1. Low Startup Costs

Compared to starting a restaurant, the startup costs for a food truck are very low. Of course, your biggest investment will be the truck itself, but this is the area you do NOT want to cut corners on in the attempt to save a buck. Several owners from well-known food trucks voice words of wisdom to people contemplating the food truck business when it comes to investing in a new truck. Ashley from Not as Famous Cookie Company advice is to get a truck that meets your needs. She advises people to consider their power needs and get a truck outfitted to meet the demands, otherwise, you could see some big losses.

Dan from OMG Cheesecakery said, “Although our food truck has a very nostalgic look (it’s a 1972 Cortez Motorhome), because of its age it comes with maintenance problems that can prevent the entire business from moving. We probably would have been better with a trailer rather than a truck”. Be sure to consult with a custom food truck builder so they can outfit you with exactly what you need that is new and free from hidden problems. After you get your truck all you need is your product inventory and the licensing and permits put in place (average of $1000).

2. Grounded in Culture

There is always money to be made and a buzz to spread when an industry is popular and grounded in culture. The food truck scene is not a trend; it has been steadily rising year-over-year while meeting the demand for “gourmet food on the go” and providing healthy alternatives to old-timey lunch truck burgers that park outside of construction sites.

With the rise in hipsters, foodies, and creatives the demand for food trucks the offer unique, healthy, and playful meals is very high and will continue to be. After all, television shows like ‘The Great Food Truck Race’ have helped further amp up the appeal of food trucks!

3. Passive Income Opportunity

One of the most attractive draws to the food truck business is that when you are ready to slow down in life, your business can keep pushing ahead full steam while padding your bank account. Many food truck business owners will transition to working part-time while hiring a manager to run the business on those down hours, and the profit margin is still extremely healthy. When you are ready to retire you can sell off half the business and let your partner run operations while you remain silent and collect a healthy chunk of the profits.

4. Freedom to Go to Your Customers

Restaurants rely on their customers to come to them. With a food truck, you can go to your customers. After collecting enough data you will know exactly who your main buyers are, where they like to hang out, and when they typically like to eat. If your main customers are the 25 to 35 concert-going crowd, you can follow your city’s concert schedule and park near each venue ready to serve hungry music fans before or after the show.

5. Call Your Own Hours

Not all of us have the ability to be away from home all day long to work a job. Whether you are taking classes, provide homecare for a loved one, or you have a second job on the side that occupies prime hours, being the boss of your own food truck means you are the shot caller. You can still work full-time hours in a food truck while only working those hours you want.

6. Become More Rooted in Your Community

If you decide to run your own food truck you will have an amazing opportunity to be more rooted in your community by helping to support local causes. If one of your neighborhoods has a women’s shelter you can advertise that 10% of all sales go towards funding that shelter.

7. Start a Family Business

Whether you start a food truck with one of your children, or you start with the intention to pass the business down to them when you are ready to retire, a food truck can be a beautiful family business to start up. Consider putting some of your grandmother’s recipes on the menu, or your grandfather’s favorite sandwich. Make your menu focused on your family’s food traditions while making your brand appealing to your customers.

8. Basic Inexpensive Ongoing Costs

Assuming you invest in a custom food truck with new equipment that is top of the line, your ongoing costs will be low and basic compared to typical restaurant operating costs. If your truck and it’s equipment (generator, grill, refrigeration system, etc) were bought new then you will only have to deal with routine yearly maintenance, routine engine maintenance, the cost of supplies, and licensing renewals.

Have You Ever Seen an Unhappy Food Truck Owner?

Of course not! When you have amazing earning potential, the freedoms that come with being your own boss, and you are someone your community gets excited about when they see you roll down their street, how can life offer anything but smiles? The food truck business is lucrative, in demand, and it allows you to meet new and interesting people every day.

Once you have your food truck and all the pieces are put in place, you are ready to roll. But there are a number of steps and decisions to make to help get you there. Download our FREE guide on how to succeed in business with your own food truck, and give Legion Food Trucks a call with any questions you might have. 

