It’s important to calculate these permit costs if you are planning to start a food truck business. To help, we’ve put together a useful list of the safety permits your food truck business will need and how to get them.

Mobile Food Facility Permit

Mobile food facility permits ensure that food trucks have a safe and adequate prep space. This permit certifies that the truck itself is up to the food safety standards of California. The requirements and costs vary by county and the details of your operation. Expect the price to range somewhere between $100 and $1,000.

Public Health Permit

In many counties in California, you will also need a Public Health Permit, which relates to all businesses that serve food or drink. You will need to apply, pass inspection, and pay for the permit or license before you can begin doing business. The cost of a Public Health Permit also depends on your location and operation details. Typically, it ranges from about $100 to $1,000.

Food Seller’s Permit

All vendors who sell food in California also need a Food Seller’s Permit. You can register for this online. This permit will allow you to charge state sales tax on your food truck business sales. The official cost is free, but you may be asked to pay a security deposit.

Food Safety Certification

At least one person on each food truck team will need a Food Safety Certification. This requires a special exam that addresses the legal requirements for safe food handling, preparation, cooking, storage, and serving. Depending on your region, this may include the requirement to use a food truck commissary to meet food prep standards. The food safety class and exam cost about $150.

Employee Food Handler’s License

Each one of your food truck employees will need to maintain and carry their food handler’s license. These can be obtained by anyone who takes a class and passes the food safety standards exam, but it is less intensive than a food safety certification. Food handler’s licenses cost about $15 per employee in most counties, though the class may cost between $15 and $75 per seat.

Starting Your Food Truck Business in California

Food trucks are extremely popular in California, loved by locals and tourists alike. However, maintaining food safety requires layers of permits that can add to your startup costs. Legion Food Trucks has the insight and resources you need to get past the initial hurdles and begin selling your hand-picked food truck cuisine. Contact us for more information on how we can help you in acquiring the necessary permits to run your food truck business.

The post Navigating Food Safety Regulations for Food Trucks appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

What Is the Food Truck Success Rate? 

Restaurants have a notoriously low success rate, and many close after just a few years. Food trucks are considered a safer option than restaurants, especially with lower start-up costs, increased flexibility, and reduced operating costs.

Of course, there are still some challenges associated with opening a food truck. Your profit margin may vary significantly, even though food truck businesses are often considered high-profit. In fact, you may not actually see a profit for several years after starting your business. While there is little data to support an official success rate associate with food trucks, it’s important to keep in mind that there are things you can do to improve the success of your business:

Have a Clear Business Plan

The first thing you can do to improve your food truck success rate is to establish a strong business plan. Your plan should include a solid list of expenses as well as an overview of what kinds of permits and licenses you’ll need. If you plan to incorporate festivals into your business plan, make sure you know what those events will require of you.

Provide a Unique Offering

Let’s face it: there are a lot of food trucks out there. You can make sure that you get more business, especially at festivals, by offering something truly unique. Ensure that your menu provides something that other festival eateries don’t have.

Focus on Strong Marketing

Finally, make sure that you focus on strong social media marketing, especially if you plan on attending festivals. For instance, you can post on social media which festivals and local events you’re attending so that your customers can find you.

3 Reasons Local Festivals Impact Your Food Truck Success Rate

Are you still on the fence about incorporating local festivals into your food truck business plan? Here are a few reasons festivals are a great option.

1. Convenience

First, local festivals are convenient for you and your customers. You’ll have a site at a busy event, which will make stopping by for a bite to eat simple.

2. A New Audience

At a festival, you’ll have access to a brand new audience. The festival-goers may also be open-minded to trying something they’ve never had before.

3. Sustainability

Sustainable food truck businesses also benefit from attending festivals. You can advertise your truck as using organic ingredients, which helps set you apart from other food trucks and appeals to eco-conscious individuals.

Festivals Can Impact Your Food Truck’s Success

Do you want to learn more about using festivals to your food truck’s advantage? Legion Food Trucks has worked with several food truck businesses and can help you achieve your goals. Contact us for more information on how we can help your food truck business succeed.

