Obtaining authority and permits.

^^All true, especially the advice about getting insurance quotes. I was able to say "I don't have a truck right now, but it'll be comparable to a 2001 Columbia and 2005 Wabash dry van" and most gave me ballpark quotes (some did ask for a VIN and I'd grab one off truckpaper)

I literally spent a week doing nothing but call insurance companies to get quotes or follow up the myriad of questions (like an itemized list of what you will haul and how often). As a new venture with 3 years driving experience, I had quotes over $20,000/year down to $7,500/year