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This article will explore four must-haves that a food truck designer should take into consideration when building your custom food truck.

Food Truck Design Tips

great food truck designs don’t just happen. It takes planning, research, and a vision for company growth. Here are four tips to help you and your food truck builder create a winning food truck design.

1. Use Stainless Steel

Materials are everything. Some buyers will opt for cheaper materials that are porous, hard to clean, stain easily, and that can even rub off on to food (cutting up a salad on types of plastic over time can give a strange chemical taste to the food that derives from contact with chemicals, and though they aren’t toxic, the taste is vile). Always get a high-quality stainless steel interior. This means the floor, walls, counters, storage–everything should be stainless steel. It is by far the most sanitary interior material to have, easy to clean and offers a nice modern look.

2. Plan for Growth

A growth-driven platform is something the best food truck builders in the industry do to ensure space works for their clients now and will continue to be a great solution to their future needs as they grow. You should work with food truck builders who take the time to sit down with you, understand your menu, brand, and target customers, as well as what your growth goals are and where you see your food truck in five years.

An interior food truck design will include the necessary equipment needed to store, prep and cook the food and have enough floor space to accommodate your current team. But if your growth goal is to add an oven and an industrial juicer, along with two other staff members, then the food truck design of today must have space for these future goals. And only food truck builders who base the food truck design around their client’s goals will allow for this.

3. Utilize Technology

There are various types of food truck technology. From touch screens that allow people to place their orders, to fun lighting for nighttime aesthetics and even technology for entertainment when you have those long lines at food truck festivals or when you park outside a concert or sports event, your needs could vary.

But the technology needs to provide a solution for your customers or attract people to your truck. For example, if your target audience is night crowds that gather in the city where all the clubs are, having fun flashing strobes so they feel like the party is still swinging could attract people. If your target audience is the rush hour lunch grown Downtown, then having touch screens for placing orders with pick-up times would be an amazing incentive.

4.Your Exterior Food Truck Design

You have two main options: vinyl wraps or a hand-painted job (with traditional brushes or airbrushes). If your food truck business is going to operate down by the beach where the air has high salinity levels, or if you plan to do business up in the mountains during the winter season where the weather can be harsh and where roads are salted, a vinyl wrap would be the best option because they stand up better to harsher conditions.

Stand Out With Unique Food Truck Designs

Make sure your food truck design property brands your business, showcases your logo and social media channels, and has an overall design that ties your local customers, geographic location, and menu items altogether. After all, people love familiarity, and a familiar design with the food they know and love that showcases their hometown and speaks to them at a personal level will garner greater traffic, and with that more sales.

Contact Legion Food Trucks for a custom food truck today. No concept or idea is out of reach for our team of designers and fabricators.

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This article will help budding entrepreneurs understand what to look for in a food truck manufacturer. Let’s check out five things you should ask yourself when choosing a food truck builder that will meet your unique business needs.

#1. Is the Food Truck Builder Reputable?

While selecting a food truck manufacturer, you must seek recommendations from current food truck owners. It would be best to check for online reviews from past customers. Additionally, look for a builder with an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). 

A reputable and trustworthy manufacturer will be willing to share with you their recent builds and a means of contacting their current customers.

#2. Are They Familiar with Laws and Regulations?

Every state has its own health codes, and your food truck needs to meet them in addition to being compliant with the federal regulations. You should ensure that the builder you hire uses National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) Certified equipment. 

Choosing a manufacturer who meets these standards is vital. It can save you money by avoiding the extra cost that you might have to meet to cover expenses to cover the changes during an inspection.

#3. Do They Care About My Success?

The food truck builder you choose should be supportive of financing after you drive off their premises to start your business. You need to pick a builder who will provide you with a complete warranty. They should provide you with services to help you navigate the local health department bureaucracy. They should also guide you to a great start to your business.

#4. Will They Help Me with Licensing and Permits?

