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How To Write a Food Truck Business Plan (+ Template)

With the increasing popularity of food trucks, it’s essential to prep your operation before you start prepping your mise en place. A solid food truck business plan puts you at the front of the grid when the race begins.

The US street vendor sector was valued at $2.49 billion in 2022, up from the previous year’s total of $2.29 billion. The market is expected to grow another 1.7% in 2023.

For those with aspirations of culinary greatness, a food truck is the perfect setting to develop new recipes while building a fan base, or even an online business, without the expense and risk of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

There is even a street food chef in Singapore with a Michelin star, proving that you don’t need a giant kitchen and 50 sous chefs to build a reputation for quality, innovation, and deliciousness.

How to write a successful food truck business plan, step by step

Set aside a page for your executive summary
Write an overview of your company
Conduct a market analysis
Lay out your products and/or services
Create customer personas
Put together a marketing plan
Create a logistics and operations plan
Write out your financial plan

Starting a mobile food business is subject to the same challenges and pitfalls as any other startup operation. But there are special considerations for food trucks to address before you open the window to start slinging sandwiches (or tacos, or barbeque, or …).

You may want to open up our handy business plan template so you can take notes, or jot down your brilliant ideas as they come to you. We also talked to seasoned food truck operators and entrepreneurs Natalie Basile and Mikey Wheeler-Johnson of Eats Amoré Mobile Italian Cuisine , who share their knowledge and experience throughout this guide.

From the executive summary to the financial details, we’ll show you how to build a food truck business plan for savory success.

1. Set aside a page for your executive summary

Even though this is the first section in your business plan, it’s the last section you should write. Your executive summary captures all the highlights from the rest of your business plan, so get those sorted out first.

This is Shopify’s business plan template. You can download it below.

When it’s time to write this section, think about your audience. If you’re writing a business plan for yourself as a way to stay organized, motivated, and focused on your goals, this summary can be quick and dirty.

Free: Food Truck Business Plan Template

Business planning is often used to secure funding, but plenty of business owners find writing a plan valuable, even if they never work with an investor. That’s why we put together a free business plan template to help you get started.

If your business plan is meant to secure a bank loan or impress potential investors, your executive summary will need to focus on profit, reliability, and the fact that you know what you’re doing—so your food truck feels like a safe bet.

While it’s important to mention what makes your food service model unique, spend plenty of time showing that you also understand the realities of running a small business.

2. Write an overview of your company

This section is your opportunity to explain what is going to make your vehicular vittles different and more successful than every other food truck on the road.

As part of this section you’ll need to tell your audience what makes you capable of running a profitable food business.

Do you have professional cooking experience?
Have you managed a commercial pantry before?
Do you have an existing reputation for creating delectable meals?

Lenders might invest in you based on the strength of your new business idea, but experience will improve your chances.

At Eats Amoré, even though neither Mikey nor Natalie has professional cooking experience, they do have a proud family history of producing delicious food. “Natalie learned to cook from her grandmother, who’s from Naples, Italy. And then her mom is an organic farmer, so she learned traditional recipes with fresh ingredients, which is the backbone of Italian cooking,” says Mikey.

In addition to your own position in your food truck business, this section is the place where you’ll outline the types of employees you have or will need to hire. Food trucks are small, so chances are you won’t need a lot of staff or a management team, but you could consider hiring prep staff, cleaners, etc.

The company overview is also the best place to set some goals. As a short-term goal, most food truck owners (and restaurateurs for that matter) aim to pay off the bulk of their startup costs (licensing fees, insurance, supplies, food, website, branding, etc.) within the first year, though this will depend heavily on your anticipated margins.

Other short-term goals may include building a social media following, finding predictable parking spots to encourage repeat traffic, or securing a spot at a big event.

Your largest capital investment is, of course, the truck itself. Although food trucks cost a lot less to set up compared to brick-and-mortar locations, they can still set you back between $50,000 and $175,000 , depending on what kind of food you’ll make and the equipment required to do it.

Paying off your food truck is likely to be your major long-term goal, which you can fulfill with your own funding or Shopify Capital .

3. Conduct a market analysis

A huge factor in setting your business up for success is understanding the target market where you will operate.

conduct a market analysis for business plan

Restrictions

Since food trucks are mobile, you’ll enjoy some flexibility compared to a restaurant, but many cities still restrict where, when, and how you can serve your customers as part of the license that allows you to operate (which costs an average of $1,800 ).

If your ideal customers live in an area or work at a time when you can’t sell to them, you could be in for some difficulty. For example, if you were to open a food truck in Vancouver, you would find that restrictions include:

Not operating during nighttime hours
Avoiding certain neighborhoods
Staying 100 meters away from brick-and-mortar restaurants
Staying outside park boundaries
And plenty more

In some cases, you may find that food trucks have not yet been considered in city regulations, and you may have to blaze a trail for your business, like Mikey and Natalie did. “We had very limited locations that we could pick from,” Mikey said.

“The zoning in Kamloops was absolutely terrible. We were not looked very favorably upon. So after many council meetings and lots of emails with counselors and going back and forth, we finally got the city to give us a pilot project location in the downtown core.”

Every city has different restrictions that affect food cart and truck owners, so be sure to consult the city hall website in your area. And start early—licensing can take time, especially in locations with high demand.

Local conditions

Beyond the restrictions imposed by municipalities, each city is subject to conditions that could help or hinder your business.

If you’re planning an ice cream truck for Edmonton, you might only have the warm, sunny weather you need for four months of the year, severely limiting profits. Conversely, the same ice cream truck in San Diego, with 266 days of sunshine on average, might be a sensation with lines around the block.

You should also take into account population in your city, demographics, foot traffic in your preferred neighborhoods, and the number of events that host food trucks, in order to establish an estimate of how many days per year you are likely able to operate.

Competition

Lastly, run a competitive analysis.

What’s the food truck market like in your city?
What do other food trucks offer?
What’s your competitive advantage?
Is there a robust restaurant scene driven by owners who don’t want food trucks diverting their customers ?

Too much competition and you might have trouble finding customers or a place to park. Too little and you may find that there is a reason no one is running a new food truck.

4. Lay out your products and/or services

This section is your opportunity to outline your creative food vision, so keep in mind that there are some limitations and considerations when it comes to the meals coming out of your truck.

Food should be easy to eat in a variety of settings, such as on a bench, standing on the sidewalk, or at a crowded concert, without spilling down the front of a CEO’s Brooks Brothers shirt.
Keep it simple: While you may be able to make complex individual dishes, trying to offer a broad, complicated menu with limited space, staff, equipment, and storage could prove to be difficult or impossible.
A long menu can be intimidating or time consuming for those trying to order quickly during their lunch break.
Try to fill a niche in your city. If there are already a lot of pizza trucks but no Thai food, make som tam instead of a margherita pie. Or, for example, if you live somewhere with plenty of trucks making mediocre burgers, your ultra-high-quality version might corner the market. You can also differentiate your offerings based on overhead and food cost.

Go out and study the existing food truck scene in your area to get an idea of what might work.

Alternate revenue

This section is a good place to consider additional revenue streams such as online sales of things like bottled sauces, spice packs, baked goods, etc. Selling online can be a lifesaver during quiet winter months, when festivals aren’t happening, or even during a global pandemic.

Eats Amoré has found that online sales and catering bookings via its Shopify website are becoming increasingly important to its bottom line. “It’s to the point where we have to turn it on and turn it off because it’s so busy,” says Mikey.

"We came up with this idea called the Ravioli Club, which is essentially a membership that you buy from our online store, and you get three mystery deliveries of ravioli delivered to your house every two weeks."

Mikey wasn’t always an ecommerce expert. “I was very green in learning how to do all the online sales, and I’m still learning a lot,” he says.

“And even with the small increments of learning that I’ve done, sales are going up exponentially. Not only has it boosted our sales, but it decreased the amount of time that I have to spend doing back and forth work with people. Because once you have all your information laid out on the website, you get a lot less tire kickers and you get a lot more people that call you and want to hire you [for catering].”

5. Create customer personas

This area of your food truck business plan is where you’ll outline your ideal customer.

Where do they live?
How old are they?
What kind of foods do they like?
How much disposable income do they have?

You’ll need to do some serious demographic research to fill in this section, since every city and neighborhood is different. Then use it to inform your menu and pricing.

If you plan to set up outside rock concerts and baseball parks, caviar and foie gras could be hard to sell, while home-cooked barbeque might not do well on the street in front of your local opera house. Ask questions to determine what your potential customers want.

6. Put together a marketing plan

You can make as much delicious food as you want, but if no one knows about it, you’re going to have a hard time making a profit. Your marketing strategy is essential to the success of your business and this section is where you’ll outline it for yourself or your business loan officer.

Branding and communications

Start by detailing where you’ll park and what your truck will look like , since these are the two biggest factors in attracting walk-by customers. Next, show how you’ll raise the profile of your business beyond passersby using traditional marketing techniques and, especially, social media.

If you intend to park in different locations on different days, having dedicated followers on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook is a great way to let people know where they can find you. Social media is also the perfect place to update your followers on new menu items. Remember to take great photos of your food for maximum impact.

The food truck marketing and sales portion should also account for what makes your offerings different from everyone else on the road. In the Products and Services section, we discussed how your menu should fill a niche, whether it is the type of cuisine, quality, or cost.

In this section, you’ll need to provide details on how you plan to communicate those differentiators to your target customers.

Online ordering

Speaking of technology, this is a good time to explore the possibility of having your customers interact with you via smartphones and computers.

You may want to offer online ordering with delivery or pickup, which can be accomplished using third-party services like DoorDash , Skip the Dishes , Uber Eats , or any number of apps preferred in different markets around the world—be sure to find out which app most restaurants and delivery services use in your area.

A less obvious facet of your marketing plan is your start date. If you plan on opening right when the good weather hits, you’re likely to be too busy to spend a lot of time building a brand identity and online presence, though your cash flow will probably be in good shape.

“A huge mistake that we had in our first year’s business plan was that we were going to work through the winter,” says Mikey. “But what I forgot was that the people in Kamloops are very fair weathered. They’re used to nice weather. So a little bit of cold and they’re like, No, we’re out of here. It wasn’t until last winter that we actually did become a year-round business when we opened our Shopify account."

7. Create a logistics and operations plan

This section is where you’ll need to dig into the nitty-gritty day-to-day operations of your local food truck.

Supply chain

You need ingredients in order to sell food. But where will you get them? Let’s look at your options.

RESTAURANT WHOLESALERS

Example: Sysco
Pros: Reliable and cost effective.
Cons: Large volume-packaged products could be hard to store on your truck.

WHOLESALE CLUBS

Example: Costco
Pros: Convenience—shop whenever you want.
Cons: Prices may be higher than restaurant wholesalers.

GROCERY STORES

Example : Trader Joe’s, local greengrocers, specialty markets
Pros: The greatest variety of ingredients, including local, organic, and specialty items. Smaller package sizes.
Cons : High prices.

Many food truck operators use a combination of suppliers to achieve their goals, so look at what is available in your area that fits into your menu and budget.

Also consider your menu: If you have a fixed set of meal offerings, will you be able to reliably get the same ingredients throughout the year? If your menu rotates frequently, will you have time to source new ingredients on a regular basis?

Your truck is your facility. So think carefully about what kind of vehicle you decide to buy.

Mikey says, “We got this HandyDART bus for a steal, and we spent the beginning of 2013 turning it into a food truck. We learned so much. It’s a fiberglass vehicle, which wasn’t ideal compared to a big stainless truck. But we made it work.”

Retrofitting a vehicle that isn’t perfect may be an option considering your budget and skill set, or you may want to purchase a vehicle that was purpose-built to be a food truck.

This is the place to outline the physical equipment and maintenance requirements for your business, such as:

Specialized cooking equipment
Fuel (cooking and engine)

Many cities also dictate that some aspects of food preparation, such as chopping vegetables, making soups, baking bread, or preparing other ingredients, be done in an off-site commissary kitchen outside of sales hours, rather than in the food truck or in your home. This is to ensure food safety, and you’ll need to factor the cost and logistics into your plan.

It’s also a good idea to determine if you can store additional ingredients at your commissary kitchen location.

Production capacity

How long does it take to make an item from your menu, on average? This is a major consideration that could limit how many customers you can serve in a day.

How do you intend to cope with changes in pace and demand over the course of a day, week, month, or year? Mikey says, “I go home and do dishes for two hours. It’s far more labor intensive than people realize.” So don’t forget to factor in how much work you can realistically do yourself.

If you plan on offering products for sale online, you’ll need to sort out a plan to ship them to customers. Fortunately, shipping can be accomplished quite easily at reasonable prices .

8. Write out your financial plan

Like most businesses, yours will likely live or die on the strength of your financial plan. You have to know how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and how those numbers are likely to change in the future.

So be sure to dig deep into your prospective balance sheet to truly understand how profits and costs will affect your operation.

Manage your money where you make it with Shopify Balance

Shopify Balance is a free financial account that lets you manage your business’s money from Shopify admin. Pay no monthly fees, get payouts up to 7 days earlier, and earn cashback on eligible purchases.

Profit margin

Fortunately for you, startup costs on a food truck are a lot less than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, so your break-even point could come a lot sooner. That said, your profits could be limited by the food truck model.

Food trucks can expect to average about 8% profit , which means they are a volume business. You’ll need to work fast to serve a lot of customers in order to earn a profit.

You’ll also need to outline your cash flow scenario . Since food trucks can’t store a lot of inventory (ingredients and supplies), you’ll need to sell and restock more frequently than a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

Additional costs

This section is also the place to factor in other costs, such as licensing, maintenance, and staff wages, if you have employees. And if you don’t plan on hiring help, remember that you probably can’t work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, which will limit your profits too. Be sure to write accurate financial projections so you get a good idea of how much you’ll earn.

Turn your business idea into a savory reality

The food truck industry is growing. Now that you’ve had a chance to think about how your food truck dreams will shape your food truck business plan, it’s time to actually sit down and write it.

Need a little push in the right direction? Check out some business plan examples , then start filling in your template once you’re inspired.

Food truck business plan FAQ

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How to start a food truck in the UK

Table of Contents

How to set up your business legally

Set up your business , getting food business licences before you operate, driving licence, how to develop menu items, step 1: experiment and perfect your recipes , step 2: measure how long your goods can last , step 3: plan how you’ll deliver or serve it to customers, dietary safety, preferences, and allergens, how to advertise your new business, how to engage your target customers, how to budget for your business, keep your finances organised easily with a simple app.

Food trucks are an exciting new category in hospitality and can offer you a lucrative way to make money anywhere on the open road. Find out how to start a food truck business in this article.

We’ll outline the basics of what you need to know to get set up and ready to start serving the lunchtime rush, including:

How to develop a menu
Dietary safety, preferences and allergens
How to budget for your business and manage your finances

Get ahead and grow your business faster using our guide for new food truck entrepreneurs and learn how you can save hundreds of hours back from your admin using accounting software solutions like Countingup.

As a new hospitality entrepreneur, you’ll need to do three things to set up your new business: declare your new income to HMRC, meet the safety requirements for food establishments in your local area and have a driving licence for the food truck you plan to use. We walk you through each below.

Starting a business is an exciting time for new entrepreneurs, and you have a few different options when establishing your business legally. Whatever route you choose is necessary as you’ll be able to declare the new income you’re receiving and pay any tax on your profits.

One of the quickest ways to become a sole trader : all you have to do is register for Self Assessment with HMRC. As you apply, you’ll need to verify who you are and disclose some information about your new business, like where you’re based and what your business is called. If you’d like help with this process, including how to avoid legal trouble from using someone else’s business name, read our article How to register as a sole trader .

As a food truck, you may need an extra set of hands. While you can hire people as a sole trader, it’s typically done through a limited company . Learn more about the different advantages and restrictions each option might present to your business’ future in our article How to set up your business: Sole trader or limited company .

Whatever method you choose in setting up your business, you’ll need to register with your local authority for a food business licence as a new food provider. This step is vital as you’ll need to meet the requirements for food hygiene. Registering is free but make sure to register at least 28 days before opening to avoid fines or other legal trouble from operating an unregistered food business.

Depending on which size of food truck you plan to use, you will need a category B drivers licence at a minimum. This will allow you to tow something to your car, although it does come with restrictions . You may need to upgrade your licence to drive larger vehicles in category C or D (like an adapted minivan for your food truck). Find out more information on upgrading your licence on the gov.uk website or via our article for HGV drivers where we cover a similar topic.

While the early days of your product development might involve lots of fun taste tests, there’s lots more to food in the hospitality sector – especially the practicalities of scaled-up production and storage while you drive to new locations.

That’s not to say taste and presentation aren’t important, of course, but modern consumers are looking for other elements in their food purchases. We’ve outlined the basic steps to develop your menu below.

As a business, your aim is to make money, and with food products, you have two options: make customer favourites that everyone loves and/or experiment with new recipes to invite customer attention. Food trucks are in the perfect position to blend these two methods as typically younger and city-orientated customers are always seeking new dishes to try.

Even if you already have several popular recipes at the ready, you’ll now need to perfect how they can scale when making larger quantities. Make sure to record your ingredients and processes accurately. When developing an entire menu, you may wish to simplify your on-site cooking process by creating base ingredients that customers can mix and match with sauces, dips and more.

When simplifying your menu items, particular food groups like rice, pasta and bread or sauces can be prepped ahead of time. While this can save you time when serving customers, you’ll need to have an idea of how they’ll last in storage by placing use-by dates. Regardless of what you’re making, this applies to cooked and uncooked foods. For example, pre-chopped vegetables and meats.

