Population
(Number)
Square Miles
(Square.Miles)
Population – Density
(Density.Figure)
Population – Male
(Percentage.Male)%
Population – Female
(Percentage.Female)%
Target Population – Age Group
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
Target Population by Income
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
(Percentage)%
Our primary focus group will be:
(Primary.FocusGroup) – (Reason)
(Secondary.FocusGroup) – (Reason)
(Tertiary.FocusGroup) – (Reason)
The following industry statistics and size facts show that the food truck will do well in (Location).
The factors are as follows:
Our proposal will be successful since [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] (Founder name) has been in the food industry for the last (Number) years and [Sender.Company] has several strengths in its corner:
[Sender.Company] aims to deliver a food truck focusing on (Brand.Focus). For that purpose, we will provide the following:
(List your product and services)
The [Sender.Company] will focus on its unique value proposition, offering (Selling.Point) in a convenient location for customers and excelling in our customer service offering. We will reach out to the community via the following methods:
We will blanket the surrounding neighborhoods of (Neighbourhood), (Neighbourhood), and (Neighbourhood) with direct mail pieces. This direct mail will provide information on [Sender.Company] and give discounts or other inducements to convince residents to try out the food truck.
[Sender.Company] will contact local and community newspapers to gain awareness and explain our unique offering.
Initial advertisements will be in the local and area newspapers to gain awareness.
We will set up social media accounts, with boards/pamphlets/plaques, providing the handles at the food truck and on the direct mail to gain a loyal following.
Free food samples will be available during the first (Period) the operation runs, handed out by employees to passersby.
A website and monthly newsletter will be available to tell the community about our products, discounts, and services.
[Sender.Company] will organize pre-opening events to attract prospective customers, press contacts, and local merchants. These events can help place attention on the brand.
The functional and administrative roles of [Sender.Company] to execute a successful business strategy will be:
Legal, marketing, and bookkeeping admin
Sourcing and storage of ingredients
Hiring and training of staff members
Ongoing menu creations and modification
Food preparation
Customer service
Dine-in and take-out order-taking and fulfillment
Maintenance of food truck
The company milestones we expect to reach over the following year:
Date | Milestone |
---|---|
(Date) | Finalize lease agreement |
(Date) | Purchase a truck and customize it to the brand |
(Date) | Hire and train the initial staff |
(Date) | Launch [Sender.Company] to the public |
(Date) | Reach the break-even amount |
[Sender.Company] is led by [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] (Founder name) and the following people of interest are part of the managing organization:
Board of Directors: | (Add names) |
---|---|
Advisors: | (Add names) |
Accountants: | (Add names) |
Lawyers: | (Add names) |
Consultants: | (Add names) |
Staff Positions: | |
(Add names) | |
(Add names) | |
(Add names) | |
(Add names) |
[Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] will serve as the overall food truck manager. However, we will implement a hiring plan to fill the following positions:
(Number) Wait-staff
(Number) Chefs
(Number) Sous-chefs
(Number) Assistant Managers
Total funding required: $(Amount)
Purchase of truck and customization: $(Amount)
Working capital until break-even: $(Amount)
Funding received to date: $(Amount)
Budget still required: $(Amount)
We at [Sender.Company] are excited to work with you and look forward to your correspondence. For more information and to become part of this exciting business venture, contact (Representative.Name) on (Phone.Number) or by using (Email).
[Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName]
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Want to look inside the business plan of a real food truck business? We’ve organized detailed business plan templates from successful food trucks and made them available to you in PDF and Word doc in this post. In addition to offer templates, we give you detailed instruction how to complete each section of the plan using this guide.
Before we dive in, keep in mind that it could take weeks if not months of planning to develop a business plan that’s helpful. Whatever time takes for you to write the business plan will be well spent. When researched correctly this document serves as the “game plan” for operating your entire mobile food business and sets the direction of your company.
Approach this document seriously because it can become the roadmap to operate your business and ensure you’re set up for success. When you’ve finished writing your plan, you should know where you plan to vend, estimated food costs, the marketing plan, and how you’ll raise money for the food truck. Pretty important stuff right? Let’s dig in.
I want you to get the most value possible out of your business planning process. Why? I believe having an accurate business plan gives you the best odds of success for operating a profitable food truck.
And if you’re going to be investing tens of thousands of dollars into a food truck or trailer, cooking equipment, and permits, why not invest a few days creating a detailed plan for how to run the business.
Here’s one example why going through this process can be helpful from our Annual Food Truck Academy class, where train future food truck owners how to start a food truck. One student completed her research estimating food cost, overhead, and anticipated sales as part of her business plan. Then she came back and revealed that based on her current plan, the food truck wouldn’t be profitable. After factoring in tax, labor, and food costs there were no profits left over.
Our student was initially discouraged by the numbers, but I was happy. It’s much better to identify a revenue short-fall before you start the business than months after when you see sales coming in, but can’t figure out why there’s nothing left in the bank account. As a result of the work invested on the front end through planning, she was able to evaluate her ingredient cost and pricing to create a business plan that set herself up for success.
Still, many first time food vendors don’t take the time to put in this work. It’s a shame because it’s so easily avoidable.
One more tip before we get into researching and writing the business plan, don’t get overly hung-up on the structure of the document. Unless you plan to apply for a small business loan (then you will need to be more concerned about formatting, but let’s worry about that later), you’re not going to be graded on how pretty the document looks or how nice the nice fonts and illustrations. This isn’t an assignment for school where you’re going through the motions to get a B.
Instead focus your energy on making this plan useful for your business. Find specific locations that you plan to sell food. Get the contact information for these venues to learn how you can get into them. Figure out your exact food cost and how much it’s going to cost to get permits in your area. Putting ink to paper or word document is going to make the operations of your business real.
Now let’s get on with making your game plan!
Note to Reader: This is part of a series of posts following the process of starting a food truck with Anthony Salvagno (featured in the image below) as he writes a business plan, seeks funding, develops a concept, builds a menu, and ultimately launches his first food truck. Listen to the audio lesson inside this post to learn more about writing a winning food truck business plan.
The person that doesn’t have one [a business plan] sets themselves up for failure. – Anthony Salvagno on the importance of thinking before leaping into a business.
In my opinion, this case study is most effective when listening to the audio and downloading the example that Salvagno was kind enough to provide for this post. I’ve also linked to other resources that can help you write your own business plan.
Download Business Plan – Yes, this is the PDF business plan used to acquire $5,000 for a food truck during a business pitch competition. This document is referenced in the companion podcast.
Download Business Plan Template – Here’s a sample template you can use and edit for your own truck.
SBA – Create Your Business Plan – The Small Business Administration (SBA) does an excellent job outlining the steps needed to create a business plan. It’s not food truck specific, but it gives you what you need and there’s plenty of valuable information here.
You can learn a lot by reading business plans for other food businesses like restaurants as well. Operating a profitable restaurant is similar to operating a successful mobile food business. The main different is that a trailer is that it’s mobile.
Below is an outline of the key sections you’ll need to complete for a standard business plan with a description of how each section applies to a food truck or trailer business. Complete each section and you’ve got yourself a real plan for your business my friend.
Keep in mind that if you’re creating this document for yourself and not a banker you don’t need to get fancy with the formatting. The important thing is to have a detailed plan for the business before you open. If you feel the burning desire to make this look nice, you can make formatting updates after the
This is an overview of the information contained in the business plan and should introduce the name of your food truck and the food you plan to serve. This section should only be one page in length. Give readers the high-level overview of what the plan. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to dive into the nitty gritty in the next sections of the document.
