There are over 24,000 active food truck businesses in the U.S. Whether you’re starting out or have been delivering food on the go for years, maintaining your truck is extremely important. 

But what goes into regular food truck maintenance? And why is it so important?

That’s what we’ll be looking at today. In this article, we’re highlighting why regular maintenance matters for your food truck and tips on keeping your vehicle in tip-top shape. 

Regular Maintenance Delivers More Food

The low-hanging fruit of regular food truck maintenance is that it keeps your operation going. The more you pay attention to how your truck is doing, the more time you can spend on the street selling your products. 

Many people choose food trucks because it’s cheaper and slightly easier than owning a traditional storefront. The number of documents and regulations you have to work around is different than owning a store, but it’s still necessary. 

Additionally, just as a traditional restaurant owner has to pay attention to their AC units or other machinery, a food truck owner needs to keep their eye on their truck. 

After all, if your truck stops working, your entire business grinds to a halt. 

Less Downtime Equals Greater Revenue

Things like checking your engines, keeping a tidy washing station, and maintaining a good power supply are just a few things you can do to keep your food truck in good shape. 

Being on top of preventative maintenance benefits you in the long run. A Decisiv & Oakley study found that truck maintenance improved food trucks’ revenue by reducing downtime. 

Unexpected downtime that comes from fixing lingering truck issues eats away at your productivity. You have less time to serve your customers, meaning your revenues will drop. 

You also can’t afford to lose potential catering customers by having an unreliable truck. If you’re booked to cater a private event, make sure your truck is in good working order ahead of time so you don’t have any unfortunate surprises on the big day.

Food Truck Maintenance Tips

So what can you do to make sure your food truck is running at maximum efficiency? Because a food truck is essentially a mini-restaurant, you should ideally keep a truck maintenance checklist.

Here are some key points that you can include:

Check Your Battery

Your foodservice operation is quite reliant on your truck’s battery. Check to make sure it’s not running out of juice and replace it when it’s no longer operating reliably. 

Watch Fluids

Check your truck’s transmission, brake, and power steering fluids throughout the year. Sometimes winter seasons can diminish their effectiveness. 

Change Oil Regularly

Lubricating your engine with the right oil will prevent unwanted downtime. Always find time for oil changes to make sure you’re never hampered by breakdowns during your regular food service. 

Check Filters

Oil, fuel, transmission, and air filters are common mechanisms that preserve your engine. Check these filters and change them according to manufacturer specifications to keep everything chugging along. 

Watch Tire Pressure

Flat tires can ruin just about anyone’s day, especially food truck owners who are right in the middle of service. Be on top of your tire pressure to make sure you never have to fill up at inconvenient times. Keeping a close eye on your tires will also make you aware if one of them possibly has a slow leak and needs to be replaced.

Leverage Regular Food Truck Maintenance Today

A healthy food truck means more consistent service and greater revenues. Leverage regular maintenance to keep your food truck business profitable in the long run. 

Looking for your first food truck, or another mobile kitchen to add to your expanding fleet? Contact us today and we can get you started on a solution right away!

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.

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Upset customers are inevitable no matter what part of the foodservice industry you work in, including if you own a food truck. How you deal with them is key to your success as a business owner.

Do you own a food truck? Are you thinking of buying one or entering the service industry in another capacity? You will need to know how to handle these situations.

Remember, word of mouth is key to growing a new business. If you are rude to unhappy customers, you will garner a business-damaging reputation.

Read on for five ways to deal with angry customers.

1. The Customer Is Never Wrong, Right?

Customer service is as important as any other aspect of the food service business.

The common phrase is that the customer is always right. A better way to think about this when dealing with upset customers in foodservice is that rather than always being right, the customer is never wrong.

Every customer has different tastes and expectations. If they think your food is salty, under or overcooked, they are not wrong. It’s how they feel or what they think.

Understanding this key difference will give you the right mindset to succeed in customer satisfaction.

