just a bunch of made-up numbers you throw on a spreadsheet to look “official.” And since I had no historical data to pull from—no clients, no pricing strategy, no idea what was realistic—I figured it wasn’t worth the effort.

Second, there just wasn’t any real information out there. When I started, there were only a couple dozen LED trucks in the entire country. No playbook, no YouTube videos, no podcasts. All the info I could find came from traditional billboard companies, and what works for a 14x48 static board on a pole doesn’t exactly translate to a mobile digital truck rolling through traffic. Even now, more than 10 years later, I’m still one of the only people publishing actual information about what this business looks like in the real world.

And I can tell you—skipping the business plan probably cost me tens of thousands of dollars in wasted time, missteps, and missed opportunities.

The Dangerous Myth About Business Plans

Most people assume that a business plan is something you throw together when you’re applying for a loan. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. A business plan isn’t for the bank—it’s for you. It’s how you process your ideas and turn them into an actual plan of attack.

If you don’t know things like:

Who you’re trying to serve
What your model is (Exclusive vs. Shared)
What success looks like in 6, 12, or 24 months
How much you need to sell to break even and hit your income goals...

...you’re going to make emotional decisions. And emotional decisions lead to chaos.

Winging It is Expensive

One of the greatest strengths of a Mobile Digital Billboard is how versatile it is. There are so many ways to make money with it—daily advertising routes, live events, brand takeovers, screen rentals, experiential campaigns, political ad blitzes, the list goes on.

But that strength is also the curse for new operators.

Because without a plan, you’ll take any job that comes your way just to bring in some cash. You’ll be doing an event one day, then trying to sell a 3-month route the next, then chasing a brokered gig that ends up paying you net-90. Your energy gets scattered. You’re reactive instead of proactive.

That was me. I tried everything, said yes to everyone, and never gained real momentum.

The turning point came when I made a hard decision: we were going to pick a model and stick to it for at least 12 months. I sat my team down and said, “We’re done pivoting. We’re executing this plan—and no major changes until we’ve given it a real shot.” That single decision changed the game for us.

Clarity = Confidence = Results

You can’t build a lasting business on gut instinct. Passion matters, but clarity is what moves the needle. A solid business plan forces you to think through the hard stuff before you're in the thick of it.

How are you going to get leads?
What will you charge—and why?
What will your fulfillment process look like?
How will you measure success each month?

These aren’t questions you want to figure out on the fly.

And let me be clear—your plan will evolve. That’s normal. But starting with no plan is like taking a road trip with no GPS, no map, and no idea what direction you're heading. You might get somewhere... but it probably won’t be where you hoped.

Why This is Even More Important in MDB

The MDB industry is still in its early stages compared to traditional OOH. And that means you’re not just selling advertising—you’re also educating the market while building your brand. It’s a unique challenge.

You’re running a truck. You’re managing LED screens. You’re creating offers. You’re selling. You’re collecting payment. You’re operating like a media company, an ad agency, and a logistics firm—all at once.

That’s why having a business plan is so critical. It gives you the foundation to build something stable instead of constantly reacting to what comes next.

Don’t Just Read About It—Build Yours

So here’s my challenge to you: don’t skip this step. Whether you’re still shopping for trucks or you’ve already got one in the garage, sit down and map it out.

What’s your business model?
Who are you going after?
What does your first 90 days look like?
What’s your revenue target and how do you get there?

To help you do that, I’ve created a Business Plan Template specifically for Mobile Digital Billboard Operators. This isn’t some generic form you’ll never use. It’s the exact kind of document I wish I had when I started. It will walk you through each step so you can build with confidence and avoid the mistakes I made.

You can download it for free at the link below.

Start with a plan. Stick to it. Adjust as you learn—but never wing it again.

Your future self will thank you.

Get The FREE Mobile Digital Billboard Business Plan Template HERE

Jerry Teeter LED Truck Consulting www.jerryteeter.com/consultng

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Premium LED Trucks | Legion LED Trucks

How To Start A Mobile Digital Billboard Business

I just updated and expanded my book, “How To Start A Mobile Digital Billboard Business Without Losing $100k”, so if you are thinking about starting your own mobile digital billboard business, this is a must read.

For a limited time, I purchased a bunch of author copies and am giving signed copies away for free…you just pay the shipping and handling.

Or…if you prefer to pay $19.95 + shipping (unless you’re a Prime Member), then you can also find it on Amazon.

Free is better…

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Issue #24 - Are Mobile Digital Billboards Profitable?

Jerry Teeter — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 17:51:45 +0000

Editors Note

Welcome to this issue of Digital Display Insider. In this issue, we will be giving you valuable information as you navigate the mobile digital billboard (M.D.B.) startup process.

When I first stepped into the Mobile Digital Billboard world, I had no idea there were two entirely different businesses hiding behind the same LED truck.