The purpose of this section in most business plans is to give prospective investors information about your startup. Lenders reviewing a small business loan might be another audience, although they will be much more focused on financial side of things. But for most of our readers this section is for you, a business partner, and potentially a spouse.
For our Executive Summary we included 2 – 3 sentences describing these important aspects of the business. The provides anyone reading this document with a general understanding of what the business is and how it expects to make money:
Again, unless you plan to bring on outside investors don’t worry too much about perfect formatting in the executive summary. This is to ensure you and your partners are clear on the high-level plan for the business.
The mission statement for a food truck can be as short as a sentence or as long as a paragraph. This statement should define what you plan to serve, who you will serve, and the ultimate vision for the business. When done right the mission statement should guide every major decision you make for the business.
Here’s the mission statement from our business plan as an example:
To provide the residents of our city, young and old, an out of this world gourmet peanut butter and jelly inspired sandwich experience. We use local ingredients and provide gluten-free, contaminant-free products for those with special dietary needs.
When a mission statement is done right it should actually influence how you operate and run your business day to day. For example, since the utilization of local ingredients is part of our mission statement, we’ve got to actively be looking for local suppliers to buy inventory. If we don’t, we’ve failed.
We also need to consider the dietary needs of different groups of people. This impacts the sandwiches we put on our menu every day. Again, if we don’t do this, won’t reach the goal we’ve set out to achieve.
A mission statement can be the most influential part of the business plan when it’s used the right way. On the other hand, this guide can be forgotten when it’s not used to guide decisions. To learn more about making impactful mission statements, watch this interview to go deeper on the subject.
This is the fun part. Here you will describe what you hope the food truck will become, the food you plan to serve, and why you believe it will be a successful business. For most food trucks this section only needs to be a few paragraphs in length.
Make sure to include information on why your food is both desirable and unique to customers in the area. Also, if you have some type of theme, like an island theme for example, include little details like this in the description.
If you plan to operate something more mainstream like taco truck, take the time to express what it is that makes you different in your market. A common way food trucks differentiate themselves is through their ingredients or style. For example, you could be the only taco truck in town that uses organic, locally raised meats. Or you might be the only one in town that specializes in making fish tacos. Find a way to standout and offer something that isn’t available elsewhere.
You want folks that read this section to be able to clearly envision the kind of overall experience they’ll enjoy when visiting your food truck. Here are a few guidelines for writing this section:
As you can see from our own business plan, we differentiated ourselves through seasonal menu changes all the time and have menu options that cater to people that require a gluten-free diet. It’s also worth noting that our core product of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is unique to the market.
Understand the players in your market before starting a business.
For smaller markets with a couple hundred thousand people living nearby this section might be short and include just 4 – 5 other trucks. However, if you’re entering a market like Los Angeles this section will be larger and more in-depth.
If you’re planning to enter a market that has 10 traditional taco trucks and you plan to start a traditional taco truck too, it will be to differentiate yourself from other vendors in the area.
Consider adding a spin to your own food concept like serving Asian tacos instead to provide local consumers will more variety and fill a potential need. If you’re not sure about the type of truck you want to create yet, looking at the market and seeing what type of food is missing can be a smart way to approach this.
In this area you’ll also want to identify the type of customer that will frequent your establishment. Any data about local trends that you can find will be useful to include as well like this report from IBIS World that forecasts growth in the United States food truck industry for the next 5 years. Google can be a good friend in locating the data to include in the document.
Most food truck owners start with a management structure of one.
This section is straightforward for most food vendors. You can list yourself as the owner and operator if that applies. But don’t forget about key employees or partners too. Many food trucks need a team of 3 – 5 employees to operate successfully during a lunch rush. Make sure these long-term players are accounted for.
In our business plan, it’s a partnership between brothers. The work load is split up between one brother operating the front of the house and marketing: accepting orders, booking new business and events, emailing and calling catering leads. The other brother focuses more on the chef duties including sourcing ingredients, cooking food, working with suppliers, and ensuring food quality.
Industry Survey Results: What is the Average Income of a Food Truck Vendor?
If you have more than one owner of the business this is where you want to take the opportunity to clearly define roles. This is an extremely important section of the document when multiple parties and their money are involved. By outlining everyones responsibilities in this document, it serves as a record of who was in responsible for certain aspects of the business. The more people involved, the more diligent you need to be with assigning tasks.
If it’s not written down, it’s easy for partners to recall things differently. This will help avoid conflict in the future for all parties involved. You need this.
The more stakeholders involved, the more complicated this section will be. You should also include investors and advisors in this section even when people aren’t excepted to help with the daily business operations. Outline what value these people have delivered to the business and what return they can expect in the future.
Ready-made meals can be a great way to diversify your product line.
Finally… This is the section you finally get to describe your food. I recommend outlining the main menu items and any signature dishes that you have in this section. But don’t stop at just the food that you plan to serve.
Other products and services that you plan to offer could include corporate catering gigs or weddings. These can be the biggest money makers for a mobile food vendor.
It pays to think outside the box too in this section. Some vendors that started out by serving food out the window of a truck exclusively have now begun to sell their trademark dishes in stores, online, or at restaurant. Don’t forget to think about possible paths for growth in the business.
A food truck can serve as a mobile promotional platform.
How do you plan to market your business and get sales? One of the biggest factors that determine the success / failure of a lunch truck is location. Will you be able to get into major events or areas with a lot of potential customers?
One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself to input into your sales and marketing plan is to create a tentative list of places you might be able to vend. Get extremely granular with this task. In fact, it might even help to print out a map to evaluate where the best potential vending locations are in your area.
Here’s the information you should gather as part of this process. You can add this information inside the sales and marketing section of the business plan as you gather it.
Here are some locations that work well for food trucks:
Pro Tip: Make sure to have a a lot of different parking location options before getting started. Not every location you try is going to be profitable. By developing a big list of opportunities upfront, you won’t feel stressed about vending options because your dream vending location didn’t work out.
There are an endless number of tactics you can use to attempt to drum up business in the early days, but for most successful food business getting into events with big hungry crowds is the first step to building a brand locally and gaining traction. Learn more about finding profitable vending locations here.
Just another day on the food truck.
The key to a good funding request is knowing exactly how much money you need and having a detailed plan explaining how you plan to use it. For food truck owners, the biggest early expense will be in buying a food truck and the kitchen equipment installed onboard.
You should also account for the amount of money you’ve raised or have on hand in this section. In our business plan for example, we were looking at $55,000 all-in to start the business. This would include the purchase of a food truck, our initial inventory of food, and permits. Be extremely diligent in outlining how you intend to spend every dollar in this section. It will safe you time late in the process and lenders will appreciate your attention to detail.
We were able to bring $14,850 or 27% of that total investment to the table that was raised mostly through personal savings, a small crowd funding campaign, and winning a business plan contest. The remaining 73% was acquired through the help of a small business loan. Being able to start a real food business like this for below $15,000 out of pocket is pretty cool.
Reader’s Note: If you’re not planning to seek funding through a traditional bank (or are simply planning to take out a personal loan based on your credit history) you can technically disregard this section, although you should still analyze closely how you intend to spend your money.
If you plan on asking for friends and family for money this attention to detail can help too. Even if they’re not in the food industry, it’s easy to understand that a commercial oven or fridge could cost a few thousand dollars. If you have a specific use for funds that makes sense, it increases the likelihood of obtaining a loan with friendly terms amongst family.