2. Drop Your Defenses

You may have spent hard hours planning your menu, prepping, and preparing the food you serve on any given day. Because of this, you may take a customer complaint personally.

Don’t fall into this trap. While you should be proud of the food you serve, you need to drop your defensiveness when dealing with an angry customer.

These interactions, like interactions you have with happy customers, are business transactions.

3. Really Listen

Food truck customer service is like any other form of customer service. When people have a complaint, they want to be heard.

To effectively deal with angry or upset customers, brush up on your listening skills.  Diffuse an antagonistic situation by looking someone in the eyes to let them know what they say is important to you.

4. Own the Complaint

Whether you feel you are actually responsible for a customer complaint doesn’t matter. The customer has come and complained to you.

As the owner of a food truck business, the buck stops with you no matter the nature of the complaint.

The best way to own a complaint is to offer a sincere apology. Apologizing is a huge step toward resolving any issue.

5. Offer a Solution

In foodservice, the de-escalation of an upset customer comes down to a solution. After you’ve listened and apologized, you need to be willing to offer a solution to the problem, and quickly.

Sometimes this means preparing a new dish. This may not be possible in the tight confines of a food truck where many dishes have been prepped and batched for service.

In this case, if an alternative is available, offer it at no additional cost.

Sometimes neither of these solutions will appease an angry customer. If so, you must give a refund.

Upset Customers

Upset customers are inevitable in the foodservice business. How you deal with them plays an important role in the success of your food truck.

There are plenty of food truck businesses that offer great food. To set yourself apart, make sure you treat your customers with respect.

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.

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Did you know that 19% of Americans have reported eating more junk food than they should?

We live in a world driven by convenience, so it’s no surprise that Americans turn to fast food and junk food for meals. However, food trucks give diners the option of a fast, well-cooked meal.

Starting a food truck can be overwhelming to new business owners though. Luckily, there are a few tricks that can streamline the process!

Keep reading our guide below for five of the best food truck tips for 2021!

1. Food Truck Networking: Connect With Your Community

The easiest way to establish yourself in the food truck market is to connect with your community. Through meaningful in-person conversations and friendly social media outreach, communication with others is key to building your reputation.

Reaching out to your community also opens you up to a plethora of new opportunities. You may find the chance to move into the catering sector by networking with community leaders. You can also learn about potential events hosted by business professionals requiring food services.

2. Give Yourself a Buffer Budget

Many people only provide enough cushion room to last for the first few weeks or months of their food truck business. To stay afloat, it’s wise to prepare enough funding to last you through your first year in business.

Unexpected costs often catch food truck owners off guard. For example, it’s nearly impossible to buy in bulk because you won’t have the room to store your product. Many food truck owners also have to rent out space in a commercial kitchen to do meal prep, which can come at an unexpected cost.

3. Marketing Food Truck Tips: Build Your Brand

The best way to develop more consistent relationships with your customers is by building your brand. Claim an identity and continue to develop it.

When promoting your business through social media, develop a brand voice, and stick with it across platforms. Whether it’s goofy or more professional, make sure your brand’s identity rings true to your company’s ideals.

4. Invest in a Good Truck

This may seem like the most obvious of food truck tips, but many people skimp out when it comes to buying a reliable food truck.

You’ll be spending most of your workday inside the truck, so you’ll want to purchase a reliable and functional model. Because you are relying on your truck to keep your business operation, reliability is a very important attribute to keep in mind.

5. Do Your Research

In order to secure as many customers as possible, you’ll want to do a fair amount of research before starting a food truck. It’s important to conduct market research specifically on the area and local food truck market.

Which types of foods are already being served via food trucks? Which areas get the most foot traffic?

These types of questions will help you develop an idea of which foods and locations will be most profitable. 

Hitting the Road

You’ll hit plenty of roadblocks when starting a food truck. However, that shouldn’t hold you back from pursuing this unique endeavor! The food truck tips above will help you flesh out the finer details of your business plan.

