Best friend has decided...

[BeachLove]

that she wants to open a food truck business! How neat is that, I'm so excited for her. I'm guessing she got the idea from a show on food network? She has been underemployed for a while now and she's taking a huge risk to get this off the ground(financially). She had been downsized, took a retail job and had been so unhappy. She's the one who told me about the dog walking job I just joined to spend more time outdoors. I'm taking over her shifts or part of her shifts for a while. We've already found her a business class to take. Honestly, I don't know what to tell her. Personally, I'd be scared of such a big upfront investment.

She wants to know what to offer that she could actually make money on! I told her salads & sandwiches and that was all my advice on that. I did say keep money for living expenses no matter what, and consider renting out her extra bedroom for more money. Guess I'm just excited that she is trying to get out of a downward spiral. She did ask me to help with marketing material, I'll enjoy that.

So, disboarders- What do you recommend that is quick, popular, inexpensive and easy to prepare ? She'd like to know! I already told her I'd ask on here since ya'll seem to have plenty of food ideas for low cost. This is for a business plan.

 

[FozzieFan]

I would tell her to do A LOT of research first. Many areas do not allow or encourage food trucks so I would look into laws in your area first. Then in terms of food she should think about what she likes to eat/make and then find a way to make it fun and portable so it works for a truck. I've seen everything from lobster, to Thai, to hot dogs to cupcakes and pies.

 

[RitaE]

It is an exciting idea but one she is going to have to carefully research.

Many areas have very stringent codes and regulations about food trucks. Some only issue an limited number of licenses, some prohibit cooking or preparing food on the vehicle -- it has to be done in a inspected and licensed kitchen and then sold from the truck pre-packaged. Some regulate as to where and what times the truck can park and conduct business.

If she is still at the point of deciding what she wants to sell, it sounds like she still has a lot of groundwork in store to make it a reality.

 

[2minnies]

Along with the great suggestions above I will add using the resources at www.score.org.

 

[disykat]

I would recommend keeping other employment and starting with evenings and weekends. In our area, even venues that have basic concessions (like football games) welcome an espresso truck. When we do marching band events, we call them to make sure they're coming because we only offer regular coffee in our concessions. I believe they pay us a small fee to be at our events. There are two or three different espresso trucks in our area and I see them regularly around the community.

Once she has a feel for the business, it would be easier to expand into other products.

 

[wiigirl]

Also I would recommend she get in the "culture" or "club". In Kansas City anyway its a real tight group and understood rules.

 

[lovesmurfs]

It may sound "boring," but she really needs a business plan. What her competition would be, what the requirements for licensing are, how she will market her business, break-even analysis, etc. It's pretty detailed and will give her a better idea as to where her idea might take her, and how long it will take. Any financial institution will require the information before any loans will be approved. SCORE can really help.

 

[tlenzendorf]

We have quite a few food trucks around here. The busiest one is my favorite, it's a wrap truck. Wrap as in sandwich wraps. They have 4 regular wraps that can also be made into salads and the n ther is one special wrap that changes.

They also sell bagged chips, pieces of fruit, cookies, water bottles and canned soda.

 

[robsmom]

Since she does not seem set on a theme or menu, I think she needs to decide where she is going to have the truck first. Others have talked about laws/rules etc. Once she knows where she will locate, she should check out the competition in the area. What other trucks are there and what do they offer? What fast food, sub shops, pizza places etc. are in the general area? What does she see missing that might appeal to people? Would she consider breakfast? When I worked in Philadelphia there were many food trucks. I think the lines were longer at breakfast than lunch. People don't want to go sit down and eat breakfast before work. Egg sandwiches, bagels and cream cheese, fruit cups, coffee, etc all sold well in the morning. The other thing that seemed key to me was flavor and quality It may sound obvious, but there were good trucks with lines and bad trucks that you went to only if you were really in a hurry. We shopped more on taste than we did price. There was great Greek truck that always had the longest lines.

 

[bumbershoot]

She has been underemployed for a while now and she's taking a huge risk to get this off the ground(financially).

As the former owner of a failed business, this just breaks my heart. She's not only going to have her business close, but she's going to owe a LOT of money. She knows that most small businesses close inside of 5 years, right? That those that stay open are the complete and total EXCEPTION, not the rule in any way, shape, or form?


If you watch Restaurant Impossible, you know that people have to know the money side of their food business inside and out. Robert Irvine cringes when the owner/manager can't tell him EXACTLY how much a meal costs them, or as he asked on a recent show "how much money does it cost to open the restaurant each day?" She needs to know that, how to do the money part, how to jump through hoops of health department, licensing, etc. How to be an employer. How to be a customer service person. And a cook.

All of that takes time, or money to hire someone who knows those things. Doesn't sound like she is giving herself either one of those.

And while trying to get the business off the ground, while she's not making money for ages, how will she pay for her own life? Rent, food, insurance, etc? That money has to come from somewhere.


I am an extreme "debbie downer" when it comes to this, but that's because I have done it and failed, and have seen many other local small businesses fail, and it's just heartbreaking. To have financial burdens on top of that is awful.

 

[Jill in Chicago]

I would suggest that she work in a food truck for a year first. Then she will get a feel for the business, and a free education about the business. She will see first hand, without using her own money, what works and what doesn't.

In Chicago you cannot cook food in your truck. Nope. You have to cook it at an approved off site facility, and then you can transport it in your truck. Just read this in a newspaper a couple of weeks ago, so some towns are not food truck friendly.

By working in a food truck she could also find out if this is what she really wants to do.