This is an extremely important area to spend time on before starting a food truck. I’d argue this section is as important as the product, sales and marketing plan of the business plan. This section will offer your first insight into whether or not the business idea you have is going to work or not in its present form.
From a practical standpoint, the main thing you want to figure out is what your break-even point for the business is. In other words, how much food do you need to sell in order to pay all of your monthly expenses? This is a simple, but critical question you must find the answer to before getting started.
You can determine the break-even point for a food truck business with this formula:
Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs) = Bread Even Point
Here’s the due diligence you’ll need to complete to find the break-even point for your food truck:
Based on your current fixed cost and variable cost estimates, find out how many total sales of your food total you would need to generate to pay all your bills. Does that number seem seem attainable based on the frequency you plan to vend each month?
Figuring out what your sales is going to be in the future will be the biggest leap of faith you make in the business plan. I always urge people to be being super conservative with sales estimates. You are going to have slow days and extremely busy days when you get out into the real world. Being financially ready for challenging times will make your business more resilient.
Forecasting Financial Projections:
In the financial projections, focus on estimating how much money you will make in the first year of the business. Investing too much time on longterm projections 5-years out doesn’t make any sense since you haven’t actually started the business yet. After the business has been operating for about a month, you’ll want to go back and review the previous estimates to ensure everything is making sense.
While estimating the projected revenue will require some guessing, figuring out startup and monthly operating expenses once the business gets going is much simpler. While there might be unexpected expenses that pop up before opening the business, you already know the monthly bills like insurance, phone, inventory, loan payments (if you have one), commissary. Read our post that includes a spreadsheet on the Complete Breakdown of Food Truck Operation Costs for help researching this section.
Here are a few other quick tips for the financial projections section:
This is the place to include your permit from the health department, photos of the vehicle, and other legal documents needed to operate a mobile food business. This is a good spot to add photos of food or people smiling and enjoying your meals at events (if you’ve vended at an event already). Add in anything else you feel could be helpful too.
Here are a few key concepts pulled straight from the audio companion of this guide.
Good question. That really depends on who you ask.
There’s a whole group of like savvy entrepreneurs and business people who don’t believe in the business plan at all. They’re like okay, you have this written document that you never ever use again. But then there’s this whole other group of people that actually believe in the business plan.
If you’re planning to try to get a traditional bank loan you will need to create a business plan. Having a written plan does not guarantee you will be approved for a loan. In fact, you might get turned down even with an okay credit history.
While it’s not perfect, I firmly believe going through the process of writing a business plan, when taken seriously improves your chances of success. You want to understand your competition. You want to understand where you plan to park. You want to have a few ideas about how you might market your business and what your overhead is going to be before starting the business. This document helps you make more educated decisions based on the work you’ve put in.
The Bottom Line: Will drafting a detailed business plan like this one take a long time? You bet it will. If you do it right, it could easily take a month or two to complete. But the benefits of doing so can be worth it and pay dividends for the life of your business.
So what’s the next step? I suggest enrolling in our free food truck business kit to learn more about the startup process.
Hey! I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.
We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.
If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.
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Download our template and start creating your food truck business plan today.
Updated June 25, 2023 Written by Josh Sainsbury | Reviewed by Brooke Davis
Are you ready to start a food truck business? You will have many questions at this beginning stage, and a sample food truck business plan can help you find answers.
With the right food truck business plan, you will be better prepared to find investors and get your company on the road.
A food truck costs less to start up than a brick-and-mortar business, but it still requires capital to get going.
Once you know how to write a business plan for a food truck, you can seek the money you need to get started and outline a plan for success.
How to write a business plan for a food truck, food truck business plan sample.
Many people think: “It’s a food truck; it’s simple. Why do I need a business plan?” A food truck requires planning, just like any other successful business. It would be best if you answered questions like:
A business plan sets the essential details you need for yourself and anyone looking to invest. Successful food truck businesses create a consistent schedule of where they will be and how they will communicate their location.
They know how they will buy their products and how much they will mark up to make a profit.
You must plan accordingly if you invest tens of thousands into a food truck. If you want others to support you, they need to know what they are getting into.
A food truck business plan lays out important details to attract the right kind of capital investors.
To develop your business plan, you must be prepared to cover critical topics and include the correct information.
If you use the template and complete each section correctly, you will have a well-formed business plan for you and potential investors.
The first section of your food truck business plan should be the executive summary. This is an introduction and overview for whoever is reading the plan. It should make an excellent first impression and offer concise information without too much detail.
The executive summary highlights what your food truck business will look like and how it will be successful. It is considered by many to be the most crucial section of your business plan.
As for any startup business, you must build a solid case for the idea’s merit and why others should get financially involved. A typical executive summary includes sections such as:
This section can contain a mission statement that describes your business values and philosophy. It should focus on concrete and achievable future goals for the company.
Your business plan should include ownership information and details about the management team. A detailed outline of responsibilities sets the tone for how your food truck will run and makes expectations clear to everyone involved.
It also demonstrates to investors that you have considered how you will run your business effectively.
Ownership information should include the following:
You also want to include information that fully outlines and profiles your management team. For each individual, this should have their
This is the section where you talk about the most essential part of your business — the food you will sell. Your business plan’s products and services section should include the full menu you plan to use at the opening.
If your full menu isn’t yet prepared, get it done to include it in the business plan. Including a fully designed menu shows you are ready to start your food truck immediately.
This section will also address:
Addressing each of these details is important to investors. It also provides guidelines to keep your good ideas practicable and achievable in a competitive food truck business market.
Knowing who will buy your product is vital to a food truck business plan. This section will outline who will be interested in your food and why they will buy it. Are you focusing on a certain demographic, or is your food pleasing to many different types of customers?
You must outline this information and provide sufficient facts. One of the most common mistakes in business plans is to make statements without supporting evidence.
Your market research should be included here to show why you will have customers who will utilize your business.
Marketing is a key factor in the success of a food truck. How you advertise can make or break your brand recognition and ultimately affect your sales.
Your business plan should answer questions like:
This information is crucial and should be addressed in detail in this section. Be specific with your marketing strategies.
Vague information demonstrates that you have failed to clearly outline how you intend to advertise your food truck to the public.
This section should address your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The SWOT section is a framework used to evaluate how a company will compete in the market.
It analyses internal and external factors affecting your food truck’s success. It uses realistic and fact-based data, not your best hopes. This section should utilize actual data-driven market research.
The analysis should focus on why the product line will be successful against its competition. It should answer questions like:
Answering these questions in detail provides key insights into how your food truck business will succeed despite any challenges.
With this information, investors can be assured their capital is wisely invested, and you are the right choice.
This section focuses on financial projections for the food truck company. It offers information about how your business will perform. Your financial information should address your break-even point and how you will exceed that amount.
The owners and investors must know how much money it will take to cover expenses, much less see a profit.
This section should also include:
This information should be backed up with complex data from your market research.
This section will outline the nitty-gritty operational details of your food truck business. It will include information related to products and services but will also outline crucial details like:
These crucial details show how you will get the job done each day. Every business owner understands it takes work — not just a great idea — to succeed.
Investors know this too, and will look for your business operations plans.
The appendix is the place to include legal documents and other important information relevant to the rest of your business plan. Here you can provide the following:
This section is meant to bolster the rest of your business plan and end on a positive note. Pictures of smiling people eating your food may leave a positive image for anyone who has read your business plan.
The appendix is flexible and meant to give you options.
Legal Templates can provide a free sample food truck business plan to help you get started. Whether you are just beginning the process or ready to look for investors, we can help.
