Check out our recommendations below to learn about the different types of food trucks:

Popular Food Truck Models

There are three main types of vehicles you can choose for a food truck business depending on the laws of your city and your use: Food trucks, food carts, or food trailers. Let’s take a look.

1.    A standard Food truck

The number one go-to for people starting their mobile food prowess is a standard food truck. This can virtually be any heavy-duty truck with enough room space in the back to turn into a kitchen. Your typical food truck will measure about 14-20 feet in length, which is enough to host almost all the mandatory kitchen appliances easily. They have vast amounts of headroom and massive rear doors from where you can sell food or bring in supplies.

2.    Sprinter Van

Now, if a fully-fledged food truck is too bulky for you, you can opt to go for a sprinter van. What you get with a sprinter is a light commercial vehicle that is easy to drive around and handle all your meal requirements. Depending on its size and dimensions, a van can be just as efficient as the food trucks and trailers. However, you have to be keen on the body length, wheelbase, and roof height. 

3.    Trailer

A trailer is perfect for when you don’t quite have the budget to afford a food truck, but you still want to make enough food to feed large hungry crowds. You can also choose to go with a unique vintage or retro style or design your trailer in a way that stands out. The condition here, however, is that you should have a vehicle that can handle towing it.

4.    Mini Food Truck

If you run a smaller operation and are looking to sell to-go foods or light beverages like coffee, you will be best suited to a smaller-sized mini truck. The three-wheeled vehicle is quite compact, so it can rest comfortably in any street corner, yet it still carries more space than your ordinary street food stand. Additionally, you can equip the mini truck with small machines like espresso machines and coolers. 

Custom Food Trucks By Legion

A food truck is more than just a truck that serves food. It is the first thing that portrays your company’s image. So other than merely being able to handle your demands and fit all the equipment you need, the vehicle you choose should be in line with your personal brand. It needs to look the part. Hopefully, now you can settle on a vehicle that will satisfy the two needs.

At Legion food trucks, we boast a fleet of some of the best and most efficient food trucks in the market. We can also customize the truck for you and have it delivered fully equipped and ready for use. For more information, download the guide below.

The post Which Popular Food Truck Models Are Best? appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

This article will discuss the different types of loans available, what they are used for, and how to apply for a food truck loan.

Different Types of Food Truck Loans Available for You

If you want to finance your food truck business, you have a few different options. They may differ based on the specifications you need as a borrower, the loan size, and the cost. As a result, it’s wise to explore available loan options to obtain the most outstanding deal if you’re looking for a food truck loan.

You can choose from the choices below if you need a long-term or short-term food truck loan.

Equipment Loan

An equipment loan is ideal if you need a fast-food truck loan with a cheap interest rate. These loans employ the food truck equipment you’re buying as collateral, resulting in a lower interest rate than some of the other alternatives on the list. In the event of a default, the lender is authorized to liquidate equipment to make the difference.

To qualify for this type of loan, you must have strong credit and maybe make a down payment on the items, ranging from 5% to 20% of the overall cost.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans

If you have a vested financial stake in an American-based business, you may be eligible for SBA loans to establish a food truck business. Through certified and verified loan providers, an SBA loan can assist you in avoiding financial risk.

Business Lines of Credit

A line of credit is another alternative for a food truck loan. Unlike a loan, which offers you a lump sum upfront and requires you to pay it back over the loan’s term, a line of credit allows you to draw money out should you need it and only pay back the amount you use. However, small business finds it challenging to get this type of loan because banks require you to have an excellent financial standing.

Business Term Loan

A business term loan is a suitable alternative for food trucks that need to finance a specific expense. It relieves the worry of not being sure how you’ll pay for something by allowing you to take out a lump sum payment that will be reimbursed at the end of the agreed term length.

How To Apply for Food Truck Loan

You can only apply for a food truck loan if you meet some general requirements. For example, to qualify for an online loan, you must have been in operation for at least six months and have a monthly revenue of at least $10,000.

As previously stated, some new businesses find it difficult to obtain bank loans because the conditions may include being in business for not less than two years. Moreover, if you do not meet the minimum criteria, you may be forced to offer collateral for a down payment along with your loan application.

Get Started with Legion Food Truck Financing

Getting a loan may seem complicated for most food truck business owners; however, at Legion Food Trucks, we make your goal of starting a food truck business a reality. We’ll help you find the right loan for your business and even help you with the applications.  Get in touch with us to begin exploring your financing options today.

The post How to Apply for a Food Truck Loan appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Here are seven reasons for choosing stainless steel for your food truck. 