Luckily as a food truck business, this will mainly be a concern for you and your staff. Given food truck businesses are aimed at making takeaway food, you won’t have to worry as much about communicating best before dates to customers. This isn’t to say you should disregard letting customers know, simply, focus on understanding what you or your team need to know.

If you’re new to food preparation, storage, and temperature requirements, the UK’s Food Standard Agency has support available on hygiene and storage , along with online training courses.

This final step concerns how you’ll present your food to customers at the roadside.

In particular, you may want to consider how to keep your dishes at the correct temperature and safe from spillages/leakages. While your meals may still be perfectly safe to eat on arrival, customers may be disappointed with food items that look different or have lost their temperature so quickly. Consider investing in grease-proof and secured packaging that help your meals last while your customers can enjoy them.

We’ve already discussed how you’ll need to make sure your food items are safe once they’re made with use-by dates. However, some customers have additional dietary needs and preferences.

In general, you’ll need to make sure all your ingredients have gone through the necessary safety checks beforehand and are stored appropriately once they arrive. Depending on the cuisine you make, dangers from certain food groups will be more relevant. For example, if you use eggs in your products, they should be tested for salmonella. Similarly, you’ll need to avoid cross-contamination of different meat products as well as making sure the minimum cooking temperature for each is reached. Note that, depending on which location your food licence grants, these minimum cooking temperatures vary across the UK.

Unfortunately, allergies present as a serious concern for food businesses. As you’re preparing food, you’ll need to make sure that cooking surfaces and allergen ingredients are kept separate – even considering the air surrounding your ingredients as they’re being prepared. Where your dishes have certain allergens, you’ll need to label them as such in order to keep customers safe. Similar courtesies for vegan/vegetarian and halal customers should also be followed in order to give your new business a good reputation.

Crucially, if you can’t guarantee that your meals are completely free of allergens from when they were made (especially nuts), it’s best to err on the side of caution and declare trace amounts to customers. The Food Standards Agency has advice and training on allergens for new food businesses available online .

Food businesses have lots of flexibility in how they’ll advertise to customers and every opportunity should be taken to grow your business.

You should consider using platforms like Facebook , Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok to show off your tasty dishes and circulate advertisements relatively cheaply. As you’re starting out, you can begin taking simple photographs and videos of your food items to share and refine your social media marketing from there. Learn more about using social media in our guide How to use social media for business and learn how reaching out to local food bloggers and reviewers can build brand awareness.

Food truck business owners should also be careful to use their packaging as a means of advertising. Whether this advertising medium comes as customers simply being seen to eat your tasty dishes while on the go or back at the office, or from social media posts, strong branding with colours and logos can help you stand out easily.

Read more about different advertising methods in our article How to advertise a small local business .

If your business is to be successful, you need to know your target customers well. Even if you’re already advertising on social media and building a decent following, identifying ways to speak directly to the people most interested in your business is vital. As previously mentioned, more targeted advertising like food influencers and local advertising can be used.

To know more about what sort of customers might enjoy the food you plan to make, and how to advertise to them effectively, you’ll need to conduct market research. Find out how to do this and more in our article What is a target market and how to define yours .

Once you have your target market established, you’ll then need to use this information effectively in order to build your business. Learn more about marrying your target market information to your business advertising in our article How to create a marketing strategy for small businesses .

Food truck businesses can be very expensive to start but offer a lucrative method for profit once you’re set up. In order to get your business established, you’ll need an informed and well-researched budget. Budgeting for business is a fairly standard practice, which is why we’ve got advice available in our article How to budget for starting a business .

Food truck businesses need to pay close attention to their overall profits . While new businesses often lose money for their first few months while they set up, they manage to grow to a size where they make a profit again. However, many hospitality businesses operate on thin profit margins. It’s therefore vital to understand how strategy and investment changes to your business affect your profits later on. Learn how to calculate your business’ profit rates with our article How to calculate profit margin .

As a way of targeting high-traffic areas for your business, you should consider operating near office spaces, event days in your local area, culinary festivals and public areas like parks and beaches. You may need to apply for licences or permits ahead of time in order to attend some. Therefore, you’ll need to do your research on the opportunities available to you.

When starting a business, bookkeeping can seem like a daunting subject – especially if you’re unfamiliar with accounting practices and tax compliance standards.

However, built for small business owners, the Countingup app makes it easy with its two-in-one business account and accounting software. The Countingup app automates time-consuming bookkeeping admin, giving you more time to focus on growing your business, meeting customer demand and finessing your advertising.

With automatic expense categorisation, receipt capture tools and live cash flow insights, you can confidently keep on top of your business finances and save yourself hours of accounting admin, so you can get back to doing what you do best. Find out more here .

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Food Truck Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Food Truck Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your food truck business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their food trucks.

Food Truck Business Plan Example & Template

Below is a template to help you create each section of your food truck business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is a new food truck located in Portland owned by local critically acclaimed chef, Zane Benedict. The menu will consist of popular food options that consist of burgers, sandwiches, gyros, and tacos uniquely made with the creativity and uniqueness that Chef Zane can offer. Chef Zane’s eclectic style and consistency make him a favorite among Portland foodies and his food truck will garner a loyal following amongst young professionals and college students.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be located in the immensely popular food truck pod known as Cartopia. Chef Zane will receive lots of exposure by being a part of this community as there are plenty of neighboring food trucks, bars, nightlife, and entertainment options nearby. With the popular location of Cartopia and an impressive Instagram social media following, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is destined to become a local go-to dining destination for anyone craving delicious, interesting fare at an affordable price.

Products Served

The following are the products to be offered by Zesty Zane’s Food Truck:

Sandwiches & paninis
Assorted non-alcoholic beverages

Customer Focus

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will target customers in Portland who live, work, or socialize near Cartopia. This area is frequented by numerous young professionals, college students, and the late-night crowd who regularly eat at food trucks. Anyone seeking trendy dining options are the target customers of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck.

Management Team

Chef Zane has worked in the culinary industry for over ten years and is accustomed to the long, demanding hours of operating a kitchen. He attended culinary school in San Francisco and returned home to Portland to be a part of the world-renowned food scene that Portland has built for itself. After working under three award-winning chefs, Chef Zane is ready to venture out on his own and start his own business as a food truck.

Chef Zane Benedict will be the food truck owner and operator of his food truck. He will operate the food truck Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am until 1:00 am. Chef Zane will also employ two part-time cooks to assist him during peak hours of operation.

Success Factors

The following success factors will set Zesty Zane’s Food Truck apart from the competition:

Exceptional cuisine made fresh with locally sourced ingredients.
An eclectic menu that is unlike any other in the Portland food scene.
Convenient location: Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be located in a highly-trafficked food truck pod that is frequented by college students, young professionals, and night-life regulars.
Delicious food at a good price. Zesty Zane’s food items will be cheaper than other food truck dishes without sacrificing quality.

Financial Highlights

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is seeking $40,000 in debt financing to open its food truck. The funding will be dedicated for the purchase of the food truck, cooking supplies and equipment, working capital, three months worth of payroll expenses and opening inventory. The breakout of the funding is below:

Purchase of food truck – $20,000
Food truck kitchen supplies and equipment – $10,000
Opening inventory – $2,000
Working capital (to include 3 months of overhead expenses) – $3,000
Marketing (website design and management) – $5,000

The following graph outlines the pro forma financial projections for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck:

Company Overview

Who is zesty zane’s food truck.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is a startup food truck business located in Portland, Oregon. The menu offerings are eclectic, made-to-order, bistro-type dishes served fresh and fast in the entertainment district of Portland. The ingredients are locally-sourced from independent food growers and artisans in and around the Portland region. The dishes are incorporated with an ingenious twist to commonly known popular food menu items. The menu options are simple dishes commonly seen at food trucks, but Chef Zane adds his own spin to the typical fare – sandwiches, gyros, burgers, and tacos all made his way unlike any other food establishment.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is owned and operated by Zane Benedict, a local Chef classically trained in culinary school and under the most prestigious chefs in Portland. Chef Zane is known for his creativity, consistency, and quickness in the kitchen and his dishes receive multiple positive reviews in the restaurants Zane has been employed. Chef Zane specializes in fine French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine with a creative twist not typically found in other restaurant establishments.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck History

After graduating from culinary school in 2008, Chef Zane Benedict worked as a sous chef in three different restaurants in Portland. All of the chefs Zane worked under were award-winning, locally-acclaimed chefs that frequently trained their apprentices to prepare dishes up to their expectation and standards.

Chef Zane learned a great deal from these chefs and garnered a reputation himself for his creativity and consistency. Now that Zane feels he has learned as much as he can from the senior chefs, he would like to venture out on his own and start his own business. Due to the large amount of capital required to open a full-scale restaurant, Chef Zane decided a food truck business was the most cost-effective option for his operation.

Since incorporation, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck has achieved the following milestones:

Developed the food truck’s branding image, social media, and website.
Has a soft hold on a used food truck that recently went out of business.
Developed and finalized the menu of the dishes Chef Zane will serve.
Obtained a food permit license to be able to prepare and sell food and drinks in Portland County.
Obtained a sales and use tax permit for use in Portland County.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck Products

The following are the types of menu items Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will produce:

Food Truck Industry Analysis

Food truck vendors will continue to perform well over the next five years, benefiting from consumers with deeper pockets who are able to spend on pricier gourmet food options. Revenues are expected to increase to $1.4 billion during this time period.

Food Truck industry operators are expected to continue to experience growth, as generally positive economic conditions and momentum from the gourmet food movement propel growth.

Consumers nowadays demand higher-quality food, a wider variety of styles and tastes, better presentation and, most importantly, more healthy menu options. Therefore, operators that include healthy options on their menus will be best situated for success over the next five years. Vendors that continue to offer unique food options will also be in a strong position by carving out a niche and developing a loyal customer base.

The food truck industry will also benefit from an increase in the urban population, which is expected to comprise the majority of the US population in five years. The food truck industry benefits from agglomeration because it relies on high foot traffic. Additionally, urban dwellers are also more likely to purchase meals rather than cooking at home due to their above-average incomes and limited spare time.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will target the population of Portland that frequently dines in the entertainment district. There is a large food truck area of Portland known as Cartopia, where Chef Zane will set up his business. This area is home to numerous dining establishments, nightlife, bars, clubs, and food trucks. The target market of this area are usually young professionals and college students who have disposable income.

The precise demographics for Portland, Oregon are:

	Total	Percent
Total population	590,157	100%
Male	284,873	48.30%
Female	305,284	51.70%
Under 5 years	41,749	7.10%
5 to 9 years	43,509	7.40%
10 to 14 years	41,324	7.00%
15 to 19 years	43,301	7.30%
20 to 24 years	48,119	8.20%
25 to 34 years	106,407	18.00%
35 to 44 years	73,788	12.50%
45 to 54 years	64,669	11.00%
55 to 59 years	35,109	5.90%
60 to 64 years	27,995	4.70%
65 to 74 years	39,539	6.70%
75 to 84 years	17,394	2.90%
85 years and over	7,254	1.20%
Total housing units	260,024	100%

Customer Segmentation

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will primarily target the following customer profile:

Local residents of Portland who partake in late-night activities such as socializing with friends or bar-hopping
Business professionals that work and reside in the Portland Cartopia area – law offices, hospitals, clinics, insurance agencies, retail, and schools
College students who are in search of fast, cheap, and trendy eats

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be competing with other food trucks in the Portland community. A profile of each competitor is below.

Potato Champion

Potato Champion is a local favorite of Portland foodies that is also located in Cartopia. Started in 2008, Potato Champion quickly established itself as a fan favorite for late night food. Potato Champion serves a limited menu of hand cut, twice fried Belgian style fries, a variety of dipping sauces, and their own version of the Canadian classic Poutine, as well as other fry related dishes. They pride themselves in using the highest quality ingredients and focus on an inventive menu that combines tastes from all over the world with one of the most popular foods found on the globe, the french fry.

Potato Champion is open for lunch, dinner, and late-night. They are available for catering and delivery through Postmates. Followers of Potato Champion are also able to purchase swag from their store that includes music, bags, pins, and hoodies.

Started by John Eads in 2009, Pyro Pizza was built out of a 8’x16’ food cart that he custom-built with a cast iron wood fire oven. Aside from wood fired pizza, John also makes his own sodas using all real ingredients and natural cane sugar. John’s belief is that good ingredients make good food. His crew makes many components in-house and sources regional flour, pepperoni, sausage, blue cheese, soda ingredients, and seasonal produce all from Portland businesses and farms. In 2015, Pyro’s expanded to a new sandwich cart, Pyro’s Wicked Wiches – a scratch-made sandwich, soup, chips and cookie food cart.

Pyro’s serves an assortment of wood fire pizzas made from scratch. Their choices are margherita, marinara, arugula and mushroom, pepperoni, quattro formaggi, fennel sausage, veggie bianca, breadsticks, salads, and sodas.

Chicken and Guns

Chicken and Guns is another local favorite among Portland foodies. Also found in Cartopia, Chicken and Guns serves up Latin American chicken, wings, tacos, salad, soup, and their “guns” are crispy seasoned potatoes. The chicken is served by the quarter, half, or whole bird. Another item they are acclaimed for is their peruvian aji sauce, habanero carrot sauce and chimichurri sauce. They have been named the best fried chicken in Portland by the PDX Eater.

Chicken and Guns is open everyday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm for takeout and delivery options. With a large Instagram and social media following, there is always destined to be a line at the Chicken and Guns food truck.

Competitive Advantage

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck offers several advantages over its competition. Those advantages are:

Food Truck Marketing Plan

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

Delicious food made fresh with locally sourced ingredients using exquisite techniques.
Located in the ultra-hip food truck area known as Cartopia.
Great food at a great price. The menu offerings of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be accessible to customers of all walks of life.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck are as follows:

Social Media

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck’s main source of marketing will be through social media, primarily their Instagram page. Chef Zane has become adept at taking appealing photographs of his dishes. He will post pictures of his menu and add details on the location and hours of operation. His food truck account already has over 3,000 followers and he posts daily “Coming Soon” teaser photos.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be parked in the immensely popular food truck hub known as Cartopia of Portland. There are dozens of food trucks located in this pod and there is always a crowd of people. Cartopia hosts bands, art shows, shopping events, and other social gatherings to enhance the entertainment vibe of the pod. By being part of Cartopia, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will receive lots of exposure and traffic.

SEO Website Marketing

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck plans to invest funds into maintaining a strong SEO presence on search engines like Google and Bing. When a person types in “local food truck” or “top food trucks in Portland”, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will appear in the top three choices. Zesty Zane’s will also invest in their website also to ensure that it is user friendly, always up to date, and displays professional photographs of its menu items and location.

Third Party Delivery Sites

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will maintain a presence on sites like GrubHub, Uber Eats, Doordash, and Postmates so that people looking for local food with the option of delivery will see Zesty Zane’s listed.

The pricing of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be moderate and on par with other food trucks so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their menu items.

Operations Plan

The operations plan for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is relatively simple as its overhead and cost is small. The functional roles for its employees are as follows:

Operation Functions:

Chef Zane will run the food truck operation. He will be in charge of inventory, menu creation, food truck marketing, customer service, and bookkeeping. Chef Zane will work every day that he chooses to open the food truck. Chef Zane plans on operating the food truck Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 am to 1:00 am.
Two part-time cooks that will alternate helping Chef Zane during the hours of operation. As business picks up, there will be two cooks at the same time assisting Chef Zane during peak hours.

Milestones:

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck aims to open in the next 3 months. The following are the milestones needed in order to obtain this goal.

4/15/202X – Purchase food truck

5/1/202X – Finalize menu

5/15/202X – Social media and advertising campaign begins

6/1/202X – Finish cleaning up the food truck and prepare it for operation

6/10/202X – Purchase food and drink inventory, stock truck, and park it at Cartopia

6/11/202X – Grand Opening of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be owned and operated by Chef Zane Benedict.

Chef Zane Benedict, Food Truck Owner

Chef Zane Benedict is a Portland native who attended culinary school in San Francisco and returned to Portland to become a part of the world-renowned food scene Portland is uniquely known for. Zane was trained under three different chefs at fine dining establishments in downtown Portland and was awarded Best Sous Chef of Portland in 2017. Chef Zane has won two local culinary competitions, placed runner-up in a statewide competition, and participated in a cooking competition show on the Food Network.

Chef Zane has received numerous awards for his creativity and consistency of his food while being able to prepare dishes in a short amount of time. His ability to prepare food under pressure allows him the unique skill of serving numerous customers without having them undergo long wait times. This will keep customers happy and coming back for more.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will come from the menu items being offered daily.

The cost drivers will be the ingredients and products needed to make the menu items (oil, bread, meat, chicken, produce, drinks) as well as the cooking materials (pots, pans, bowls, plates, utensils, etc.). Other cost drivers will be the overhead expenses of payroll for the part-time employees and propane for the food truck.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Food Truck Marketing (website design and management) – $5,000

Key Assumptions

The following table outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the business loan.