Use a template builder to build your business plan step-by-step. See the food truck business plan sample below:
You can download a business plan in Word format here or start creating your food truck business plan using our document builder.
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With the increasing popularity of food trucks, it’s essential to prep your operation before you start prepping your mise en place. A solid food truck business plan puts you at the front of the grid when the race begins.
The US street vendor sector was valued at $2.49 billion in 2022, up from the previous year’s total of $2.29 billion. The market is expected to grow another 1.7% in 2023.
For those with aspirations of culinary greatness, a food truck is the perfect setting to develop new recipes while building a fan base, or even an online business, without the expense and risk of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
There is even a street food chef in Singapore with a Michelin star, proving that you don’t need a giant kitchen and 50 sous chefs to build a reputation for quality, innovation, and deliciousness.
Starting a mobile food business is subject to the same challenges and pitfalls as any other startup operation. But there are special considerations for food trucks to address before you open the window to start slinging sandwiches (or tacos, or barbeque, or …).
You may want to open up our handy business plan template so you can take notes, or jot down your brilliant ideas as they come to you. We also talked to seasoned food truck operators and entrepreneurs Natalie Basile and Mikey Wheeler-Johnson of Eats Amoré Mobile Italian Cuisine , who share their knowledge and experience throughout this guide.
From the executive summary to the financial details, we’ll show you how to build a food truck business plan for savory success.
Even though this is the first section in your business plan, it’s the last section you should write. Your executive summary captures all the highlights from the rest of your business plan, so get those sorted out first.
This is Shopify’s business plan template. You can download it below.
When it’s time to write this section, think about your audience. If you’re writing a business plan for yourself as a way to stay organized, motivated, and focused on your goals, this summary can be quick and dirty.
Free: Food Truck Business Plan Template
Business planning is often used to secure funding, but plenty of business owners find writing a plan valuable, even if they never work with an investor. That’s why we put together a free business plan template to help you get started.
If your business plan is meant to secure a bank loan or impress potential investors, your executive summary will need to focus on profit, reliability, and the fact that you know what you’re doing—so your food truck feels like a safe bet.
While it’s important to mention what makes your food service model unique, spend plenty of time showing that you also understand the realities of running a small business.
This section is your opportunity to explain what is going to make your vehicular vittles different and more successful than every other food truck on the road.
As part of this section you’ll need to tell your audience what makes you capable of running a profitable food business.
Lenders might invest in you based on the strength of your new business idea, but experience will improve your chances.
At Eats Amoré, even though neither Mikey nor Natalie has professional cooking experience, they do have a proud family history of producing delicious food. “Natalie learned to cook from her grandmother, who’s from Naples, Italy. And then her mom is an organic farmer, so she learned traditional recipes with fresh ingredients, which is the backbone of Italian cooking,” says Mikey.
In addition to your own position in your food truck business, this section is the place where you’ll outline the types of employees you have or will need to hire. Food trucks are small, so chances are you won’t need a lot of staff or a management team, but you could consider hiring prep staff, cleaners, etc.
The company overview is also the best place to set some goals. As a short-term goal, most food truck owners (and restaurateurs for that matter) aim to pay off the bulk of their startup costs (licensing fees, insurance, supplies, food, website, branding, etc.) within the first year, though this will depend heavily on your anticipated margins.
Other short-term goals may include building a social media following, finding predictable parking spots to encourage repeat traffic, or securing a spot at a big event.
Your largest capital investment is, of course, the truck itself. Although food trucks cost a lot less to set up compared to brick-and-mortar locations, they can still set you back between $50,000 and $175,000 , depending on what kind of food you’ll make and the equipment required to do it.
Paying off your food truck is likely to be your major long-term goal, which you can fulfill with your own funding or Shopify Capital .
A huge factor in setting your business up for success is understanding the target market where you will operate.
Since food trucks are mobile, you’ll enjoy some flexibility compared to a restaurant, but many cities still restrict where, when, and how you can serve your customers as part of the license that allows you to operate (which costs an average of $1,800 ).
If your ideal customers live in an area or work at a time when you can’t sell to them, you could be in for some difficulty. For example, if you were to open a food truck in Vancouver, you would find that restrictions include:
In some cases, you may find that food trucks have not yet been considered in city regulations, and you may have to blaze a trail for your business, like Mikey and Natalie did. “We had very limited locations that we could pick from,” Mikey said.
“The zoning in Kamloops was absolutely terrible. We were not looked very favorably upon. So after many council meetings and lots of emails with counselors and going back and forth, we finally got the city to give us a pilot project location in the downtown core.”
Every city has different restrictions that affect food cart and truck owners, so be sure to consult the city hall website in your area. And start early—licensing can take time, especially in locations with high demand.
Beyond the restrictions imposed by municipalities, each city is subject to conditions that could help or hinder your business.
If you’re planning an ice cream truck for Edmonton, you might only have the warm, sunny weather you need for four months of the year, severely limiting profits. Conversely, the same ice cream truck in San Diego, with 266 days of sunshine on average, might be a sensation with lines around the block.
You should also take into account population in your city, demographics, foot traffic in your preferred neighborhoods, and the number of events that host food trucks, in order to establish an estimate of how many days per year you are likely able to operate.
Lastly, run a competitive analysis.
Too much competition and you might have trouble finding customers or a place to park. Too little and you may find that there is a reason no one is running a new food truck.
This section is your opportunity to outline your creative food vision, so keep in mind that there are some limitations and considerations when it comes to the meals coming out of your truck.
Go out and study the existing food truck scene in your area to get an idea of what might work.
This section is a good place to consider additional revenue streams such as online sales of things like bottled sauces, spice packs, baked goods, etc. Selling online can be a lifesaver during quiet winter months, when festivals aren’t happening, or even during a global pandemic.
Eats Amoré has found that online sales and catering bookings via its Shopify website are becoming increasingly important to its bottom line. “It’s to the point where we have to turn it on and turn it off because it’s so busy,” says Mikey.
"We came up with this idea called the Ravioli Club, which is essentially a membership that you buy from our online store, and you get three mystery deliveries of ravioli delivered to your house every two weeks."
Mikey wasn’t always an ecommerce expert. “I was very green in learning how to do all the online sales, and I’m still learning a lot,” he says.
“And even with the small increments of learning that I’ve done, sales are going up exponentially. Not only has it boosted our sales, but it decreased the amount of time that I have to spend doing back and forth work with people. Because once you have all your information laid out on the website, you get a lot less tire kickers and you get a lot more people that call you and want to hire you [for catering].”
This area of your food truck business plan is where you’ll outline your ideal customer.
You’ll need to do some serious demographic research to fill in this section, since every city and neighborhood is different. Then use it to inform your menu and pricing.
If you plan to set up outside rock concerts and baseball parks, caviar and foie gras could be hard to sell, while home-cooked barbeque might not do well on the street in front of your local opera house. Ask questions to determine what your potential customers want.
You can make as much delicious food as you want, but if no one knows about it, you’re going to have a hard time making a profit. Your marketing strategy is essential to the success of your business and this section is where you’ll outline it for yourself or your business loan officer.
Start by detailing where you’ll park and what your truck will look like , since these are the two biggest factors in attracting walk-by customers. Next, show how you’ll raise the profile of your business beyond passersby using traditional marketing techniques and, especially, social media.
If you intend to park in different locations on different days, having dedicated followers on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook is a great way to let people know where they can find you. Social media is also the perfect place to update your followers on new menu items. Remember to take great photos of your food for maximum impact.