The post The Impact of Local Festivals and Food Truck Success Rate appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

The food truck industry has not remained behind in the shift from gas to electric cars. Many progressive entrepreneurs are already replacing their gas trucks with electric ones. Keep reading to discover the benefits of switching to an electric food truck.

Why Are Electric Food Trucks on the Rise?

Electric food trucks are gaining popularity mainly because they are more sustainable than gas food trucks. Like ordinary electrical vehicles, electric food trucks use electricity, which is presumably cleaner than gas.

Besides cutting pollution, entrepreneurs are adopting electric food trucks due to the potential for regulatory changes. Witty business people forecast that with the rise in sustainability, authorities might ban the use of gas generators.

3 Benefits of Electric Food Trucks

Besides sustainability and realignment with future environmental regulations, electric food trucks offer multiple benefits. Some top benefits you’d get from a good electric food truck include:

1. Reduced Operational Costs

Running a food truck business is not cheap. First, you need to invest between $50,000 to $200,000 on a customized truck. On top of that, you have to spend on equipment, licenses, marketing, insurance, utilities, and labor.

An electric food truck can help reduce some operational costs mentioned. For instance, electric food trucks use electricity, which is cheaper than gasoline. Moreover, electric food trucks need little maintenance as they have fewer mechanical components.

2. Minimal Environmental Impact

Although effective, gasoline engines are less environmentally friendly. The engine produces a lot of noise and vibration, not forgetting that they emit harmful gasses like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides, all of which pollute the air.

Electric food trucks are a better alternative to minimizing your environmental impact. Apart from using clean energy, the electricity engines operate silently, eliminating the noise pollution associated with gas-powered engines.

3. Enjoying Electric Incentives

With an electric food truck, you qualify for numerous incentives that can help reduce your business costs. For instance, the California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project offers up to $30,000 for electric truck purchases.

This financial assistance can substantially lower the initial investment required to run your electric food truck. It is enough to cover other essential expenses like equipment, licenses, marketing, insurance, utilities, and labor.

Make the Switch to Electric With Legion Food Trucks

When considering a transition from gas-powered trucks to electric ones, seek support from Legion Food Trucks. For the past 35 years, we have helped hundreds of chefs create top-of-the-line food trucks customized to their exact needs.

From concept to creation, we will guide you through every step of transitioning from gas-powered trucks to electric ones. As a bonus, we will assist in securing necessary permits from local public health departments. Contact us for more information on how we can help you make the switch to electric.

The post Benefits of Electric Food Trucks: Why Go Electric? appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Exterior Appearance

The exterior design of your food truck is the first thing that catches the eye of potential customers. A visually appealing food truck will be easy to spot, help you make a great first impression, and can influence customers’ decisions to order from your menu.

For a visually appealing and memorable exterior appearance, consider using vibrant colors, eye-catching signage, and menu displays. Other customization options to enhance appearance include a striking vehicle wrap and a striped awning.

Design and Branding

Strong food truck branding will go a long way in helping you stand out in a competitive market as well as attract and retain loyal customers. Ensure you create a well-defined, unique, and memorable brand identity that helps customers recognize and connect with your brand.

Your food truck’s interior design should reflect your brand’s personality. The seating, lighting, and sound system should be well-coordinated to create a consistent theme. Similarly, ensure all aspects of the interior design complement your overall style.

Food Truck Blueprint

A detailed blueprint will play a pivotal role in enabling you to build your food truck properly. During the design phase, be sure to create a map of the truck’s physical space. This is particularly important when it comes to the kitchen layout, electrical, and plumbing.

A food truck blueprint allows you to visualize the layout of your truck as well as the nearby outdoor spaces. That way, you can make the necessary adjustments so you can use your spaces more efficiently and optimize your setup. This ensures smooth operations and easy access for customers, effectively creating an enhanced experience.

Safety Compliances

Even as you consider your preferences and needs, ensure your design complies with the necessary local health and safety standards. This includes fire codes, ventilation, and sanitation requirements. Consider working with experts to ensure everything is done right the first time around. This will make it easier to get the permits and licenses needed to start and operate your business.