In the beginning, I operated like most new owners do—chasing agency jobs, bidding for exclusive use campaigns, and thinking the more hours I ran, the more successful I’d be. But what I learned over time is that the model you choose determines everything: your cash flow, your stress levels, your scalability, and your profitability.

This week’s article is for those of you who are asking, “Is this business actually profitable?” The answer? It depends entirely on how you structure it.

In this issue, I break down the Exclusive Use Model (what most of the industry does) versus the Total360 Local Model I’ve developed over years of trial, error, and course correction. I’ll show you real numbers, real strategies, and how choosing the right model can be the difference between building a side hustle or building a company that supports your family for the long haul.

Let’s dig in.

M.D.B. Startup Focus

Are Mobile Digital Billboards Profitable?

When I started in the LED truck business, I thought I had found the ultimate opportunity.

At the time, I was just rebuilding my life—my marriage had recently been restored, I was rebuilding my car shipping business, and I was trying to create something that could support my family for the long haul. The LED truck was supposed to be a side hustle, a way to generate local revenue while I kept building Mr. Car Shipper back to health. But what I didn’t expect was that this “side hustle” would become the foundation of a completely new business model in advertising.

What started with a borrowed $140,000 truck turned into years of hard lessons learned, dozens of pivots, and ultimately, a profitable and scalable advertising company. But it didn’t start that way.

I tried the Exclusive Use Model, like most do. I learned the hard way just how volatile that path can be. After several years of the Exclusive roller coaster, I decided to make a massive shift and go 100% local. Through this journey, we developed the Total360 Local Model, which changed everything. And today, I want to walk you through what I’ve learned by comparing these two very different approaches—because the difference between them isn’t just about strategy.

It’s about profitability, sustainability, and whether or not you make it past your first year.

Two Models, Two Very Different Businesses

If you want to understand profitability in the Mobile Digital Billboard (MDB) business, you have to start with the model you're running.

Most new operators default to the Exclusive Use Model, and they get stuck. It’s what most truck sellers pitch and what most people assume is the “normal” way to run an LED truck business.

In this model, you charge a flat rate to a single advertiser for exclusive use of the truck—usually for a day, a weekend, or a short-term campaign. These jobs typically come from agencies, brokers, or direct outreach to event planners or corporate marketers.

The standard rate? About $150/hour, or $1,200 for an 8-hour day. Do that five days a week and you’re looking at:

$1,200 x 5 = $6,000/week
$6,000 x 4 = ~$24,000/month (gross revenue)

Sounds good, right? Until it isn’t.

Falling Margins & Unstable Cash Flow

The issue with the Exclusive Use Model is how quickly it turns into a race to the bottom. You’re often bidding against other operators. And because the service is sold as a commodity—“just rent the truck”—many operators feel pressured to discount.

But your costs only go up:

Fuel
Driver pay
Hotels, meals, and per diem
Insurance and wear-and-tear
Maintenance (which always costs more than you think)

If you start discounting to $125/hour or $100/hour to win a job, the difference comes out of your profit. One big breakdown or late-paying client and you’re upside down. We operated this way for years, and I can tell you firsthand—it’s not scalable. It’s feast or famine, and most of the time, your feast still leaves you hungry.

Oh, and did I mention slow pay? Our average payment terms when working with agencies and big brands were 180+ days. That’s six months of floating costs and overhead with no guarantee the next job is around the corner.

The Total360 Local Model: Built for Long-Term Profitability

Eventually, I realized that if I was going to make this business work, I had to stop selling a commodity and start selling a solution. That’s when we built what eventually became our Total360 Local Model.

Rather than renting the truck by the hour, we built recurring, retainer-style advertising packages. We created three tiers of service, priced between $995/month and $3,495/month, and structured them around 3, 6, and 12-month contracts.

These packages were built on the idea of rotating ads across consistent daily routes in specific geographical areas. Advertisers knew where their ads would be shown, how often, and for how long. We delivered real ROI, consistent visibility, and built real relationships—not one-off jobs.

A fully sold route brings in $25,000–$30,000/month in recurring revenue and a single truck can do more than a single route. No dependency on agencies, no bidding wars with other operators, no race to the bottom. And because we control the model, we control the margins. That’s the difference.

And here’s the other big win—once the route is full, you’re not reselling 100% of your space every month. You’re only replacing the clients who don’t renew. That means you’re selling to attrition, not starting from zero every month. The grind is upfront… the payoff is long-term stability.

Add-On Revenue with Special Event Packages (SEPs)

On top of that recurring base, we layered Special Event Packages (SEPs)—high-impact, short-term campaigns for concerts, sporting events, festivals, political rallies, etc. that also utilizes a shared model to reduce your risk and increase your profits.

And finally, in the Total360 Local Model, our Exclusive Use offering is actually the most premium product we sell, not the default. We charged $300–$400/hour for exclusive campaigns, depending on the duration. The exclusives and SEPs are add-ons, not the foundation. That’s why they’re so profitable.