The food truck marketing and sales portion should also account for what makes your offerings different from everyone else on the road. In the Products and Services section, we discussed how your menu should fill a niche, whether it is the type of cuisine, quality, or cost.
In this section, you’ll need to provide details on how you plan to communicate those differentiators to your target customers.
Speaking of technology, this is a good time to explore the possibility of having your customers interact with you via smartphones and computers.
You may want to offer online ordering with delivery or pickup, which can be accomplished using third-party services like DoorDash , Skip the Dishes , Uber Eats , or any number of apps preferred in different markets around the world—be sure to find out which app most restaurants and delivery services use in your area.
A less obvious facet of your marketing plan is your start date. If you plan on opening right when the good weather hits, you’re likely to be too busy to spend a lot of time building a brand identity and online presence, though your cash flow will probably be in good shape.
“A huge mistake that we had in our first year’s business plan was that we were going to work through the winter,” says Mikey. “But what I forgot was that the people in Kamloops are very fair weathered. They’re used to nice weather. So a little bit of cold and they’re like, No, we’re out of here. It wasn’t until last winter that we actually did become a year-round business when we opened our Shopify account."
This section is where you’ll need to dig into the nitty-gritty day-to-day operations of your local food truck.
You need ingredients in order to sell food. But where will you get them? Let’s look at your options.
RESTAURANT WHOLESALERS
WHOLESALE CLUBS
GROCERY STORES
Many food truck operators use a combination of suppliers to achieve their goals, so look at what is available in your area that fits into your menu and budget.
Also consider your menu: If you have a fixed set of meal offerings, will you be able to reliably get the same ingredients throughout the year? If your menu rotates frequently, will you have time to source new ingredients on a regular basis?
Your truck is your facility. So think carefully about what kind of vehicle you decide to buy.
Mikey says, “We got this HandyDART bus for a steal, and we spent the beginning of 2013 turning it into a food truck. We learned so much. It’s a fiberglass vehicle, which wasn’t ideal compared to a big stainless truck. But we made it work.”
Retrofitting a vehicle that isn’t perfect may be an option considering your budget and skill set, or you may want to purchase a vehicle that was purpose-built to be a food truck.
This is the place to outline the physical equipment and maintenance requirements for your business, such as:
Many cities also dictate that some aspects of food preparation, such as chopping vegetables, making soups, baking bread, or preparing other ingredients, be done in an off-site commissary kitchen outside of sales hours, rather than in the food truck or in your home. This is to ensure food safety, and you’ll need to factor the cost and logistics into your plan.
It’s also a good idea to determine if you can store additional ingredients at your commissary kitchen location.
How long does it take to make an item from your menu, on average? This is a major consideration that could limit how many customers you can serve in a day.
How do you intend to cope with changes in pace and demand over the course of a day, week, month, or year? Mikey says, “I go home and do dishes for two hours. It’s far more labor intensive than people realize.” So don’t forget to factor in how much work you can realistically do yourself.
If you plan on offering products for sale online, you’ll need to sort out a plan to ship them to customers. Fortunately, shipping can be accomplished quite easily at reasonable prices .
Like most businesses, yours will likely live or die on the strength of your financial plan. You have to know how much money is coming in, how much is going out, and how those numbers are likely to change in the future.
So be sure to dig deep into your prospective balance sheet to truly understand how profits and costs will affect your operation.
Manage your money where you make it with Shopify Balance
Shopify Balance is a free financial account that lets you manage your business’s money from Shopify admin. Pay no monthly fees, get payouts up to 7 days earlier, and earn cashback on eligible purchases.
Fortunately for you, startup costs on a food truck are a lot less than a brick-and-mortar restaurant, so your break-even point could come a lot sooner. That said, your profits could be limited by the food truck model.
Food trucks can expect to average about 8% profit , which means they are a volume business. You’ll need to work fast to serve a lot of customers in order to earn a profit.
You’ll also need to outline your cash flow scenario . Since food trucks can’t store a lot of inventory (ingredients and supplies), you’ll need to sell and restock more frequently than a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
This section is also the place to factor in other costs, such as licensing, maintenance, and staff wages, if you have employees. And if you don’t plan on hiring help, remember that you probably can’t work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, which will limit your profits too. Be sure to write accurate financial projections so you get a good idea of how much you’ll earn.
The food truck industry is growing. Now that you’ve had a chance to think about how your food truck dreams will shape your food truck business plan, it’s time to actually sit down and write it.
Need a little push in the right direction? Check out some business plan examples , then start filling in your template once you’re inspired.
How profitable is a food truck, how do i start a food truck business plan.
Is a food truck business a good investment.
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Sep 9, 2024
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Noah Parsons
12 min. read
Updated May 10, 2024
Free Download: Food Truck Business Plan Template
Starting a food truck business is an attractive alternative to opening a restaurant .
The initial costs are significantly lower than opening a traditional restaurant and the popularity of food trucks only continues to grow. This doesn’t mean that food trucks are cheap, though. It can cost anywhere from $5,000 to over $100,000 to open a new truck, so you’ll want to make sure you understand the risks.
Want some extra guidance as you read through this article? Download our free food truck business plan template .
A business plan is a critical part of opening a food truck. A good plan is like having a recipe for your business and gives you the best chance of success. It will guide you through the process of getting up and running and make sure that you plan for all of the expenses and risks that will be involved. It’s worth the time and will greatly increase your chances of success.
After all, if you’re going to invest tens of thousands of dollars in a food truck, kitchen equipment, labor, and permits, why not spend a little time creating a solid business plan that will be your guide to launching a successful food truck business.
A well thought out business plan can be the difference between success and failure. For example, you might create an initial financial plan and discover that your idea simply isn’t profitable.
It’s so much better to make this discovery when all you’ve invested is a few hours of your time in front of the computer. Instead of scrambling to figure things out when you’re already up and running and you’ve got no money in the bank, you can take the time during the planning phase to go back to the drawing board and rework your concept until you have a business that is profitable. You can use the time before you invest your (or other people’s) money to figure out where you can cut costs so that your business can be a success out of the gate rather than a struggle.
As you write your food truck business plan, remember that you’re doing this for you, not for anyone else. You aren’t going to get graded on what the plan looks like so don’t worry about that. Make your plan work for you so you and your business can be successful.To start on yours, download our free food truck business plan template.
One caveat: If you are going to be raising money from investors or going to the bank for a loan, you may need to dress up your business plan a little. But, to get going, focus on the content, not how it looks.
A food truck business plan follows the same general format as a traditional business plan but has a few differences that you’ll want to pay close attention to. Here are the sections that you’ll want to include in your business plan for your food truck:
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Your executive summary is a very brief overview of your business. Try and keep it to just one or two pages. Anything more than that just isn’t useful.
This is an overview of your business that you’ll share with your business partners and your family. It’s a summary that describes, very briefly, the concept for your food truck, your core hours of operation, your locations, a summary of your marketing plan, and the amount of money you’ll need to get up and running.
Write your executive summary last after you’ve written your complete plan. Because the executive summary is an overview of all the work that you’ve put into your plan, spend the time on the rest of the plan first and then come back and summarize everything on one page.
A good rule of thumb is that someone should be able to just read your executive summary and get a solid overview of your business.
This is the fun part of your business plan. Use this section to describe the general concept or company description for your food truck. What kind of food will you serve? What makes you stand out?
It’s important to think about your key differentiators and write those down here. If you’re opening a taco truck, what makes your tacos special? Why will people choose your taco truck instead of going to all the other taco trucks? Or, perhaps there are no taco trucks in your area. That’s a “gap in the market” that your food truck concept will fill.
