Getting into the food truck industry might seem like an easy way to make cash when you’re making and serving food. However, while you won’t be spending any money to buy a restaurant, all of the other fees are still going to apply. So how much does a food truck cost? If we are talking about the food truck, we could say anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000, depending on whether you want the state of the art fancy truck or just a cheap regular one to get you started. Either way that’s probably more than you expected. It costs a lot more if you’re including all the fees it takes to get your company up and running.
Food trucks are an easy way to grow your interest because they don’t rely too much on professional backgrounds or experience. A lot of first-time food truck owners use this as a way to a faster revenue. But as stated before, getting a food truck up and running is more laborious and costs more than it seems. Here are 13 things you need to get started in this type of industry.
Have a business plan
When starting any restaurant, the first thing that the manager does is get down and make a business plan. The same goes for any food truck service. You will need to have a plan and a list of goals if you want to get the most out of your company. Get a strategy and find out how you are going to advertise your brand. Learn how you are going to communicate with your customers in a way that earns you more revenue. Sometimes the business plans you come up with will need to be adjusted and changed as necessary throughout the process. But it is essential that you have a plan to go off for the success and outcome of your company.
Pick your companies name and concept
Picking your food truck name is the hard part. You will want to pick something unique to the style of your services and something easy to remember for your customers. It is usually easier to remember the name of a food truck when it matches well with the type of food they are serving. For example, The Grilled Cheeserie is a food truck service that mainly makes grilled cheese sandwiches, which is a lot easier to remember than if they had a name different from what they wanted to brand.
Getting a truck
This step may sound a little silly and obvious, but it’s one of the most critical factors. Depending on the area your food truck runs in, they will have different requirements for what the development rules are. You will need to decide precisely what type of vehicle you are going to want for your business and figure out the standards you need to have for the area you are going to be located in.
You can even talk to a manufacturer that is currently operating in your state in order to get a quote or idea of what the expectations are for the building standards of your food truck. When you are talking to the manufacturer, make sure that the truck will be in code with all the rules for the state you are going to be operating in. A truck can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $200,000. But if you feel like that’s a little steep some people even end up just using a food trailer and that can cost from $800 to $50,000 or others use a food cart which can cost $20,000 to $25,000.
Health permit
A health permit can cost anywhere from $800 to $5,000 per permit used. Getting this permit will decide if it is legal for you to serve food. A health permit can determine a lot of your service because it can show you the types of opportunities you have for other street vendors that you could partner with. It can also give you an idea of the openings you have in that area.
Plan your itinerary
What routes do you plan to take, and where do you want to serve your food? If you are planning to drive each time you need to make it to your food station, then you will need to have a planned schedule of what time to get up in the morning when to start cooking your food before your customers arrive and are ready to pack up and leave at a reasonable time. You may not have to worry about all the bills and cleaning of a restaurant but never having a designated place to park makes up for that.
Truck commissaries
Think of truck commissaries as the safety net for food trucks. This is the place you can get all your essentials done and have a place to park, for a small fee, of course. With this you can have fresh water, a place to cook and prepare your meals, propane fill up, cold storage space for your food, areas for truck maintenance, and ice refills.
Truck commissaries can be a considerable weight lifter but also means you will be on your toes for most of the day. Getting up early enough to prepare the meals and head out to your serving station takes a lot of time and energy and usually requires you to be up as soon as 7 or 8 in the morning and getting to sleep at midnight throughout the weeks as well. So, while commissaries can be a lifesaver, they can also drain you of your time.
Paying your employees
Paying your employees is a continuous fee that lasts the entire time you’re operating your food truck. Food truck services usually pay staff $15 an hour for their staff and $20 to $22 an hour to the manager. You can generally have up to four to six staff members if you are in a high volume area.
Menu
Deciding what’s on the menu for your food truck service is a lot easier than for a regular restaurant. With a food truck, you will usually only have a small variety of options with limited sides and usually only one type of dessert. Menu items can also change depending on community interests. It’s wise to try a variety of things first and see which ones are the most popular and stick to those.
Food Truck Maintenance
Just like in a regular restaurant, a food truck has the equipment to cook and prepare their meals. Routine maintenance on the inside of your vehicle is essential to ensure your food is fresh and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals. At Touchstone Commercial Services we can get you the perfect regular maintenance you need. From commercial appliances repair in a restaurant to your food truck we have you covered.
Marketing your business
Marketing is definitely valued in how much your food truck costs. To become successful in the food truck industry, you are going to need some good marketing which can take plenty of time and money. Marketing starts with the way you are presenting yourself to your customers and how well you are advertising your food. But it doesn’t stop there, you need to be able to do your share of social marketing as well.
Get your business name out there and on the web. Being good at marketing your business can help a lot, but getting your customers back and talking about you is going to be one of the most significant impacts. Make sure you are always punctual and reliable. If you advertise for a specific time you will be serving make sure you are there early and ready to go so you don’ t keep your customers waiting. Having an excellent reputation can be a way of marketing all to itself.
Getting your name recognized
Make sure to incorporate your business name within your retailing. You want people to notice your companies name if ever they see your logo or even just your food. Being able to make incredible food that impresses your customers will help you to get your name out there and be noticed. Make sure to be unique and fun. Incorporate your sense of humor within your work. Everyone loves a laugh, and that can be one way to get your brand noticed.
Network
Make connections with other types of food trucks and services to know where there will be events. Having a lot of food trucks in one place makes an entertaining divertissement and gives you a more significant variety of customers. Growing your network and having your stand where the people are is a big step in the food truck industry and can get you more clients, and that means more income.
Audience
Decide what type of audience you want to serve to, and once you have that figured out, make sure you are meeting their needs and giving them what they want. Pick an audience that works for your area and try to pick food that coordinates with that.
Tips for what to watch for when maintaining your food truck
Clean your dirty condenser coils
Having dirty condenser coils can be a make it or break in your food truck business. Keeping them clean is a vital role for any freezer or refrigerator. If condenser coils are dirty, your compressor will be working longer and harder to get cold air inside your appliance, causing your refrigerator to break down faster.
Check exhaust fans
Exhaust fans are a necessary component for food trucks. They are in charge of ventilating heat out to keep cool air flowing in. They also can help release harsh chemicals out of the air to keep your food tasting fresh. During the summer it can get really hot and that’s why it is important for you to keep an eye on your exhaust fans. Check and make sure that the belts on these are running smoothly.
Always keep your surfaces clean
Keeping your surfaces and grills clean can help keep bad chemicals out of your food and ensure that you will need fewer repairs down the road. It can also give your appliances a better and longer life span.
Thank you for reading our article “How much does a food truck cost?” If you need any routine maintenance done in your food truck or another type of commercial appliance Touchstone Commercial Services can help. You can call us up at 1 801-927-3047 or contact us online.
