Are you an aspiring food truck chef? 

If so, you might be wondering how these mobile eateries select their themes and plan their menus. 

In this article, we’ll share our top tips for planning and preparation. And, we’ll help you decide what to serve! Keep reading for more information.

Incorporate Familiar Foods

Not every guest at your eatery will be looking for fun and trendy menu items. Some people will be looking for basic foods and classic menu items that they recognise. 

Simple dishes like a sandwich, a burger and fries, chicken fingers, or a garden salad might appeal best to these clients. Of course, you’ll want to add your own creative twists to the dish, but don’t go crazy!

Having one meal that appeals to picky eaters and kids is an excellent idea.

Think Outside the Box

Don’t be afraid to add an item to your menu, just because it doesn’t fit in with your theme. Instead, introduce these dishes as specials or limited-time offerings.

It’s ok to color outside the lines from time to time, and if a menu item doesn’t sell well as a special, you can easily remove it from the list. 

You can also consider fusion cooking—the combination of multiple culinary backgrounds to create a totally unique dish. 

Seasonal Eating

If you want to attract customers all year round, you might want to create a seasonal food truck menu. 

For example, you might want to serve a pumpkin spiced dish or two during fall months. Or, add a comforting cup of soup to the menu during wintertime.

Seasonal eating is more than just a trend. Serving each month’s produce at its peak ripeness is healthy, sustainable, and will keep your menu sounding fresh to new guests during every season. 

Add a Unique Twist

If you’re running a classic eatery like a sandwich food truck, you’ll need to make your menu stand out from the competition.

Consider using some interesting or exotic ingredients to spice up basic menu items. This could be something small—like adding an unexpected garnish or sauce. Or, a far-out idea that takes food truck food to the next level!

It’s your restaurant, so don’t be afraid to experiment.

Bottoms Up

Even if your main food truck themes focus on food, you’ll need to add a few beverages to your menu. That way, guests can enjoy a complete meal at your eatery, rather than going elsewhere for a drink.

Consider your climate, location, and client base before adding a drink menu.

In some places, you might need special permitting for drinks like beer and wine. And, depending on the weather in your area, you might be better off serving hot drinks like coffee and tea. 

Think Like a Food Truck Chef

Now that you’ve got some menu inspiration, it’s time to think like a food truck chef and start planning that menu!

And, if you haven’t purchased your truck yet, now is the perfect time to contact us for a free quote request. Our team of industry experts is standing by to help!

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 How Do Food Truck Chefs Plan Their Menus? 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.

There are over 70,000 bars in the U.S. alone. There’s little doubt that the bar industry is a booming one, so breaking into it with a mobile bar truck is a great idea for anyone looking to run their own business. But what exactly are the benefits of running a bar on wheels?

Here are 5 profitable reasons you should start your own mobile bar today.

High Demand

The bar industry is worth about $23 billion and that number is only expected to grow. There’s little doubt that we live in a thriving drinking culture so breaking into the bar industry with a mobile bar truck is a solid investment for those willing to put the work in.

As for demand: us humans can never pass up the opportunity for a good party. Weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations remain a staple in the U.S. and beyond. And where there’s a celebration, you can expect the need for a well-stocked bar.

Varied Work

Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar bars, a mobile bar thrives on versatility. That means the events you’ll be working can range anywhere from a lavish wedding, to a food-truck market, to a corporate event.

This versatility lends your business the ability to fluctuate with industry ebbs and flows. Weddings might be your bread and butter but during the off-season, you can supplement your roster with market appearances or holiday celebrations, and vice versa.

Be Your Own Boss

Running a business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ve ever done. And the great thing about helming a mobile bar is just how much control you have over the business as a whole.

No more answering to bosses out of touch with the day to day minutia of the job. You’re your own boss, able to work hands-on in a vocation you’re passionate about.

Minimal Overhead

A brick-and-mortar bar comes with a slew of expensive overhead costs. Rent, utilities, licensing – it can all add up to make the running of the business a lesson in stress.

A mobile bar, on the other hand, is comparatively cheap to set up and maintain. Once bought, your vehicle is yours outright with only maintenance checks and costs associated. Once you’ve factored in liquor licensing, advertising, and stock, everything else is money in your own pocket.

High Earning Potential

With average revenue per employee sitting at a comfortable $75,000 per year, the bar industry is a lucrative one to break into. 

At the end of the day, your earnings will reflect how much work you put into the business. Sinking effort into marketing, promotion, and sales will put your business in a much better position to earn big bucks.

Start Your Own Mobile Bar

A mobile bar is one of the best ways to break into the thriving bar industry. Setting up a bar on wheels requires minimal overhead with the opportunity for high earnings and varied work. It’s also an excellent way to be your own boss.

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 5 Profitable Reasons You Should Start Your Own Mobile Bar Today! appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Did you ever think that we’d live in a world where you wouldn’t have to go to a bar to go to a bar?

The time is now and mobile beer trucks are here. If you’re a young entrepreneur, the mobile bartending business is a great new trend to jump on.