1. Stainless Steel Makes It Easier to Clean the Food Truck Interior

Stainless steel is easy to clean and does not promote the growth of bacteria. Hygiene is an essential element of food handling and preparation. Public food vendors should maintain high levels of hygiene. Customers will always come back when you sell them clean and safe food.   

Its mirror-bright appearance also adds an impression of cleanliness. Since you have limited space on your food truck, customers will often look at your food preparation surface to satisfy their curiosity. The mirror-bright appearance of a clean-wiped stainless steel surface is an advertisement tool for attracting more customers. 

2. It is Durable 

Stainless steel is one of the most durable alloys used on food trucks, kitchen interiors, and other food processing surfaces. Its durability justifies the high installation cost since stainless steel is more expensive than other metals. Using stainless steel on your food truck interior reduces repair and replacement costs. 

3. Corrosion-Resistant 

Some foods, spices, or kitchen supplies could be alkaline or acidic. These food chemicals may corrode surfaces made of weaker metals. However, stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, making it the best material for food preparation surfaces. You can comfortably prepare or cook foods without worrying about their impact on your truck interior.

4. Does not Influence the Taste or Color of Your Food

Stainless steel does not give your food or beverage a funny taste. You can place foodstuff or prepare it on the surface without worrying about changes in color or taste variation. In addition, stainless steel is nonporous and does not support the leaching of harmful chemicals that contaminate your food. 

5. Withstands High Temperatures 

Your food truck interior will mostly be hot. Hot cookware placed on surfaces from time to time could affect them. However, stainless steel can withstand sudden temperature changes and kitchen heat without warping. 

6. It Is Easily Recycled 

In addition to its durability, stainless steel is easily recycled or repurposed after the end of its shelf-life. Using it on your food truck interior helps in environmental conservation. The repurposing or recycling process uses less energy and reduces environmental degradation.   

7. It is Easy to Fabricate 

Stainless steel is easily manipulated to fit in the limited space in your food truck. Using it for your truck interior allows optimum use of the limited space.

Do You Want to Build a Food Truck? Contact Us

At Legion Food Trucks, we turn your dreams into reality by customizing or providing you with ready-for-business food trucks. We use stainless steel to fabricate the food truck interior to make it easier to clean and reduce food contamination, among other benefits. Contact us today to place an order and start your food truck business. 

The post 7 Reasons to Use Stainless Steel for Your Food Truck Interior appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

The critical factors for food-borne illness are at the top of an inspector’s checklist. Many towns highlight these items in red on the inspection sheets. Any major violation requires urgent attention and remedy, or a follow-up assessment will be planned. This article explores the things you should cover.

What is a Food Truck Inspection Checklist?

A food truck inspection checklist assists food truck owners in ensuring that their operations comply with established food safety and hygiene, housekeeping, and food truck maintenance standards. Regular inspections with a checklist keep your employees on their toes in case of surprise health inspections by the local government. It maintains your food truck up and running at maximum capacity, and keeps your clients safe from food-borne illness and health concerns.

List of Items to Cover Before Inspection

When an inspector inspects your food truck, he looks at specific areas to help protect the public. To train your employees and keep a watch on these issues yourself, you must first recognize what the health inspector is searching for.

Potentially hazardous foods

Health inspectors must concentrate on potentially hazardous foods because of the increased danger of food-borne illness. To avoid bacterial growth and food-borne infections, you must monitor certain foods at specific times and temperatures.

The health inspectors will spend significant time checking all of your meat, poultry, and seafood items’ holding and storage temperatures to ensure they are safe.

Food safety knowledge

Food truck owners must thoroughly understand their local public health codes. Your employees must have current food safety training and thoroughly understand proper food preparation and handling techniques. Inspectors will frequently test you and your food truck employees on their expertise.

Water

Sinks should always have running water. You should provide at least five gallons of potable water for handwashing alone. For facilities with little food preparation, including an additional 15 gallons of potable water, and a minimum of 25 gallons of potable water for meals for trucks with preparation and ware-washing functions. 

Waste Disposal

Ensure the wastewater tank (s) has a minimum capacity of 50 percent more than your water tank and no less than 7.5 gallons where applicable. Fix any leaks in the drain lines from the sinks and the coffee urn. Ensure you have connected all your drain pipes to the wastewater tank.

Food Storage

Keep the refrigeration units in good condition. Remove rust from the refrigerator’s racks. In the refrigerated unit, place an accurate thermometer. All hazardous goods should be in a separate space.