For more articles on the food truck industry, check out the rest of our blog! Looking for a high-quality truck of your own? Contact us for a quote! 

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.

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Starting a food truck, just like any other business, requires a start-up investment. You need money to purchase your truck, get permits, and buy kitchen and food supplies.

There are several ways to raise the money to get your food truck venture off the ground. You can find investors, you can use cash on hand, or you can save up the money over time. For many owners though, the most convenient way to get a food truck going will be via a business loan.

Keep reading to find out how to get food truck financing.

1. Start With Market Research and a Business Plan

Before starting any business, you need to do your homework. You need to understand the local market in terms of competition, demand, pricing, costs, regulations, and more. You need to determine if your business idea is viable and what your opportunity will be for growth and success.

Then, you can build a business plan. This is an essential document that lenders or investors will look at to judge the credibility of your future business. 

Fortunately, there’s much less risk involved with a food truck than a traditional restaurant. Your overhead costs will be far cheaper, you’ll have fewer employees, no dining room, etc. This will make it easier to get financed.

2. Small Business Loans

Can you finance a food truck through a traditional bank or SBA loan? The answer is yes, assuming your business plan is well-written and you have an acceptable credit score.

First, you’ll need to come up with a dollar amount of how much startup money you will need. Then, do some research on the various types of loans available and figure out which one will best meet your needs. 

3. Private Investors

If you get turned down for a small business loan, you can seek private investors for food truck financing. There are multiple options here. 

First, you can try to find an angel investor. They will provide the startup funds you need in exchange for equity in the business. They may also allow you to pay back your debt over time instead of taking equity.

There are also peer to peer investors. These are organizations that invest in small businesses they see potential in. They basically provide loans like a bank but aren’t a bank. 

4. Crowdfunding Campaigns

Another option for food truck and food truck equipment financing is crowdfunding campaigns. This provide a great way to make money if you’re turned down by the bank and traditional investors. Crowdfunding relies on larger groups of investors all contributing small amounts to pool together the necessary funds.

Contributors can be rewarded with stock in the company, free products, etc.

5. Friends and Family

Can you finance a food truck without applying to banks or investors?

Yes, you still have options. Consider getting funds from people in your personal life. These include friends, family members, neighbors, and co-workers. 

You should still provide a business plan to show them how serious you are and that their investment won’t be wasted. This may mean you need to finance a smaller or more modest food truck instead of the huge truck that costs more, or cut startup costs elsewhere.

So, Can You Finance a Food Truck?

Are you ready to start a food truck restaurant? If so, we can help. Now that you know the answer to financing your food truck, let’s talk about getting you on your way. Contact us today for a custom quote!

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.

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Photo by TJ Dragotta on Unsplash

Back when the 2008 recession hit, lost wages combined with the prohibitive cost of property investment meant entrepreneurs had to get creative with how they started businesses. Food trucks became a great way for people from all backgrounds to make a living, provide affordable meals, and share delicious food with others.

Since then, the food truck industry has taken off. Are you hoping to join the ranks of successful food truck chefs?

Before you head out onto the road, be sure to read about these common food truck myths.

1. Park Anywhere

Food trucks are governed by the same traffic laws as ordinary citizens. Some cities have even tighter regulations on food truck parking.

Check your local ordinances and see if there are special designations or time limits for food trucks. It’s also always best to check with building management before parking in a lot.

2. Bad for the Environment

It isn’t good for the environment when a truck is constantly driving around. Fuel consumption and emissions are a big concern for our climate. 

Fortunately, food trucks are parked more than they are driving. Restaurants with permanent locations may actually pollute the environment more.

Energy consumption and employees driving to a permanent restaurant location exceeds the pollution of a food truck. Myths about the environment might have been started because of the competitive rivalry between food trucks and restaurants.

3. Investors for a Food Truck

A big myth circulating the industry is the need for investors. Most food trucks start without investors. 

Some owners are able to attract investors, and this makes a startup food truck easier. But don’t let a lack of investors halt your food truck dreams.