The logistics are simple. Educate yourself on booze and bartending and make sure you know your stuff when it comes to licenses and serving laws. Then talk to breweries and start securing contacts and contracts.

After that, you can start looking for your new truck. You’ll be serving to the masses ASAP!

What Are Mobile Beer Trucks?

Mobile bars are just like food trucks except they serve up cocktails, wine, and beer. You might not have seen these pop up too much at events, but you’ll start to. Here are 5 reasons why you should start a mobile bar business.

Cool Truck, Cool Events

You want your mobile beer truck to be the coolest one in town, right? You can literally be the life of the party anywhere you go. 

Build a list of contacts and start promoting your mobile bar, whatever it may include. Weddings, corporate parties, community events, and festivals will all come calling for your services.

Figure out what your niche is and give the people what they want.

Growing Market

Running a mobile beer truck in 2019 is the equivalent of being an ice cream man in the 50s. This is an untapped (pun intended) market and you’ll want to get in on the ground floor.

People love beer and event planners love to give it to them, so start your beer truck now and get ahead of the competition.

Huge Money Potential

Since you’re getting ahead of the competition, you’ll have a chance to expand and franchise your brand early on. Have a good business plan and get all of your licensing and contracts in order. 

There are many options for your mobile bar, but you should try and focus on one thing. You could have a mobile craft beer bar, a tiki bar, a cocktail bar, or a wine bar. An all-around bar will work, but planners are usually looking for a theme for their event.

Craft Brewery Boom

One of the benefits you’ll notice when starting your mobile beer truck is that we’re in the middle of a craft brewery boom in America. In the last 5 years, people from all walks of life have been dropping their old careers and opening breweries.

Every corner of every state has dozens of breweries now, and you’ll be able to select the best local craft beer for your mobile beer truck. People love consuming local products and you’ll love promoting local craft beer.

Endless Possibilities

There are endless possibilities when it comes to owning a mobile beer truck. Imagine having taps built-in right on the side of your mobile bar, or refrigerated storage for your beer kegs. All come with certain benefits, so just figure out which one works best for you.

Once you’re there, you just need to have fun with it. Remember, you’re a traveling party. People are going to love you and your business, rain or shine.

Beer, Beer, Beer

Mobile beer trucks are on the horizon and you’ll be holding the flag at the front. These perks are just the start—there’s no telling how far you can take your business.

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 Think Outside the Bar: 5 Reasons to Invest in Mobile Beer Trucks appeared first on Custom Concessions.

Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage in the U.S. making it a lucrative business in the right hands. Whether you’re a brewer or a connoisseur, starting a mobile beer truck business is a great way to cut overhead costs and cash in on the craft beer boom. But how exactly do you start a mobile bar?

Here’s everything you need to know about running a mobile beer business.

Know Your Beer

Starting any business requires knowing the product inside out. Beer is no different. If you can’t tell the difference between an IPA and a stout, you’re going to run into trouble before you even get behind the wheel.

The internet has made research on this front far easier than it used to be. Bloggers and breweries alike are ideal sources of information on the art of brewing the perfect beer. 

If you plan to source local then do some leg work. Visit breweries, test their product, and teach yourself the jargon for describing different beers. You’ll be happy you put the work in when a customer asks for a recommendation.

Know Your Market

You should be as well versed in who’s going to buy your product as the product itself. Knowing your target audience is the backbone to any solid entrepreneurship endeavor. And no, “beer drinker” won’t cut it.

Lock down exactly who you plan to sell to and spare no detail. Ask yourself:

• What does my customer do for work?
• What do they do for fun?
• Where do they live?
• Are they single? Married? Have kids?
• How much do they earn?
• What are their goals?

Answering these questions in a meaningful way will help you develop customer personas. These detailed roadmaps of your target audience will prove invaluable when making decisions on the running and promotion of your business.

Know Your Competition

Mobile bars aren’t uncommon so chances are you’re going to have some healthy competition. Take that as a challenge.

The better you know your competition the better you’ll be able to stand out from them. This is called finding your unique selling proposition (USP) – the thing that makes your business unlike any other.

Keeping tabs on your competitors is also a great way to test marketing strategies without any of the risk. If a campaign fails your competitors, you’ll be able to make note of it and avoid the pitfall yourself.

Get Licensed

Liquor licensing is serious business. Breaking the rules is the fastest way to sink a business and your bank balance, so make sure you’re on the right side of the law.

Check your state, city, and/or county permit requirements and don’t cut corners. You’ll also need to apply for a business license and a sales tax permit. Depending on the setup of your mobile bar, applicable vehicle permits might also apply.

Red tape might be frustrating to deal with but it’s better than the repercussions should you get caught out without the proper licenses.

Get Your Mobile Beer Truck on the Road

Running a mobile beer truck is the best of both worlds: entrepreneurship without the overhead of a static location. Knowing your beer, your market, and your competition will start your mobile bar off on the right wheel. And with the proper licenses, you’ll be pouring your first pint in no time.

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 Will Drink for Money: How to Start a Mobile Beer Truck Business appeared first on Custom Concessions.