Navigating the local, state, and national regulations to local health guidelines and getting the necessary permits can be daunting. This is especially true if you’re a new entrepreneur in the food truck business. Choose a manufacturer that will guide you through the process to be less of a challenge to you.  

#5. Do They Provide Financing?

Building a food truck can be an expensive affair; hence having a builder that offers financing options can be of great help. Therefore, pick a manufacturer that can provide you with service financing your food truck build. They should also offer a complete warranty for plumbing systems, heaters, tanks, electrical systems, among others.

Finding the Best Food Truck Builder

A food truck is a significant investment financially, and therefore, choosing the proper food truck manufacturer is crucial. The design and build of your food truck are vital for your future mobile business success. You need to hire a builder that will help you invest wisely. They should have the experience of building a food truck that suits your business model and brand. 

Contact us to have any questions answered.

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1. Buying a Food Truck that’s New or Used

When it comes to buying a food truck, one goal is to save money. But this often overshadows the other thing people should actually place first, and that’s ensuring the food truck is right for your needs and will help you hit your growth goals. Unfortunately, a large number of family businesses will go the used route for buying a food truck, and they will spend a few thousand on having it re-painted or they will get a vinyl wrap to brand it to their business. And while this option saves you money upfront, it is very risky and sets you up to lose even more revenue in the long run. In fact, last year more than 80 percent of new food truck businesses had to close their doors after only running for less than two years. The main reason was due to food truck equipment malfunctions, engine problems, or the need for other repairs. Not only did these recurring bills cause family businesses to lose thousands, being off the street and out of business caused the loss of income, food waste, and regular customers wound up going to competitors. Simply put, business never picked up for these people and they kept hemorrhaging money. 

When it comes to buying a food truck, invest in a new custom design that makes sense for your business and individual growth goals.

2. Buying a Food Truck from a Builder that Sets You Up to be Successful 

When buying a food truck you will want to work with a builder that has marketing chops, and that understands growth-driven food truck design. When you want to learn how to choose a food truck design, your builder should be your partner and help you come up with a concept that’s fully grounded in understanding your menu, business model, your customers, and your growth goals. The platform needs to be just the right size to help you run a successful food truck business right out the gate but also allow for enough room to add additional employees and extra equipment as you expand your business. When buying a food truck make sure a growth-driven design meets future needs, but don’t go too big, as this can add to operational costs. 

3. Choose High-Quality Materials

Buying a food truck that promotes profitability means working with a food truck builder that only uses the highest quality materials. The interior should be stainless steel, as it is easy to clean, keep clean, and highly durable. Avoid porous materials like plastics and fiberglass that can trap moisture and food debris thus forming mold and causing sanitary problems that can shut you down and destroy your reputation. Also, choose technology that makes sense. If you plan to operate in the Downtown area during lunch hours, you will get people who are in a hurry to place their order, pick up their food, and get back to the office. Investing in an app that allows for early order placing, and having a display screen showing orders that are ready, or in process, will create a user-friendly experience and usher in more customers. 

Discuss these options and others with your food truck company, and make sure that when buying a food truck you take these points to heart.

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Buying A Food Truck with a Platform You can Grow Into

It goes without saying that you need a food truck platform that provides enough space for your employees, prep area, and food truck equipment. But never forget that you are buying a food truck for a business you want to grow. This means your food truck platform must also accommodate your future needs. As your business grows you will be able to hire more people and extend your menu to serve a larger community, and more customers at once. Naturally, when buying a food truck, your builder should have a solid understanding of your business model, market and customers and design your food truck based on projected models so it will serve you well now, and in the years to come.

New VS Used: The Food Truck Option that Really Saves Money

Unfortunately, most people think they save money by buying a food truck that’s used as opposed to the new one with the more expensive price tag. But here’s the problem: used food trucks are commonly associated with expensive repairs and unreliable businesses. In fact, more than 80 percent of new food truck businesses fail in their first year of operation, and one of the leading reasons includes repetitive expensive repairs on food truck equipment and engine repair on used vehicles, and all the time these trucks spend in the shop simply sends customers to the competition. When you weigh the risks and do the math, a new food truck is significantly cheaper in the long run and saves food truck businesses thousands of dollars and a series of headaches.