Upgrade Your Food Truck Business With Legion Food Trucks

Legion Food Trucks offers you the tools and resources to help your restaurant succeed. We ensure that every food truck that rolls off our floor is guaranteed to pass health inspection by even the strictest health departments. In many cases, we are even able to expedite the approval process and get your vehicle on the streets as soon as possible. Contact us for assistance with your food truck licenses and permits.

The post Food Truck Inspection Checklist: How To Prepare appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Breakfast food trucks are starting to catch on, and for many areas, it’s an untapped market. People need breakfast, and with as many people who work early shifts and don’t have time to grab a bite at home, there’s no shortage of customers who would love to visit your breakfast truck. Not only that, but some people love breakfast so much; that they would be happy to have it for lunch and dinner!

Five Breakfast Food Truck Menu Ideas To Get You Started.

1. Waffles

Why waffles? Aside from waffles, there are many ways to customize this sweet breakfast staple. You could even expand your waffles to lunchtime with peanut butter and jelly waffles and chicken. 

2. Breakfast Sandwiches

Breakfast sandwiches are an easy choice. Breakfast sandwiches can be made with croissants, rolls, or bagels. Figure out what type of fixings you want to offer, come up with a signature breakfast sandwich and decide if you’re going to add any sides or coffee to the menu. You could also do sandwiches and smoothies. The choice is yours!

3. Crepes

Bring a little sophistication to your offerings and consider serving crepes. Crepes are quintessential street food and can be served sweet or savory. You’ll be busy all morning by offering a selection of fillings like ham and cheese or berries and cream.

4. Breakfast Burritos

Everyone loves a good breakfast burrito. They are fun, easy, and portable. Breakfast burritos can be packed with delicious and nutritious breakfast ingredients like veggies, meats, eggs, and cheese. 

5. Donuts

Donuts are a breakfast institution, and you can decide whether you want to stick to a more traditional donut menu or get creative and experiment. Donuts can be served individually, by the dozen, custom-made, or filled with other menu choices.  Donuts are delicious comfort food and even better when paired with coffee.

6.  Smoothie Bowls

For the more health-conscious customers, smoothie bowls are a hit. Offering a selection of healthy and delicious smoothie bowls will have a nonstop line of hungry customers ready for a delicious and filling bowl with ingredients like berries, bananas, nuts, chia seeds, and more. 

7. Avocado Toast

Avocado toast is a perfect breakfast for health-conscious Californians looking for a quick, filling, and healthy breakfast option. Avocado toast is delicious and nutritious and can be customized with various toppings. 

Get Cooking with Legion 

Are you looking for more breakfast truck menu ideas? Work with a company that can help you create a profitable and fun breakfast truck business; contact us today to learn more. 

Whether you are simply adding breakfast to an existing menu or considering a breakfast-only food truck, you can look to us to help you create a custom food truck for your business.

The post 7 Breakfast Food Truck Menu Ideas To Start The Day With appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

It’s important to note that food truck branding isn’t just about a catchy logo. Branding is your menu, attitudes and values, and the special something you bring to customers. Decide what that special something is, and make sure your logo reflects it.

How to Find Food Truck Logo Ideas And Inspiration

Your first step should be researching. What are other food trucks in your area? How are they branding their business? 

Next, determine what it is you are offering. Not just your menu items, but the overall experience you want to give your customers. Your brand is more than just your logo or menu; it’s your whole package. It’s how you show up and what your attitude and values are.

You should also take time to study your potential customers. Who are your patrons? Are they young and hip? Are they professionals? Artsy types? Students? Workers? Always keep your ideal customer in mind when creating your branding.

Consult A Professional To Create Your Logo

A professional designer is the best way to go if you want professional results. While it may be tempting to create your own logo, a professional is more likely to develop a logo that looks professional and stands the test of time. Work with your designer by providing them with food truck logo ideas and information about your brand, customers, and competition.

Where Do You Get Your Design Inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere! Your food truck logo should reflect your brand, personality, and the thing that makes you unique. There are plenty of places to get food truck logo ideas. Here are just a few:

• Your competition. You don’t want a logo that looks just like theirs, but you need a logo that is just as good as your best competitor in quality, design, and originality.
• Your area is another place for inspiration. Where is your food truck based? What makes your town or city unique? What is it known for?
• Your menu should be another source of inspiration. 
• Your personality. What is your vibe, your unique quality? This is so important, and your logo should reflect who you are and what your brand is about.
• Suggestions from your designer. A professional logo designer is a rich source of inspiration and information. This is especially the case if they are familiar with branding food trucks and restaurants. This type of experience is invaluable, and the right designer will ensure you come away with a fantastic food truck logo that is perfect for your business.

If you are searching for food truck logo ideas and branding that will set you apart from the competition, contact us to learn how Legion Food Trucks can help. 

