A Guide to Starting a Food Truck Business

Food lovers with an entrepreneurial itch may not be able to afford starting a brick-and-mortar restaurant, but they may be able to start a food truck business.

A food truck is a large vehicle with a kitchen to make and serve food. They are popping up across the United States and are becoming increasingly popular. Many entrepreneurs opt for a food truck because purchasing a restaurant location is very expensive, while food trucks are much more affordable.

Before you forge ahead, here's what you need to know about the startup costs, funding options, how to find a food truck and more. Related Content: 10 Things to Do Before Opening a Food Truck.

Food truck startup costs

Many factors go into determining startup costs for a food truck business. There are also one-time costs and costs that can vary by location.

One-time startup costs consist of expenses like purchasing your food truck, a register or point-of-sale (POS) system, a truck wrap, website design, office supplies, advertising and PR, and any professional, legal, or consulting fees. While this list is not comprehensive, it gives potential food truck owners an idea of some of the upfront expenses.

"While we purchased the food truck itself for just $15,000, we didn't realize that we'd spent more than double that to have it modified to fit the local fire and health regulations, which vary quite significantly depending on the municipality," said Rachel Angulo, owner of La Cocinita food truck.

Then there are the recurring costs such as payroll, equipment rental, credit card processing and, of course, fuel. Every new food truck business also has to obtain the proper licenses and permits, which vary depending on location.

While the cost of starting a food truck business varies greatly depending on your specific situation, costs can range from $28,000 to $114,000 to get the business off the ground..

According to Food Truck Empire, these are some additional startup costs you can expect when launching a food truck business, including:

Insurance: $2,000 to $4,000 per year
Initial product inventory: $1,000 to $2,000
Payment processing: $200 to $1,000
Commissary fees: $400 to $1,200
Permits and licenses: $100 to $500

Key takeaway: While the cost of starting a food truck business varies greatly, costs can range from $28,000 to $114,000 to get the business off the ground.

Food truck funding options

Acquiring funding may be the biggest challenge you'll face when starting a food truck business.

Your first goal should be to put together a solid business plan. You should also have good personal and business credit, as this will increase your chances of receiving a business loan.

There are other, more creative ways, too, to get funding for your new food truck business.

Here are some ways to start your business with minimal funding:

Talk with someone who already owns a food truck and negotiate a lease or rental agreement.
Start with a low-cost, used cart or trailer.
Start selling at a farmer's market, fair booth or pop-up.
Talk to successful restaurant owners about running a food truck for the owner's business.
If your truck idea includes providing a public service or benefit to the community, look to obtain sponsors.
You may qualify for a loan advance if you already have a payment processor.

Create a food truck business plan

Every food truck owner should create and maintain a business plan. In fact, it should be the first concrete step you take when you decide you want to start a food truck business. This document is important to attract investors, gain funding and get your business up and running.

According to WebstaurantStore, your business plan should include the following elements:

An executive summary. An executive summary is an introduction to your business; it should provide an overview of your business plan. The executive summary should be concise, as the nitty-gritty details will be discussed in other sections of the plan.

Company description. This section should describe who you are and what defines you as a company. Describe what niche you are filling and why your customers will choose you over the competition.

Market analysis. In this section, you explain who your target customers are, what their needs are, where they are located and how you will attract them to your business. Additionally, this section should explain how your business will impact the existing market, and it should demonstrate your knowledge of the existing local food market.

Organization and management. Next, you want to detail how your business is organized as a legal business entity (e.g., sole proprietor, LLC, partnership). List the owners of the company and their percentage of ownership. You also want to list key players, such as your management team, as well as their experience, salary and prior employment.

Service or product line. For a food truck business, your primary product is the food you serve. In this section, describe your menu and how you plan to attract new customers. Additionally, consider how your business will evolve and address new market needs.

Marketing and sales. In this section, you want to expound on your marketing strategies. Explain how you plan to spread the word about your business, identify all marketing platforms (such as social media, a website, paid advertisements, etc.) you plan to use, and how you will gain an edge over your competition. This section must also include your sales strategy, such as menu prices, minimum sales requirements to stay in business and seasonal trends that may affect sales.

Funding request. This section is required for food truck entrepreneurs seeking investment funds or other types of outside funding. Specify how much money you are asking for and describe, in fine detail, how every dollar will be spent to grow the business.

Financial projections. While it can be difficult detailing financial projections, especially for new businesses without a financial history, calculate how much money your business will make over the next three to five years.

Appendix. Not every business plan requires an appendix, but it is a good place to include additional information that you feel is important to convey to lenders or investors. This can include anything from letters of reference to produce photos.

How to find food trucks for sale

Angulo found her truck on Craigslist back in 2011, and while that is still a great place to search, there are many new resources out there, including:

Local online classifieds: This is a good option; used trucks are cheaper, and if they are local, you can easily inspect them.