Get A Food Truck Design that Speaks to Your Buyers

Make sure that when buying a food truck you work with a builder who can design a food truck that speaks to your target customers. The better you can get customers to form an emotional connection with your menu, the greater your profits. For example, if you plan to start a food truck business down by a popular beach known for surfing and scuba diving, you can design the vehicle with an image of a couple scuba divers eating a fish taco with a surfer. Basically, you want to appeal to the people you are trying to feed. In addition, by creating familiarity in your design other beach goers in this scenario would be drawn to your food truck because they too can make that local connection. Visual representations of your customers, nearby landmarks, and other visual components can be reflected in a hand-painted food truck design, or in a vinyl wrap.

Call your local food truck builder today, and review these talking points with them to ensure you are buying a food truck that makes sense for your business needs.  

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1. Used Food Truck Equipment and Platforms

We all love to save money, and often people think that used food truck equipment and platforms are a great route to take in order to shave off some of the upfront cost. But in reality if your food truck company is trying to sell you used equipment and previously used platforms, this presents a big red flag. When food trucks builders go under and aren’t able to compete against their higher quality competitors, it is almost always due to lack of skill that destroys them. So rather than folding, they buy previously owned food truck platforms, clean them up, and retrofit them to trucks. They also get used equipment for next to nothing and charge a bit more so they can make a profit, and the customer appears to be saving.

Here’s the reality: you may save up front, but in the long run this play almost always costs food truck owners thousands of dollars. Used food truck equipment is not reliable and is notorious for breaking down. Not only does used equipment require ongoing costly repairs, but the time you are off the street and away from your customers creates massive financial losses and a drop in your customer numbers because they go to your competition. Instead, look for a high-quality food truck builder that provides clients with new, latest and greatest food truck equipment priced lower than the competition while still being very competitive. You are only paying slightly more anyway, but you get a guarantee that your food truck equipment will be reliable and only need routine maintenance.

2. Buying Custom Food Trucks with No Repair Center

Avoid doing business with food truck companies that don’t offer repairs or perform maintenance. If you were shopping for a new car would you buy one from a company that doesn’t have repair and maintenance services in their dealerships? Of course not. Not only is it a bad look attesting to a lack of quality, but it presents a huge risk, as nobody knows a product better than the manufacturer, and it just makes sense to have service offered by the best. Often, food truck builders that don’t perform maintenance or repairs run this way because they lack skills. Whether they aren’t able to employee a regular team of technicians, or they outsource certain technical positions during the building process and are therefore not able to schedule routine repairs, this is a red flag to look out for. Be sure to work with a food truck company that can make repairs and maintain your food truck.

3. New Food Truck Companies

Just because someone is new in business doesn’t mean they are bad. However, when you are buying custom food trucks, new companies can present red flags for two main reasons. First, some bad food truck builders have tainted the entire industry by performing poor quality work, getting fined or called out, and then they change their business name and re-open under a new disguise. This doesn’t happen often, but it is known to be an issue. So if the food truck company is new, research the owner of the food truck builder business to ensure there isn’t a paper trail of deceit trying to be hid. Finally, new food truck builders simply lack the experience that veteran builders have. Look for a food truck company that has at least 20 years of experience to ensure you will get a high-quality custom food truck capable of helping you hit your growth goals.

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Buying a Food Truck from the Right Company

Finding the right food truck builder is, obviously, crucial. But most people fail to recognize how value is defined. You may not know it, but your goals revolve around buying a food truck from a builder who understands your business model, market, growth goals and provides you with the best solution to achieve all business objectives.

Therefore, the first thing you should be cognizant of when buying a food truck is the actual strategy and process the builder embraces when constructing the heart of your business. All too often, people buying a food truck focus on the price tag. But what they don’t know is that real value lives in the approach. A food truck design must be customized to your menu, target customers, and goals. And if you can find a company that takes the time to understand your customers, local market, and that focuses on your growth goals, the value of your investment will be significantly greater.

