A food truck is a large motorized vehicle or trailer, equipped to cook, prepare, serve, and/or sell foods. Some, like ice cream trucks, sell frozen or prepackaged foods; others have on-board kitchens and prepare food from scratch, or heat up food that was prepared in a brick and mortar commercial kitchen.

The Menu

A menu is the heart of a food truck, which is why it’s so important to carefully consider the concept you’ll be serving. Some trucks specialize in a particular type of cuisine, while others offer fusion dishes that combine two or more international flavors for an entirely new dish.

Marketing

The best way to get a foothold in the food truck business is through effective marketing. This includes using the channels your target customers are most likely to use – social media and mobile.

Licenses & Permits

In order to start a food truck, you’ll need to obtain several licenses and permits in your home state. You can find information on these requirements online or by contacting your local city hall.

Insurance

Because they’re mobile, food trucks require more insurance than brick-and-mortar restaurants – it’s crucial to protect yourself from the high costs of accidents and injuries in this type of environment. A good insurance policy will include coverage for liability, medical payments, theft, and equipment damage.

When starting a food truck business, you’ll want to set clear goals and stick to them. For instance, most food truck owners aim to pay off the majority of their startup costs (licensing fees, insurance, supplies, and food) within the first year – although this will depend on your anticipated margins.