Technological Integrations

When designing your custom food truck, don’t overlook the role technology plays in helping you succeed. Today, food truck owners are embracing technology to enhance operations and improve customer experience. Smart food truck technology to invest in includes food safety systems, point-of-sale (POS) systems, digital menu displays, online food ordering, and advanced kitchen equipment.

Create a Personalized Food Truck With Legion Food Trucks

Customizing your food truck can put you ahead of your competition. At Legion Food Trucks, we build top-of-the-line food trucks designed to enable you to prepare menu items quickly and efficiently. If you’re looking for a truck that will meet your unique needs, our food truck customization services will help transform your culinary dreams into reality and make this venture a success for you. Contact us for more information on how we can help you design the perfect custom food truck.

The post Designing Your Dream: The Essentials of Custom Food Trucks appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

What Is a Custom Food Truck?

A custom food truck is designed for your specific business and brand requirements. The truck’s cooking stations, storage, cashier, and serving areas are designed to maximize efficiency. When designing your new food truck, you can pay special attention to choosing layouts to support your operations and color schemes to match your brand. Custom food trucks are one-of-a-kind, designed to help you stand out and run your business successfully. 

For example, if you sell seafood, you will need a freezer and a large refrigeration unit. If you serve up fried foods and burgers, you will need friers and a large enough griddle. Trying to outfit an ice cream truck with a deep frier will likely interfere with usable square footage and require some modifications. Investing in a custom food truck designed specifically to accommodate your needs just makes more sense.

What Are the Benefits of Building a Food Truck?

During food truck customization, manufacturers design the interior layout to streamline navigation and maximize the use of space. This design saves time and improves operational efficiency. Other top benefits of custom-building a food truck include:

• Enhanced brand identity
• Increased competitiveness
• Improved flexibility
• More chances of passing health inspection
• Higher cost savings

What Is a Pre-owned Food Truck?

A pre-owned food truck is one that has been previously operated by another business. These trucks come equipped with almost all essential features, such as cooking equipment, storage compartments, and serving areas.

Given their used state, many pre-owned food trucks’ prices are below the $50,000 – $200,000 you’d spend on a new truck.

Pitfalls To Avoid When Buying a Pre-owned Food Truck

While buying a pre-owned food truck can save you some bucks, it does come with one major downside: wear and tear. At times, you can end up buying a truck that has worn out to the point that it would be expensive to fix.

For this reason, before purchasing, inspect the cooking equipment, refrigeration units, plumbing system, electrical wiring, paint, and overall structure for signs of wear and tear. Avoid trucks with glaring signs of degradation. Other things to avoid when buying a pre-owned food truck include:

• Outdated equipment
• Incomplete documentation
• Expired warranties
• Unresolved legal liabilities
• Faulty generators
• Ill-designed interior layout

Get a Custom Food Truck From Legion Food Truck

While both custom-made and pre-owned food trucks have advantages, personalized trucks tend to be a better investment. When custom-building a food truck, your provider will tailor the design, layout, and equipment to your specific business needs.

When looking to custom-build your food truck or trailer, look no further than Legion Food Trucks. We’ll make you a food truck that meets your exact operational needs so you can optimize sales, brand recognition, and productivity. Contact us for more information on how we can help your food truck business succeed. 

The post Building a Custom Food Truck or Pre-Owned: The Best Choice for Your Business appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Program

The HVIP program was introduced in 2009 by the California Air Resources Board to fuel the shift to eco-conscious commercial vehicles. Subject to the HVIP initiative, you can secure as much as $240,000 to fund the transition from gas-powered trucks to cleaner and more sustainable options. 

The discount value depends on various factors, including the type of vehicle and its intended use. In addition to the direct monetary benefits, which reduce overall food truck costs, the EV incentive offers the following benefits:

• Reduced carbon footprint
• Enhanced compliance with environmental regulations
• Improved brand image
• Reduced noise pollution

How To Participate in the California EV Incentive Program

Participating in the HVIP program is uncomplicated as long as you are a California business buying zero-emission trucks. Once you meet the eligibility criteria, you can go through the application process using the following procedure.

