Photo by Jess Vide from Pexels

Food truck businesses are still going strong even in the wake of COVID-19. However, that doesn’t mean mobile businesses are easy to run. To be successful, you need to be prepared.

Keep reading to learn about the top 6 reasons food trucks fail and how to avoid them. 

1. You Lack a Brand Identity

Major companies can be identified by a single logo or a three-word tagline. How? They built their brand identity from the beginning and stuck to it.

If you don’t have a solid idea of your brand identity, neither will your customers. It will be difficult for them to talk or post about you (word of mouth is the best form of advertising), and you won’t stand out against your competition. When planning your food truck business strategy, make sure you have a clear idea of your concept, style, and what you have to offer.

2. You Don’t Have a Business Plan 

We’ve all heard the statistics of how often small businesses fail. One reason why is having lack of direction and a good business plan. A business plan maps out the future of your investment and takes unexpected events into account.

You should draft a business plan with a professional and determine your goals. This will keep you focused and help you succeed.

3. You’re In Over Your Head 

You’ve decided to get into the food truck business because you’ve heard it’s a pretty profitable endeavor, and hey, who doesn’t like food? You did your research, have your grand opening, but you’re not seeing a profit. You could be in over your head. 

It’s easy to skip over crucial steps when planning to open a mobile business. If you went ahead with your idea without a business plan, understanding the demographics of your area, or preparing for inconvenient expenses, you’re setting yourself up for failure. 

4. You Don’t Know the Market

If you’re looking to break into the street food business, you need to know your market. Market trends fluctuate over time; people’s interests in food trends can change nearly overnight. You need to know what the demand is like in your area, as well as the market in general. 

Plant-based food surged in popularity in 2019, and CBD-infused food and drink dominated 2020. You’ll need to be aware of these trends, regardless of whether you chose to jump on the bandwagon or not. 

5. You Don’t Have the Right Employees

Your employees need to have the skills to work on your food truck, but they also need good customer service skills. Just like restaurants or stores, food trucks also have loyal customers. Hire friendly, well-trained people to represent your business. 

6. You Aren’t Consistent

Customers expect consistency in service as well as the quality of food. Even if your food truck has a basic menu, all cooks should know how to cook it the same way. One poor experience could turn away a loyal customer for good.

Avoid These Reasons Food Trucks Fail

If your dream is to open a mobile food truck business, you have a lot of planning to do. You need to make sure you have a solid brand identity, a business plan, and the right people working with you. Avoid these 6 mistakes and you will be on your way to success. 

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 Top 6 Reasons Food Trucks Fail appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Photo by Anthony Fomin on Unsplash

You can have the sweetest menu on the street and a fantastic team to serve it, but if you don’t have the right equipment, you risk the success of your business. 

Maybe the food truck of your dreams looms in your mind, but you wonder if it’s too much truck.

Your food truck business model should help you determine whether a small mobile kitchen will serve your needs now and in the future as your business grows. Whether you’re new to the food truck business, or you’re considering an upgrade, size does matter.

Explore a few benefits of smaller food trucks in today’s post.

Food Truck Dimensions

Choose your truck based on whether it’s big enough to support your staff, storage needs, and kitchen layout. Many mobile kitchen manufacturers work with smaller vehicles such as sprinter vans, passenger vans, and even recreational vehicles, aside from the ever popular step van configuration.

When working with step van dimensions, the average width is 7 feet, but it’s the length of the truck that determines your kitchen space. Food truck sizes typically range from 14 up to 34 feet, but you can have one built as small as 10 feet.

You can do a lot of business from a 10- to 14-foot truck—just ask the ice cream man!

Financial Benefits of a Smaller Truck

If you’re considering a food truck vs. a food trailer, in the category of upfront price, the trailer will likely win. However, when you invest in food vending equipment, price isn’t the only factor.

Think about the depreciation of food trucks and trailers over time. Food trailers generally retain value at a lower rate per year than food trucks do, which makes the truck a better investment.

You can start with a smaller truck, and when you’re ready to upgrade in a few years, it should have a higher resale value than a trailer.

Take Your Food to the People

One of the most significant benefits of operating a food truck business is portability. You can take your menu wherever, whenever. A small truck gives you a distinct advantage over the business owner with the 26-foot vehicle.

Small food trucks can fit in a broader range of public spaces. That means you can park on a side street, set up at a festival, or take your food to a private house party.

Let your imagination go wild! Small trucks can navigate narrow mountain roads, sandy beaches, and other places large trucks can’t go.

Opportunity to Tighten Your Menu

Out of all the types of food trucks, the small truck may force you to minimize what you serve. With a little creativity, you can turn the smaller prep, cooking, and serving space into an opportunity.

Decide on a few specialty items rather than a full-blown lunch menu. For example, specialize in chili dogs rather than dogs, burgers, and chicken sandwiches.

Smaller menus make it easier to control costs, which can increase your profitability.

Ready to Order Your Small Food Truck?

Whether you’re attracted to the financial or the practical benefits of buying a small food truck, we can help you select the ideal model for your business.

Contact our team and let’s put your truck together!

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 Does Size Matter? The Benefits of a Small Food Truck appeared first on Custom Concessions.