It’s also worth discussing why you want to open a food truck instead of a traditional restaurant. Does your food lend itself to a food-truck experience?
Following up on your concept, you need to think through your menu. What items will you sell and how much will you sell them for? How much will it cost you to produce each item? How much time will it take you to prep and cook each item? You can look through some food truck menu examples to get an idea of how you might want to structure yours.
Thinking through these questions and writing down the answers is a critical step in the planning process. You’ll want to make sure that the food you plan on serving can be served quickly enough and that your prices are set so that you cover food costs. Of course, you’ll have to cover other costs as well, but you’ll explore that more when you do your financial plan.
Once you have explored what your menu and pricing looks like, it’s worth sharing your menu with friends and family to get input. Ideally, you should also try and share your menu with strangers as well to get their input. What do they think about your prices? Do your item descriptions make sense?
Your target market section of your business plan describes who your key customers will be. What age group are they part of? What are their demographics? Where do they live and work
You’ll use this information to determine the size of your target market. This is the total number of potential customers that you could have.
You’ll also use this information to inform your branding and marketing strategy. If your target market is millennials, then your branding and marketing may lean towards the values of healthy eating, for example.
Just because your business is mobile doesn’t mean that every day will be a new adventure to find “the best spot”. You’ll want to have a plan ahead of time so you don’t waste time every day finding the right location .
First, you’ll want to consider locations where your target market is going to be. If you’re going after the “working lunch” crowd who’s looking for a quick lunch near their offices, you’ll want to have a location that’s convenient for them.
Customers also value consistency. They’ll want to know where you’re going to be and when you’re going to be there. If you’re in one location one day and gone the next, you might lose out on repeat customers who think that you’re inconsistent.
If you’re going to be part of a more established food cart “pod”, what does it take to get a spot? What is the cost and what permits are required? Figure this out now so you can factor parking and permitting costs into your overall expense plan.
If you’re planning and serving from multiple locations during any given day, think through and write down your schedule. How often will you move? How long does it take you to break down one location and set up at a new location?
With the explosion of food trucks, figuring out how you’re going to attract an audience is critical. Thankfully, you’ll be driving a mobile billboard, so you can leverage that to your advantage and use that for marketing and advertising.
It’s important to ensure that your social media handles are part of your branding and marketing strategy so that people can easily find you online and know where you are. Equally important is that you religiously update your social media profiles. There’s nothing worse than a profile that hasn’t been updated in days or weeks. Many customers will think that you’re closed if you don’t appear to be active online.
Beyond social media, you’ll want to make sure that you’re listed in Yelp and any other local food truck directories and apps. Getting a presence in these apps and getting positive reviews is critical, especially in the early days.
If you can get local press, that’s worth chasing down as well. Often, the weekly arts and culture papers will review food trucks, so it’s worth announcing your presence to them. When you do, think about your story – what makes you unique? What’s special about your food? What pushed you to start a food truck business in the first place? Everyone has a story to tell, so tell yours and try and get some coverage that will drive customers to your truck.
Food truck businesses are usually structured fairly simply. There’s usually just one or two owners and the business is usually an LLC.
Even if things are fairly simple, it’s always worth writing things down, especially if you have business partners. You’ll want to have agreements about who owns what, what stake in the business each person has, and what happens if one of the partners wants to walk away.
While everything is always optimistic and positive in the beginning, the hard work of running a food truck business can put a strain on any relationship and you’ll want to have a plan in place in case things don’t go exactly the way you think they will. Even the best of friends sometimes have to deal with difficult business situations and it’s always much easier if everything is written down and agreed upon before the business is actually up and running.
The financial plan is potentially the most important part of your business plan. Here’s where you’ll figure out exactly what it will take to make your business work so that you can make a living.
First, you’ll want to forecast your sales . How many meals do you think you can serve on an average day? On average how much will each customer spend? What about seasonality? When the weather is bad, will you sell as much as when it’s warm and sunny?
Next, you’ll want to look at your “cost of goods”. This is how much it costs you in food and supplies to serve the food that you are serving. Subtract your Cost of Goods from your Sales and you’ll get what’s called your Gross Margin. Of course, you’ll want this to be a positive number, but that’s just the beginning.
Next, you’ll need to look at your expenses. In addition to food costs, you’ll have labor costs including your own salary as well as any additional help you need. You’ll also need to consider insurance, licensing from the city and county, as well as fuel and commissions to event hosts. It’s fairly common for food trucks to pay a flat fee plus a percentage of revenue to event hosts, so if you’re going to consider taking your truck to events you’ll need to factor those costs in as well.
Other expenses can include access to a shared kitchen space. As a food business, you won’t be legally allowed to prep food in your home, so food prep will have to be done either in your truck or in rented kitchen space.
With your sales forecast and expense budget, you’ll be able to calculate your profitability. If your business isn’t looking profitable to start, you can make adjustments to expenses, potentially increase the price of your food, or explore how you can serve more meals.
Of course, you’ll also have to consider your startup costs. It’s not at all unusual for a food truck and equipment to cost north of $50,000 and can easily extend beyond $100,000 depending on how custom of a setup you need. Of course, there’s a healthy market for used food trucks, so that’s worth exploring as well.
In terms of startup costs, $100,000 is relatively modest compared to many other businesses and certainly substantially less expensive than opening a restaurant. Many food truck entrepreneurs may find that they can fund their startup with savings and loans from friends and family. Bank business loans for food trucks are also a possibility since most of your startup costs are going towards a physical asset that the bank can reclaim if things go horribly south.
With all of these numbers, you’ll be able to assemble a Profit and Loss forecast and Cash Flow forecast . These two financial forecasts will help you determine exactly what your funding needs will be to get your business off the ground.
If you’re struggling with the financials, it’s worth investing a small amount in a business planning tool to help you get your plan done without having to worry about learning the details of financial forecasting in Excel.
With your food truck business plan in hand and a financial forecast that shows that you can indeed run a profitable business, the next step is to actually get started building your business.
Noah is the COO at Palo Alto Software, makers of the online business plan app LivePlan. He started his career at Yahoo! and then helped start the user review site Epinions.com. From there he started a software distribution business in the UK before coming to Palo Alto Software to run the marketing and product teams.
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How to write a business plan for your food truck.
Starting a food truck is a great idea because it is a low-cost way to enter the food service industry and allows for a high degree of flexibility and mobility.
Additionally, it can be a great way to introduce a new concept to the local market and build a loyal customer base.
Don't start without having built a business plan though.
Creating a business plan is a crucial step before launching a new project, such as a food truck. It allows you to set realistic goals and objectives, and to identify the resources and strategies needed to achieve them. A business plan also helps to ensure you have considered all the potential risks and opportunities associated with the project.
In short, a good business plan will help ensure the profitability of your food truck .
What are the essential parts of a business plan for a food truck? How do you define the structure? Which key financial data points should be included? What's the best way to create a business plan quickly and effectively?
This article will address and answer all these questions.
One last thing, you don't have to start your business plan from scratch.
You can download our detailed business plan for a food truck and customize it for your business.
Should you consider writing a business plan for your food truck.
Yes, you should consider writing a business plan for your food truck.
Structuring a reliable business plan will give you the means to:
Our team has created a business plan for a food truck that is designed to make it easier for you to achieve all the elements listed.
Your business plan consists of various numbers and valuable data. There should be a clear outline, to make easy to read and digest.
When we built and designed our business plan for a food truck , we made sure to set it up correctly.
The structure is divided in 5 sections: Opportunity, Project, Market Research, Strategy and Finances.