1. Find an Approved Dealer

The HVIP incentive is offered through motor vehicle dealers approved by the California Air Resources Board. You can find the complete list of these approved dealerships near you through the official HVIP website.

2. Purchase an Electric Food Truck

After identifying an authorized HVIP dealership, purchase a new, zero-emission vehicle listed on the HVIP-eligible vehicle list. The qualifying vehicles are mostly battery-electric trucks from leading manufacturers like Battle Motors and Freightliner.

3. Sign Terms and Conditions

Upon purchasing, sign the HVIP program’s terms and conditions. These terms outline several aspects, including your obligations, penalties, and recourse. Before signing, review these terms and proceed only if you are comfortable.

California EV Incentive FAQs

1. What types of vehicles qualify for the California EV incentive program?

The HVIP program covers vehicles that produce minimal or zero tailpipe emissions. These include electric trucks, refuse vehicles, buses, vans, and tractors. 

2. What is the Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) incentive?

The DAC is an incentive that offers extra support for clean transportation projects domiciled within select disadvantaged communities.

3. How much money is available?

Depending on the type of vehicle, you can get a voucher worth $20,000 to $240,000.

Take Advantage of California’s EV Incentive With Legion Food Trucks

At Legion Food Trucks, we understand the HVIP incentive program inside out. As such, we’ll guide you through the application process, from verifying eligibility to liaising with HVIP-approved dealerships. Contact us for more information on how we can help you take advantage of California’s EV incentive program.

The post Guide to California’s EV Incentive Program for Food Trucks appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

One of the best ways to build your visibility as a food truck is social media marketing. Let’s dive into the top tips for marketing your food truck on social media.

Adapt to Each Platform

Choose your social media platforms wisely and adapt your posting style to each one’s unique strategies. Food trucks are great for visual content like photos of delicious food, happy crowds, fun events, and smiling truck team members. Make sure to clip your images and videos to the right aspect ratios and lengths, with the right-sized captions for each social media platform you engage on.

Use Relevant Hashtags

Select hashtags that are relevant to each post, your marketing campaign, the food you serve, and the events you are involved in. Hashtags are how people search for content on social media, so increase your visibility and your satisfying search relevance with hashtag selection.

Combine Your Communities

Blend your digital and in-person communities through shared media. Show your digital community how much fun it is to catch lunch and join the party at your food truck. Then include links, screen names, and QR codes on your truck to connect your lunch crowd to your social media communities. Soon, they’ll be one big, happy, hungry family.

Be Consistent and On-Brand

Hone your food truck brand and make sure all your social media posts are consistently on-brand. Your brand has a voice, personality, and shared values. You may have certain themes, a penchant for puns, a fun mascot, or a passion for new recipes that will give your social media marketing that signature flavor that is you.

Engage With Your Audience

When your audience asks questions, @s you in their content, or shares pictures of your food and truck – respond, engage, and thank them. Answer questions and start discussions to do everything you can to build a conversation with your social media audience. Your page isn’t just a broadcast platform, it’s a community.

Share Where Followers Can Find You

Announce your food truck locations, schedules, and special events. Let your social media followers know where to find the truck if they are craving your secret sauce or just want to join the sidewalk party that starts wherever you set up shop. Make special announcements for events and hype your locations to get your community excited to see the truck in their neighborhood or at your festivals.

Post Frequently and Regularly

Lastly, keep up the pressure. Post frequently, energetically, and regularly. Don’t ghost your own social media channel. Remember to keep responding to your online people. Become a steady and positive presence with constant shares of mouth-watering food pics and community-building mini-events.

Boost Your Food Truck Marketing With Legion Food Trucks

If you’re looking to increase your food truck success – or plan for your grand opening – Legion Food Trucks is here to make it happen. We know the ins and outs of food truck planning, marketing, and more. Contact us for more information on how we can help your food truck business succeed.

The post Social Media Marketing Tips for Food Truck Owners appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Food trucks encounter variable expenses like fuel, parking, and permits, adding complexity to their pricing strategy. The good news is with a proper food truck menu pricing strategy, setting prices can be more manageable.