The post 5 Places To Find Inspirational Food Truck Logo Ideas appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

How to Choose the Right Food Truck Fryer

When choosing the right food truck fryer for your business, you should consider the available space and budget. The selected fryer should fit in the available space, be compatible with the power source, offer the required services, and fit within your budget. Here are 3 top food truck fryers for you to consider:

Nurxiovo Electric Commercial Deep Fryer

The Nurxiovo model tops the list of commercial deep fryers that anyone starting a food truck business should consider. It comes with two deep-frying baskets and a temperature control unit that helps prevent overheating. The model has an energy-saving function and fits within most mobile food stalls’ budgets.

However, the model has a small capacity of 16 L, which may not be efficient when you have a busy day. Besides, the Nurxiovo model does not have a fryer cover to prevent oil from splashing.

WeChef Commercial Deep Fryer

The WeChef Commercial Deep Fryer is an excellent choice for those who emphasize efficiency and are not worried about spending more on a food truck fryer. The model has a fryer cover to prevent hot oil from splashing and a faucet for efficient draining. It also comes with a 60-minute timer to help you manage your cooking.

Like the Nurxiovo model, the WeChef deep fryer has a temperature control device to prevent overheating. It also has a dual tank with a capacity of 23L, making it appropriate for areas with higher demand for fried foods.

The only major shortcoming about the WeChef is its cost, as it is among the most expensive mobile food fryers.

TAIMIKO Commercial Stainless Steel Deep Fryer

If you start your food truck business on a budget, the TAIMIKO is a good option. It has a duo tank with a 20L capacity and comes with a lid cover for each basket. Unlike the WeChef model, the TAIMIKO does not have an oil drain faucet.

Build your Custom Food Truck Today

Starting a food truck business should not be complicated. You’ll need to fit an existing truck with the right appliances, but you should pay attention to the fryer. It should fit within the available space and budget.

Visit our website to build your custom food truck today and generate a free quote.

The post 3 Food Truck Fryer Options to Consider appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

Customers love food trucks because of the convenience. You can offer almost any cuisine delivered and prepared fresh without taking up a single square foot of your customer’s kitchen space. This makes catering food trucks a great option for a variety of different events and occasions – from casual lunches to formal weddings. 

Below are pointers to successfully expand your food truck into the catering business.

Gain Catering Food Trucks Experience and Exposure

Like any other business initiative, a startup necessitates a certain amount of expertise. Before starting your own catering food truck business, consider volunteering or working with a well-known catering food truck company.

While researching business requirements and operation is helpful, nothing beats the firsthand experience and direction gained by working with an expert.

Choose a Concept

Developing solid concepts or themes can improve the salability of your catering food truck business. Concentrate your idea on your interests and create and test your menu.

It is crucial to consider the population you will be servicing, the pricing of your services, and whether you have access to the necessary equipment to keep your theme going.

Locate a Good Working Space

Most states have rules that make it illegal for caterers to work from their homes. If you’re firm on operating from your home kitchen, you will have to make significant changes to your property and obtain consent from local government officials.

Alternatively, most catering food trucks begin by leasing a kitchen area or constructing their own. Renting commercial kitchen areas is the most cost-effective alternative if you’re just beginning or have a limited volume of business.

Examine Liability Issues

Before catering for your initial event, make sure you have all of the necessary permissions and that your staff and kitchen are well-versed in food safety procedures and regulations.

A little forethought pays off in unanticipated foodservice situations. Consider the most typical challenges your food trucking catering services might face, and collaborate with your team to develop a response strategy.

Select Your Staff

Getting the right people to assist you in preparing and also serve your menu items might be difficult. When choosing your team and integrating them into the business, take the following into account:

• Determine whether your business is big enough to employ more people.
• Start with temporary services until you expand your business.
• Make uniforms available.
• Provide proper food safety and serving protocols training.

Develop a Promotion and Marketing Strategy

Now that your business has a set foundation, it is time to put it there. This will be determined by the catering services you intend to establish. For instance, if you’re interested in formal events, you can reach out to event planners or display your menu during wedding exhibitions.

These are tips for catering food trucks should keep in mind to successfully expand into a new market. And if you’re ready to add another truck to your fleet, Contact Legion Food Trucks today to start your next food truck custom build! 

The post 5 Tips for Catering Food Trucks You Need to Know appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

However, building and growing a food truck business isn’t as easy as it looks. You must follow specific strategies and processes to boost your food truck revenue and increase sales. Read on.