Initial Number of Customers Per Day: 50

Average Menu Item Cost: $9.00

Average Order per Customer: $15.00

Annual Cost for Maintenance of Truck: $10,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

		FY 1	FY 2	FY 3	FY 4	FY 5
Revenues
	Total Revenues	$360,000	$793,728	$875,006	$964,606	$1,063,382

Expenses & Costs

	Cost of goods sold	$64,800	$142,871	$157,501	$173,629	$191,409
	Lease	$50,000	$51,250	$52,531	$53,845	$55,191
	Marketing	$10,000	$8,000	$8,000	$8,000	$8,000
	Salaries	$157,015	$214,030	$235,968	$247,766	$260,155
	Initial expenditure	$10,000	$0	$0	$0	$0

	Total Expenses & Costs	$291,815	$416,151	$454,000	$483,240	$514,754

EBITDA		$68,185	$377,577	$421,005	$481,366	$548,628
	Depreciation	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160
EBIT		$41,025	$350,417	$393,845	$454,206	$521,468
	Interest	$23,462	$20,529	$17,596	$14,664	$11,731
PRETAX INCOME		$17,563	$329,888	$376,249	$439,543	$509,737
	Net Operating Loss	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Use of Net Operating Loss	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Taxable Income	$17,563	$329,888	$376,249	$439,543	$509,737
	Income Tax Expense	$6,147	$115,461	$131,687	$153,840	$178,408
NET INCOME		$11,416	$214,427	$244,562	$285,703	$331,329

Balance Sheet

		FY 1	FY 2	FY 3	FY 4	FY 5
ASSETS
	Cash	$154,257	$348,760	$573,195	$838,550	$1,149,286
	Accounts receivable	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Inventory	$30,000	$33,072	$36,459	$40,192	$44,308
	Total Current Assets	$184,257	$381,832	$609,654	$878,742	$1,193,594

	Fixed assets	$180,950	$180,950	$180,950	$180,950	$180,950
	Depreciation	$27,160	$54,320	$81,480	$108,640	$135,800
	Net fixed assets	$153,790	$126,630	$99,470	$72,310	$45,150

TOTAL ASSETS		$338,047	$508,462	$709,124	$951,052	$1,238,744

LIABILITIES & EQUITY
	Debt	$315,831	$270,713	$225,594	$180,475	$135,356
	Accounts payable	$10,800	$11,906	$13,125	$14,469	$15,951
	Total Liability	$326,631	$282,618	$238,719	$194,944	$151,307

	Share Capital	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Retained earnings	$11,416	$225,843	$470,405	$756,108	$1,087,437
	Total Equity	$11,416	$225,843	$470,405	$756,108	$1,087,437

TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY		$338,047	$508,462	$709,124	$951,052	$1,238,744

Cash Flow Statement

		FY 1	FY 2	FY 3	FY 4	FY 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
	Net Income (Loss)	$11,416	$214,427	$244,562	$285,703	$331,329
	Change in working capital	($19,200)	($1,966)	($2,167)	($2,389)	($2,634)
	Depreciation	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160	$27,160
	Net Cash Flow from Operations	$19,376	$239,621	$269,554	$310,473	$355,855

CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
	Investment	($180,950)	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Net Cash Flow from Investments	($180,950)	$0	$0	$0	$0

CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
	Cash from equity	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
	Cash from debt	$315,831	($45,119)	($45,119)	($45,119)	($45,119)
	Net Cash Flow from Financing	$315,831	($45,119)	($45,119)	($45,119)	($45,119)

	Net Cash Flow	$154,257	$194,502	$224,436	$265,355	$310,736
	Cash at Beginning of Period	$0	$154,257	$348,760	$573,195	$838,550
	Cash at End of Period	$154,257	$348,760	$573,195	$838,550	$1,149,286

Food Truck Business Plan FAQs

What is a food truck business plan.

A food truck business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your food truck business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your food truck business plan using our Food Truck Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Food Truck Companies?

There are a variety of types of food trucks, each specializing in a specific type of cuisine or food item. There are food trucks that sell burgers, cookies, ice cream, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, salads and more.

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Food Truck Business?

The primary source of revenue for food truck businesses is its food and beverage sales.

The key expenses for a food truck business are food costs, salaries, and transportation expenses.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Food Truck Business?

Food truck businesses are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings, crowdfunding and credit card financing. A well-crafted food truck business plan is essential to securing funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Food Truck Business?

Starting a food truck business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Food Truck Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for your food truck that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your food truck business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your food truck business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Food Truck Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your food truck business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your food truck business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Food Truck Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your food truck business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your food truck business. Food truck marketing includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful food truck business:

How to Start a Food Truck Business

Where Can I Get a Food Truck Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free food truck business plan template PDF here . This is a sample food truck business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Business Plan Templates

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How to start a food truck in the UK

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While choosing your equipment may seem like an easy task, it’s important to do plenty of research beforehand. Investing in the right equipment doesn’t just impact the quality of your food, but it can open up even more possibilities for your menu, especially if you choose particularly versatile appliances. Start off by considering the food preparation equipment you may need. Here’s a list of some essential preparation equipment that’s often used to make street food, as well as a few less common appliances to set your business apart from the rest:

Blenders and/or stick blenders
Food processors
Knives and utensils
Salad spinner
Thermometers
Can openers: You can find out more about choosing the right can opener and maintaining your can opener with our informative guides.
Portioners: Food portioners are a great way of ensuring you perfect your serving size every time, to help you keep track of costs and reduce food waste. We have a selection of particularly tough and durable Bonzer portioners , ideal for sandwich filling, servings of ice cream, and more.
Dehydrators: This versatile appliance is ideal for a variety of dishes, from dehydrating fruit for cocktails or ice cream toppings, to creating your own vegetable crisps.
Gelato machines: If you’re looking for a convenient dessert option, a gelato machine could be a worthwhile investment for your food truck. With a Nemox Ice Cream Machine, you can make artisan ice cream in just 12 minutes, plus this appliance allows customers to see the gelato churning so they know that you're offering the freshest foods.

You’ll also need cooking equipment if you plan on serving hot food. Below are some of the products you might need:

Grill and griddle
Electric ovens
Thermal mixers
Countertop food warmer

If you plan on attending festivals with your food truck, you may also want to provide an ample drinks selection. Offering cocktails can be a great way to both expand your offering and bring new customers in. If you’re interested in making cocktails, here’s the bar essentials and cocktail equipment you’ll need:

Spirit measures
Bar appliances
Bar accessories
Wine accessories
Cocktail shakers
Cocktail strainers
Mixing spoons and muddlers
Garnish tools

For those who don’t have any cocktail equipment, it may be easiest to invest in a cocktail kit , for a bundle of all the essential products you’ll need.

Another consideration to take into account is storage solutions. You’ll likely find space is at a premium even in the largest food trucks, so making sure every bit of space counts is important. Dispensers can help you both save valuable counter space and make your food truck look much tidier and leave a good impression with customers. We have a wide range of wall-mounted dispensers to browse at Mitchell & Cooper, as well as cup dispensers , lid dispensers , and straw holders and waste chutes .

Last but by no means least, keeping health and safety essentials in your van is vital for the safety of not just yourself and your staff, but for your customers and the general public. Essential pieces of health and safety equipment include:

Janitorial products for keeping the van and appliances clean
First aid kit
Protective gloves and clothing
Portable fire extinguishers and fire blankets

Insurance is an essential expense for the future of your business, so do plenty of research to find an insurance policy that suits your business best. There are a number of different insurances recommended for starting a food van business in the UK. These include:

Employers Liability Insurance: All employers must legally have Employers Liability Insurance, which covers the health and safety of your staff members if they become ill or injured in the workplace.
Public Liability Insurance: This type of business insurance can help protect you from claims made about your business by customers or members of the public.
Product Liability Insurance: Another important type of business insurance, this covers you for claims made by customers who believe they have been injured as a result of the products you’ve sold. For example, in catering businesses this could be used for food poisoning claims.
Vehicle insurance: This is essential for any vehicle, including food vans. You should also get a van contents cover upgrade to protect your appliances.

Promoting your food van

Having a good marketing strategy is key for any business, but especially when starting a food truck. While restaurants, bars, and other hospitality establishments have permanent addresses, you may have a number of locations where you trade in each week, as well as one-off special events like festivals. For this reason, establishing a strong online presence as early as possible is key. This allows you to share where you are each week with customers to help you build a regular clientele. As well as having a regularly updated website, you should also prioritise your social media accounts. The good news is that creating social media accounts is completely free and posting regularly is a great way to get the word out. Make sure to have active accounts on all the major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

Of course, you shouldn’t forget about more traditional forms of marketing too. You may want to look into physical advertisements when you’re first starting out, such as in your local paper or magazine. Make sure to include your website and social media handles in your adverts so potential customers know where to find you. You can also print your own leaflets and cards for customers to pick up from your van.

Starting a food truck costs much less than opening a restaurant or other hospitality business. You can’t just park your food truck anywhere in the UK. You need to thoroughly check the regulations for each council district to ensure that you don’t get fined. With lower costs, come lower investment risks. Weather: Without indoor seating options, wet and cold weather may deter customers from visiting. You can travel around and reach a wide range of different customers. A food truck is a lot shorter on space than a regular professional kitchen. This can make it difficult when it comes to storage space, or having multiple people working in the van at the same time. The food van market is a competitive one, but much less so than the restaurant market. With festivals and events, you may end up working a lot of long hours and weekend shifts. While this isn’t a negative for everyone, it may be worth considering this if you value your free time and a good work-life balance. If your business does very well, there is room for expansion in the future if you choose to open a physical restaurant or café. A small workspace makes it difficult for multiple people to work at once. Without as many hands on deck, customers can be left waiting a long time for food. Although it’s worth noting, this is the same for almost all food van businesses.

There is no one answer to how much food trucks make in the UK, as of course this depends on a large number of factors, from your budget and facilities to location and the local competition. However, the good news is that with hard work, plenty of research on the food truck market, and a solid marketing plan, there is potential for some healthy profits. Many food vans in the UK have annual turnovers in the hundreds of thousands. While turnover can of course be variable, this indicates that there is definitely good profit potential for those looking to start a food truck business.

After reading this guide, you should have a good idea on how to start a food truck business in the UK. If you’re ready to take the plunge, we have a variety of kitchen appliances , cooking and bakeware , kitchenware , bar essentials , and more for your van, so make sure to browse our full range today.

Looking for more informative reads? We have a wide selection of guides , expert knowledge articles, and blog posts , full of useful information and inspiration. Give them a read today.

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Food Truck Business Planning Templates

Make the dream a reality!

Deciding to launch your own street food business is an exciting time, but should be planned for carefully.

Financing a food truck often requires a loan, and having a solid business plan gives you the focus on figures required to secure investment.

But if you're launching out on your own it can be tricky to know where to start! So to help we've created two finance templates for you to incorporate into your business plan.

What will I get?

Simply fill out the form below to get your free copy of:

A start-up costs template to keep track of your expenses
A profit and loss template for when you launch your street food truck

These templates will be shared as an editable Excel spreadsheet for you to input your figures.

Both sheets have been created with a food truck business in mind, and the calculations link across for instant profit and loss totals.

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Fill out the form below to access your free start up costs and profit and loss templates.

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Entrepreneur

How to start a food truck business.

Cameron Fleming | 9 August 2022 | 2 years ago 0 0 0

Food trucks are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, as people look for new and innovative ways to enjoy their food. For foodie entrepreneurs, food trucks are also a great way to start a business with minimal investment and overhead costs. With the right planning (and great food, of course!), there is some serious money to be made with a food truck business.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about how to start a food truck business to put you on the road to success.

1. Create a Winning Concept

The first step to starting a food truck business is creating a winning concept. This means coming up with an innovative idea for your food truck that will make it stand out from the competition. You will need to decide what type of food you will be serving, what kind of atmosphere you want to create, and what your unique selling points will be.

Your concept should be something that appeals to your target market and sets you apart from the other food trucks in your area. It is also important to make sure that your concept is feasible from a logistical standpoint. For example, if you are planning on serving gourmet burgers, you will need to make sure that you have a way to keep the meat fresh and cooked to order.

2. Conduct Market Research

Once you have a concept in mind, it is time to conduct some market research. This will help you determine whether there is a demand for your concept and whether it is feasible from a business standpoint.

Start by researching your target market. Who are they? What do they like to eat? What are their spending habits? This information will be essential when it comes to crafting your menu and marketing your business.

Next, take a look at the competition. What types of food trucks are already operating in your area? How successful are they? What can you do differently to make your truck stand out?

Finally, consider the logistics of starting a food truck business. Where will you park your truck? How will you prepare and cook your food? What are the health and safety requirements for food trucks in your area?

Answering these questions will help you make effective preparations so that you can hit the ground running.

3. Secure Funding

Securing sufficient funding is very important because it will ensure you have all the money you need to get started and that you won’t experience any cash flow problems. There are various funding options including using your own savings, taking out a business loan and crowdfunding.

If you are using your own savings to fund your business, make sure you have enough money to cover all your start-up costs as well as some extra for unexpected expenses.

If you decide to take out a business loan, shop around for the best deal and make sure you understand all the terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line. Interest rates and fees can be high so you need to check all the small print when deciding between different options.

Crowdfunding involves raising money from a large number of people, typically through an online platform. This can be a great way to raise funds quickly, but it is important to remember that you will need to offer rewards to your backers in order to entice them to invest.

4. Purchase and Prepare Your Food Truck

Once you have secured funding, it is time to purchase your food truck. There are many things to consider when choosing a truck including the size, layout and equipment.

You will also need to make sure that your truck meets all the necessary health and safety requirements. This includes having sufficient ventilation, a clean and well-lit preparation area, and a non-slip floor.

When it comes to outfitting your truck, there are a few essential pieces of equipment you will need for cooking, cleaning and food preparation. You can buy a regular truck and convert it yourself or purchase a pre-built one.

If you are converting a truck yourself, it is important to make sure that all the work is carried out by a professional. This will ensure that your truck meets all the relevant safety standards. If you purchase a pre-built food truck, it will likely come with all the necessary equipment and may even be fitted out with a kitchen.

5. Choose the Best Location

When it comes to running a food truck business, location is everything. You need to make sure you are parked in a high foot traffic area with good visibility. You also need to consider the competition when choosing your location. If there are already a lot of food trucks in the area, you will need to find a way to make yours stand out.

Another important factor to consider is whether you will be able to park your truck overnight. Some areas have restrictions on overnight parking so it is important to check with your local authority before setting up shop.

6. Register Your Business

Once you have chosen the perfect location, it is time to register your business. You will need to register with your local authority and with Companies House. This will ensure that your business is legal and that you are operating within the law.

You will need to decide on a business structure before registering your food truck business. Your main options are sole trader, limited company or partnership. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages so it is important to choose the one that is right for you.

Most food truck businesses are operated as sole traders. This is because it is the simplest and cheapest option to set up. However, if you are planning on expanding your business in the future, it may be worth setting up as a limited company.

You will also need to register with HMRC as self-employed so that you can pay tax on your profits. This will be done through self-assessment so make sure you are familiar with the process before you start trading.

7. Obtain the Relevant and Necessary Licences

Once you have registered your business, you will need to obtain a food truck licence from your local authority. This will allow you to operate your food truck in the designated area.

You will also need to obtain a street trading licence if you are trading in a public area. This will permit you to park your food truck on the street and sell it to customers.

If you are planning on serving alcohol, you will need to apply for a premises licence from your local authority. There can be serious consequences for serving alcohol without a licence including hefty fines and having your business shut done.

The above licences are just some of the most common requirements but there may be others depending on the type of food you are selling and where you are selling. Make sure you check with your local authority before starting your food truck business so that you comply with all the relevant legislation.

8. Comply With Hygiene Standard Regulations

As a food business, you will be subject to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). This is a national scheme that rates food businesses on their compliance with food hygiene regulations.

You will need to register your food truck business with the local authority so that it can be inspected and given a rating. The rating will be displayed on your food truck so that customers can see how well you are complying with food hygiene regulations.

If you are not compliant with the FHRS, you may be served with a notice from the local authority ordering you to make improvements. If you do not make the required improvements, your food truck business may be shut down.

As a food truck business, you will also need to comply with other general hygiene regulations such as those relating to waste disposal and cleanliness. These regulations are designed to protect the public from health hazards so it is important that you take them seriously.

In addition, both yourself and any employees you have will need to have a basic food hygiene certificate. This can be obtained by completing a food safety course which is available online or through your local authority.

9. Get the Necessary Health and Safety Certificates

As a food truck business, you will need to obtain a Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering certificate. This will show that your food truck is fit for purpose and that it meets all the necessary health and safety requirements.

You will also need to complete a risk assessment of your food truck business. This will identify any potential hazards and help you to minimise the risks. In addition, you will need to comply with other health and safety regulations such as those relating to fire safety and electrical safety.

By following the above advice, you can ensure that your food truck business complies with all the necessary regulations. This will give you the best chance of success and will help to protect the public.

10. Obtain the Necessary Insurance

It is a legal requirement for all businesses to have insurance. As a food truck business, you will need to obtain public liability insurance. This will protect you from any claims made by members of the public who suffer an injury or loss as a result of your business.

You may also want to consider other types of insurance such as employer’s liability insurance, product liability insurance and vehicle insurance. These will all protect you from different risks associated with running a food truck business.

If you are unsure which insurance policies you need, speak to a professional insurance broker who will be able to advise you.

11. Create and Test Your Menu

Once all that is done, it’s time for the fun part, creating your menu! Decide what type of food you want to serve and then start testing recipes. Make sure that all your recipes are tried and tested before you start selling them to the public.

There are various important things to consider when creating a food truck menu. These include:

The type of food you want to serve
Your target market
The price of your menu items
How easy they are to prepare
The type of food sold by neighbouring food trucks and other eateries

By taking all of these factors into account, you can create a menu that is both delicious and profitable. Get friends and family to try your recipes and give you their honest feedback. Once you are happy with your menu, you are ready to start selling!

12. Advertise Your Business

Now that your food truck business is up and running, you need to let people know about it! There are various ways to market your business.

Some of the most effective methods include:

Using social media – Create profiles on popular social networking sites and use them to promote your business. Use attractive photos and offer discounts and competitions to encourage people to try your food.
Advertising in your local newspaper – Many food trucks rely on word of mouth to generate business but you can help to spread the word by placing an advert in your local newspaper.
Distributing flyers – Another cheap and effective way to market your food truck business is to distribute flyers in busy areas. Make sure that your contact details are clearly visible so that people can get in touch with

By using these methods, you can reach a wide audience and attract new customers to your food truck business.