Buying a Food Truck that’s New VS. Used

There is a big misconception that when buying a food truck people save money by purchasing a used vehicle. The fact of the matter is that used food trucks are unpredictable, and when running a successful business, there is no room for the unknown.

A significant number of failed food trucks never achieved their growth goals due to technical and mechanical problems, and inadequately designed food truck designs. In fact, food truck businesses have reported losing multiple thousands of dollars in repairs. Not only did they have to pay to have their used food truck repaired multiple times throughout the year, but the time the food truck was off the street business was lost and customers went to the competition.

This is why buying a food truck that is new, reliable, and custom to your business model is crucial for success. Your custom food truck should be built to accommodate your current capabilities, but also provide room for future growth. In other words, if your food truck business revolves around fish and chips, and your current menu offers fried fish, and one of your growth goals is to expand and offer grilled fish, your food truck must have the space to accommodate new or upgraded equipment, as well as have enough floor space for additional employees.

Therefore, buying a used food truck does not present the most value even though you might be paying a lower sticker price. Instead, when buying a food truck, look for a high-quality custom food truck that will facilitate growth.

The post Are You Buying a Food Truck? What Most New Buyers Don’t Know appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.

But how do food service distributors know how to shop custom food truck companies for a single vehicle or fleet of food trucks that can meet their specific requirements? These tips will help.

The Best Custom Food Truck Builders Serve Wide Consumer Audiences

The trademark of top food truck companies are those who manufacture vehicles for a wide buyer audience. When custom food truck builders have deep portfolios from working with companies like Google and Disney, to family-run food truck businesses and single entrepreneurs, being able to win repeat business from various clients with opposing needs is a true testimony to the food truck company’s ability to make loved, custom work where any challenge can be overcome.

Look for Food Truck Designers with an Eye for Marketing

The food service distribution industry is extremely competitive, so knowing how to market yourself through your food truck is paramount to hitting your growth goals. The best food truck designers will take your current operations into account, your growth goals, and research your market before designing a food truck.

A good food truck design is never limited to colorful graphics. Rather, it should begin with the platform type. In order to stay profitable, food service companies will need food trucks that allow their employees and chefs the space and room to function, with a little room left for growth. You never want to go too big, as the larger your vehicle, the more money you spend in gas and powering the platform. Ideally, you want something with a tad more space than currently required to facilitate growth goals.

In addition to choosing a platform and its equipment, food truck designers make the vehicle attractive with art work and messaging designed to resonate with your target buyers. If you are a corporation like Kraft and you have a food service division that prepares meals for a large movie studio, you will want food truck designers who consider target clients, their employees tastes, and design a food truck that speaks to their demands. Whether they use a vinyl wrap or they hand-paint a food truck with catchy call-to-actions and bright, head-turning artwork, food truck designers must always look through a marketing lens at all times.

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The foundation to finding the best vehicle suited to meet your business growth goals is to work with the best custom food trucks builder in the country that understand your market and what it takes to succeed. These three tips will help you find the best company that builds custom food trucks according to your growth goals, market, and competition.

1. Today’s Custom Food Trucks Must Have the Best Equipment

All too often business owners will be willing to invest in high-end platforms, attractive vinyl wraps, and they go for used kitchen equipment thinking they are saving money. Reputable companies that manufacturer custom food trucks won’t even offer these as options because they have a reputation to protect. When stove tops, broilers, freezers and ranges break down, food can spoil and the ability to serve your product and compete in your local market is axed until you can get your equipment repaired. In the long run, saving money up front on used food truck equipment will likely cost you more in the long run. Be sure your kitchen equipment is just as high quality as your platform is.

