Food & Beverage
How to start a food truck: 10 tips from operators
Here are 10 tips to getting a food truck up and running.
October 14, 2024 by Bradley Cooper — Editor, ATM Marketplace & Food Truck Operator
Food trucks are a massive industry, with current estimates putting its value at $4.3 billion in 2022, with an expected compound annual growth rate of 6.7% to 2031. As a result, many people interested in tapping into this market and are researching how to start a food truck.
However, it can be a major challenge to get a food truck up and going. Operators need a truck, cooking equipment, a generator or battery and many other pieces of equipment. Beyond this, operators may also need to pay for many different permits to be able to operate in different areas.
There's also the cost component. Toast estimates new food trucks cost anywhere from $50,000 to $175,000 to get up and running.
Thankfully, there are many skilled and successful food truck operators who can provide tips on how to start a food truck.
Check out these 10 best tips shared with FoodTruckOperator.com via email interviews.
Starting a food truck? Make it simple
Tammy Levant and Robert Lenair, owners of Heavenly Puffs, recommend operators keep it simple and sweet with food truck ideas.
"Think outside of the box. The product has to be simple and on-point. The more you add, the more complicated it becomes. We have one product with 10 toppings, we will be adding more products but introducing them one at a time. Unique sells!! Also we have a great looking truck, so make sure it's aesthetically appealing and tells your story and brand by looking at it. I have seen so many trucks that have so much art on them that you have no idea what they are selling," Levant and Lenair said.
Understand the permits
"The best advice I can give is to investigate and understand the permitting processes of the areas you will be covering. Go into it with an open mindset and remember to be positive with everyone you encounter, say yes to everything even when it's a no. There is salesmanship involved with saying no in a positive way," Blake and Lisa Daniel, owners of Frios Gourmet Pop Haslet, said.
Save money but don't skimp on entertainment
Andrea Lacy, owner of Luv's Brownies, recommends potential food truck owners "save your money. Look for ways to optimize your product. People eat with their eyes. Our audience has grown up and looking to be entertained. While our customers are enjoying their dessert or Cuban coffee they are also listening to Cela Cruz salsa music. We have created an experience."
Come up with tactics to drive traffic to your food truck.
"I think when people start a food truck, they have a mentality of "if we build it, they will come" and it's just not true. Equal or greater focus must be put into how to drive traffic and create traffic for the truck. Will you be trying to drive prepaid catering leads and how will you do that? How much do you need to bring in on any given day to break even after labor, cost of goods, and all other event/truck costs? Think big picture about all aspects of how to make the food truck dream a reality before jumping in," said Ethan Cisneros and Alex Winder, franchisees of a Wetzel's Pretzels food truck.
Don't try it make it perfect before starting your food truck
"Starting with what you have available for yourself and growing into happiness and content with that is far easily that pushing it off until you find the perfect thing. If you are passionate about what you're doing and serving others will see and notice that!" said Abel Wilson and Michelle Burnem, owners of A Coffee Movement.
Cater to a specific food niche
"Pay attention to your area. Sell what the people need and not what you like. For example, don't sell pizza because it's your favorite if there are 10 pizza joints in your town. You are catering to the masses not personal preference," Anthony Pinheiro and Juanita Keddy, owners of That Food Truck, said.
Don't try to start a food truck as a part time job
"If you want to be truly successful, this can't be your part time gig or retirement job. It takes more hard work than you'd ever give to someone else, BUT it is equally as rewarding once you get going," Melissa and Devyn Morgan, owners of Starvin Marvin Food Trucks, said.
Do your homework
Adrienne Benedetto, owner of Hotdog Hideout, said the important part of starting a food truck is to, "research, research, research!!! It all starts with finding the right place to make your truck. It's not easy work, whether you are behind the scenes or on the truck, it's hard work. We are not a restaurant, we have limited space to work in and limited time to get things prepared, you can't control everything that goes on outside the truck when your working, so don't take it personally, you can only control what you are doing."
Make sure you're passionate about starting a food truck
"Make sure you really want it because it's hard work. Make sure you give clients great food and have great service. With a food truck, it can get busy, tiresome and frantic. Please make sure you are still delivering top tier food and service, even when things get hectic," said Mario L. Johnson, owner of The Original Sleepy Potato.
Be patient
"Be patient, as the first year or two is very tough, but it definitely gets better," Sandra Ramey, owner of Heifers Be Trippin, said.
Conclusion
Ultimately how you choose to start your food truck will depend on the capital available and where you plan to park your truck. Make sure to do your research and ask for more tips from people in the industry. It's a tough job, but with the right tools, can pull it off.
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