Have you thought about selling alcohol from your food truck? After all, consumers spent a total of $253 billion on alcohol alone in 2019. Who wouldn’t want to get a piece of that action?  

But how much could you really profit from selling alcohol from your truck? Well, there a number of factors that can determine whether it would be profitable or not, which we will address in this short guide. 

Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about selling alcohol from your food truck. 

Legal 

Each state, county, and city has different rules regarding the sale of alcohol. Typically your first step would be to decide whether you’re just going to be selling beer and wine or hard liquor and mixed drinks too. It’s usually easier to get a license for just beer and wine. 

You’ll then fill out the appropriate paperwork and applications from your local alcohol board. You will need to have a business plan ready to show the alcohol board how you plan to use your license. Then all that’s left is to pay the fees. 

The steps in this process vary by location, so it may be slightly different in your city. 

Location, Location, Location

Where your food truck sets up shop can have a lot of weight in your decision to add alcohol to the menu. If you mainly frequent areas that are family-friendly venues, alcohol will probably not have a great return value. 

However, if you plan on selling at tourist attractions, nightlife hotspots, or at event venues offering alcohol can be a gold mine. 

Menu Options

Before deciding what type of alcohol you want to sell you’ll need to think about your menu a bit. Or consider adding some menu items to pair well with the types of alcoholic beverages you have chosen. 

There are certain foods that don’t go with certain drinks. A gorgeous merlot probably won’t pair very well with a hotdog. But a great beer can really complement a fresh slice of pizza from a pizza oven. 

Storage for Selling Alcohol

Next, you’ll want to think about the storage you have available on your truck. Will you be able to keep full inventory at the appropriate temperature? How much space will that take away from storing other essential items, like food ingredients? This could have a huge impact on your decision whether to sell alcohol. Your truck just might not have the room.

Competition

Is your competition already selling alcohol? This can cost you customers and sales if you’re behind on the trend. 

If they’re not, this can give you an edge over the competition. You can get a leg up on a new customer base and build a reputation early. 

Learn More With Us

We hope this short article helped give you some perspective on selling alcohol from your food truck.

Wanting to branch into alcohol sales but just don’t have the room? Contact us for a free quote on an upgraded food truck that will meet your needs.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Is Selling Alcohol From Your Food Truck a Good Idea? appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Photo by Nonki Azariah on Unsplash

So, you’re looking to get your first food truck and ready to hit the towns and cities all around your neighborhood with the best grub on wheels. Congratulations!

While you’re making plans for your new food truck, you’ll want to consider what extra features can make your business really stand out to potential customers. Check out our food truck wishlist to help you figure out the extras that are out there and why each one is so great.

Food Truck Wishlist Top 10

1. Pizza Oven

No great food truck was ever great without pizza on the menu. It’s a go-to snack for many food truck foodies. Your food truck will thrive with this worthy addition.

2. Ice Cream Dipping Cabinet

Remember the old days when the ice-cream truck came rolling through the neighborhood and all the kids were running out to greet it? Now you can be the ice cream delivery guy or girl, but with snacks for the adults, too!

3. Exterior Beverage Vending Taps

Nobody wants food without a drink to wash it down. Installing beverage vending taps for coffee, beer, and/or soft drinks is a sure way to win over your customer base.

4. 360-Degree Cameras

Besides the food, there are some options that you can add to your food truck that will help you get where you’re going. Cameras, for example, are helpful for navigating such a large vehicle. You can park more easily and get the doors open for those hungry patrons.

5. Mobile Wi-Fi Kit

Everybody needs Wi-Fi these days and when people are eating, they like to surf the web. There’s no better way to attract  clientele than to have Wi-Fi capability while they wait for that scrumptious snack you’re cooking up.

6. Exterior TV

Rather than have menus flying off the truck in the breeze, why not install an exterior TV to showcase your menu and photos of your delicious food? You can even add the option for customers to see when their orders are ready, so they won’t crowd the truck while others are trying to order.

