Many components contribute to creating a successful and profitable food truck business. Maybe you are stuck with menu creation and have not considered streamlining the menu to use the same ingredients for several dishes. For example, you can buy beef jerky wholesale and offer this as a side item to compliment your cornbread or to mix through various menu items. From setup, menu crafting, and marketing. This article will provide a rundown of the most important aspects of setting up a food truck business.
Get the Setup and Equipment
To get a food truck established, you will have to decide on your setup, this will largely be determined by budget, business experience, the time you are willing to commit, and the staffing options you have available.
Once you know your budget, you can decide whether you will run a food truck, trailer, van, or marquee. Next, you have to look into equipment such as ovens, grills, deep fryers, coffee machines, etc. The type of equipment you purchase will vary based on what you plan to sell. Your choice of vehicle and its size will also dictate what you will be able to incorporate.
Keep It Safe and Legal
Next, you must ensure that your vehicle is properly licenced. Certain states require a commercial license to operate a food truck. A business licence will be required, these licences are regularly subject to change. Join your local restaurant and food truck association to stay updated on changes to laws which may impact your business. You may need to apply for a seller’s permit to purchase food and other goods at wholesale prices.
When hiring employees you need to ensure that they are qualified in food safety and have a food handlers permit. Any business with employees requires an Employer Identification Number (EIN), this is used by the IRS to identify your business and collect the appropriate taxes from you, and your employees.
As with any brick-and-mortar restaurant, the Health Department will want to inspect your vehicle and food preparation areas to ensure that your food is being made and maintained in a safe manner.
Successful Menu Crafting
Creating a food truck menu is the most important part of beginning a food truck business. Consider the food truck competition in your area and fill a niche market, by choosing a cuisine type that is unique to your area. If there are already two burger food trucks on the block, don’t be another burger truck.
When crafting your menu, remember that you will be working from a much smaller kitchen than a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Offer a small number of items, but do them well. You want to be known for that one or two signature items that people rave about and can’t get anywhere else. A good rule of thumb is to have 5 – 12 maximum different menu items. Have 1 – 3 standout items and have smaller, low prep items on offer which complement your main menu items.
Menu items need to be easy to prepare and not have a long preparation time. Most of your diners won’t have the leisure of sitting at a table and having a glass of wine or beer.
Marketing Strategies
Now you’ve got to stand out from the crowd and the other food trucks nearby. By employing various psychological marketing strategies, you can make sure customers come to your truck over the truck next to you.
Firstly, avoid putting dollar signs on menu boards stick to just the numbers. The idea behind this is that you want your diners to focus on the description of menu items. Be verbose when listing menu items, longer wordy descriptions sell more food. If diners are thinking more about food and less about money, they will buy more.
Choose prices that end in .95 instead of .99. Psychologically, this seems much less than $11. Similarly, don’t line up prices in a column structure, this forces diners to compare prices, and they are more likely to focus on price and choose a less expensive item. If you can, try and keep all your menu items at a similar price. Lastly, a customer’s eyes initially focus on the top right-hand corner of a menu, this is the place to put your signature dish.
Now you can stop dreaming and start creating that perfect food truck menu and marketing strategy. Remember to stick to your budget and keep your truck food safe. If you stick to this article’s tips you will be turning a profit in no time.