National online classifieds: This will open a lot more inventory, but get as many details and pertinent information about the truck from the seller as possible since you most likely won't see it in person before pickup.

New custom trucks: While this is the most expensive option, it is the best way to ensure that your truck is up to code and standards and that it can be customized to your specifications.

Leasing and franchising: You may be able to find a local truck to lease, or from a national truck leasing company. Yet another option is to franchise a truck from an established company. However, among the drawbacks to consider are that you do not have control over the product, marketing or menu.

Here are some places to hunt for your perfect food truck:

Mobile POS options

Most food truck customers are used to paying with cash, but credit cards and mobile payments are popular. [Read related story: Best POS Systems]

Editor's note: Looking for a POS system for your business? Fill out the below questionnaire to have our vendor partners contact you about your needs.

"We've always used Square and have been very happy with both their credit card processing and their POS service," said Angulo.

Below are a few options for processing sales, listed from the lowest-priced option to the most advanced.

Cash box and cash-only sales

Advantages: Low-priced. You can purchase a lockable box for under $20

Disadvantages: Doesn't track sales or food inventory. You cannot process card payments

Ongoing costs: None

Cash box + mobile card processor

Advantages: Low-priced. Mobile processors can simply charge swipe fees, but you'll need Wi-Fi access and/or a good data plan to connect to the processing service

Disadvantages: Most mobile processors include a simple inventory system and limited additional features

Ongoing costs: Credit and debit card processing fees and mobile data fees

Cash box + POS system + mobile processing

Advantages: Mobile credit and debit card processing, plus sales and inventory tracking

Disadvantages: An additional monthly service fee and hardware costs

Ongoing costs: Monthly POS service fee, card processing, mobile data service and possible hardware fees

Related Content: Guide on How to Accept Credit Cards

The advantages of a food truck business

Business ownership: Numerous tax advantages come with business ownership, and while it is difficult to own and run a business, at least there is a little bit of relief on the tax front.

Freedom: Choosing menu items, the vendors you want to purchase from, your employees and the events at which you want to vend are just some of the freedoms you enjoy as a food truck business owner. You also have full control of your social media, marketing and schedule.

Mobility: Being able to bring your business to different locations based on demand during different periods of the day, days of the week, etc., is a huge advantage, said Angulo.

The challenges of a food truck business

Time: Long hours are the norm with a food truck business. With shopping, prep, marketing, event booking, cleaning, truck maintenance, accounting and tax obligations, etc., running such a business is more than a full-time job.

Competition and market: Carefully research your market to increase the chance of success – you will most certainly have competition with other food trucks.

Ordinances and zoning: Every area is different in terms of where you can park your food truck and how long you can park there. Make sure you know the rules in each location where you plan on operating to prevent tickets and fines.

Food truck permits and regulations

It is important to research the different areas you are considering for your business location, and consider the necessary permits and regulations there.

Here are a few main things to look out for:

Food safety: You'll need to comply with local food safety requirements, just like any other restaurant in the area. Contact the local health department to find out more information, such as if you need to prepare all your food in a professional kitchen or if you can use your own facilities. [Related Article: Small Business Guide to POS: Point of Sale Systems and Software]
Seller's permit: Some states require food truck owners to apply for a seller's permit, which allows you to purchase food and equipment at wholesale prices without incurring sales tax.
Zoning and parking: There may be restrictions on where you can park your truck; make sure you research that before setting up shop. There could be commercial versus noncommercial zoning restrictions, parking time limits or distance restrictions from other establishments. Your city and local motor vehicle department can help you.
Vehicle license: Because your business operates from a vehicle, every driver must be properly licensed and trained to operate the vehicle. Depending on your state and the size of your vehicle, you may have to obtain a commercial driver's license to legally operate the food truck.
Fire certificates: If you're using equipment on the truck to cook food, you will likely need to undergo a fire department inspection. The requirements for a fire certificate vary state by state.
Employee Identification Number (EIN): If you plan on hiring employees, you will need to apply for an employer identification number, which is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS to identify a business entity. An EIN also enables you to open a business bank account and start establishing a business credit history.
Business permits and licenses: As with any business, you'll need certain licenses to operate your food truck, including a DBA and a state sales tax permit, which is low-priced and easy to obtain. To form your business, check your home state's requirements. For an easy option, try an online service like Legal Zoom. To help you decide which legal structure is best for your business, read our guide on How to Choose the Best Legal Structure for Your Business.

Additional resources

Learn more about starting a food truck business on the following websites:

Additional reporting by Jennifer Post, Pamela Stevens and Saige Driver.

How to Start a Food Truck Business

The food truck business can be rewarding. If you've ever thought about making good meals on the go, this guide on launching a food truck business is for you.