Before we made the switch, we’d charge $150/hour at an event like the College World Series and come away with $15,000 in total revenue for the 11 day event. After the switch, we sold packages over the same duration and generated $38,000+—same truck, same event, better model.

Why Value Beats Price—Every Time

Last week in Issue #23, we talked about the power of Offer Stacking—creating premium, value-rich packages that stand out from commodity pricing. Instead of discounting your core service, you increase the value of what’s included.

In our case, we added:

2-hour exclusives each month
Professional photographs of the client’s ad in-market
Social media exposure
Priority access to SEPs
Artwork creation and revisions

And we bundled that into a premium package that no other competitor could match—because we were selling an offer, not a truck rental.

That strategy completely changed our business. We went from chasing short-term jobs to building long-term cash flow. And when you have margin, you have options. You can pay for leads. You can invest in growth. And best of all—you can sleep at night.

So, Are MDBs Profitable?

If you’re asking that question, I’ll give you the real answer:

YES, if you structure your business right.
YES, if you build recurring revenue.
YES, if you control your offer and pricing.
NO, if you sell a commodity and discount to stay busy.

Mobile Digital Billboards can be an incredible business model. But only if you stop selling a truck and start selling a system.

Choose the right model, build the right offers, and you won’t just be profitable—you’ll be unstoppable.

Jerry Teeter LED Truck Consulting www.jerryteeter.com/consultng

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Options: Lease Your LED Truck with Currency

Lease a $150,000 truck for $4,665/month on a 36-month term or $3,626/month on a 48-month term.
A $200,000 truck can be leased for $6,221/month on a 36-month term, $4,835/month on a 48-month term, or $4,007/month on a 60-month term.
Payments can be customized based on your needs, with turnback options at the end of the lease.

This partnership is designed to make it easier than ever to grow your business without tying up capital. For more information or to explore your leasing options, contact us today!

Apply Now

Premium LED Trucks | Legion LED Trucks

NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND KINDLE!!!

Update, expanded, and largly re-written, “How To Start A Mobile Digital Billboard Busines Without Losing $100k” is now available on Amazon.

CLICK THE PICTURE TO SEE IT ON AMAZON

If you are on the fence about starting a MDB business, this book will give you valuable information that you can’t find on Google.

Bonus Content

Check out the Bonus Video on Youtube for more information on this topic

Equipment For Sale

The start of this year has been incredibly busy, and as a result, this is the last used Legion LED truck I have in my inventory. If you’ve been waiting for a high-quality, well-maintained used truck at a great price, now is the time to act. Once this one is gone, I don’t know when I’ll have another available—so if you’re serious about getting into the business or adding to your fleet, don’t wait. Reach out today before it’s gone!

Click the picture to see the listing:

Digital Display Insider

Issue # 41: How to Start a Mobile Digital Billboard Business

Editors Note

M.D.B. Startup Focus

The biggest myth: “I’ve done my research.”

Cornerstone #1: The Truck

Cornerstone #2: The Model

Cornerstone #3: The System

Inventing vs. using a proven system

Cornerstone #4: The Salesperson

So how do you start—practically?

Final thought

Industry Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Sponsored Content:

Want to get the most out of ChatGPT?

Before You Decide to Own an LED Truck, Spend One Day Here

Editors Note

Interested vs. Committed

The Bigger Shift Happening Right Now

Why Discovery Day Exists

Who This Day Is For

Why Discovery Day Is Intentionally Limited

“Why Do You Charge for Discovery Day?”

The Invitation

M.D.B. Startup Focus

Industry Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

From The Vault: Past M.D.B. Campaigns

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Issue #40: The Two Sentences That Cost New Mobile Digital Billboard Operators the Most...

Editors Note

M.D.B. Startup Focus

The Two Operators Story (same truck, different outcomes)

Operator #1: The Inventor

Operator #2: The Builder

The Iceberg: What people see vs. what actually makes this work

The “$40k is too much” lie — and what it’s really costing you

Why “making it up as you go” fails in this business

What you’re actually buying when you buy a franchise-level system

The blueprint analogy (and why intuition doesn’t count)

The real question isn’t “Is it too much?”

Final thought

Ready to take the next step?

Industry Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Sponsored Content

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Issue #39: How Much Do Mobile Digital Billboards Make? The Honest Math (+ Free Revenue Calculator)

Editors Note

M.D.B. Startup Focus

How Much Do Mobile Digital Billboards Make?

Exclusive Use Revenue (Hourly/Day-Rate Jobs)

Shared Route Revenue (Monthly Recurring Revenue)

So how much can a truck make?

Why most people get this wrong

What to do this week

Industry Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Bonus Content

Equipment For Sale

Only A Few Spots Left

Issue #38: It's Way Beyond The Truck

Editors Note

M.D.B. Startup Focus

Our commitment: 500 Blessings by 2035

Faith’s story

Your next step—and your legacy

Industry Discovery Day

LED Truck Financing Options

Financing Your LED Truck With Ascentium Capital

Equipment For Sale