4. No Rent

Many people believe food truck owners don’t have to pay rent. This might be true, but truck owners still have other fixed expenses.

You will still have to pay for permits, fuel, licenses, maintenance, and staff. You can also get tickets or towed if you aren’t careful, so it’s helpful to keep money set aside for emergency expenses.

5. Popular Spots

Food trucks can be wildly successful without ever visiting a popular shopping or entertainment location. These spots can actually be too full of other food options.

Many successful food trucks are able to make a good profit by visiting business parks and college campuses. A large factory may allow a food truck to set up near the front entrance.

As long as there are lots of people, a truck owner will have the opportunity to feed hungry mouths.

6. Experience Makes a Master

Have you worked in a food truck? This doesn’t mean you are ready to own one.

Working in the growing industry gives you a strategic advantage over someone who hasn’t, but it doesn’t mean you’re ready to run the business.

Like any business, owners are constantly working on their business even after close. You will be in charge of marketing, business development, creating the menu, and bookkeeping, so make sure you understand all the ins and outs before buying a truck.

7. You’ll Get Rich Quick

Food trucks can make plenty of profit, but they also have expenses. The amount of work you put in is how much money you can make.

The food truck business is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You will spend long hours on the road and at events, but you’ll be cooking food you love for tons of people.

Get Rolling

These myths about the food truck business shouldn’t scare you. Now that we’ve cleared them up, it’s time to rely on your expertise and culinary creativity to push you 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.

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Remember when everyone thought food trucks were just an amusement?

Well, we do. But we know that this fad was anything but that. Now, this hard-scrabble food slinging world has some serious value. 

By 2020, the food truck industry will be worth $996 million—proof that we can’t imagine life without them.

Your food truck is an essential part of your mobile restaurant, so you have to make sure that thing is insured! But what does food truck insurance cost?

Food Truck Insurance Cost Varies like the Cost of Food Truck Lobster Rolls

The less expensive the policy is, the less likely it is to have real lobster. Somethings you just can’t fake or flake on. But even in that, you don’t need to pay out the nose to get what you need. 

Food truck insurance cost depends on the provider and plan that you buy. 

Don’t be surprised if the cost is in the thousands for an annual premium. This is, in part, good if you actually expect a payout when you file a claim and if you understand that there really is no such thing as food truck insurance. 

Wait, What? 

That’s right. It would be surprising if a state’s laws actually spelled out insurance on food trucks, even if going without coverage is out of the question.

Most of the time, insurers will package together insurance plans that include general liability coverage, commercial auto insurance, business property, and workers’ compensation insurance—all of the insurance types that a mobile food serving organization will need. If you bundle all of your insurance policies and purchase them through the same company, you may be able to get a better deal. 

Other Reasons It’s Hard to Guess

Nearly every food truck is different. This is what makes the food and the food truck scene so great. 

But the fact that all trucks are different makes insuring them a challenge. Some trucks have grills, others have friers, pizza oven or BBQ smokers. All of these things have varying levels of risk and monetary value and will be treated differently by insurers. 

Further, the kinds of food, your state’s regulations for food-serving entities, and the gear that is attached to your truck will impact the price.

You’ve Got Questions

Finding the right food truck insurance can be confusing, but you will want to know how much of your budget will need to go toward insurance. Your best bet might simply be to get some quotes or reach out to a local insurance firm for help in finding a close estimate of how much you should expect to pay.

Food truck insurance cost will be just one part of a larger plan for success. Be sure to make a business plan so you can determine the overall cost and profitability of your future food truck business.

Need a quote for your first food truck? Or need help designing an upgrade? Connect with us and make it happen!

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.

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Investing in a food truck isn’t going to be cheap but has huge potential, so you need to be informed from the start and have a plan for being profitable. Below we’ll review some of the top operating costs you can expect to encounter when you start your food truck business. 