2. Work with a Custom Food Truck Builder that Knows Marketing

You may not think that a food truck builder has any business knowing about marketing in order to build mobile kitchens for their clients. But the truth of the matter is that understanding a customer’s business model, how their menu is received within their target market, and what the competition does to stay successful, custom food truck builders can design a kitchen and work space that will help business owners achieve their growth goals. For example, if a family invests in a custom food truck that can accommodate two people, and their goal is to double their output in two years, the food truck manufacturer will know how to create just enough space without going too big, or to small.

3. Work with a True Creative Custom Food Truck Manufacturer

Finding a food truck builder capable of welding and constructing a solid platform is certainly important,but make sure you never sacrifice on creativity. The best custom food truck manufacturers have creative teams that help you brand your truck through hand-painted graphics and designs, or with luxurious colorful vinyl wraps. True creatives will know how to help you take your menu, brand name, location, and customers to create a logo and choose the right colors that will make your food truck easily recognizable and attractive.

Your Ideal Custom Food Truck Company is a Phone Call Away

When it comes to vetting custom food truck builders, you have several options. Make sure those who make your short list meet these guidelines. Then get a good feel for each company. Pay attention to how attentive they are to your needs. Do they ask a lot of probing questions about your business and goals? Ask to see their portfolio and look for a nice mix of big corporate clients along with family-owned and single owner food trucks. Once you can nail down this criteria, you will be well on your way to securing a custom food truck designed to dominate your space.

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If you have been entertaining the idea of expanding your restaurant’s brick-and-mortar presence to those customers on the streets who have yet to taste your cuisine or know your brand, get a quote from a custom food truck builder for corporate clients with the experience to help you hit those high-revenue targets and expand your brand awareness. Still not sure if this is your best move? Here are some reasons why investing in food trucks has helped numerous restaurant brands grow and expand at highly profitable rates.

Food Trucks Boost Catering Quality

While many of the best restaurants offer catering services, few use food trucks to make the process and experience better for clients and their own internal. The fact of the matter is that food trucks make catering a lot easier for restaurant staff and their internal operations while providing a fun and more efficient experience for the customer. Rather than have to use up space in your restaurant’s kitchen to prep for the catering gig, a food truck allows staff to prep, cook, and serve food all from one convenient platform. Food trucks also prevent those common problems where food runs low and someone has to sprint back to the restaurant to prep and cook another batch. Having a food truck to run your catering events also allows food to be cooked and served on demand thus cutting food waste and ensuring top freshness to clients.

Keep in mind that most people at catering events will likely have had zero exposure to your food, so using a food truck branded with your restaurants logo, social media hashtags, and contact information will make your brand stand out more in the minds of those who taste your food for the first time. In essence, food trucks are branded advertising on wheels; when you roll up to a catering event, your food truck’s very appearance does a part of your marketing for you.

Each Food Truck can Function as Its Own Business

In the same sense that multiple restaurants under the same brand name run, basically, as their own businesses, so too do food trucks. Each food truck your business invests in has the potential to attract and maintain cross-sections of your consumer audience–an ideal way to expand your restaurant’s presence and earning potential. When investing in food trucks to offer more intimate menus directed at specific eaters in your customer database, you can tailor each food truck differently to attract these customers while your brick-and-mortar location likely sticks to a more broad, general approach to customer attraction. This will allow you to run multiple strategies, and run optimization tests to maximize earnings.

Food Trucks Increase Your Locations

Whether you have a single brick-and-mortar location or a few restaurant spots, investing in food trucks will offer a low overhead opportunity to expand your presence. The best part is that your mobile locations can move around. This is highly advantageous because it allows you to go where your customers are based on seasonality and other factors such as outdoor activities, concerts, and festivals.

One more restaurant location means you can attract and serve more customers while getting your name out there.  With a food truck, your target audience and reach will grow, especially because it is mobile.

A business on wheels can do you wonders in expanding your visibility. Make sure you partner with a food truck builder that has a strong portfolio of big restaurant clients and large corporations and prepare to re-enter sections of your market that have been left in the dark.

The post Why Restaurants Should Expand and Invest in Food Trucks appeared first on Legion Food Trucks.