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide on how to start a food truck business has been helpful. Food trucks are a great way to start your own business and can be very profitable. The most important thing is to come up with a unique concept and deliver quality food to your customers.

By following the advice in this guide, you will have everything you need to launch a successful food truck business. Good luck!

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How to Start a Food Truck Business in the UK

Tips / 15.12.2020

Start out by doing your market research

Creating your business plan
Obtaining the necessary licenses

Financing and payments

Lease or purchase a food truck, marketing and web presence, how much does it cost to start a food truck business in the uk, what is the best food truck business to start, benefits and challenges of the food truck business.

The concert has just finished and you’re famished. Luckily, there’s a food truck nearby with delicious Egyptian sandwiches. You go for it and are amazed at the quality of the food!

You might not know it but behind these food trucks are individuals who specialise in creating delicious foods and this is usually coupled with a passion for all things food related. And with the rise of the foodie culture in the UK, mobile food businesses are on the rise , too, catering to the demand for high-quality, unique foods representing cultures from all over the world.

Street food can be found almost anywhere these days – from concert venues, weddings, seasonal open markets, in pop-up markets and more.

If you’re on the flip side of the coin and are an aspiring restauranteur who’d like to test the market first before opening your brick-and-mortar restaurant, and you’re considering starting a food truck business, then this post is for you! We go through everything you need to know from the market research & creating a comprehensive business plan to choosing the best card machine !

Although food trucks are not physically that large compared to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, you shouldn’t be deceived by the amount of work you’ll have to put into your food truck business. This is also valid for the financial preparation that goes behind it.

As a starting point, you’ll need to conduct your market research and analysis starting with the perfect locations. Where do you plan on offering your delicious treats? Will you be located in one place and one place only or will you move around as demand calls for it?

In addition, does your food truck business have a name, logo and design ?

You also need to have a menu that you’ll be willing to offer your clientele.

Once you’ve figured out these food truck concept basics, you need to research your customers . What is their average age? Are they males or females? What is their average monthly income? What prices will you be charging for your offering and will these prices offset all your expenses?

Starting out with market research is a great way of determining whether there’s current demand for your food. After all, there’s no point in offering the same thing that every Joe out there is offering – you need to set yourself apart from your competitors and try to ensure you’re not working in an oversaturated market place.

Create your business plan

If your market research yields positive results, you’re ready to create your business plan . But what is a food truck business plan and what information does it contain?

Let’s take a closer look.

Executive Summary

In this section, you’ll want to include a concise summary of what your business’ main aim is as well as what primary need it solves within the food industry. You can also consider adding information from your market research, particularly about what sets you apart from your competitors.

Company description

As the title implies, you should consider including a description of your company. This information should include your business’ legal entity type, its date of incorporation, your physical location, etc.

Industry analysis

Based on the market research you conducted in the section above, here you can provide information on the current size of your target market, as well as any trends that you have witnessed. In this section, you can also provide a customer analysis by focusing on their demographics. This will later inform the marketing strategies of your new business.

Competitor analysis

You already know that you’re not the first food truck business owner in the UK, so that means analysing the existing competition. Who are they? Where are their strengths? What areas are they lacking in? And how can you compete with them? Not knowing the existing market will make it harder for you to find your place in it.

In this section of your business plan, you’ll want to consider discussing the number of employees that you plan on hiring to help you with your food truck business, as well as the management team, if any. This will be a vital part of your financial projections.

Mid- to long-term plans for your business

This section refers to the operational part of your business. You can add information that relates to the daily operations of your business and how you plan on ensuring that it yields profits and is ultimately successful in the long run.

Although relatively small in size, food trucks are still assets and it’s not only the food truck itself which will count towards your inventory, but your food supplies, too. The type of stock that will make the bulk of your business offering and its costs will help you complete this section.

Marketing plan

Overnight success is unlikely and you’ll need to work hard to acquire and retain customers. This is why you need a marketing plan to show your investors or lenders how you plan on doing so.

For example, will you send out flyers, will you have a website that advertises the next location you’ll be present at? How about the use of social media accounts such as Instagram and Facebook to promote your treats? All of this needs to be well-thought-out as a part of a social media marketing plan.

Financial plan

Arguably one of the most important parts of a business plan is the financial analysis you’ll undertake. In this section, you need to include forecasts of projected income. Also, you may consider including a cash flow analysis, profitability projections as well as projected expenses.

Obtain the necessary licenses

Just like any other hospitality business type, you’ll need to ensure you get all the necessary food truck licences if you’re planning on operating in the UK.

Here’s a quick preview of the food business licence variations you’ll need to serve food and operate undisturbed.

Register as a business with the local council

On the one hand, you can’t start offering your meals to your food truck customers without registering with the government. On the other hand, this is free.

The registration period is about four weeks and you can do so via the gov.uk website. When you register a food business, you will be visited by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) who will assess the hygiene standards at your food truck. You can, however, begin trading before this visit but make sure your registration has gone through first.

Get a Level 2 or 3 Food Safety & Hygiene licence

These certificates are necessary for food truck owners who want to sell food in the UK.

While the Level 2 certificate is necessary if you’re running your food truck by yourself, a Level 3 certificate is needed if you plan on employing or using the services of other individuals. The costs of these two certificates are 49.99 GBP and 84.99 GBP , respectively.

Get an approved HACCP plan

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is proof that you have a clear understanding of the way in which food needs to be stored and further, that you have the right storage facilities for the food you plan to keep on your premises.

A floor plan will be necessary for this plan, especially one that indicates your various storage facilities, and you’ll also need to clearly indicate where each ingredient will be stored.

LPG and PAT certificates

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) are applicable to food premises that serve hot food.

The LPG certificate is for the usage of gas stoves, whereas the PAT certificate is for electric cooking devices.

Public liability insurance

This is necessary in the event of any mishaps or accidents that may happen in or around your food truck, and relate to both your customers and your employees as well as any damage to public or private property. The average cost for such insurance varies between 100 and 150 GBP per year.

Street vendor licence

A licence from your local council is also needed for you to be able to sell food in public. This licence is paid for each day that you sell food and its costs vary depending on your location.

Prices vary between 5 and 30 GBP per day.

Financing your food truck will also require some careful consideration. You will also need to ensure that your business is able to accept all types of payments. Considering the increasingly tech-savvy clientele in the UK, you need to be prepared.

Here are some factors you’ll need to consider.

Personal loans or obtaining credit

The costs of getting a food truck (whether you rent or buy it – for more on this in the section below) are not insubstantial.

You will also need to think about financing your food supplies, food truck equipment, licences, etc. That’s why you will probably need to apply either for a personal loan or for credit from a reputable financial institution.

Obtaining a POS system

Once your funds are in hand, you will also need to consider investing in a credit card machine . These devices – whether traditional or smart – are a great way of ensuring you don’t miss a client.

Some card machines enable you to print receipts while others allow you to send digital receipts to your customers via SMS or email. Choose the device that’s best suited to your needs.

Using online payment tools

If you’re more tech-savvy than your competitors, you can also consider sending your customers Pay Links or Payment Requests . These are personalised links that you issue and which enable you to send to your customers. When they receive the link, they can click on it and make the payment.

The question of whether you should lease or purchase your own food truck will be critical in terms of your finances and expenditure, and the answer to this question will depend entirely on your situation.

For example, do you want to become a food truck owner that is in it for the long-haul or are you considering doing this for a short period of time? This will determine whether you rent or buy.

If deciding to purchase a new food truck, costs vary between 5 000 GBP and 50,000 GBP , depending on the outfitting, equipment and all the accessories. Meanwhile, second hand vans can go for as little as 1,000 GBP.

Further cost considerations you need to factor into your calculations are the fact that you’ll need to wrap your food truck with an adequate design.

Of course, no business can survive without marketing. Whether you plan on using pamphlets and flyers to advertise your food truck business to the local community, or you plan on going the techier route such as Instagram or Facebook, you need to make sure that your food truck business gains as much exposure as possible.

In addition, you may also want to consider creating a website for your food truck business . This way your loyal customers can follow you whenever you go to a new location or if you’re offering special one-time deals.

Regardless of the marketing channels you choose to use, make sure you’re always thinking of your target customers and communicating effectively with your audience.

There are several startup costs related to your food truck business which you need to consider and we list these below. Ultimately, there’s no single cost for a food truck business, as each owner will invest in different areas of their business’ future development.

Let’s take a look at some of the factors for consideration in the table below:

Payroll and HR	License and permit fees	POS device	Advertising and marketing
Food supplies and inventory	Truck wrap and design	Equipment	Generators	Supplies (napkins, cups, cutlery etc.)
Office supplies	Cleaning products	Truck maintenance and insurance	Fuel	Liability insurance
Repairs and maintenance	The food truck itself – whether leased or purchased	Electricity and water	Business and vehicle insurance	Vehicle tax

If you’re wondering about street food profit and how much do food trucks make in the UK, you’ll be able to make this calculation by adding up all your costs from the table above, and substituting them from your income.

The food truck industry is more diverse and colourful than you’ve probably imagined before entering this realm.

If you’re looking to set up your mobile street food business but are wondering what food to serve, we have some valuable insights for you.

Here are some of the most popular food truck businesses to start:

Gourmet burgers – gourmet burgers are here to stay and they represent a business idea that never disappoints. You can provide unique, gourmet twists on traditional burgers to intrigue a diverse customer segment. For maximum results, try including locally sourced ingredients in your preparation and spreading the word to your audience. This can dramatically differentiate you from other food trucks in the area.
Ethnic cuisine – consider cooking up authentic dishes from different cultures to cater to the UK’s diverse population. Think about Mexican tacos, Indian curries, or Thai street food.
Vegan food – vegetarian and vegan meals are on the rise, with more and more consumers starting to develop a conscious approach to nutrition. Offer tasty meat-free options for vegan and vegetarian customers.
Brunch – breakfast and brunch pieces like pancakes, toast, or breakfast burritos can also be a powerful way to grab the attention of locals and quickly build your popularity as a food truck business.
Desserts and treats – if you’re passionate about waffles, crepes, or ice cream, the good news is that you can turn this passion into a profitable venture when it comes to food truck ideas.

These are just a few of the best food truck businesses worth exploring.

When making the right choice, don’t forget to carefully analyse market trends, and evaluate reports and data to ensure that you’re opting for a profitable and rewarding venture.

Starting a food truck business goes hand in hand with several key advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

There are three core benefits that attract many entrepreneurs to this form of business, including low startup costs, flexibility, and lower overheads.

Low startup costs

Compared to other businesses, the food truck startup costs are relatively low, enabling more people to test this opportunity, even with limited financial resources.

Especially when contrasting food truck businesses with traditional restaurants, the expenses for setting up your venture are slim. For example, you don’t need to invest in real estate, sophisticated technology, and a large team. The initial setup is much more affordable .

Flexibility

In addition, running a food truck business is extremely flexible and mobile .

You can easily switch locations and attract new customers in an instant, without needing to invest extra in your venture. You can move your cooking equipment and serve food at different venues, events, festivals, and anywhere where foot traffic is high .

Lower overheads

Last but not least, food trucks are associated with lower overheads, especially when compared to classic brick-and-mortar ventures.

This stems from the fact that in the case of food truck businesses, there are reduced rent, utilities, and staffing expenses.

Disadvantages

Although the mentioned above perks are lucrative, there are also a few challenges that must be addressed.

Regulatory compliance

To run a successful and undisturbed food truck business, it’s fundamental to be fully aware of rules and regulations by your local authority .

It’s key to receive all of the essential food truck permits and licences necessary for serving food and running a business. These also regard food hygiene, food waste management, and food inventory.

Climate dependencies

With food truck businesses, your success is directly tied to the weather conditions in the area where you serve food.

Unfortunately, unexpected storms, rainy days, or cold months often mean less foot traffic and even challenges for your food truck operations. For your business, this means fewer sales and less profit.

Competition

Keep in mind that the food truck market is very competitive .

There are many food truck owners competing for the same market, meaning that standing out from the crowd can be a difficult task, especially when you’re first getting started.

Insurance and liability

Moreover, obtaining reliable business insurance is essential to ensure you’re protected against possible risks.

These include a ccidents, equipment failure, legal conflicts, disputes , and more.

That’s a wrap!

A lot of effort will go into your food truck business, but if you have the willingness and motivation to go for it, it can be a truly worthwhile venture .

You can not only test out new dishes if you’re a budding chef, but you can also slowly build up to your brick-and-mortar restaurant over the long term by experimenting with different dishes, prices, and locations.

Disclaimer: Please be aware that the contents of this article and the myPOS Blog, in general, should not be interpreted as legal, monetary, tax, or any other kind of professional advice. You should always seek to consult with a professional before taking action, since the particulars of your situation may materially differ from other cases.

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How To Start A Street Food or Food Truck Business

Introduction

In recent years street food has become a hot topic, with people flocking from miles around to get a taste of the latest pop-up kitchen and develop a palate for the latest foodie craze. Whether it’s an old fashioned food truck, a more modern street kitchen, a market stall or a food festival, it’s evident that there’s money to be made in the street food business. Originally food trucks were created to bring hot food to struggling areas of big cities, feeding the hungry workers who were often working very early or very late shifts and had no access to the usual restaurant opening times.

These days however, food trucks are just as prolific as many of the highest quality restaurants, gastropubs and wine bars that you see on the high street, and people are actively seeking them out for a dining experience like no other. It’s no wonder so that many people are pursuing the quest to start up their own street food business – but where do you start? This guide aims to provide you with all the information you need to get you started on the street food road to success!

The Pros of Starting a Street Food Business

There are many advantages to launching your own food truck or market stall which is why so many people choose to do just that. These positives include:

Low start-up costs.
Less risk than opening up a restaurant storefront.
The ability to be your own boss.
Little restaurant experience is required.
The flexibility to work when and where you want.
The current popularity of the business area.

Street food is a very current and popular trend which unquestionably works in your favour. Doing a quick online search will bring up hundreds of results featuring guides to the best street-eateries, locations of the finest ‘secret eats’ and information on the latest food festivals. This solid momentum means that now is definitely a great time to start up your own street food venture!

Street Food Success Stories

There are so many success stories when it comes to street food which really helps to confirm that it’s a great business area to be part of. In New York, almost a quarter of all food trucks eventually upgrade to a restaurant and London has just as many fruitful examples. Here are three of our favourite street food success stories:

The Halal Guys began as a small food cart in Manhattan, New York, serving authentic halal food to the Muslim cabbies in the city. The cart soon gained a following and reputation amongst the local cab drivers and, as a result of its success, has recently opened its first shop-front location with another one to follow soon. Fransmart, the company that owns Five Guys, is also working with the Halal Guys to open further halal restaurants around the USA and eventually in Asia and the Middle East.

Cantine California is an American-themed food truck based in Montparnasse, Paris. The aim of the food truck was to bring authentic US flavours from San Francisco to the streets of Paris but by only using local French organic meat, locally farmed cheeses and homemade bread and sauces. The food truck’s success, uniqueness and innovative idea have since led to a permanent kitchen and restaurant being set up in the city.

In 2009, Yianni Papoutsis set up a street food burger van called MeatWagon, and quickly became one of London’s biggest street food success stories. Originally just a burger van in Peckham, Papoutsis made the leap to opening a pop-up restaurant (MeatEasy) in local pubs to help push his business. Through word of mouth and hard work, MeatWagon now owns two permanent sites in London - MeatMarket and MeatLiquor – and has become one of London’s biggest go-to venues for foodies.

Why You Shouldn’t Start a Street Food Business

However, don’t be fooled by all the tales of fame and fortune – working in a street food business can be hard work and there are a few things that you need to be certain about before you begin: It’s hard to make money at first, so be prepared for a lot of hard work and not a lot of pay back until your business picks up.

A lot of early mornings, weekend work and late nights are needed.
Being self-employed can be a struggle for some.
It’s easy to make costly mistakes.
There is a lot of competition out there already.
Trends fade, so be prepared to work hard if street food suddenly becomes last year’s fad.
Your vehicle might breakdown or you could get stuck in traffic en-route to a venue.
There are many regulations and laws to comply with.
Customer service plays a huge role so be wary if you’re only all about the cooking.
The British weather is unpredictable – what will you do if it rains all day and you have no passing trade?
Finding a suitable location to set up shop can be difficult.
Be sure to consider all of the pros and cons before setting out on your venture so that nothing takes you by surprise as your company grows. Being well prepared is the best route to success!

Do Your Product & Market Research

Market research means determining the ‘who, what, where, why and when’ and is an essential first-step in setting up your street food business. It can be treacherous to assume that you already know the answers to these questions and then get caught out later on.

Market research will help you to identify the areas that are the most important to focus on for your business to succeed. Things that you need to find out during the market research stage include:

Why are you setting up a business? What are your motivations and aims?
Who are your customers and what is their demographic?
When will you open to ensure the best business?
What products are you going to sell?
What do people think of your products and branding?
Where will you set up your street food business?
Do you have good footfall for passing trade?
Do you need any insurance, certificates or licences to operate the business?
Will you rent or buy the stall, truck, cart etc?
Is there any existing competition? What do they offer?
Will you operate from a market, street or festival?
Will the weather affect your trade?

Choose Your Street Food Vehicle

Aside from the food itself, setting your business up in a good location is essential for your success. Your market research should have determined which areas are better than others and which will receive the most passing trade. You’ll also need to consider the site’s safety as well as any local parking laws. If your vehicle is moveable, or required to move due to local laws, how will you keep your customers updated about your latest location?