Fuel Costs

When using a food truck you have to consider fuel costs. No matter if you’re using your food truck locally or going across the country, fuel needs to be a line item in your budget. If you’re going across the country, you’ll need to factor in those costs before you travel.

You’ll also have to consider the size of your truck—the bigger the truck, the more you’ll be spending on fuel. How heavy the equipment you use will be a factor as well, as heavier equipment will add more weight to your truck. More weight equals higher fuel costs.

Calculate how many miles you’ll be going each day compared to your truck’s gas mileage to see how much you’ll be paying each month.

Keep in mind that gas prices vary from state to state. If you plan to travel across state lines make sure to calculate the difference.

Ingredient Costs

Know what ingredients you’ll be using frequently and how much they’ll cost you. Some foods are more expensive than others, especially meats and spices.

Try not to have a large menu, as more ingredients means higher prices. Moreover, you may not have space for as many different kinds of ingredients, depending on the size of your truck and how much storage is available.

Another way to reduce your ingredient cost is to rotate your menu with the seasons using seasonal foods. Buying food in season will save you a lot of money.

Buying in bulk can also reduce how much you should expect to pay. Keep in mind that you need space to store large amounts of food. You may want to store some of these bulk foods somewhere off site so they don’t crowd up the limited space in your kitchen and contribute even more to the gas-guzzling nature of your food truck.

When looking at your food costs, a good rule of thumb is to keep your food costs between 28%-35%.

Demand

When you set up shop, you need to know your demographic. You need to tailor your menu to the people you’re serving. What you sell in one location may not sell well in another location.

You also need to predict how many people will come to your truck. You don’t want to have more food than you need. Too much food can lead to waste, which basically means money down the drain.

Review how well other food trucks in the area have done. Look at sales forecasts and previous sales made by other food trucks.

Moreover, review when food trucks are more popular in that specific area. You want as much foot traffic as you can get.

On top of that, when people go to food trucks, they’re not expecting a large menu. Be clear about what you’re selling. If potential customers don’t understand what you’re selling they won’t buy from you.

Permits, Licenses, Certificates, and Insurance

There are many fees that come with food trucks. Make sure you can afford them before you start a food truck business.

Permits, Licenses, and Certificates

You need permits, licenses, and certificates to be able to legally serve food. For example, you’ll need health permits, hazard prevention, vehicle, and zoning permits. Moreover, food safety certificates may be required (e.g. ServSafe certified).

You may need to get many permits if you go out of your state, or even to a different location in your state. States and local jurisdictions (e.g. counties, towns) have different regulations and prices.

Research each location before you go to make sure you have the proper documentation. Getting this documentation can take time so prepare in advance.

Be aware of how often these need to be renewed as well. Each time you need to renew you’ll have to shell out more money.

Once you have all your documentation, you’re still regulated on where you can set up shop. There will be specific locations and hours you’ll be able to sell food.

Insurance

Not only do you need permits, certificates, and licenses, but insurance as well. Insurance is essential for protecting your business, but it comes at a cost.

Some types of insurance you’ll definitely want include auto, liability, and workers’ compensation. You’ll also want a business owner’s policy. This should bundle in your general liability and property insurance.

Getting bundle deals for your insurance will reduce the amount you’ll be charged for them.

Renting Space

Unlike a restaurant, you’re not guaranteed a fixed space. You need find somewhere to park your vehicle when you’re not serving food.

Moreover, you won’t have as much space as a restaurant. If you can’t get everything done in your food truck, and/or can’t hold everything in it, you’ll need extra space, like a commercial or commissary kitchen.

Parking

Before you go on the road, research your route ahead of time. Reserve parking, if possible. By reserving space ahead of time you may also save on costs.

Commercial/Commissary Kitchens

If you need to store food, you may want/need to use a commercial or commissary kitchen. You can pick up food as you need it.

Keep in mind how far away the location is from where you’re selling your food. You don’t want to make many trips if you have to travel further away from the kitchen.

