Thinking about starting a food truck business? In the early stages of getting your truck up and running? These tips for starting a food truck business could mean the difference between failing and succeeding!
Equipment is Key
Starting a food truck business requires careful planning and research, and one of the best ways to set yourself up for failure is by choosing lackluster equipment. Not only do you want to make sure that your truck won’t spend all its valuable time in a repair shop, but you also want to make sure you have enough space, the right layout, and whatever equipment you need for your food truck menu to thrive, including a high-quality generator.
Know the Market
One of the most important tips for starting a food truck business is to do research on food trucks in your state. Not only should you be looking for business incentives, permit regulations, possible locations, and demographics, but you should also have some idea of your food truck and restaurant competition. Learn from the people who are already out on the front lines and try to line up regular vending opportunities and events rather than hitting the streets blind every day.
Perfect the Menu
Wondering how to build a successful food truck business? You’ll need a well-developed menu. While your food truck menu should only include delicious items, you’ll also need to take into account food costs, prep time, demand, and pricing. In general, it’s best to keep your menu simple, especially at the start, as this can prevent all sorts of preparation, inventory, and storage problems. These menu engineering tips can help you with some of the details!
Marketing Matters
Marketing is an important part of how to run a successful food truck. In addition to following classic restaurant marketing trends like utilizing social media and responding to reviews, you should also keep in mind food-truck-specific marketing ideas like vending at local events and training your staff in sales. Remember, while marketing results can be less tangible than other money matters, marketing is going to be key to giving your food truck business momentum, especially before you’ve developed strong word-of-mouth recommendations.
Whether you’re looking for high-quality, low-cost wholesale food products or menu development and marketing services, our dedicated staff has nearly a century of experience helping restaurants and food trucks throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California. Contact us today to find out how we can help you build a successful food truck business.