Perhaps the biggest question in this debate is what exactly are you going to trade from? Do you want a market stall, a truck, a van, a cart, a tent or a trailer? Where will you buy or lease it from? You need to make sure that the vehicle/venue you choose is big enough for your business. For example, does it have the right layout and enough room to prepare all your food on-site or will you have to do the preparation elsewhere? Consider whether there is enough storage space and whether you’re going to choose a vehicle that is custom built or ready-made. All of these decisions will greatly affect how comfortable you are in the future.

It’s also important to consider the maintenance side to street food vehicles. Do you know a mechanic who can do the repairs should you breakdown? Most foodies and chefs aren’t mechanics in their spare time so it’s more than useful to have someone to hand when you need them!

15 Essential Items for Your Food Truck

The equipment you keep on board your food truck, van or cart will depend on how much space you have and what you will be cooking but as a guide we recommend you look into the following items:

Separate sinks for hand-washing and dish-washing.
A draining board.
A grease trap.
A clean and secure waste disposal system.
Water heaters and tanks.
An extractor fan for steam.
Good lighting.
Electrical outlets away from water.
Suitable fire-fighting equipment.
A protective screen at the ordering window to protect the food from customers.
Storage for utensils.
Storage for food and ingredients.
A fridge (and freezer if necessary).
A grill/fryer/stove or other relevant cooking equipment.
A safe, clean food preparation area.

Branding & Funding Your Street Food Business

Having a strong and unique brand identity will help your business stand out from the crowd and create a lasting impression upon your customers. Your brand identity, including the logos, fonts and colours you choose, are what people will see everywhere in the absence of eating your food, such as on your truck, your menus, your website and your advertising.

Your brand identity should encapsulate what you represent as a business as it communicates a lot of things about yourself, not just your food. Your brand needs to have a ‘voice’ that portrays the image you want to show your customers. For example, an organic company may choose shades of green to represent the environment and an American burger van may use the American flag in its logo. These are simple, and sometimes obvious, things but they can make a huge difference.

Choose a name for your business that is catchy and easy to remember – as well as one that isn’t in use already! Think about what you are selling and try to come up with a name that reflects that. Consider the examples used in the Success Stories section above – The Halal Guys, Cantine California and MeatLiquor – what kind of image do they portray as you read them?

Funding Your Street Food Business

Getting the money to start your venture can be one of the most difficult parts of starting a street food business. Whilst some people choose to fund it entirely themselves, this approach can be quite risky if things go wrong, so others often approach the bank for a loan or share the input 50/50 with a friend.

However, whilst it may seem like a lot of money to start a street food business, compare these costs to those of starting a restaurant with a shop-front: buying or renting a food truck is a lot cheaper than buying or renting floor space!

You also need to keep in mind that, in the early stages of your business, you may not make enough money to pay yourself a solid salary. This needs to be considered carefully – can you manage with the loss of income whilst you get up and running? Most experts recommend that you have at least 6-12 months’ worth of living expenses saved before you start a street food business, otherwise you may find that your venture is unsustainable.

This then makes it necessary to consider what will happen if, despite your best efforts, your street food business does fail. You will have lost a lot of financial investment (as well as time) – can you afford to live with the consequences? As long as you have thought about this before beginning then the prospect of failure shouldn’t hold you back or, indeed, catch you off guard.

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Street Food Business?

Whilst there is no definitive answer to this question, general guidelines may be:

Under £5,000 – for this amount you may get a small second hand catering trailer or a market stall.
£5,000 - £10,000 – for this amount you may get a small new trailer, a second hand van, a second hand truck or a small refrigerated vehicle.
£10,000 - £20,000 – for this amount you may get a new, larger trailer, a new van or a better quality second hand vehicle.
£20,000 - £50,000 – for this amount you should get a large new vehicle, converted for your needs.
£50,000+ - for this amount you should get a large new van, converted for your needs.

How to Write a Business Plan

Every street food business needs a business plan to show that you have a carefully considered focus on what you’re going to do. This means writing down everything about your new business to make your venture sound appealing to potential lenders and business partners and to keep the emphasis on your business objectives that so you understand exactly what you’re aiming for.

Writing a business plan isn’t a complicated job and it doesn’t have to be very long. Keep it concise, to the point and ensure that you cover each of the following topics:

The name, address and contact details of your business.
Information on the management of the business; who’s in charge?
Your company’s Mission Statement: in one sentence, summarise the aim of your street food business.
Your vehicle: are you using a truck, van, stall or cart etc and what are the overhead costs involved?
Start-up costs: what do you need to buy to get started? Do you have any insurance or training to pay for?
The everyday costs of the business; how much will you spend on ingredients and overhead costs on a weekly or monthly basis?
Funding and financial projections; where do you plan to get the money from to start the business and what are your projected profits/losses for the next month, year, 2 years etc? How will you maintain the cash-flow?
Will you work on the business full-time or alongside your day job?
Does your business have any competition and what are the features or benefits of your own business that will make it stand out?
What is your marketing strategy?
Do you have the logistics in place to deal with delivery, customer service, insurance etc?

Getting your business plan is simple and you can even do it yourself in a word processor or your PC. We’ve also put together a simple ‘One Page Business Plan’ template that you can use to get you started.

If you need further help with learning how to start a business, High Speed Training’s ‘Starting a Business’ online training course covers a lot of the essential start-up topics. Take the course online, at home and in your own time and learn all about the basics for starting your own business. You can find more details about the training here:

How and Where to Register Your Street Food Business

When you first set up a business you will need to register with various different people:

Register with your local authority - you must register your street food business, 28 days before you start trading, with the Environmental Health Department at the local authority closest to where your business will be based, or in the case of mobile vehicles, where it is kept. It’s free to register with your local authority.
Once you have registered, an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) will come round and inspect and certify your vehicle in line with health and hygiene regulations. They will also advise you on matters such as nut content, food allergies and product labelling.
Register with HMRC – you need to register your street food business with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), no matter how small your business is. You need to register as self-employed (or as an employer if you have staff) and ensure that you keep up-to-date records of your business’ money for your income tax self-assessment each year. Learn more about how to register your business with HMRC on their website.
Get a trading licence – a trading licence is needed if your business plans to operate on public streets or roadsides (though you might not need a street trading licence if you have a pedlar’s certificate). A licence is not needed if you are operating on private land or at organised events. To apply for a trading licence, simply contact your local council and tell them where and when you plan to trade. Note that the council can refuse to give you a licence, or give you one for fewer days and times than you asked for. If you disobey your given licence or don’t apply for one then you can be fined up to £1000 so it’s definitely something you can’t afford to not do!
Business insurance - by law, all caterers must have Employers Liability Insurance which covers you for the health and safety of your employees. All caterers should also have Public Liability Insurance to cover injuries to the public and Product Liability in case anyone gets food poisoning as a result of eating your food. Doing a simple search online for ‘small business insurance’ will help you to find a suitable insurance company.
Gas/electrical safety certificates - all gas-powered equipment used for catering purposes, such as your gas hob, must be installed, inspected and tested annually by a Gas Safe engineer. It is also important to get all of your electrical equipment tested every 6 or 12 months by a registered electrician to ensure that it is safe to use. Safe electrical equipment will be issued a PAT (portable appliance testing) sticker.

Get a Food Hygiene Certificate

Food safety regulations state that anyone responsible for handling and selling food must ensure that the food they sell is safe to eat. This applies to all street food traders, as well as any people you have working for you in your business.

The easiest way to prove that you are complying with the regulations is to take a food safety training course that covers all of the essential food hygiene topics, including areas such as safe food holding temperatures, cooking temperatures, use-by dates, cleaning procedures, preventing cross-contamination and allergen labelling. This training should then be refreshed every 3 years to ensure that you keep up to date with any changes in the law or food safety practices.

High Speed Training offers a certified online Level 2 Food Hygiene course that you can take from home and in your own time, which is perfect for all street food traders and their employees. Level 2 is seen as the ‘basic’ level for all food handlers. Simply sign up to the course on the website, complete the training and you’ll be sent a certificate to prove that you’re complying with the law when you receive an inspection from the EHOs. Head to the High Speed Training website for more information.

Undertake a risk assessment – all street food businesses should also undertake a risk assessment to ensure that any food safety hazards are eliminated or minimised. This is known as a ‘HACCP’ control system, which you can find out more about with an

Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) – the FHRS is a scheme developed by the UK government and the Food Standards Agency to help promote the importance of good food hygiene practices. When your street food business has a food safety inspection, the food safety officer will give you a rating from 1-5 depending on how hygienically food is handled, the condition of your premises and how you manage and document food safety procedures. All businesses should aim to achieve the highest level 5 score. You can find out more here.

Marketing & Customer Service Skills

Once you’ve established what your street food business represents, where you will trade from and what you will sell, it then becomes important to get the word out and advertise your business. You cannot rely completely on passing trade to make your food truck a roaring success.

Options for advertising include:

Advertising in magazines/newspapers, issuing a press release or doing an interview.
Word of mouth.
Handing out free samples on the street or at events.
Designing business cards and letterheads.
Using signage and packaging with your logo on.
Advertising on websites or having your own website.
Social media; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc.
Handing out leaflets.

Social media - for a mobile street food business or pop-up restaurant, social media is perhaps the most useful marketing tool you can use – and best of all, it’s free! Social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, play a huge role in spreading the word and getting people interested in, and talking about, your business. Make sure you sign up for one of each account in your business name as part of your business planning stage.

Food festivals – if you operate a mobile food truck then it makes sense that you should take advantage of your business’ mobility and take your business ‘on tour’ to new places and new customers. Food festivals and other events are a great way to do this and you can guarantee that the footfall will be high. Big events for you to look out for include the Real Food Festival, music festivals, local markets, Urban Food Fest, Street Feast, Kerb, local food and drink festivals and local farmers markets. All you need to do is contact the venue and arrange a spot for you to set up shop in on the day.

Work on Your Customer Service Skills

There are two straightforward ways for street food businesses to increase their sales: get new business or increase repeat business. Repeat business is invaluable and will encourage word of mouth referrals, customer confidence and enhance your reputation. But how do you keep your customers coming back time and time again?

Aside from the food, the customer experience is what will ensure your customers return to buy from you again. Think of a time when you received incredible customer service and then compare it with a time when you received terrible customer service – which one are you most likely to revisit?

The value of making customers happy, treating them well and giving them a 5 star experience cannot be underestimated. It’s also incredibly easy and cheap to do! Simple things like remembering to smile, treating everyone equally and going the extra mile for each customer will generate a positive experience and a happy memory for each person that you serve. People are also more likely to discuss negative experiences than positive ones, so try to keep those to a minimum!

Why not consider offering incentives and freebies to loyal customers, too? Try out a customer loyalty scheme, a free hot drink scheme or exclusive extras for those who visit you regularly.

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We hope that you’ve found this guide to starting your own street food business useful as starting anything from the beginning (and on your own) can be a daunting and overwhelming process. To learn more about starting a business, click through to any of the links highlighted into this guide, or use the ‘Contact’ section of the High Speed Training website where we’ll be able to aid you further with the online training courses that we provide. We wish you the best of luck with your business!

Food Truck Business Essentials

Food Truck Essentials

On 2023-06-28
In Food Truck Business Essentials

Your Own Food Truck Business

The UK street food truck business is very popular today. One reason is, people want to start their own businesses at a relatively low cost, within the hospitality industry.

A food truck business can make a lot of profit although this comes with hard work and perseverance. You will also need to focus on the core areas of the business, such as choosing a profitable food to serve and locating pitches.

Want To Skip Ahead?

Street Food Truck Entrepreneur
What Is Street Food?
Street Food Pro’s And Con’s
Business Model Set-Up
How To Find Events – Google Search Method
Common Health And Safety Mistakes
Buying A Street food Business
Street Food Hotspots Around The World
Run Your Own Business Tips
Branding With Social Media
Onto The First Page Of Google
Saving Money In A Food Business
Growing Your Street Food Truck Business

A food truck business entrepreneur

As a street food entrepreneur, you have the flexibility of working when and where you choose. You could be working at a local market once a month. Or working three days a week at events and festivals all over the country.

Starting a street food business is a great second career choice on a part-time basis or as a main career. The harder you work on your business, focusing on the core areas the more successful it will become.

An introduction to the street food business

What is street food.

Street food is a growing scene serving quality food with individuality. The foods are served from a range of places including markets, festivals or special events.

The trend continues with street food being one of the most innovative and interesting concepts in the UK catering scene.

Companies serving street food must use quality sourced ingredients and serve high-quality foods. The owners will concentrate on one product and prepare and serve this to a high standard. Street food traders can operate and serve their products from any type of unit.

For example, in a food truck (Van), a trailer, or a gazebo, a key point for success is to brand your individuality.

Street food units can be split into three main areas:

Trailer Operators
Gazebo Operators
Truck/Van operators

These operation units can all be used at many trading pitches including a local farmers market or a large festival.

Advantages of a street food business. The pros and cons

Street food entrepreneurs come from all types of backgrounds. Owners may have had a hospitality career or recently finished a cooking course or are looking to completely make a change in career direction. Some of the best and worst aspects of the business are listed below.

The positives of running a street food business

Customers satisfaction.

Receiving compliments from your customers is a great feeling and an energy booster. It makes all the hard work you have put into preparing and cooking well worth it.

Expressing Your Ideas. Owning your own street food business means you must make all the decisions on how the business is run .

The business can be run exactly as you decide how you want to express yourself through your food and concepts.

Building a brand

Starting and running your own street food business is a great way to try out your concepts and build a successful brand.

A successful street food business can be the starting point for testing out your restaurant ideas if you want to move into the restaurant business later.

Being an entrepreneur

Running your own business is a great choice of career.

You will be able to make all of your own decisions and have control over when and how you work.

It’s possible to work full time or part time

When starting your business as a street food entrepreneur it is possible to start your business on a part-time basis. Weekends and evenings are the best times to run a street food business, so, for this reason, it makes a doable undertaking whilst still maintaining a regular job.

A street food business can be started as a part-time job and eventually grow into a full-time job to the point where it’s not possible to do both jobs.

The cons of running a street food business

The hard work.

There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes in a street food business. This includes the preparation that needs to be done to get food ready. The planning of menus, sticking to budgets and having all the licenses and permits in place.

Along with keeping on top of new health and safety regulations. There are many tasks that need to be taken on before service even starts, and when it does, this can mean hours of standing and serving customers in a busy, cramped hot environment.

Maintenance of the unit

The unit will need to be kept in good working order. Trucks and vans are essential to your business and breakdowns will be a problem.

If your vehicle is out of action, then you have no business and no money. Make sure the vehicle is kept in working order by having regular check-ups and a backup plan should be in place for any breakdowns.

Difficult to expand

A street food business is a difficult business to scale up and expand as the operation is usually owned and run by one or, maybe, two people. There will not be enough cash flow to expand easily.

It’s important to understand if you are looking to get bigger at a later date, you should have a plan in place to do so from the beginning.

A well-branded business that is easy to set up and run will be less difficult to scale through a possible franchise system.

Do I need to be a qualified chef

Everyone with some cooking skills and the ability to cook tasty foods could open a street food business.

Many chefs use the lower costs of starting a street food business as a way of owning their own business, and many enthusiastic home cooks have done as well.

Being a trained chef will have its advantages and this can be achieved if cooking skills are needed.

You may, however, decide that you have the skills needed as a home cook and are looking for an outlet to serve your food.

The mission of a street food business

Working with popular uk street food.

Street food ideas can take inspiration from all over the world. When choosing your style, think about what customers you are targeting. For example, a trendy street food market in London will have different food needs than a countryside county show.

When deciding on your food, take into consideration

The preparation times,
Cooking times,
Cost of ingredients,
Serving speed needed.

It is recommended to have as much preparation work done as possible the day before your event.

The better your preparation for an event, the smoother and faster your service will be. A range of different foods will take longer to prepare than a limited menu and the service speed can also vary considerably.

The street food business model set up

Examples of a street food unit set-up.

The example below gives you an idea of how a street food business can be set up for an event. As you can see, it is a compact space for the chef and service people to work in.

In this example, the cooking is done at the back of the unit, and the food is served to the customers from the prep area. If a gazebo set-up is being used, the cooking equipment can be moved to the front.

In this way, the customers will see the food being prepared and enjoy that theatre of operation.

There may be extra space under the equipment, such as the LPG hobs on a table, and the prep area will have space underneath for storage.

You can imagine how hot and uncomfortable the working environment can become if all the equipment is being fully used during busy service time.

This may be a factor to consider when deciding if a street food business is right for you.

Street food business event ideas – The google search method

To find specific places to trade in your local area this Google search method works well.

STEP 1: Add your selected dates into Google followed by

‘Festival Trading Pitch’ or ‘Event Trading Pitch’.

STEP 2: Follow this with the UK or a specific area/location.

Example Google Search

18–19 June ‘Event Trading Pitch’ Cotswolds
10–11 August ‘Festival Trading Pitch’ UK

Generating names for a street food business

If you do not have a name decided for your business you will need one. There are many free name-generator tools out there.

Free Business Name Generator – https://biznamewiz.com

Register a street food business

As a street food entrepreneur, there are three main ways you could decide to register as a business. The first is as a sole trader, the second is as a limited company and the third option is registering as a partnership.

There are three types of partnerships to choose from: limited liability partnership (LLP), sleeping or dormant partners, and general partnership.

A sole trader and a limited company are the main types of street food businesses .

A sole trader

The simplest way to start a street food business is to register as a sole trader. This means that you as the sole owner operate the business, and you will run the business on your own.

A big benefit of this approach is that you will take home all of the profits and will be free from any registration fees. A weakness is that you will need to be a very responsible person and keep on top of all the accounts.

Limited company

Limited companies exist as individual companies, and can be registered through Companies House. The finances of a limited company are consequently separate from the personal finances of the owners.