Having access to one of these kitchens will make it easier for you to prep all your food beforehand. You won’t have to try and prep your food in the small space of your food truck.

On top of that, your food truck may not have all the equipment you need to prepare your food beforehand.

Top Food Truck Costs

These are some of the food truck costs you need to be aware of. Do your research to learn about other costs that could affect you. Look for ways to reduce your costs—you don’t want to pay more than you have to.

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.

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Do you want to profit from your talent in baking? Are you a baker looking to add some unique flair to your existing bakery shop? If you do and you are, a mobile bakery is the perfect business for you.

Did you know that Americans spent $70 billion this year on bread and bakery products? It’s not surprising considering baked goods play a big part in the American diet.

If you want to get in on some of that revenue, read on for your guide to opening a mobile bakery.

1. Get Your Paperwork in Order

No business is complete without a business license. Since you’re starting a bakery business, you’ll need to prepare paperwork for food service. This includes a health and safety certificate, food handler’s permit, and foodservice license. 

You will also need to secure permits for your mobile bakery truck. Not every city makes it easy to start a food truck business. For example, New York City has a cap on the truck permits it issues and in Chicago food trucks have to park a certain distance from restaurants. Check for your local city and state policies on food trucks and parking restrictions to make sure you are 100% legal.

2. Develop a Business Plan

Research and intensive planning is a key factor in launching a successful business. Look at your mobile bakery business from every angle. Define your business, set your goals, and research your competition.

It’ll be smart to research what your customers want. Will you be selling sweet goods only? And what kinds? With all the pies, cookies, donuts, pastries and cakes out there, you might need to narrow down your offerings to accommodate a mobile bakery setting. Will you make bread as well for customers without a sweet tooth?

In your business plan, you want to cover the startup costs, ingredients, and equipment. Your profits won’t come to you in a snap. Figure out how long it will be before you break even and start making a profit, and plan accordingly.

Research the best areas for your mobile bakery. Make a Plan B for when your baked goods don’t sell within the day. Your business plan is a strategic tool to make your bakery idea succeed, so make sure it’s comprehensive.

3. Secure Your Financing

Your financing plan comes after you know what you need to spend. First, know your budget and how you’re going to use it. Is it enough to finance your dream to sell mobile baked goods?

If it is, then that’s great. If it isn’t, how will you make it work? Should you get a loan from a bank or credit union? Can family or friends help you out while you’re still starting the business? 

If you decide to take out a business loan, find out how much the down payment and interest are. How long will it be before you can pay off the loan?

Also, don’t forget to set money aside for business insurance. You want to make sure you have covered your most important asset: your truck and the equipment inside.

4. Buy a Food Truck 

Starting a bakery is not cheap, but starting a mobile bakery will cost you significantly less than starting a brick and mortar location. Plus, food trucks have the advantage of flexibility. If you want your mobile bakery to reach all parts of town, a bakery truck can give you that reach.

If think you will need a bigger space, you have the option of going with a longer food trailer, rather than a food truck. Be sure to weigh carefully all the pros and cons of considering a trailer before you decide either way.

5. Open Your Mobile Bakery Business

Do some market research to find ideal parking spaces in different areas across your city. Make sure you know the parking regulations in the areas where you plan to sell.

You should make sure your baked goods are priced right as well. Remember, apart from the cost for ingredients, the most you spend on your goods is time: baking time, clean up time, packaging time, and marketing time. Take that into account when you calculate the cost of supplies and the time you spend making them.

Once you have those things down, you’re ready to launch your bakery on wheels. Open your business with a bang. Make sure that people notice the new mobile bakery going around town.

When customers start lining up to taste your delicious baked goods, don’t forget your customer service. One of the tricks to success is excellent customer service. The first step to gaining loyal customers is to make them happy customers.

6. Promote Your Mobile Bakery

Before you open the mobile bakery for business, reach out and connect with your potential customers. Use a variety of marketing strategies to get the word out about your bakery, including social media, local advertising, and word of mouth. Tell everyone you know!