Or you can use your exterior TV for sometime more creative. Maybe you’ll be the food truck that plays cartoons or music videos for your customers to watch while standing in line.

7. Rooftop Signboards

Rooftop signboards allow customers to see your truck from farther away as you stand taller than all the other food trucks around. They also provide a more finished and professional look for your traveling business.

8. Specialty Lighting

Specialty lighting like LED under glow or LED rope lights along the roof or awning of your food truck adds sparkle and shine. You might also like to install spotlights and/or flashers for when your service is running through the night.

9. Power Awning

It gets hot out in the sun after just a couple of minutes. If you live and work in a warm sunny climate, a power awning for shade or even protection from light drizzle will impress your customers. Powered awnings are quicker and easier to set up than an awning you have to crank out by hand.

10. Full Graphics Wrap

A full graphics wrap can serve as a mobile billboard for your brand. Go ahead, wrap the entire truck, including the roof—that way customers will be able to recognize you anywhere you go, including the office workers in that 20 story building across from where you park during city lunches.

BONUS: Telematics and GPS

Telematics and GPS will let your customers know where you are located. Not to mention that you can more easily comply with health code requirements about the length of stay and proximity to brick and mortar businesses. You’ll also have braking and accelerating data on file so you can see how your drivers are doing.

What’s on Your Food Truck Wishlist?

Now that you know all about the awesome features you can incorporate into your food truck, what else is on your Christmas wishlist? Maybe you’d like some mobile dining options like folding chairs and tables. The options are practically endless when you use a little creativity!

When you’re ready to invest in your food truck enterprise, please, contact us. We know what it takes, and we can get your the right mobile kitchen to help your business thrive.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post A Very Foodie Christmas: Top 10 Things on Our Food Truck Wishlist appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Are you considering joining the ranks of food truck nation? 

With rising rents and the unpredictable cost of operating a storefront, many entrepreneurs have chosen to take their business on wheels. Not only are mobile businesses more cost-effective, but they’re also incredibly appealing to today’s clientele. 

If you’re thinking of starting a mobile business, you’re certainly not alone. The food truck industry has seen 12.5 percent growth in the last five years alone. As the years continue to progress, we only expect this number grow. 

While the majority of food trucks today focus on serving food, others have chosen to focus on something a little different. In fact, one of the most sought-after mobile businesses today is centered upon serving beverages such as coffee. This is a creative way to serve your caffeine craving customers without having to operate from an official storefront.

If you’re considering taking your business to wheels, you’re going to want to read this. We’re uncovering the seven essential steps to starting your own mobile coffee shop. 

1. Establish Your Budget 

First and foremost, you’re going to want to begin by establishing a strict budget. 

While the cost of the mobile vehicle itself is the most prominent cost, it’s also important to consider other factors. For example, you’ll want to consider the cost of routine gas money, maintenance, insurance, cost of materials and paying your staff. 

In preparing your budget, it may be worthwhile to work with an accountant. This will ensure that you’re acting responsibly and following proper tax guidelines. 

2. Register Your Business

Next, it’s time to officially register your business. 

This is what makes your operation one that is both official and legal. Of course, the license requirements will vary state-by-state. 

The cost and structure of your registration will depend on the ownership structure of your business. For example, if you are the only owner, you can register as a sole proprietorship. However, if you share ownership of the company with someone else, you will have to attain a different registration. 

3. Attain the Appropriate License 

Just as you’re required to register your business, you’re also required to obtain a license for your business. 

If you’re going to be serving any type of food or beverage, that will require a specific license. This is not something that can be avoided and can result in significant trouble if ignored. 

Fortunately, these licenses are generally inexpensive and relatively easy to obtain. 

4. Purchase Your Mobile Vehicle 

Now, it’s time for the fun part! 

You have your business registered and you have obtained your license. It’s officially time to purchase your mobile vehicle!