Shareholders will not be responsible for any debts acquired by the company but could stand to lose out on their original investment if the business runs into trouble.

There are two types of limited companies:

Private limited and public limited

Between these two types of companies, there exist a few differences. Public limited companies are legally allowed to raise funds by selling shares of their company on the stock market, but private limited companies cannot.

Public limited companies must also have a share capital of £50,000 or more, with two shareholders, two directors and a trained/qualified secretary.

The start-up costs of a business

The start-up costs to become a street food entrepreneur hinge on your finances and ability to borrow. Nevertheless, for a basic setup, which serves a simple style of food, you will be looking at a range starting at £4000 to £5000; this will include the pitch fees.

You will then need to take into account additional costs on top of that, such as a truck/van or trailer. It is also possible to rent trailers and trucks from one day upward . There are also franchises available or street food businesses,

Street food business profit UK – How to make the highest profit

It is very important when starting out to have a Gross Profit Margin to stick to.

This is the profit you make on all of your foods and may need to be at least 70% GP to run and grow successfully.

Your net profit will come by taking all of your costs. These will include pitch fees and fuel away from the Gross Profit. Minimising wastage is a core area to focus on when controlling a Gross Profit.

Street food business plan – sample/template

The business plan.

The best business plans will explain only the most essential information. They’ll list what you want to achieve, how you intend to get there and what you will need to do along the way.

Below I have included a sample template for a business plan.

The contents and notes are what would normally be expected in a plan, but should be altered to suit your own requirements.

Before completing the document, you will need to have done some research into competitor activity, pricing and the market for your services/ products etc.

How many hours will you need to put into your busines s

This is entirely your own decision, but as you start your business up you will need to put in a lot of hours than at any other time.

So if you are looking to only work on a part-time basis, you may find that you are still putting a lot of hours in.

This may include: finding pitches, building a website, and finding a suitable vehicle and equipment.

Once you have all of the basic groundwork done a certain amount of hours will still need to be spent on your business.

Due to preparing foods and buying stock. All these areas may need careful thought when thinking about How To Start And Run A Street Food Business.

Health and safety

There are certain core areas that need focusing on when you are looking into how to start and run a street food business. As a street food operator, you are responsible for the health and safety of your customers.

All of the equipment inside your operational unit needs to be safety checked and cleaned .

You will also need to have a basic qualification in food safety and be able to take risk assessments and understand HACCP regulations.

You will be using equipment that can be hazardous such as gas appliances and electrical equipment, these all need to be safety checked and given certificates by a qualified engineer.

Health and safety mistakes?

Health and safety are the big buzz phrase throughout the UK business community. And you better believe that this applies to your catering business.

A negative report from the health and safety officials that will check up on you after set periods of time. This can result in negative results for your business that will drop your gross profit.

Common catering business health and safety mistakes

This can range from an increase in premiums to an outright shutdown. To keep this from happening, work hard to account for all existing laws and exceed them each and every time.

To begin, consider these common health and safety mistakes that catering businesses in the United Kingdom often fail to account for.

Food handler training for your catering business

Anyone in your catering business who comes in contact with food at any point. And that will likely be just about everyone, must have proper training.

Not only does health and safety require it, but your customers will also insist upon it.

A proper food hygiene certificate, training regime, and constant brushing up on food service-related laws are essential. This is needed in order to avoid many of the health and safety mistakes often seen in the catering business.

Food hygiene certificate

It is important to understand that existing health and safety laws in the UK do not require all food handlers to have a food hygiene certificate when either preparing or selling food. This applies to caterers as well.

However, the best practice is to insist that all of your food handlers have this document. That being said, the certificate must be earned. The process that is involved is rather stringent.

Most food handlers can get their food hygiene document via on-the-job training, online or classroom study, and job experience that is relevant to the job. Once a food hygiene certificate is granted to a food handler.

There will usually be a refresher course that can be done after a three-year period.

That being said, either the food business operator or the (EHO) health officer assigned to inspect your catering business. May decide at any time that a refresher course is needed.

To keep up with your insurance, you will want to be sure to take care of those training requests. Do this as soon as you can in order to maintain the food hygiene certificate.

Use proper food handling procedures

It is essential at all times that proper food handling procedures are put in place and followed throughout your catering business. This goes for any actions taken directly at your own location and continues to the facility where you are providing services for.

You should imagine that people are always watching and will be concerned that you are taking actions to guard against any foodborne illnesses.

At the same time, nothing will wreck your catering business more quickly than a guest who develops a food-related sickness at one of your venues.

Also, this is a huge mistake that will affect your insurance and impact your ability to sustain your business integrity.

To avoid this, remember to review the following food safety concepts with your staff on a regular basis, regardless of whether or not each member of your staff has a food hygiene certificate:

Key Areas Are:

Effective hand-washing methods
Ensuring that foods are chilled as quickly as possible
Properly clean all plates, dishes, and cutlery
Guard against allowing sick staff to work
Get rid of bugs and other pests from your food prep area

Following these guidelines will not only help improve your name throughout the catering business; they will also make you more insurable.

Yes, it is important to follow the guidelines set by Health and Safety, but it is equally important to keep your insurance rates as low as possible.

How to buy a street food business

Tips and Advice on How to Buy A Street Food Business and What To Look Out For When Buying A Vehicle

When you are selecting your unit. There are essential points to remember that will save you money and time in the long run.

Decide on your menu first, and then when it comes to buying a vehicle you can select one that already has the equipment you will need.

Make sure the vehicle is health and safety passable with an LPG certificate and an Electrical certificate. Try to keep your costs down when first starting out.

Essentials to theme your food unit

Once you have a vehicle selected, get it branded by a sign-making design company or completely wrapped in your design to your specific instructions.

The set-up needs to be themed and attractive to both the organiser and the customers.

Make sure your unit is clean inside and out.
Make sure your unit has clean signage.
Get a personal hygiene certificate and a certificate display in your unit.
Register your company and register for self-assessment.
Get an accountant.
Make sure your unit has a clear menu with prices.
Offer a unique idea/concept.
Be aware of new events or people selling pitches.
Do in-depth research and get evidence and contracts.
Make sure you have the relevant insurance.

Street food hotspots from around the world

There are many countries all over the world with great street food all areas will have their own regional specialities and some will also have foods from other areas of the world. To follow are some countries with great street food.

Copenhagen street food

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark with very popular street food markets. And one of the main markets with food and stalls is Copenhagen itself, which serves cuisines from all over the world including Brazilian, South Korean and Indian .

Thai street food

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand and has a range of traditional street food. What is the street food style in Thai? Thai food is quick to cook full of flavour and uses a lot of chillies. Thai street food is popular in the UK with many stalls at markets and festivals offering Thai food.

Italian street food

Italian street food is very popular in Italy with a quick flavoursome style. The UK has many Italian street food stalls and mobile caterers, foods will include pasta dishes and pizzas.

Indian street food

One of the most popular food cuisines in the world. What is street food in India – Indian street food is delicious and suits the UK perfectly. The Uk customer loves the spices flavours and heat of Indian cuisine.

London street food

London is a great place to experience street food, with a large mix of cultures there is a big demand for a broad range of street food. There are street food festivals happening regularly and many stalls are open all year round.

Street food cinema!

What is street food cinema? During the summer in not only London but all over the UK, there are many outdoor cinemas and festivals to set up a street food stall

“Street food is a good way to try new dishes and concepts on customers”

Run your own street food business tips

If you have a keen interest in cooking and can cook a number of great dishes and are looking to sell your food to the public, questions you will need to answer include:

How do I set up a street food stall in my local area?
Do I need to register for my food business?
Is it possible to make a lot of profit and expand my food business quickly?
Understanding and keeping on top of health and safety laws.
What equipment is crucial?
Where do I buy the equipment?

1. Mobile catering research

Firstly you will need to think about and do some market research. If you can cook great Indian dishes then an area or market where there is no Indian food may be a good place to set up your business.

Decide on the food you will be serving on your food stall, and test the recipes on friends to get some feedback.

A good tip is to go to the area or market you want to set up a stall. Know you can find out that there is a need for, and create some simple flavoursome dishes.

2. Where will the business be located?

Setting up your mobile caterer will vary depending on where you want to have your stall, you can find markets and festivals to run your stall.

Many will have a waiting list for caterers and fees to pay for the pitch. Markets are smaller but an easier option to begin your business.

3.How to register my business

To register your food business you will need to. Firstly go to your local council and check you are ready to open and that you have met the safety laws.

4. What equipment do I need and where can I buy the tools?

For a simple set up it can be relatively cheap, but you will need transportation for your equipment. The biggest expense for a mobile caterer will be the mobile catering van.

The equipment will depend on the food you are serving, depending on your food style. Cooking fast food to order, reheating food or selling cold foods.

5.Expanding

Expanding will need to be done properly with a concise business plan. You can make your first business easy and simple to run is a great idea as anybody could learn how to set up and run the business.

6.Health and safety

There are strict health and safety laws to follow when running your catering setup. And also more information can be found in the food standards agency.

Catering business branding with social media

Social media does one very solid thing for business owners. It lets them reach a very targeted market with ease. Naturally, your reaction to that might be two-fold.

First, you think, “Okay, sign me up!” and then you think, “Okay, just how does it all work?” Here are a few solid tips for branding your catering business with social media.

Also, social media can be done yourself and be saving money on the costs of your business.

Answer these catering business branding questions

Do you know your target audience? As someone considering a career as a baker, you have it a bit tough. After all, who eats cake? Um…everyone! Cookies, bread…the list of things you might be planning to sell will have one of the widest-reaching audiences.

This is why you’ll need to really define yourself.

Wedding cakes?
Organic cakes?
Non-GMO, gluten and dairy-free baked goods?

Take time to define your audience based on your intended products.

Once you can start to form a clearer mental image of your “average” buyer or customer, you need only start “hanging out” with them on social media.

Once you find them online, you need to use the built-in tools on websites like Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube to further find your target audience members.

Telling your catering business story

With that, you probably find yourself scratching your head. What story? Where did that come from? Well, in essence, your brand is your story, and if you haven’t developed it yet, you won’t have anything to market.

Once you have your clearly defined target audience and your story, you can then use some simple social media tactics to draw attention to your brand.

For example, is there any sort of hashtag strategy that you can use? Maybe you can come up with a fun and witty “food holiday” based on your products.

For instance, instead of TBT meaning Throw Back Thursday, turn the abbreviation into something relating to your brand, products or a special flavour of cupcake.

Branding your catering business using social media platforms

Another way to brand your food business via social media is to take that story and use it to create dynamic content.

If you speak with a modern marketing professional, they are going to tell you that “content is king”. What that means is that you need to produce a steady supply of interesting information about your food niche and post it to a blog,

social media and even on other sites. Why? This ensures that you come up in some of the top search engine results when someone in your area “Googles” for your goods.

How to get your restaurant on the first page of google

SERPs. Do you know what that abbreviation means? It stands for Search Engine Results Pages and if you are eager to be a success in the food business.

Then you want your restaurant to appear at the top of these results, in your restaurant marketing plan.

In other words, you need to get your restaurant on the first page of a Google search (or any web search engine for that matter).

After all, it is easy to say that success comes to the restaurant that appears on that first page, but then there comes the tough part…getting on that first page.

Restaurant marketing essentials

Like any business in the modern world, if you don’t have a website you are lost. Literally. Very few people open a phone book to find something these days.

They open a browser and a search engine, and if you are not online via a website, you are not on SERPs. If you don’t appear on SERPs…well, that just can’t happen.

However, most web experts say that anything on the third page of SERPs, or further, is useless. Even second-page results may not get you much traction or results.

This is why you must give a great deal of attention to reaching that first page. And that is done using SEO.

Search Engine Optimisation

So, you may have already heard of SEO and you may even have a passing familiarity with what it requires. However, did you know that not even Google can promise you a page-one outcome?

This is because the entire thing is built around a mathematical algorithm that can cause changes constantly.

That is not to say that you will be on the first page one day and the thousandth page the next.

You should follow a tried and true formula of good and authentic SEO practices if you wish to remain a viable and competitive candidate for that premier position.

Here is our suggested restaurant marketing on google formula

Create a blog or website using. Note, your URL (which is the domain name you will have to choose and purchase) should be easy to type, short, feature keywords or the business name, and be memorable.

So, if your baking business is Cupcake King, you are not likely to get that URL easily, so simply choose cupcakeking[insert your city] and see if that works.

Create a schedule of unique blogs that are relevant to your site and industry. Create around six (one per week) ahead of time, and be sure they feature keywords that relate to your industry and site. You can get the best research and advice straight from Google keyword planner. Be sure that your blog is on more than just your blog. Try sites like Tumblr, Quora and others.
Use your social media networks (Facebook business page, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube, and so on) to promote the blogs. A great tool for free restaurant marketing.
Think locally. If you want to win the SEO war, remember to use “long tail” keywords, which are keywords with place names. For instance, custom cupcakes in Birmingham is a long-tail keyword. Also, remember to register your physical business with Google.

Further restaurant website essentials

You will also want to be sure that you avoid Flash on your website or blog pages as Google cannot index the information in graphics. Always go with HTML.

Try to compress data for faster-loading pages because Google might punish you for slow loads and visitors clicking away. Always use entirely original content as anything copied costs you with Google.

If you take these simple steps and keep at them, you’ll soon be at the top of Google’s SERPs.

Example of a keyword at the top of googles page one using SEO

I have many keywords on my website that I am ranking to drive free traffic to my website. One of these keywords is the term ‘chef de rang’.

By searching for the keyword ‘Chef De Rang’ you will see my website high on the first page of Google.

By searching for the keyword ‘ commis chef’ my website ranks high on page one and I also have a youtube video high in the rankings.

Top 5 ways to save money in a food business

If you’re in the food business, you understand the importance of always serving up the freshest and best quality food available.

But at a price that you and your clients can afford. The two concepts do not always seem compatible. However, they must fit together if you plan to stay in business for any length of time.

Saving money in a food truck business

To help with this goal, we have developed the following five ways to help you save money wherever possible in a food business.

Control waste

While it is true that a caterer’s worst nightmare is running out of food during an event. It is also frightening to have to throw away so much excess.

To avoid this, you need to be careful in your measurements and ensure that you are delivering what the client has ordered, but a little more.

Do this, and your profits will almost certainly increase. Work hard to get the most out of the ingredients that go into each meal.

This will, in turn, minimise expenses, maximise taste, and enhance the customer’s experience.

Monitor portion sizes

No matter if you are offering a fixed menu or a full buffet, you need to work hard to weigh and measure each dish.

This will ensure a balanced approach to each portion.

This will also ensure that you are not undercharging clients for a bigger lobster tail than was ordered. Do this and you will realise the enormous savings event after event.

If you have a buffet, it is helpful to have your servers do the cutting and presenting of higher-priced items, such as seafood and rich meats.

Minimise and analyse labour costs

Not every event requires a heavy serving presence. Keep this in mind when you plan each event.

Many small gatherings, such as board meetings or corporate gatherings , do not even require wait staff to be on hand.

Whatever you can do to minimise your expense in this area will amount to huge savings down the road.

This is also an area where you can pass along portions of the savings to the customer in order to attract some return business.

Invest in catering software

While you might not see technology as being very useful in the food business, it most certainly is. New catering software available on the market today allows you to plan meals right down to how much of each ingredient to purchase.

With many fresh ingredients having a limited shelf life, this feature alone can pay enormous dividends immediately upon implementation.

Catering software also allows you to pair foods together in order to enhance the menu offerings that you have.

And it allows you to streamline accounting and other operational components of the business.

Reconsider your buffet-first mentality

Is a buffet the most cost-effective way to provide for large events?

This type of thinking could be costing you loads of money. With careful portion control, fixed menus can be much more cost-effective in many situations.

It does require timing and perhaps more wait staff. But the minimal loss in terms of food can be well worth it in the end.

It is difficult to plan for food amounts when the customer is responsible for dishing out on their own meal. With a fixed wait staff; there is no such worry.

Following these five tips will go a long way towards helping your food business maximise its revenue by minimising waste and excess.

Growing your catering services and food truck business ideas

The catering and hospitality industry in the UK is on the up and continues to grow. Due to many people opting for starting their own businesses as a food entrepreneur .

There are ways of growing your catering services and food business ideas. This may be a chef with years of fine dining training. And looking to open a high-end restaurant in London and aiming for the stars.

To a home cook taking a step into a street food business working part-time and using their simple recipes.

Where ever you are in the puzzle there is one thing that is crucial to your success – Profits, reducing wastage and using the tools out there.

Many of the food entrepreneur businesses out there have one thing in common, they understand know how important and use the Internet.

The top 7 tips for growing your food truck business

Build rapport with suppliers.

Sourcing your suppliers well is an important part to develop your business. Build a good rapport with your suppliers. To get the best deals and offers on products.

Working with suppliers and building a rapport with them may give better results.

Catering Companies Using Facebook.

As part of a social media presence, a Facebook page should be considered. A Facebook page can be set up to show your business off. Photos and images can be added to interact with your fans.

Catering companies using twitter

Twitter is also essential for a social media presence. An account is straightforward to set up when following a step-by-step process. A tip is to keep your social media accounts active by adding posts at regular times.

Social media is important for growing your catering services and food business ideas and getting your brand and ideas out there.

Catering companies using youtube

A video is very good at attracting people to your business and showing off your brand. To use youtube you will need to set up your own channel, take videos and upload them to your channel.

A video is great to show off your business:

A compact two-minute video of your chefs making the establishment’s signature dish and positioned on the home page.

Catering companies having a website

A website will showcase your business’s brand, product images, services and bookings can be taken.

Learning to use the internet

The Internet has become an essential tool for many businesses. The Internet is fantastic for market research, promoting your business and brand awareness.