Don’t underestimate the importance of social media; be sure to market effectively on more than just one platform. According to research, 97% of marketers use social media to reach audiences. The most engaging types of content on social media focuses on videos and images.

If you can, you should also create a blog or a website. You can write articles about your bread and sweets and other relevant topics, along with having more information about yourself and how your bakery got started.

8. Closing Tips

Starting a mobile bakery (or any business for that matter) isn’t easy. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or other veterans in the business. Connect with other vendors and learn their tips and tricks for running a food truck business.

Don’t forget about food truck safety. A small violation can give your business a bad rep in both the health department and the public eye. These rules exist to ensure you and your customers stay safe. 

Build up a good customer base before you start thinking about expanding. Use marketing strategies like promos and sales to help your brand take off. Once you get more recognition, you can start looking into merchandising.

Bring Your Passion to the People

Who says food trucks can only sell sandwiches or hotdogs? Food trucks can be bakeries or pastry shops too. Now, are you ready to start your bakery truck?

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.

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Everyone’s journey to the food truck industry is different, but there are certain things that every food truck owner needs to incorporate. Whether you’re coming to the industry as an entrepreneur, a chef or a restaurant owner, don’t forget these essentials along the way!

7. Research the Industry

You might know a lot about business, the food industry, or running a kitchen, but before starting a food truck you still have to research the food truck industry itself. You’ll be lucky to see success if you jump right in by purchasing a food truck without doing any research to lay the groundwork for a successful mobile restaurant venture.

You need to take some time to scope out your competition, learn best practices and find out how to be successful in this industry. Learning everything on the job is an option . . . but it’s not the best one. The more you learn ahead of time, the better off you will be.

6. Come Up With A Concept & Name

Your food truck concept will define your product and your name is what people will associate with your food. Getting these two things down will help you stand out and have a better chance at success.

Like all things in the business world, coming up with a winning concept and name is not easy. You might go the classic route with a nostalgic name and serve family recipes, or you might branch out and come up with a concept that is unique in your area—the choice is yours.

Take some time to really brainstorm these ideas. What can you see yourself cooking every day, and what can you see people buying? Is there a niche in your area that hasn’t been filled yet? Don’t worry about nailing down your entire menu right away. One cool thing about the food truck industry is you can try out new menu items more easily, as people expect food truck menus to be unique and interesting. Even fusion food combining different cuisines is welcomed.

5. Plot Out Your Business Plan

Every business owner—including food truck owners just starting out—needs a business plan.

This plan will also everything out so you aren’t going at this venture with your eyes closed. Having a good business plan can even lead to you getting funds for your business, as you use it to secure funds from financial institutions or to convince financial backers that your plan is profitable.

While many chefs want to jump right in, a good business plan will help you decide what’s possible. Plus, it will also be used as an essential guide along your way.

4. Licenses, Permits, Etc.

Having the proper food truck licensing and permits is essential. Without these ingredients, you will not be able to run your business—they are non-negotiable. Be sure and find out the different requirements in your area, as they can change based on where you’re planning on operating your truck. Do your research!

3. Locations

During the journey of setting up your food truck business, you’re going to have to start looking for locations for your truck. You can always enter food truck events and offer a catering service to spice things up and add another stream of income.

Just remember, while your location is very important, you can find multiple locations to set up shop, since your business is mobile. No matter where you decide to set up shop, it’s ideal to find places that are high in foot traffic. Just make sure that you have the proper permitting and follow all local laws when choosing where you will park.

2. Online Marketing

Many food truck owners want to focus on their food and day-to-day business at their food trucks and that’s it.

However, marketing needs to make an appearance if you plan on being the most successful food truck owner you can possibly be. A couple essential things you need on the online marketing front are a quality website and engagement on social media. These avenues will help keep your customers informed about important details, like hours and locations, while promoting the more exciting parts, like your menu and weekly or daily specials.

