Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Mobile Food Trucks
You can face a lot of challenges when opening any new business. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about mobile food trucks. Use this information to help your new business prosper.
The Food Truck Industry is Growing
Image via Flickr by preston.rhea
The food truck industry has grown significantly in the last few years. Between 2007 and 2012, the industry grew by more than 8 percent every year. No one can predict where trends will head in the future, but there’s a good chance that people will keep buying meals from mobile food trucks.
Having a reliable truck from Russell Concession & Mobile Kitchens, Inc. will help you serve fresh, delicious foods so your business will grow.
You’ll Need Capital to Start Your Business
Many entrepreneurs start food trucks because it costs less to run them than brick and mortar restaurants. That’s good news for foodies who want to get their fresh dishes to customers without getting a business loan that will put them in debt for decades.
Cheaper, however, doesn’t mean cheap. Starting a mobile food truck business can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $250,000. That price includes:
- Your truck
- Upgrading your new or used truck
- A generator
- Permits
- Licenses
- Insurance
Where do you get capital? You could look for investors who want to profit from your good ideas. You could also turn to banks and credit unions for loans.
Unless you have at least $40,000 saved, you’ll need help from someone.
Ordinances Vary From City to City
If you plan to work in one community, then you need to make sure you follow that area’s food truck code as perfectly as possible. That often means conforming to parking laws, getting permits, and passing inspections.
It becomes more difficult when you branch out to serve more than one city. Ordinances can vary greatly from place to place. Once you cross into a new city, you’re under a whole new set of rules.
You Should Learn How to Fix Your Truck
Owning a food truck makes you more than a chef and business owner. It makes you responsible for a mobile restaurant. If you can’t get that restaurant to your customers, then you’re losing money by the minute.
That’s why a lot of food truck owners learn how to do basic maintenance and minor repairs on their own. Knowing how to change your oil and fix minor problems means that you get to save money by avoiding expensive garages. It also means that you don’t have to take a couple of days off waiting for the mechanic to get to your vehicle.
At the very least, you should have an emergency tool kit in your truck. Few things are worse than breaking down on the way to work.
You Need Social Media
Social media has played an important role in the success of mobile food trucks. Facebook and Twitter make it easy for you to communicate with customers. If you need to move locations or take a day off, you can use your profile to let them know. You can also use social media as an advertising tool that attracts more customers.
What opportunities and challenges do you think about as you prepare to become a mobile food truck owner?