I also agree with the suggestion that first she figure out where she will set up the truck, check out all regulations, and then see which food is "missing," and then be sure that her truck fills that gap. It might be Greek food or home style cooking or who knows.

She also needs to taste test food trucks in the area. Find out what the competition is selling. Talk to people. See what is popular and why.

 

[aprincessatlast]

Well if you learn anything from watching the "food race" shows. She should go with a ethnic menu! Those are always the one that seem to do well. (at least in the show and around our city) Personally I think there is a reason for that.

If she was going to do a "roach coach" type truck and go to factories and such than a generic menu (sandwiches, pizza, etc) would probably work, but can not see that side being very successful.

I say pick an ethnic menu and keep it simple. For example learn to make authentic mexican street tacos. They are cheap and easy. Stand out and make fresh homemade tortillas. Buy a small colmad, it is an investment but one that would pay off as there is a big difference and most people can taste it! Making the meat at home ahead of time would be easy. Carnitas, barbacoa, etc. and then she could make the tacos with fresh warm tortillas when ordered.

 

[momz]

maybe start on a smaller scale. Not sure what she is wanting to prepare. But, consider getting into a farmer's market type thing. She could prepare salsas, or sauces (refrigerated), or preserved jams/jellies/relishes. Or, if she is interested in baking, there are many baked goods that sell really well at farmer's markets.

I expect there are specifics regarding what types of prepared foods can be sold in your area. some places allow these items that were prepared in a home kitchen as long as they are labled as such. Other locations require they be prepared in an approved commercial kitchen (which can be rented by the hour).

Anyway, this would require considerably less initial investment in time, money, licenses and permits. All while making some $$$$ while she works on her business plan.

 

[happygirl]

I just saw a food show where Bobby Flay helped a couple of ladies set up a food truck. The cost to get it up and going were insane, 70,000 just for the truck alone. Those girls did gourmet grilled cheese

I wish your friends lots and lots of work just tell her to do her homework really really well before she gets in to deep

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Unless she has lots of experience in the food service industry, an excellent business plan, a good attorney, and money to burn, this is a horrible idea and she is bound to fail. Quite frankly, your friend sounds clueless as to what an enormous risk this will be. I completely agree with Bumbershoot.

 

[mrsksmithvt]

Does She already have a Food Truck? I find it hard to plan a menu in a truck when you do not know what equipment is on the Truck. Do you have a flat top? A deep fat fryer? How many Burners on the stove? Ovens? Counter space? Refrigeration or coolers with ice?

Or do you start with a hot dog cart? Weekly farmers markets or outdoor events. Whatever you choose it takes a lot of time, money, and work.

Look at Craigslist and Ebay for Food Carts, Trucks, and restaurant equipment you can get a good idea of what is out there and how much used equipment is going for.

Good Luck!

 

[kwelch10377]

I am all about people taking a chance to do something they love, but this doesn't really sound like a good idea unless she has a cooking/baking background or passion. Food trucks are somewhat "in" right now, but the ones that do well have a food niche, they aren't serving your basic sandwiches and salads, they are serving ethnic foods or a gourmet twist on a basic food. One of the food trucks from the Food Network show usually parks not too far from where I live. They are always busy because they do gourmet grill cheese sandwiches and not your basic sandwich. We also have several cupcake trucks around here that do well, but again it isn't your basic lunch truck.

 

[Colleen27]

I think it is far more difficult to succeed in a business when you don't start with a clear idea/vision of your product. It sounds like she wants to get in on something that is very popular right now but doesn't have the focus that would help her find a successful niche in a competitive market.

Around here, the successful and popular food trucks are those run by people who had a passion for/expertise in a specific type of food and decided a truck rather than a restaurant was the ideal venue to market it. And they have a specific "gimmick", whether an ethnic focus or something quirky (one has gourmet varieties of mac & cheese, another sources everything locally) - generic "salads and sandwiches" is an area where there's just too much established competition for a newcomer to stand out without something to draw people in unless she can somehow find a really stellar location where there's unmet demand.

 

[RoxyJ]

I recently started my own business, and it's a long, difficult road. It has taken me over a year before I started making money, and I still don't make enough. If it wasn't for my savings, I would have been in a huge bind. Unfortunately, I think that the worst time to start a business is when you need money. You have to have money to support your business before it can support you. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it will be a much harder and stressful road to follow.

The best advice I have is to look into classes on running a business. You may have government funded community programs that offer financial help and training to help you develop a Business Plan, Marketing Plan, Training in Bookeeping, and low interest loans.

On a lighter note: I always dreamed of starting a mini-donut truck. She could offer different flavors (i.e. drizzle caramel, or chocolate on top, add nuts, whipped cream, ice cream etc...) Also offer coffee, hot chocolate, milk.

In any case, wish her good luck.

 

[SandrA9810]

It really depends on the market and the people she's looking to sell too. Here in California, it's food truck haven. There's some streets with 7 trucks all lined up together. Go to the flea market, and there's at least 50 trucks. 99% of them mexican taco trucks. There's a few chinese, two that make churos, and occasionally one that tries for a more "american" style. It's a weekly round, Friday thru Tuesday at the major flea markets, and then some of them set up shop in the middle of the week on the streets.

The more popular cheaper options, is people that sell tamales in the parking lots of grocery stores. I have a few favorites around town that I go to. I think this is where most people get their start. They already have a customer base.

I've been selling pies to classmates/friends at school. They really love them, but I couldn't picture doing it for a job to make a real income on. It's too much work for such little profit, but I enjoy doing it occasionally.