While your food truck is being built, you should be starting to get these types of things in order and making sure they are ready before you start serving food at your mobile kitchen. Build some hype before you hit the streets with your new business.

1. Build Your Food Truck

Along with all these things, you, of course, need a food truck. This is the foundation of your business. Be sure to use an eye-catching design that prominently displays your logo—your truck will act as a mobile billboard promoting your business wherever you drive it. Make sure you think through how you want your kitchen organized to minimize disasters and to ensure you have the ideal setup for running your food business.

Now Get Going!

There are many different things a restaurant owner will need to start up a food truck business, but the seven ingredients above are essential. Now that you have a place to get started, why not take your first step today?

Want an idea of what your food truck could look like? We encourage you to check out our recent builds.

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 Essentials For Starting A Food Truck: What You Need to Know appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Photo: Freepik

The food truck industry is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of hard work to get where you want to go with your truck and your business. You can expect to work a whole lot of hours, expend lots of creative energy, and learn a whole lot about how to run a small business. You have to have a drive to succeed.

If you think you have the necessary determination, awesome! However, there are also other important ingredients you will want to have if you plan on running a food truck business.

4. Your Food Truck—Of Course!

Let’s get the most obvious ingredient out of the way right at the top—the food truck. Of course, you have to have a food truck to run a food truck business.

Our advice? Don’t purchase the cheapest food truck you can find, because that mistake will be costly in the long run. Going with a customized truck is your best option.

A truck made just for you will look the way you want it, with custom graphics that match your branding. You can even add a shadow box TV on the outside to showcase your menu, or custom rooftop sign boards for that extra touch of glam.

Your custom truck will also have all the right equipment for your particular food enterprise. Need specialty equipment like a pizza oven, espresso machine, or ice cream dipping cabinet? Done. Have a specific way you want your kitchen laid out? No problem! That’s exactly why having a custom truck is the way to go: you can make sure everything is designed to your desired specifications.

3. Recipes Your Customers Will Love

This is one of the most important ingredients on this list, because it’s your actual product. Don’t try to be the next McDonald’s or Subway. Try to be the next you. You can achieve this by serving up your own unique recipes.

Your food has to stand out from the crowd. You want your food to be so good and so unique that customers can’t get it anywhere else. Do you have dishes that you are known for among your family and friends? Try those out on your food truck customers and see how they go over.

2. Your Business Plan 

If you are trying to break into the food truck industry, then you’ve probably already heard that a business plan is essential.

In order to be as accurate as possible, your business plan has to map out everything, including one time and recurring expenses: 

• Initial inventory, and restocking costs
• Employee pay
• Your salary
• Your food truck build
• Insurance (for your physical truck and for your business as well)
• Licensing and Permits
• Storage (if you don’t have somewhere to park your truck when it’s not in use)
• Gas for Transportation

This is not an exhaustive list by any means, so be sure to add any other foreseeable costs to your business plan. These costs may vary, depending on the type of food you plan to serve.

The more detailed your business plan, the better prepared you will be to face the day to day running of your food truck operation. An impressive business plan can even help you secure your food truck financing.

1. A Vision for Your Food Truck Business

Successful business owners need a vision, food truck owners included. A little imagination never hurt anyone, right?

Part of having a vision is being able to picture yourself succeeding, and making a plan to get there. It takes a whole lot of creativity to be a food truck chef and a business owner at the same time.

In order to make your vision a reality, you need to create concrete goals that will help you get there. Set aside time for planning and strategizing. Have a set period after which you will review your goals, and see if you have put in the work you planned to. If you have, congratulations! Now set your next goal and keep on trucking. If you haven’t, examine what you can do differently to meet those goals by your next self-review.

Don’t Let Your Food Truck Dream Flop

Some of these ingredients are going to take a lot of work, creativity, and trial and error. Don’t let that scare you away from pursuing your goals. Every successful business has to start somewhere, and food trucks are no exception.

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 4 Key Ingredients for Your Food Truck Business appeared first on Custom Concessions.