Photo by Mansoor Del on Unsplash

Often times when you hear of someone starting a food truck, they either live in a big city, or they’re planning to move there and make a go of it. But a food truck business can operate successfully in smaller cities and towns as well; you don’t necessarily need to make that big move if you like the small-town atmosphere better.

Read on for a comprehensive guide to making the most of your small town business food truck.

Location

Your food truck’s location is critical to generating repeat sales and overall success. You cannot expect to see enough customers if you are off the beaten path.

Instead, find a main road that town residents often visit. Perhaps near a popular shopping center, in the downtown historic district, or near a major highway for commuters.

Each town has different rules for zoning regarding where you can set up shop. When doing the research to select your location, reach out to your local government to get clearance.

Create a Unique Menu

Each small town has a set of dining staples. It is hard to compete against local spots with a great reputation and a loyal customer base.

One way start building your own customer base is by offering a unique menu. If you offer exciting food items that are not available anywhere else nearby, customers are more likely to come. Since small towns tend to have fewer different types of food on offer, if you bring in something completely new people are bound to be curious and give your treats a try.

Use Digital Marketing

You cannot rely on location alone to attract customers. You need to get the word out in other ways. Social media and e-mail marketing are effective digital marketing measures to reach new and existing customers.

Platforms like Facebook and Instagram provide business owners with a valuable tool. You can generate buzz for your food truck online. Be sure to share high-quality images of your food to attract likes and shares.

Many successful food trucks ask their customers to follow them on social media. You can also collect e-mail addresses at the point of sale. This way, you can mass distribute coupons, specials, and exciting additions to the menu.

Price for Success

A key component to long-term success is finding the right price range for your menu. Of course, you do not want the menu to be overly expensive. Most people do not expect to spend a fortune at a food truck.

At the same time, you need to generate enough revenue to keep the business afloat. The cost of each menu item needs to reflect the labor required and the ingredients included. It is important that you find the right balance between profit and an attractive price.

Succeeding With Your Small Town Business Food Truck

Your food truck is the recipe for navigating these challenging times. Food trucks do not rely on indoor dining to bring in customers and you don’t have to be in a big city to operate one. Instead, you can generate revenue with unique menu items.

If you are interested in purchasing a food truck for your small town business, contact us today to speak with a sales associate.

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 Small Town Business: How To Succeed With Your Food Truck 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.