Why Food Truck Pricing Is Important

A food truck pricing strategy is one of the most essential aspects of operating a food truck. This strategy enables you to set prices that are reasonable enough to attract customers yet high enough to generate profit.

A good pricing strategy shields your food truck from external factors such as inflation. It accounts for potential cost increases over time, helping your business maintain optimal financial health.

Average Net Profit for a Food Truck

An efficiently managed food truck can yield profits ranging from 3-9%. Operating a food truck is profitable since the establishment does not attract rent expenses, and it needs minimal staffing. In addition, the mobility of food trucks enables you to capitalize on high-traffic areas.

How To Price Food Truck Menu Items

When inefficient, your food truck pricing strategy can elevate the risk of a business closure. The strategy attracts losses, decreases sales, and makes it difficult to attract customers. However, with the following ideas, you can get pricing right. 

1. Calculate the Cost To Make Each Menu Item

When setting prices for your menu items, start by calculating the cost of making or buying each item on the list. Here, you’d want to factor in the cost of ingredients, garnishes, and seasonings. You should also include the costs of packaging, transport, and wages for kitchen staff.

2. Determine Your Baseline Profit Margin for Each Menu Item

After determining the cost of each menu item, set a baseline profit for each. A baseline profit is the minimum level of proceeds necessary to cover the costs associated with producing a menu item without incurring losses.

Determining your baseline profit margin is straightforward; use the formula: Profit margin = (100 × (revenue – costs) / revenue to get the margin. 

After getting a rough estimate, adjust the margins based on factors like competitor prices.

3. Conduct Menu Engineering to Find What Items are Profitable

After setting the ideal prices of food items, conduct menu engineering to drive the sales of high-margin items. Essentially, menu engineering involves identifying best-selling and highly profitable menu items. Afterward, you can strategically position them on the menu to influence customer choices.

4. Redesign Your Menu Accordingly

Your food truck menu pricing strategy should not end once you settle on the right price for your menu items. Rather, you should identify the best-selling products, and redesign your menu to streamline purchasing decisions. 

At the most basic level, your food truck menu should be visually appealing and easy to scan through. Furthermore, the menu should highlight the most popular items so you draw customer attention to those products. 

Boost Your Food Truck Business With Legion Food Trucks

Optimizing your food truck pricing strategy is not the only factor in food truck success. You need to market the establishment, brand your truck to draw attention, and scout for high-traffic areas to park and sell.

Legion Food Trucks is the ultimate partner you need to succeed in this competitive business sphere. We will design a custom food truck, brand it properly, and secure local permits to get you started on the right foot. Contact us for more information on how we can help your food truck business succeed.

The post Food Truck Menu Pricing Strategy Guide appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Food Truck Equipment

A significant portion of your budget should be allocated to equipping your food truck. With proper equipment, you will be able to prepare quality food both quickly and efficiently. Generally, start-up expenses for a food truck will vary depending on the type and quality of equipment you choose. Common items you need to start your food truck business include cooking equipment, refrigeration equipment, holding equipment, washing equipment, safety equipment, a ventilation system, and a payment processing system.

How Much It Typically Costs

Depending on the size of your truck and the type of cuisine you plan to be serving, you can spend between $50,000 and $200,000 to equip your food truck. Kitchen equipment alone will cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 while safety equipment will set you back $1,000 to $3,000. However, if you are working with a tight budget, you can buy more affordable equipment and upgrade it as your business grows or lease the equipment.

Typical Price for Building a Food Truck

Every truck is different. You can choose to buy a brand-new food truck, buy a used one, or build a food truck from scratch. A new, fully-fitted food truck will cost between $50,000 and $175,000 while a pre-owned one can go for $30,000 to $100,000. If you opt to buy a vehicle and convert it into a food truck, you can expect the cost of building it to be at least $50,000. The good news is that building one allows you to design and build every aspect of the food truck to your liking.