Strategies for Boosting Revenue with Food Trucks for Catering

This post discusses top tips for boosting your food truck revenue by figuring out what strategies will stick. Here’s a comprehensive guide of simple but effective tips to increase your food truck revenue:

1. Create a Unique, Memorable Concept

Establishing a solid, memorable selling point for your food truck is critical in helping attract more customers. That means creating an exclusive design and using an apt name for it. You must have something unique and memorable to offer to encourage word-of-mouth for your business and make it newsworthy.

The idea here is to find something other food trucks for catering businesses aren’t doing and do it differently. You want your customers to do the marketing work by spreading the word about your food truck.

2. Get Multiple Food Trucks

It is essential to reinvest your profits back into your food truck business to help it grow. You can buy a new truck outright or rent one. Having more food trucks allows you to expand into multiple markets and boost your revenue.

3. Add or Change New Menu Items Seasonally

You may have the best menu choices and ideas for food truck catering, but even so, you shouldn’t stick to the same menu ideas season after season. Sure, tweaking and editing your menu can be quite a hassle, but it is a necessary step to boost your revenue.

Try varying your menu occasionally to attract more customers to your food truck. If possible, introduce new seasonal dishes for particular periods and keep experimenting with your dishes. Your customers will surely come back hoping to try something new from your food truck.

4. Play with Different Locations

One of the main perks of owning food trucks for catering is the flexibility and mobility that comes with it. Unlike a restaurant, you can quickly drive your food truck to a different spot if the current location isn’t doing well.

Parking will significantly impact how much sales and revenue your business can generate. Even with the best food menu, you won’t get great deals if your parking choice is poor. Having a good and accessible parking location with many foot traffic is a surefire way to boost your food truck revenue.

5. Offer Mobile Ordering

Industries are continually modernizing their systems and services, including the food industry. Most of today’s businesses are going mobile to give their customers more accessible access to their products and services. Mobile apps can show your customers the real-time location of your food trucks for convenience.

You can also create your food truck app that offers customers mobile ordering options and mobile payments. You want to make it easier for your customers to find your business, make orders online, wait for their food, and pay through the app. More customers will prefer ordering your food for the convenience you provide, increasing your revenue significantly.

Expand Your Business with Legion Food Trucks

Legion Food Trucks provides you with the necessary tools and resources to help boost the revenue of your food truck business. We help you realize your catering dreams by helping you design the perfect food trucks for catering and strategies to increase your income. Contact us today to start growing your food truck business.

The post How to Boost Revenue with Food Trucks for Catering appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

What to Include in a Food Truck Catering Contract

When writing a catering contract, ensure you have the following on the contract.

Cover Letter

A cover letter introduces your proposal and lays out the essential information to help the client better understand your services. However, refrain from going too deep into the price in the cover letter. Ensure you highlight the following when writing the cover letter and general information.

• Event types. The event type influences the services you provide and the costs.
• Event date and time. The demand for catering services differs from season to season, influencing the cost. In addition, events that require more hours may attract additional fees.
• Event venue. How far the event is may determine if there may be additional costs. 
• Minimum guaranteed guest count. The expected number of guests is likely to influence the costs too.

Menu and Menu Pricing

In this section, you will write your food truck menu pricing according to each item on the menu. The section of your food truck catering contract should include:

• The list of menu items
• The cost per guest
• Total fees for each menu item
• The entire cost for the whole menu.

When listing the item prices, ensure you explain all related fees to avoid the appearance of hidden costs.

Additional Fees

Detail any additional costs, even those unrelated to the menu items. In this section, you can list:

• Labor costs
• Delivery fees
• Event planning fee in case you helped your client to plan the event.

The Final Quote

Sum up all the charges to determine the final quote. The final figure is essential to help the client know what they are paying for your service. It is also vital to help you assess your ROI or profits.

Catering Policies and Contract

Detail the client’s policies in this section and highlight the following:

• The guaranteed minimum guest count. This means you still get paid according to the guaranteed guest count if guests show us less. Additionally, if the guests turn up more, you reserve the right to raise the fees reasonably.
• A guaranteed time duration. 
• Cancellation policies. List your policies on cancellations and refunds if the client cancels after hiring your services.
• Payment terms and deposit. Ensure you stipulate the payment terms of the final costs after the client makes the deposit. 

Finally, in the last section, add a place where clients can add their payment information and sign the food truck catering contract.

Growing Your Food Truck Business with Catering

Once you have written this contract, ensure you present it appropriately and formally. Upon signing the catering contract, you can provide your food truck services as agreed and start earning additional revenue for your food truck business.

If you’re ready to grow your business by adding a new truck to your fleet, contact Legion Food Trucks today!

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