Remember, this is the vessel which your entire business will operate from. Not only does it have to look good and feel good, but it also has to function as a standard coffee shop. In order to rival your competition, you need to ensure that you’re offering the same quality drinks despite your physical limitations. 

You will want to carefully consider the layout of your mobile coffeeshop interior. A lot of this will depend on what types of drinks you plan to make, and whether you plan to offer food or not.

If you’re going to offer drinks with espresso, like lattes, americanos or macchiatos, you will need an espresso machine. If you want to have drip coffee, you will need enough industrial sized coffee makers to keep up with the number of clientele visiting your shop. Think your guests will want smoothies or frozen coffee drinks? Those will require space for blenders.

Offering food adds a whole other dimension to your business, but it also means you will need more space inside your truck for food at various stages. Some of these could include prepping stations, cooking appliances, and warming cabinets.

5. Do Your Product Research

You probably won’t be very successful at running a mobile coffeeshop if you don’t actually know anything about coffee. If you are already a coffee connoisseur, you are one step ahead. If not, you will want to do your research.

Look into the latest technologies and techniques that will make your coffee the best. Find coffee roasters who will produce quality beans with great flavor. Practice tried and true mixed coffee drink recipes, and then experiment with making your own if you want something unique that will stand out from the crowd.

6. Gather Your Materials 

Once you have selected your vehicle and done your product research, it’s time to focus on the materials that are going to make up your business. 

Although small, a mobile coffee shop is going to require the same goods and materials as any regular coffee shop. To start, be sure that you have these materials ready: 

• Bean grinders for both espresso and drip coffee
• Quality coffee beans
• Other coffee ingredients such as cream, sugar and flavored syrups
• Disposable coffee cups and lids
• POS system 

Once you have these essential materials, you can move onto the next step. 

7. Hire Your Staff

Now that you have your wheels and your material, it’s officially time to begin hiring. 

In terms of numbers, the size and structure of your mobile vehicle will determine how many staff members you require. As compared to your standard store, a mobile business typically requires fewer staff members. In fact, the average food truck employs just 2-6 people in total. 

Because you will be hiring fewer staff members, it’s extremely important to focus on hiring quality and dedicated members.

You may want to seek employees who have firsthand experience in working in a mobile environment. This will help to minimize your overall turnover rate for employees who cannot handle a small-scale working environment. Finding candidates who have experience working in a coffeeshop will also be helpful, otherwise new staff may require more extensive training.

8. Commence Your Marketing 

Last but certainly not least, it’s time to begin marketing your new business venture. 

Of course, the majority of business marketing is now conducted online. To ensure that you have a dedicated online presence, you can start by setting up various social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other platforms. This will allow you to engage with future customers and better establish your brand. 

You can also speak with local business owners to spread the word and establish community connections. From here, you can look into advertising on community bulletin boards as well as local newspapers, magazines, and radio stations. It will also be important to find local events and festivals where you can get more concentrated exposure for your new mobile business.

In terms of timing, it’s best to begin your marketing prior to your official opening. This will help to create a sense of excitement amongst your clientele and generate anticipation for your grand opening. 

It’s Time to Open Your Mobile Coffee Shop! 

If you’ve always dreamt of starting a mobile coffee shop, it’s time to make your dreams a reality! 

In opening a mobile coffee shop, you don’t have to worry about the realities of having an actual storefront. Instead, you can narrow your focus to what matters the most: serving the best coffee possible to your customers. 

Fortunately, there are many ways to customize your mobile kitchen which will help your mobile coffee shop run smoothly. Even with limited square footage, these tools will allow you to create quality coffee that rivals your competition.

With these features, opening your own mobile coffee shop doesn’t have to be a distant dream. Contact us to find out how you can make your dream a reality today! 

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post Espresso Yourself: 8 Essential Steps to Starting Your Own Mobile Coffee Shop appeared first on Custom Concessions.