Other Equipment Expenses

Equipment makes for one of the major start-up expenses for a food truck. Apart from the cost of purchasing these items, there are several other expenses associated with the equipment. They include the cost of:

• Converting the vehicle into a quality mobile kitchen
• Installing the equipment in the vehicle
• Running costs and expenses related to repairs and maintenance of the equipment

Restaurant Equipment

Most of the appliances and equipment needed in a food truck are also required in a brick-and-mortar restaurant. However, food trucks have less equipment owing to the limited space. Oftentimes, traditional restaurants will feature commercial kitchen equipment.

How Much It Typically Costs

Restaurant equipment costs can vary extensively depending on the size of the restaurant as well as the size and capacity of the equipment. Other factors that will affect these costs are the brand and quality, energy efficiency, and additional features of the equipment. Lastly, the expenses will be determined by whether the equipment is new or used. Typically, the average cost of kitchen and bar equipment for a restaurant is $115,655. 

Equipment Expenses You Can Expect

Once you have acquired the necessary equipment for your restaurant, there are a few additional expenses you need to plan for such as:

• Design and equipment installation costs
• Maintenance costs
• Replacement costs

Make the Right Move for Your Business

Here at Legion Food Trucks, we are a food truck manufacturer located in South El Monte, CA. In addition to building top-of-the-line food trucks, we also provide you with the information, guidance, and mentorship needed to ensure you start your business on the right foot. This includes explaining the different start-up expenses for a food truck so you can plan better. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you achieve success in your food truck business.

The post Food Truck vs. Restaurant: Breaking Down Start Up Costs appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

1. Cleaning Supplies

Keeping your food truck clean is non-negotiable. Like any food establishment, you must keep every part of your truck spotless, from the countertops, the floor, storage areas, walls, to the cookware.

Therefore, before you get to the streets, gather all critical cleaning supplies you’d need to remove grime, grease, litter, spills, and food residue. Some of the most essentials supplies that shouldn’t miss on your list include:

• Heavy-duty degreasers
• Multipurpose detergents
• Stainless steel cleaners
• Microfiber cloths
• Scrub brushes
• Disinfectants
• Broom and dustpan
• Paper towels
• Mop and bucket

2. Prep Containers

Prep containers are a must-have in your food truck. The containers provide a dedicated storage for various ingredients, and food items like meats, cooked food, and vegetables. The containers keep the food items fresh, accessible, and well-organized.

For your food truck, opt for stackable, space-efficient containers with a tight-fitting lid. Also, make sure the containers are made from food-grade materials, such as high-quality plastic, melamine, silicone, or stainless steel.

3. Food Packaging

With the majority of customers preferring meals on the go, you should have various packaging to meet customer preferences. Essentially, you should stock disposable clamshells, paperboard boxes, cups, and biodegradable trays. Additionally, you can get leak-proof bags or containers for poaching soups.

4. Thermometers

Thermometers are other crucial food truck supplies to have before you start selling your delicacies. These supplies serve one important function  — monitoring food temperatures in various stages like preparation, cooking, cooling, and storage. 

Besides mere temperature monitoring, thermometers reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses caused by undercooked or improperly stored foods. While there are many types of thermometer, digital probe type is ideal, as it offers quick and precise temperature readings.

5. Cutting Boards

Cutting boards protect your countertops from knife cuts and scratches. You’ll need these kitchen appliances to chop, slice, and dice ingredients, vegetables, and other food items. 

While there are many cutting boards to choose from, plastic and cutting boards would be the choice. The mentioned cutting boards are affordable, easy to clean, and durable. Consider buying different color boards to help distinguish which are used for meats and which are used for produce.

Partner With Legion Food Trucks to Make Your Venture a Success

Succeeding in the food truck business requires more than just delicious food and a customized truck. You need to choose the right location, understand local regulations, identify target demographics, and market the business.

At Legion Food Trucks, we help entrepreneurs gain a firm footing in the food truck industry. Our experts help with designing a standout food truck, securing local permits, and developing marketing strategies to differentiate you. Contact us for more information on how we can help your food truck business succeed.

The post 5 Must-Have Food Truck Supplies appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.