Getting feedback and acting on it

Feedback is very important to grow your business. There are many review sites out there where you can gain reviews from customers. Those review sites out there include Trip Advisor, Trust pilot, and open table.

Many people will be checking your reviews before they make a decision to visit your restaurant or buy from your food business.

Feedback is essential to understanding where you are and is important when growing your catering services and food business ideas.

Get first page rankings on google

Furthermore, it is essential that your website is found on the first page of Google. This is important because when people make a search on Google they very rarely go beyond page 1.

So if your business is on page 3 for saying the term “ Wedding Catering London”, it is unlikely to be found for this, even if you have the best wedding catering business.

Another example is a business selling cupcakes getting no 1 ranking on Google for the term “Cupcakes London” will receive more interest from people looking for cupcakes in London than a business on Google page 3 ranking for the same term.

Having checked with a tool I know that people are searching for the term “Cupcakes London”

Overview of my food truck business essentials book

The guide covers each area step by step. As you read through the chapters and study them, you will be able to answer critical questions that will come up, such as the following:

Is a street food business right for me?
How much do I need for start-up costs during the first year?
How do I choose products to maximise profits?
What equipment will I need and how much does it cost?
Pros and cons of a truck (van), trailer and gazebo.
How do I brand and name my street food business?
What legal requirements do I need to understand?
How do I operate safely and legally?

More information In the food truck business essentials book

And also, you will also learn skills such as how to create a menu, where to find all the equipment you will need and how to write a business plan. In addition, you will learn how to gain a competitive advantage over your competitors by successfully using the Internet and social media.

There is also a chapter designated to give vital street food industry contact details. More questions that will be answered in this step-by-step guide include the following:

What training qualifications and licenses do I need?
What pitfalls do I need to be aware of?
How do I hire, manage, and motivate staff?
How do I apply to a market organiser to trade?
Do I need an accountant?
How to leverage free marketing?
Why do street food truck businesses fail?
Vital industry contacts with contact details.

A rewarding new career

Perhaps you want to embark on a rewarding new career or you’re a budding chef entrepreneur, dreaming of having a branded street food empire.

You may even be on your way to opening your own restaurant and need a starting point for your concepts.

You may have recently completed a professional cookery course and are looking for a way to get your ideas out there.

When thinking about starting a street food business think about what motivates you. Are you looking for a part-time business or are you looking to own a multi-vehicle operation in the next five years?

Also, have an honest look at yourself and decide if a street food business is right for you.

Food Truck Business Essentials Book

What is a Chef Patron?

How do Chefs Work so Fast?

Become a Chef in the UK

What is a Chef?

Food Truck Business Don’ts

What is a Kitchen Porter?

Is a Chef Career Right for You?

Professional Chef Hats

10 Creative Street Food Stall Ideas

Food Prep Risk Assessment?

What is a Bakery Worker?

What is a Date Fruit?

What Hours do Chefs Work?

Building a Cheese Board

Cured vs. Uncured Meat

What is Kimchi?

Grams are in an Ounce?

Types of Cooking Oil

Privacy overview.

29 Proven Food Truck Business Plans (PDF, Word)

The food truck business has recently gained progress in catering for ordinary working folks. It’s really not that expensive to set up and it’s a cheaper alternative to starting your own restaurant . Of course, this doesn’t mean that food trucks are either free or cheap. To ask for financial help, you need to sell the idea to investors and for this, you can make a comprehensive food truck business plan.

1 Food Truck Business Plans
2 Why do you need a food truck business plan?
3 Food Truck Business Models
4 How to write a food truck business plan?
5 Food Truck Business Plan Templates
6 Starting your food truck business

Food Truck Business Plans

Why do you need a food truck business plan.

Just thinking about food trucks roaming around today makes you think that it must really be very simple to put up such business. But even this simple undertaking requires a lot of planning. Opening such a business without planning and investigating might lead to many problems. But if you do some market research for your food truck business plan, this can help you thresh out significant details and redefine your concept.

One of the most important factors of success for a restaurant is the location. People wouldn’t want to travel too far to get to a restaurant and if you have the wrong location, your long-term plans might not even last. This goes the same for food trucks as the location is a crucial component for success.

The most successful food trucks have a relatively consistent schedule on where they park and they spread the word through various social media platforms. There is also the fact that not every location allows food trucks to set up shop. For instance, school zones and public parks generally disallow commercial businesses . So, you need to consider this too when making your food truck business plan sample.

Food Truck Business Models

How to write a food truck business plan.

You need to have the answers to many questions when you are trying to learn how to start a food truck business. The best way to get all these into perspective is to make a comprehensive food truck business plan template. This helps you list all of the essential information about the business while assisting you in getting funding from investors.

The food truck business model is always the first step because you will use this to gain the funding needed to get your food truck off the ground. Here are some things to consider when creating your food truck outline for your business plan:

Executive Summary This is the first section of your food truck business plan. Think of it as an introduction to whoever you will address on your final product. Don’t make it too wordy or lengthy. First impressions are the beginnings of something great. Make your executive summary interesting and concise without having to delve on details. This section gives you the opportunity to highlight what your company is, how you expect to grow your business, and more. Another good idea is to explain how your background and knowledge can benefit you in the pursuit of your goals of opening this kind of business. Although this will be the first item that potential investors read, this must be the last section you write.
Company Description Describe in this section your planned food truck business. This is where you give an explanation of the details of your business and how its entry into the food truck business could be a crucial addition to the existing market. In essence, it’s here where you explain more in detail everything you have touched on in the executive summary.
Market Analysis This section of your food truck business plan sample gives you the chance to detail and explain how your plans fit into the market. Remember that you will present this to potential investors. It is, therefore, important to do a lot of research on how to start a food truck business before composing this section. This demonstrates that you have enough knowledge about the food truck market and industry.
Organization and Management Next, make a food truck outline of your organization and management plan where you explain the structure of your food truck business. This may not appear to be that essential if you intend to put up a food truck business manned only by two or three people. But if your plans go beyond a small enterprise, then you need an organization and management plan that includes: A complete profile of your team. Information regarding the business’ ownership. The salaries and benefits your employees will receive. Growth opportunities you plan to offer to your employees . One great way to show your business’ organizational structure is through a chart that illustrates how you have all the bases covered. It is in this section where you can let your passion shine through. This could leave a memorable impression on your prospective investor as they will feel encouraged to support your plans.
Product or service line The next section in the food truck business plan template details the product or service line that your food truck business plan will offer. You need to display your creative ideas by making a description of your services or products and a plan to keep your customers coming back.
Marketing and Sales You also need a marketing and sales plan for your food truck business that focuses on strengthening customer loyalty. Define your overall strategies. How you do this is up to you. Just remember that people appreciate originality, whether when adapting a cool truck design or coming up with an interesting selling point for your business.
Request for Funding Although a funding request section isn’t included in every food truck business plan template, it is still something worth considering. It could be a challenge to make an estimate on how much a food truck would cost but you need to do this so you can determine where your funds will come from. If you have plans to request funding, you have to explain clearly how much you need, what you need the funds for, and how you will repay the money that you owe. You can explore other options for funding by checking out sites that can allow you to crowdfund by raising money from different sources. Just remember that some of these sites take a percentage of the amount you raise. Therefore, you have to do more research before accepting any offer.
Financial Projections If you’re starting from scratch on the food truck business, it can be difficult for you to determine any realistic financial projections. It’s essential for you to analyze your target market then set specific financial goals so that you can allocate your funds more efficiently. As a newcomer, you need to estimate how much your business will potentially make over the next 5 years using realistic assumptions. You have to make sure that your projections are in alignment with the funds you requested in your funding requests.
Appendix This section is optional for any food truck business plan but it can be the best place to add information that cannot fit elsewhere. These may include product photos, letter of reference , building permits, and more.

Food Truck Business Plan Templates

Starting your food truck business.

Surprisingly, what were once often referred to as “roach coaches” have already become some of the most sought-after and popular eateries in the biggest cities across the nation. If you want to start your own small business without referring to traditional offices or storefront routines, you may consider starting a food cart or truck business. You need to create first a food truck business model or plan then consider the next steps:

Get your licenses Entering this business is not as simple as it may seem. To begin with, you cannot just set up stall anywhere to conduct your business. There are various requirements by the city including certificates from the health department, parking restrictions, and truck permits. Every city has its own policies so you should get in touch with your local government to get the requirements.
Get the best vehicle for your business A food cart would suffice for the meantime if you’re working on a tight budget. The health department has the same rules for food trucks and restaurants. This means your cart will require special equipment that’s usually expensive. Before choosing either a cart or a truck, you should know exactly what you need to operate the business. For instance, if you intend to sell pizzas or other hot foods that you prepare on-site, then you will need a big truck. On the other hand, if you can prepare your food in advance, either at home or in a commercial kitchen, then a cart or a smaller truck will do just fine to keep your products warm.
Find a niche Surprisingly, many food trucks today are already serving gourmet cuisine and delicacies from other countries, sweets like designer cupcakes and exclusive sweet treats, health foods, and more. They have gone a long way since the times when what they had were just cold sandwiches and hot tacos. One of the keys to success in this relatively new and improved business is to find your own niche and become an expert on it. To keep up with the demands of the business, you have to constantly do research to find out what’s already covered in your area then come up with your own creation.

39 free account plan templates [excel, ppt, word], 17 voided check templates [free], 40 professional construction budget templates (excel).

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FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS PLAN: Best Easy Guide in 2023

by Kenechukwu Muoghalu
August 13, 2023

Table of Contents Hide

What is a food truck business plan, what is the need for a food truck business plan, #1. executive summary, #2. company overview, #3. management team, #4. sample menu, #5. market analysis, #6. marketing and sales strategy, #7 financial projections, #8. appendix, is a food truck a good business , what type of food trucks are most successful, what is the best business structure for a food truck, what are the 3 disadvantages of a food truck business, what makes a food truck successful, why do food trucks fail, how many menu items should a food truck have, what are the most common issues faced by food truck businesses, food truck business plan template, are you having a hard time creating a food truck business plan for yourself, final thoughts, what are the risks of a food truck business, what are the weaknesses of a food truck, should i invest in a food truck.

If you’re just starting your own food truck business, there are multiple inevitable questions that usually surface during the planning stage. You should know that those culinary skills of yours, coupled with your questions, can only be managed and answered through an organized business plan. However, if you have a plan or wish to run your own food truck business but don’t know where to start, here’s a guide for your comfort. With this article, you will also get to learn how to make a business plan for a food truck and use our unique template while writing a plan for your food truck.

If you want to take a shorter route through this process, then you should settle for our pre-made food truck business plan and get a chance to own a professional business plan in a few seconds.

A business plan for your food truck business basically outlines what a company does and how it makes its own cash. It starts with storing little details like your marketing plans and includes much more sensitive information like your financial projections.

A business plan clearly harbors your goals and also helps you see obvious facts on how to achieve those goals. It will help you keep track of your activities so you can easily denote what your company needs and when it needs it. This is why it is important that you learn how to make a business plan for your food truck to help you analyze how best to handle your business.

Aside from ensuring that your goals are well organized and on track, a food truck business plan can also be used for pitching investors. Whenever you plan to seek outside funding, either from lenders or investors, you will need a business plan to come to the rescue. Your investors would love to carefully analyze your food truck business in order to understand its potential and see more reasons to invest in it.

Read Also: FOOD BUSINESS: Starting A Food Business From Home UK

You will also discover that as your business grows, you will be faced with new opportunities or challenges that may distract you from your initial goals. But having a food truck business plan can also help you maintain a constant track till success is achieved. Having known the importance of having a business plan, let’s then analyze how to make this business plan for your food truck.

How to Make a Business Plan for Your Food Truck

Writing a business plan for a food truck requires some level of understanding and some unique elements. In response to this, we have outlined a template that can help you format your food truck business plan and also included some key topics every plan should cover. Professional food should include the following sections:

The executive summary of your food truck business plan should contain a clear and concise introduction of your food truck concept. It should cover basic things like your budget overview, brand overview, brand mission, and core values, among others. This section of your business plan should also be written in an attention-driving manner. This is because your main intention is to attract the attention of your reader and get them interested in your whole business idea.

In your company overview section, you don’t necessarily need to summarise or focus on grabbing the attention of your readers, it should be more practical. In this section of your food truck business plan, you will get to introduce your products and the kind of services you will be rendering. This section should be more of a grand history of your business; it should communicate your business vision to your readers.

Just as the name implies this section should be all about your full team staff. For a food truck business, many staff is not required and most of the time, some people also tend to operate on a staff of one owner-operator-accountant-chef-server.

However, irrespective of what your management team looks like, it is important to include a detailed and clear description of your team in this section. While doing that, you will also need to mention their different roles and responsibilities in the business.

Your food truck business plan also deserves to have a specific menu. The essence of a sample menu is to give your food truck business a unique feature and also ensure that your customers are aware of the kind of food and beverage products you offer. Having a sample menu will also encourage you to think solely about how well you would produce your food and deliver it to satisfy your clients.

Before you start writing this section of your business plan, you must have already carried out your market research. The essence of researching your market beforehand is to understand the market and know how best to grow under its influence. The three core aspects to look out for are mainly the target market, location, and your competitors. When you identify and analyze how to tackle each factor, then you will be able to grow your business with ease.

The marketing and sales plan of your business has a great influence on the growth of your business. If you don’t make sales at the end of a stipulated time, your business will remain stagnant. In this section, you will need to define the overall marketing and sales strategies that will be adopted in your business. You can include how you will compete with other food truck businesses in your area, how you will distribute your products, and also how you will reach out to your customers.

Your financial projection is a very important part of your business plan that should be given special care. It should include a clear analysis of your target market and its financial goals. If you are not a start, you can include historical financial data for your business. If you’re just starting out in the food truck business, then you should focus on including a calculation of how much your business will potentially make within a span of five years.

In this section, you are free to include any information that couldn’t fit anywhere else in the plan. You can include the necessary documents that will make your points valid to any reader.

Yes, it is. A food truck business can pose as a good money-making business idea that can generate multiple streams of revenue over time for both starters and non-starters. It is a popular mini-business that does not fail to blossom in any environment.

As a food truck business owner, you will have the opportunity to produce a wide range of foods, but most of the time, the most profitable food truck items are those that are common and cheap to produce. They can be in the form of burgers, Indian street food, loaded fries, stone-baked pizzas, and grilled cheese, among others.

The most popular business structure for a food truck is a limited liability company, sole proprietorship, or partnership. Choosing the right business structure from among these depends on your business’s unique circumstances and needs.

The most prominent disadvantages of owning a food truck business are working in a small space, obediently abiding by local zoning laws, experiencing constant competition in the industry, and engaging in future repairs.

Your food truck can only be successful when you handle your business with discipline, passion, and persistence. You will have to keep up with your initial visions and goals until they are achieved. You will also need to constantly research your market to always keep up with the latest trends and keep your business plan updated as well.

Most food truck businesses tend to fail as a result of the excess cost of operations. They enter a business with a clear budget of what their expenses would look like, but then they get to see the opposite in return. In essence, they spend more than their established budget.

Most food trucks can accommodate a total of 5 to 12 menu items without much hassle. It will only require more manpower and effort to pull through. But you know what they say, the fewer the better. This is because it can help you focus on providing qualifications other than quantity.

When it comes to challenges faced by a food truck business, you can see rules about distances from other businesses, high insurance costs, fire and health codes, the need for parking permits, and challenging mobile vending laws among others.

Aside from writing a business plan for a food truck, you will also need to acknowledge the need for a template checklist. This checklist will serve as a mini-guide that will help you start off your business on level ground. They include:

Narrow down your niche.
Compose a business plan for your food truck.
Have a financial plan.
Create a digital presence.
Purchase a truck.
Get insurance
Get your client base

Even with the help of a template, writing a business plan for a food truck can be daunting, especially when it’s your first time. To maneuver this situation, you can either consult an advisor or get our professional pre-made food truck business plan for your convenience.

At Businessyield consult, we specialize in formulating unique business plans for entrepreneurs like you, who are finding it difficult to compose one. So far, we have helped set up multiple businesses and are hoping to help more.

You don’t need to go through this stress alone; just grab a copy of your ready-made plan here and kick off that business .

You should know that owning a business plan for any form of business should be the first great step to take before kicking off. Aside from keeping you organized, you will also get to put your business dreams into motion and watch them happen.

Every business comes with risks, and when it comes to owning a food truck business, it is more than coming up with a menu or fulfilling orders as fast as you can. With a food truck business, you can face risks like food poisoning, equipment damage, injuries, and auto accidents.

The weaknesses of a food truck can be a lack of capital, a lack of differentiation and uniqueness when it comes to menu items, and a lack of documented systems.

Yes, because owning a food business is one of the most profitable investments in the UK. With a food truck business, you can earn up to six figures every year. The food truck industry is worth a fortune and still continues to trend across the globe.

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Kenechukwu Muoghalu

Kenny, an accomplished business writer with a decade of experience, excels in translating intricate industry insights into engaging articles. Her passion revolves around distilling the latest trends, offering actionable advice, and nurturing a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape. With a proven track record of delivering insightful content, Kenny is dedicated to empowering her readers with the knowledge needed to thrive in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of business.

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How To Start A Food Truck In 2024

Updated: Apr 30, 2024, 10:28pm

First steps to take, obtain permits and licenses, budgeting for truck and equipment, research locations, marketing and promotion, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Launching your own food truck business can be an exhilarating venture for culinary entrepreneurs. Food truck owners enjoy having the freedom of taking their delicious creations directly out onto the streets for customers to experience, creating a unique dining experience while building customer loyalty. From conceptualization to marketing, we’ll cover everything you need to know to get started on this culinary adventure.

