5 Steps You Should Take Before Starting A Food Truck Business
Are you thinking about starting your own food truck company? Here are 5 Steps To Take Before Starting A Food Truck Business that you should consider.
1.Create Your Menu
Food trucks are becoming more and more popular, so if you want to be successful you'll need a menu that stands out from the competition.
That doesn’t mean you have to reinvent the wheel, but offering your own spin on common menu items will give you an edge.
- Keep it simple. Offer 5 - 12 items on your menu at any given time.
- Have a “Special”. Offer a popular menu item at a special price.
- Get creative with menu item names. The Big Mac didn’t get it’s fame by being called “Cheeseburger with special sauce”.
2. Get Active On Social Media
Consumers are changing the way they spend their money, choosing to work with brands that offer a more personal approach. In the food truck industry, this is especially true. Build connections with your customers from the start and you will see your business take off quickly.
When you're just starting, it's the perfect time to start laying the groundwork for strong customer relationships. Social media makes this easy.
- Create YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels. Share recipes, post updates on your food truck journey, give cooking tips - anything to build hype about your brand.
- Add A Facebook Page. Create a stellar Facebook page for your food truck business to share launch date and location, post about you and your company. You can also use your page for free market research. Get opinions and take polls on menu ideas and branding, so you can put your best foot forward on opening day.
- Share Menu Items On Instagram. Show off your menu items by taking photos of your dishes and sharing them on Instagram. Get followers’ mouths watering and excited about your upcoming business.
Those are just a few ways that you can build connections with your customers through social media.
However, don’t forget to network offline too!
Developing these genuine human connections will set you apart from other food truck vendors.
3. Get Proper Licenses and Permits
Just like any other business, operating as a food truck vendor requires certain permits and licenses. This will vary based on the city, state, or county you live in since they all have different sets of rules.
Here are examples of the licensing and permitting needed in the state of Ohio. Your state’s requirements may be different, but this will give you a general idea of what’s expected of you as a new food truck business owner.
Mobile Food Facility Permit
To ensure that your food truck complies with local food safety standards, you’ll need a mobile food facility permit. This is pretty standard no matter where your business is located.
Public Health Permit/License
In Ohio, depending on your county, you’ll need a Public Health Permit/License. This ensures that your food truck meets the Ohio Health & Safety Code.
To obtain this permit your vehicle must pass an inspection by the public health department. You’ll risk being shut down if you don’t have this, so be sure to check your local rules for food truck vendors.
Business License
In most states, businesses are required to have a Business License. This is also known as a Business Tax Certificate, which will keep you compliant come tax time.
Check with you state to learn the requirements for obtaining a business license.
Vendor's License
A vendor's license is required for any business that plans to sell tangible goods that are subject to sales tax. This permit allows your business to charge sales tax to customers for certain items. Again, this varies state to state, so do your research.
Food Handler’s License
Also known as an Employee Health Permit, the Food Handler’s License allows food trucks to safely sell and serve food onsite. To obtain this license in Ohio, a food preparation and safety test is required. All new employees you hire should have this license within 30 days of employment.
Check with your area to find out if this is required and how it can be obtained.
4. Create A Business Plan
Creating a business plan is an important step before starting a food truck business. Not only will a business plan put everything into perspective, it will keep you on track when things get hectic as your business gets off the ground. So, take your idea and vision and put it down on paper.
Creating a good business plan also gives your food truck business a much higher chance for success, both short and long term.
Your business plan should include:
- Your food truck business concept and advantages over the competition - Include your menu items, how you will source ingredients, ways that you will differentiate your brand from others.
- Overview of your target market and customer demographics - Who are your potential customers? Get clear on your target customer and your marketing will be much more effective.
- Funding requirements and financial objectives for the first, fifth, and tenth years - Define your goals and steps you will take to achieve them.
Those are just a few examples of the type of information to include in your business plan. For more information on creating a business plan for your new food truck business, check out “Write Your Business Plan” from the SBA (small business association).
5. Choose The Right Food Truck or Trailer
Starting a food truck business also requires the obvious - an actual truck or trailer to prepare and serve your food from.
This is the largest and most important investment you'll make for your new business and it's not the area to try and cut corners. You want to purchase a food truck/trailer that is ready for the road, and more importantly, built to last.
New quality-built food trucks and trailers can range anywhere from $45,000 - $150,000+, depending on your needs and specifications.
When you’re investing that type of money, make sure you’re getting a vehicle that serves the needs of your business and meets all regulations and requirements to do business in your area.
If you want to purchase a food truck/trailer that is optimized for the success of your business, work with an established professional like Premier Custom Concepts, Inc. By doing so, you’ll get a vehicle that is customized for your business, that maximizes efficiency and meets all of your local code requirements.
Premier Custom Concepts, Inc. will help you choose the right food truck or trailer for your business and your budget. Financing options are also available, and they make it so easy to get started.
As you can see, there’s a lot of work that goes into starting a new food truck business. By following the steps in this article, you’re well on your way to setting yourself up for success.
Did you want more content about starting and growing a successful food truck business? Join our email list to get new articles dropped right into your inbox!