The section number one is designated as "Market Opportunity."
Access relevant data and metrics for the food truck, assisting you in analyzing the opportunities and challenges within the mobile food service industry.
Every six months, we refresh this section to ensure the data remains current.
The second part is where you introduce the "Project" of your food truck. You can describe your unique food offerings, menu variety, target locations, operating schedule, customer experience, and the unique value proposition.
Also include a short description about yourself at the end of this section.
Discuss your love for culinary adventures, your unique food truck concept, and how you plan to provide delicious and convenient dining experiences on wheels. Highlight your menu offerings, your commitment to using fresh ingredients, and your dedication to providing exceptional customer service that brings gourmet flavors to the streets through your food truck.
We made language in our business plan. Adapt it to suit your idea precisely.
Then, there is the "Market Research" section.
In this section, you will find a market segmentation analysis for your food truck.
It includes a study of other food trucks in the area that will be competing with you. Your truck's unique cuisine offerings and competitive advantages are also highlighted. A customized SWOT analysis is included.
In the "Strategy" section, a detailed 3-year action plan is provided, which highlights all the crucial steps and initiatives to transform your food truck into a highly profitable venture.
Furthermore, you'll come across a marketing plan, a strategy to handle risks, and a completed Business Model Canvas.
Finally, you'll reach the "Finances" section, which contains all the financial metrics and statistics for your project.
The Executive Summary provides a condensed preview of the business plan of your food truck.
Keep it brief, with a maximum of 2 pages. Stick to the most relevant information.
It's the initial section that an investor will read when you bring them your business plan. It should make them interested and want to read the rest of the plan.
In the Executive Summary of your food truck, answer the following questions: what type of cuisine does your food truck offer? who is your target audience? are there other food trucks in the area? what makes your business unique? what funding do you require?
Analyzing the market for your food truck allows you to gain insights into factors such as customer preferences for mobile food experiences, competition within the food truck industry, and emerging trends in street food culture.
By conducting a thorough market study, a food truck can understand consumer tastes, offer unique and delicious food options, optimize pricing strategies, and execute targeted marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to a loyal customer following, increased sales, and a prominent presence in the mobile food industry.
This is what you'll find in the "Market Research" section of our business plan for a food truck :
What's the business model of a food truck, business model of a food truck.
A food truck model revolves around operating a mobile restaurant on wheels, offering a menu of food and beverages to customers at different locations or events. Revenue is generated through food sales, potentially offering catering services or participating in food festivals.
The business model focuses on creating a unique and appealing food truck concept, providing high-quality and flavorful food options, efficient operations and logistics, effective marketing to target food truck enthusiasts and event organizers, and building strong customer relationships based on taste and food truck experience.
Success depends on recipe innovation, maintaining consistent food quality and flavors, delivering a memorable dining experience on wheels, fostering positive customer reviews and recommendations, and continuously exploring new locations and events to reach a broader customer base.
Be clear on the difference between a "business plan" and a "business model."
A business model is a blueprint for how a company operates and makes money.
In a business plan, you leverage the Business Model Canvas as a user-friendly framework to illustrate the structure of your business.
Rest assured, there is a Business Model Canvas (already completed) in our business plan for a food truck .
Market segmentation for your food truck involves dividing your potential customers into different groups based on their dining preferences, demographics, and locations.
These categories may include factors such as street food enthusiasts, office workers, event catering, or customers seeking specific cuisine types.
By segmenting your market, you can offer a menu and dining experience that caters to each segment's specific preferences. For example, you might specialize in gourmet burgers and sandwiches for street food enthusiasts, offer convenient and affordable lunch options for office workers, provide event catering services for private parties and corporate events, or focus on a specific cuisine type such as Mexican, Asian, or Mediterranean.
Market segmentation allows you to effectively target your marketing efforts, deliver a memorable food truck experience, and build customer loyalty within each customer segment by providing a unique and satisfying dining experience that resonates with their preferences.
In the business plan for a food truck , you will find a complete market segmentation that allows you to identify your potential customers effectively.
Without surprise, you won't be the only food truck in your city. There will be other mobile vendors offering a variety of delicious and unique food options to customers.
Your business plan should include a detailed market study that covers your competitors' characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses.
Be aware of their weaknesses (such as inconsistent food quality, inadequate equipment maintenance, or poor customer service).
Why should you pay attention to these aspects? Because these weaknesses can impact the success of food truckes. By addressing these elements, you can offer a unique and appealing menu, provide efficient and hygienic food preparation and service, and deliver excellent customer engagement, positioning your food truck as a preferred choice for delicious and convenient street food experiences.
It's what we call competitive advantages—nurturing them sets your business apart from the competition.
Here are some examples of competitive advantages for a mobile kitchen: fresh and customizable menu options, convenient food truck services, efficient mobile operations.
A SWOT analysis can help identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a food truck, allowing entrepreneurs to make informed decisions and better prepare for success.
As you can guess, there is indeed a completed and editable SWOT matrix in our business plan for a food truck
The letter "S" denotes Strengths in SWOT, signifying the project's internal advantages or strong points.
For a food truck, potential strengths could include a low overhead cost, mobility, the ability to quickly adapt to customer preferences, and an ability to reach a large customer base.
The letter "W" denotes Weaknesses, which are the aspects of the project that could benefit from improvement.
For a food truck, potential weaknesses include limited storage space, high overhead costs, difficulty in finding consistent locations and limited customer reach.
The letter "O" in SWOT signifies Opportunities, highlighting the favorable conditions or chances for the project's progress.
In the case of a food truck, potential opportunities could include catering for special events, setting up shop at farmers markets, partnering with local businesses, and providing food for music festivals.
When we use the "T" in SWOT, we're referring to Threats, which are the external risks or challenges that the project may encounter.
To engage customers and generate sales, you must have a marketing strategy in your business plan.
A mobile kitchen can offer convenient and delicious food options by implementing a well-executed marketing approach that showcases the kitchen's diverse menu, food quality, and the ability to bring food directly to customers at various locations or events.
Food enthusiasts won't visit your food truck without proper promotion; highlighting the delicious and diverse menu options, convenient location, and quick service is necessary.
Are you implementing effective marketing strategies for your mobile kitchen? Consider attending food festivals or community events for food truck opportunities, utilizing social media platforms to announce your location and daily specials, and collaborating with local food bloggers or influencers for promotional partnerships.
If you're lacking ideas for your project's marketing strategy, don't panic.
A successful business plan requires comprehensive financial data in order to accurately forecast future performance.
As part of your business plan, it will be necessary to forecast the revenue for your food truck.
A relevant and credible revenue forecast is crucial, so it looks solid when an investor will read your business plan.
Our financial plan for a food truck is designed to be user-friendly, incorporating automatic verifications that assist in identifying and correcting any assumptions. This ensures you can build credible projections with confidence.
It goes without saying that you'll have to develop a provisional budget for your food truck. Double-check that you haven't missed any expenses. If you have a doubt, we have listed them all in our financial plan!
A key aspect of your financial plan is the break-even analysis, which helps determine whether your food truck will be profitable or not.
Writing a business plan is an essential part of starting a successful food truck business. It acts as the guiding document that outlines the goals and objectives, informs decisions, and helps to secure the financing needed to launch the venture, whether it be from lenders or investors. For new food truck business owners, having access to a sample business plan can provide invaluable direction and insights on how to create their own food truck business plan .