As with any business, starting a food truck requires setting up a solid foundation. This is accomplished by conceptualizing your menu, crafting a thorough business plan and registering your business. Developing a unique concept, outlining a comprehensive business plan and adhering to legal regulations will set you up for success in mobile gastronomy.

Conceptualizing Your Food Truck

Brainstorming food truck concepts blends culinary expertise, market research and innovative thinking. Feel confident exploring various ideas and combinations while gathering feedback from family, friends and potential customers to gauge interest. Here are a few things to consider:

Begin with researching the market
Recognize your passions and expertise
Establish your target market
Explore unusual cuisines
Consider fusion cuisine and creative combinations
Evaluate diets and dietary restrictions
Integrate local and seasonal ingredients in your menu
Establish an eye-catching brand and story

Writing a Business Plan

A comprehensive business plan serves as a roadmap for your venture, outlining your goals, strategies and financial projections. Here’s an outline of the key sections to include in your food truck business plan:

Executive Summary: Provides an overview of your food truck concept, mission statement and critical points in the plan.
Company Description: Introduces your food truck business, legal structure of your company (such as a limited liability company (LLC) ), ownership, management and location.
Market Analysis: Analyzes the target market demographics, competition, industry trends and opportunities or challenges.
Menu and Cuisine: Describes your menu offerings, unique selling points, ingredient sourcing and pricing strategy.
Marketing and Sales Strategy: Outlines branding, marketing channels, pricing, promotions and customer acquisition and retention.
Operations and Management: Covers daily operations, staffing requirements, vendor relationships and compliance with regulations.
Financial Projections: Recognizes startup costs, revenue projections, cost of goods sold, operating expenses and profitability.
Funding and Financing: Identifies funding needs, personal investment, loan options and potential investors or partnerships.
Risk Assessment and Contingency Plans: Identifies risks, strategies for risk mitigation and contingency plans for unforeseen circumstances.
Appendix: Includes supporting documents such as licenses, permits, leases, sample menus, market research data and resumes of key team members.

Business Structure and Registration

Establishing the appropriate business structure is an important next step to beginning a food truck. Selecting an ideal business structure, whether a sole proprietorship, partnership or limited liability company (LLC) , will significantly impact your personal liability, taxes and legal obligations.

You should research and may consult with an accountant or business attorney before making a choice. Once chosen, you must register with the appropriate government agencies. Adhering to all legal requirements and registering your business correctly allows you to legally operate your food truck.

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Most businesses need some form of license to operate, and that is no different for food trucks. Operating a food truck involves adhering to specific health, safety and operational regulations. Familiarize yourself with these requirements so you can navigate the licensing process efficiently.

Permits and Licenses Needed

Starting a food truck requires several permits and licenses. The specific permits required can vary depending on your location, so it’s essential to research the requirements of your city, county and state. Here are some common permits and licenses you may need:

Food service establishment permit: This permit verifies the food truck meets health and safety standards. It typically requires an inspection of the kitchen and equipment.
Mobile food vendor license: This license grants permission to operate a mobile food business within a specific jurisdiction. It may involve submitting an application, paying a fee and meeting specific requirements.
Business license: Depending on your local regulations, you’ll need a general business license or a specific license for mobile food vendors. This license allows you to operate a business in the designated area legally.
Parking permit: Some cities require a parking permit for food trucks to ensure that they are parked in designated areas and comply with parking regulations.
Fire safety permit: Depending on local fire codes, you may need a fire safety permit to operate a food truck. This may involve inspections of your cooking equipment, fire extinguishers and ventilation systems.
Seller’s permit: This allows you to collect and remit sales tax . This permit is typically obtained from your state’s taxing authority.
Vehicle permits and inspections: Ensure your food truck meets the requirements of your local transportation department, including vehicle permits, registrations and inspections.

Remember to check with your local government agencies, such as the health department, business licensing department and municipality, to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on the permits and licenses required for your specific location.

How To Obtain Permits and Licenses

Obtaining a business license or permit for your food truck involves following specific steps. While the exact process can vary depending on your location, here are some general guidelines to get started:

Research local requirements: Research the specific city, county and state requirements. Visit the official website of your local government or contact the local business licensing department to understand the necessary licenses and permits for operating a food truck. The state and county departments of health are other important resources that likely have requirements you must meet. You also may need a state and/or county sales tax license.
Complete the application: Obtain the appropriate application form for the desired license or permit. Fill out the application accurately and provide all required information, such as your business details, ownership structure and contact information.
Gather supporting documents: Determine the supporting documents needed to accompany your application. These may include proof of identification, vehicle registration, insurance coverage, food handler certifications and any other documentation specified by the licensing authority.
Pay the fees: Most licenses and permits have a fee. Be prepared to pay the applicable fees, which vary based on the license type and jurisdiction. Check the accepted payment methods, such as cash, check or online payment options.
Submit the application: Submit the completed application, along with the supporting documents and fees, to the designated licensing office or department. Ensure you meet submission deadlines and provide all necessary information to avoid processing delays.
Await review and approval: Once submitted, your application will undergo a review process by the licensing authority. This may involve inspections, background checks or additional documentation requests. The review process can take several weeks or longer depending on the jurisdiction.
Receive the license or permit: Upon approval, you will receive your business license or permit. It is important to display it prominently within your food truck as local regulations require.
Renewals and compliance: Keep track of the expiration date of your license or permit. Ensure timely renewals to avoid operating without a valid license. Also, stay informed about ongoing compliance requirements, such as regular inspections or reporting obligations.

Understanding the various costs involved is important for budgeting and securing adequate funding. By comprehending each expense, aspiring food truck entrepreneurs can make more informed decisions and secure sufficient funding for their mobile culinary adventure.

Budgeting and Cost Planning

While the specific expenses can vary depending on location and menu complexity, here is an overview of typical costs to consider when starting a food truck:

Vehicle cost
Equipment and appliances
Licenses and permits
Kitchen supplies and utensils
Initial inventory and ingredients
Marketing and branding expenses
Rental or leasing costs for commissary kitchens
Insurance coverage

Some additional expenses to consider are operational expenses such as repairs, fuel, maintenance, registration fees, utilities and staffing and payroll. You can establish a detailed budget by researching and consulting industry professionals or experienced food truck owners to help plan finances efficiently.

Procuring Your Truck

Purchasing a food truck is one of the most expensive parts. Start by outlining your specific criteria, such as size, layout and equipment needs. Check online marketplaces, classified ads and specialist food truck websites to search for food trucks available for sale. There are even options to rent food trucks . You should also consider attending industry events or auctions to procure one at an affordable price.

You can verify ownership by obtaining necessary documents such as title and registration papers. When you make your decision on a truck, consider any customization or upgrades desired when making an offer. And of course, remember to get insurance and register your vehicle with the local regulations.

What Equipment Do You Need?

Operating a food truck requires specific equipment that allows you to prepare, cook, store and serve food and drinks. While the exact requirements depend on your offerings, here are some essential items commonly needed on food trucks:

Cooking equipment: Grills, fryers, ranges, ovens, steamers and griddles
Food preparation surfaces: Worktables and cutting boards
Refrigeration and storage: Coolers, refrigerated prep tables and upright freezers
Ventilation and exhaust systems: Exhaust hoods and fans
Display and serving equipment: Hot holding cabinets, warming drawers, heat lamps, display cases and sneeze guards
Kitchenware and utensils: Pots, pans, knives, cutting boards, measuring utensils, mixing bowls and serving utensils
Handwashing and sanitation: Sinks with hot water, soap dispensers and paper towel dispensers
POS systems and cash handling: Point-of-sale (POS) system to streamline order taking, payment processing and inventory management

Be mindful of local health department regulations and guidelines when purchasing equipment. Requirements can differ depending on where you reside. When making these choices, ensure they comply with safety and sanitation regulations.

A prime spot ensures maximum exposure, serving as a marketing and brand recognition tool for success. Selecting an area that aligns with your target demographic increases the odds that customers interested in your cuisine or concept will show up, creating an engaged clientele and eventually building up loyal clients.

An easily accessible location benefits you and your customers, streamlining their experience and increasing customer satisfaction. Deliberately choosing a site compliant with permits and regulations ensures legal operation. Consider the following when looking for a parking spot:

Is your target audience nearby?
Are any competitors parked there?
What permits are required?
Is there good visibility and accessibility?
Does the area have any events or amenities (such as restrooms)?
How much does it cost to park?

Effective marketing relies on employing multiple strategies and tactics, which are outlined below:

Social media: Establish a solid social media presence on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can take advantage of them to share photos of delicious dishes, updates regarding the menu or location announcements.
Online presence: Positive online reviews play an integral part in building trust and credibility. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on popular platforms such as Yelp, Google or Tripadvisor after experiencing excellent service. Also, remember to leverage technology by offering online ordering options through websites or food delivery apps.
Email marketing: This marketing strategy provides regular communication channels between you and your target customer base by sending newsletters detailing promotions, new items or upcoming events.
Signage: As part of your food truck marketing efforts, invest in eye-catching signage to showcase your brand, logo and menu offerings..
Partnerships: Collaborations with local businesses, organizations or event organizers can expand your food truck’s exposure. Consider joining food truck events and festivals. You can also offer customer loyalty programs or incentives to foster repeat customers and generate word-of-mouth recommendations that could bring additional customers.

Consistency, creativity and adaptability are keys when creating and executing a marketing plan for food truck business owners. Evaluate the success of your tactics periodically while listening to customer feedback and keeping abreast of market trends to stay informed and drive success for your food truck venture.

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Starting up a food truck business can be both exhilarating and fulfilling for those interested in culinary entrepreneurship. However, it’s essential to approach this venture with careful planning, thorough research and sufficient funds. Combining your culinary expertise with a strategic business mindset allows you to navigate the challenges and reap the rewards of running a thriving food truck operation.

How profitable is a food truck?

The profitability of a food truck can typically vary between $25,000 to $150,000-plus per year depending on various factors such as location, menu pricing, operating costs and customer demand.

Can I park my food truck anywhere?

Parking depends on local regulations, zoning laws and specific restrictions in different areas. Research and understand the parking regulations and obtain necessary permits or licenses to ensure legal operation and avoid potential fines or penalties.

Do I need a permit for a food truck?

Yes, a permit is typically required to operate a food truck. The specific permits and licenses needed may vary depending on the jurisdiction, but they often include food service permits, health department inspections, fire safety certifications and vehicle permits.

How much is a food license?

The cost of a food license can vary between $50 to $500 depending on the location and the specific requirements of the jurisdiction.

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COMMENTS

How to start a food truck business: a 5-step guide
a summary of your business idea. how you're going to fund your business. a marketing plan. details of your menu and how much you'll charge customers. potential locations and events you'll attend. start-up costs and overheads (including equipment and initial stock) 2. Budget for initial start-up costs.
How To Write a Food Truck Business Plan (+ Template)
The US street vendor sector was valued at $2.49 billion in 2022, up from the previous year's total of $2.29 billion. The market is expected to grow another 1.7% in 2023.. For those with aspirations of culinary greatness, a food truck is the perfect setting to develop new recipes while building a fan base, or even an online business, without the expense and risk of opening a brick-and-mortar ...
How to start a food truck in the UK
Step 1: Experiment and perfect your recipes. As a business, your aim is to make money, and with food products, you have two options: make customer favourites that everyone loves and/or experiment with new recipes to invite customer attention. Food trucks are in the perfect position to blend these two methods as typically younger and city ...
Food Truck Business Plan Template & Sample (2024)
The breakout of the funding is below: Purchase of food truck - $20,000. Food truck kitchen supplies and equipment - $10,000. Opening inventory - $2,000. Working capital (to include 3 months of overhead expenses) - $3,000. Food Truck Marketing (website design and management) - $5,000.
How to Start a Food Truck in the UK
You can apply for food business registration on the GOV.UK website. A Street Trading Licence or Street Consent Licence: As previously mentioned, you will need a Street Trading Licence or Street Consent Licence if you plan on trading in a public area. You can contact your local council to start this application process.
Food Truck Business Model: A Step-by-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs
Step 2: Creating a food truck business plan. A food truck business plan is essential for food truck owners. It's a roadmap that outlines your goals, strategies, and the steps you'll take to achieve success. A well-written business plan will not only help you stay organised but will also make it easier to secure funding and attract investors.
How to write a food truck business plan that gets investment
Profit and loss statement. This compares the total revenue against your business's debt and expenses. The following are the three parts to be included in a profit and loss statement: Calculate the income from your food truck sales. Subtract the cost of goods sold from your income - this is your gross profit.
How to Open a Food Truck: Starting a Food Truck Business Steps
Step 8. Start selling and optimise your food truck sales strategy. Once you've tested out your food truck operations, it's time to test out your menu, locations, pricing, and anything else you can test. Try updating packaging, partnering with other local food trucks and businesses, and scoping out new events.
How to Start a Food Truck Business
Determine your costs and secure funding. For a food truck business, startup food truck costs include a truck, cooking equipment, and custom truck wrapping, among other things. Most new business owners seek funding by taking out a business loan and talking to investors. Obtain the licences and permits needed.
Free Food Truck Business Planning Templates
Simply fill out the form below to get your free copy of: A start-up costs template to keep track of your expenses. A profit and loss template for when you launch your street food truck. These templates will be shared as an editable Excel spreadsheet for you to input your figures. Both sheets have been created with a food truck business in mind ...
How to Start a Food Truck Business?
Food trucks are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, as people look for new and innovative ways to enjoy their food. For foodie entrepreneurs, food trucks are also a great way to start a business with minimal investment and overhead costs. With the right planning (and great food, of course!), there is some serious money to be made with a ...
How to Start a Food Truck Business in the UK
Register as a business with the local council. On the one hand, you can't start offering your meals to your food truck customers without registering with the government. On the other hand, this is free. The registration period is about four weeks and you can do so via the gov.uk website.
How To Start A Street Food or Food Truck Business
Register with your local authority - you must register your street food business, 28 days before you start trading, with the Environmental Health Department at the local authority closest to where your business will be based, or in the case of mobile vehicles, where it is kept. It's free to register with your local authority.
How to write a stellar business plan for a food truck
In this part, you'll reveal three key plans for your food truck business plan: Your pricing strategy - the prices you'll set. Your marketing strategy - the actions you'll take to attract customers and build customer loyalty. Your risk management strategy - how you'll minimise the risks related to your business.
How to Start a Profitable Food Truck Business in the UK
However, launching a successful food truck business in the UK takes careful planning and preparation. Follow this guide to learn the basics of starting a profitable food truck, from concept to launch and operations. With commitment and smart strategies, you can build a thriving business serving hungry crowds amazing meals on wheels.
Start A Food Truck Business
The start-up costs of a business. The start-up costs to become a street food entrepreneur hinge on your finances and ability to borrow. Nevertheless, for a basic setup, which serves a simple style of food, you will be looking at a range starting at £4000 to £5000; this will include the pitch fees.
How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan
The first section of your food truck business plan is an executive summary - a concise introduction to and summary of your food truck concept. The executive summary introduces key elements of your business plan, such as an overview of the budget, the business's mission and core values, and a coherent vision for your product and brand.
29 Proven Food Truck Business Plans (PDF, Word)
This section is optional for any food truck business plan but it can be the best place to add information that cannot fit elsewhere. These may include product photos, letter of reference, building permits, and more. Food Truck Business Plan Templates. food truck business plan 21 (3.50 MB)
FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS PLAN: Best Easy Guide in 2023
#1. Executive Summary. The executive summary of your food truck business plan should contain a clear and concise introduction of your food truck concept. It should cover basic things like your budget overview, brand overview, brand mission, and core values, among others. This section of your business plan should also be written in an attention-driving manner.
How to start a food truck business
As with all UK food businesses, you must comply with several regulations to run a food truck legally. To begin with, you'll need to submit a food business registration at least 28 days before you start trading. Because a food truck isn't a permanent location but a vehicle, you will need several licences, including a valid driving licence ...
PDF DONNY'S FOOD TRUCK
toEXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe purpose of this business plan is to secure $50,000 in order to fund the purchase, marketing, and staffing requirements for Donny's Food Truck restaura. t in Small Town, CT. Donny's Food Truck was founded by chef Donny O'Neal, and sous chef Mig. el Sanchez, in 2020. The funds invested will help launch the business ...
How To Start A Food Truck In 2024
First Steps To Take. As with any business, starting a food truck requires setting up a solid foundation. This is accomplished by conceptualizing your menu, crafting a thorough business plan and ...
How to Profit in The Food Truck & Street Food Sector
Now you can! Food Trucks is another great platform for securing street food trading pitches throughout the UK. In fact, just recently I caught up with a Trailblazer BBQ trader who made £600 profit over a two hour period through a trading post he secured through Food Trucks. So definitely a route worth researching!

How To Write a Food Truck Business Plan (+ Template)

How to write a successful food truck business plan, step by step

1. Set aside a page for your executive summary

2. Write an overview of your company

3. Conduct a market analysis

Restrictions

Local conditions

Competition

4. Lay out your products and/or services

Alternate revenue

5. Create customer personas

6. Put together a marketing plan

Branding and communications

Online ordering

7. Create a logistics and operations plan

Supply chain

Production capacity

8. Write out your financial plan

Profit margin

Additional costs

Turn your business idea into a savory reality

Food truck business plan FAQ

How much does a food truck cost?

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Food Truck Business Plan Template

Food Truck Business Plan

Food Truck Business Plan Example & Template

Executive Summary

Products Served

Customer Focus

Management Team

Success Factors

Financial Highlights

Company Overview

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Customer Analysis

Customer Segmentation

Competitive Analysis

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Operations Plan

Operation Functions:

Milestones:

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Financial Plan

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key Assumptions

Financial Projections

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

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