Download our Ultimate Food Truck Business Plan Template
Having a comprehensive business plan in place is vital for any successful food truck venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can also give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help secure financing from lenders or investors. An example of a food truck business plan is a great resource to draw upon when creating your own business plan to ensure that all the key elements are included in your document.
Below is an example food truck business plan to help you see what one should look like. It can provide a good starting point for writing a business plan for your food truck. However, it is not nearly as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your food truck as Growthink’s Ultimate Food Truck Business Plan Template . But it can help you write a food truck business plan for your business.
Table of contents, executive summary.
Customer analysis.
Operations plan, management team, financial plan.
Download the Food Truck Business Plan Sample PDF here.
Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business founded by brothers John and David. After successfully operating their flagship mobile kitchen for the last five years, they are now looking to expand their operations and open up a second location. To do this, the Barbecue Brothers have crafted a comprehensive business plan that outlines their goals and objectives, as well as the steps they will take to achieve them.
The Barbecue Brothers plan to open their second food truck in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. With over one million people living within a five-mile radius, the brothers intend to capitalize on this large population by providing delicious and affordable BBQ cuisine that is prepared on-site with high-quality ingredients. To stand out from their competition, the Barbecue Brothers will offer unique menu items such as pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket tacos, and smoked turkey wraps.
To fund this expansion effort, the Barbecue Brothers are seeking $250,000 in startup capital from Angel investors. This money will be used for purchasing a new truck and equipment as well as setting up the necessary kitchen space. With a successful track record of satisfied customers, the Barbecue Brothers believe they have what it takes to succeed in this highly competitive industry and are eager to get started on their next venture.
By following this business plan, the Barbecue Brothers will be able to reach their goal of becoming one of the top BBQ food truck businesses in Los Angeles. With your support, we can make our dream a reality and bring delicious BBQ cuisine to even more people.
Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business that has been serving customers in Los Angeles for the past five years. Founded by brothers John and David, the business has quickly become one of the most popular mobile BBQ kitchens in town. With an emphasis on using only high-quality ingredients, they specialize in mouthwatering pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket tacos, smoked turkey wraps, and other savory favorites.
The Barbecue Brothers have forged successful partnerships with many local businesses as well as organizations such as schools and corporate events which helps to expand their reach beyond just downtown Los Angeles. Their flagship food truck has been consistently recognized for its excellent customer service rating across all online sites helping them build a loyal following throughout their community.
John and David recognize the importance of giving back to those who are less fortunate than them so all profits generated from catering jobs are donated to local charities such as soup kitchens around Los Angeles county. Through these efforts combined with delicious recipes unique to this business, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels has achieved great success in developing its brand identity over the last five years but now they look towards further expansion into more locations within the Los Angeles area.
The food industry in the Los Angeles area is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly competitive. Food trucks offer an exciting alternative to traditional restaurant dining, allowing customers to enjoy high-quality, fresh, and affordable meals without having to commit to a single location. Over the past decade, food trucks have become increasingly popular in major cities across the US, with cities such as Los Angeles boasting over 2,000 licensed food trucks.
The main competition for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is other food trucks in the area offering similar menu items. This competition forces businesses to stay ahead of their competitors by constantly innovating and reinventing their recipes and menu offerings. In addition, they must create a strong customer loyalty program that will encourage repeat customers and remain competitive on pricing due to a large number of options available to consumers.
Finally, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels must be prepared to scale quickly in order to keep up with the growing demand for mobile dining options in LA county. With careful planning and strategic investments, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can succeed in this highly competitive market by setting itself apart from the competition.
The customer analysis for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels should focus on two main target markets: mobile diners, and BBQ aficionados.
Mobile Diners : Mobile diners are those individuals who prefer to dine outside of a traditional restaurant setting, either at food trucks or other outdoor locations like events or festivals. These customers tend to be younger, single professionals or families with young children who are looking for convenience, affordability, and delicious meals. They also care about being able to support local businesses and the community.
Psychographics of this target demographic includes people on the go; tech-savvy consumers who are comfortable using online platforms for research and ordering; adventurous eaters who enjoy trying new foods; and those looking for a unique dining experience.
To reach these individuals, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels should invest in an effective digital marketing strategy that includes social media channels as well as online advertising.
BBQ Aficionados : The second target demographic for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is barbecue aficionados – customers who have an affinity for barbecue cuisine and a preference for authentic flavors. These customers often look beyond just the taste of the food but also seek out restaurants that can offer something special in terms of atmosphere, customer service, quality ingredients, and presentation.
Psychographic characteristics of this group include adventurous foodies seeking out the best barbecue in town; those with a strong appreciation for craftsmanship in their meals; fans of small businesses looking to support local entrepreneurs; and those with a passion for cooking will appreciate the emphasis on high-quality ingredients used by Barbecue Brothers On Wheels.
To reach this audience effectively, Barbecue Brothers should consider investing in traditional print marketing materials such as flyers or brochures that can be distributed at popular BBQ joints around Los Angeles County. Additionally, they could participate in local festivals that draw large numbers of barbecue enthusiasts from all over California making sure to bring enough samples so everyone can get a taste of their signature dishes.
For a BBQ food truck business like Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, competitor analysis is essential for success. In the highly competitive Los Angeles food truck industry, it is important to identify the main competitors and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Doing so will allow Barbecue Brothers to set themselves apart from the competition by offering something unique that will draw in customers.
The main competitors of Barbecue Brothers On Wheels are other BBQ-focused food trucks in Los Angeles County. These include notable names such as The Rib Whip, Pig Out Delights, Smoke N’ Grillers, and Hog Heaven BBQ.
The Rib Whip is known for its specialty sandwiches featuring slow-cooked meats paired with signature sauces and fresh vegetables on a hoagie roll. They cater to both lunchtime and evening crowds alike, serving up large portions at a reasonable price. Strengths of The Rib Whip include quality ingredients, generous portion sizes, affordability, convenience, and excellent customer service. However, one area where they could improve is the level of creativity in their menu offerings which may not be appealing to more adventurous or experimental eaters looking for something new every time they visit The Rib Whip.
Pig Out Delights serves classic BBQ favorites such as ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese topped with bacon bits, and sweet potato fries. Their signature dishes are made using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and come in generous portions that can easily be shared among two or three people. Strengths of Pig Out Delights includes freshly prepared meals made with high-quality ingredients at very fair prices as well as attentive customer service that many customers have come to expect from this establishment. Unfortunately due to its location away from popular downtown areas like Hollywood or Downtown LA, some customers are unable to try out this delicious cuisine unless they make a special trip out there- something many LA locals might not be willing to do just for some good BBQ!
Smoke N’ Grillers offer classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches slathered in house-made barbecue sauce along with sides like cornbread muffins or coleslaw salad. They focus on providing generous portions at an affordable price point while allowing customers to customize their own meals with various toppings and condiments. Strengths of Smoke N’ Grillers include their location in a busy part of town, competitive prices, and their ability to accommodate special dietary requests. On the other hand, Smoke N’ Grillers could improve its menu by offering more creative and unique dishes that can differentiate them from the competition.
Finally, Hog Heaven BBQ is a gourmet BBQ food truck that serves up only the finest cuts of meat prepared with signature rubs and sauces. They focus on delivering high-end dining experiences at an affordable price, setting them apart from other BBQ establishments in the area. Strengths of Hog Heaven include their commitment to using only the freshest ingredients, their quality service, and their delicious dishes that consistently wow customers. However, they could improve by diversifying their menu with more budget-friendly options or dishes that cater to different dietary needs.
By understanding their competition, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can identify areas of improvement as well as opportunities to stand out and attract more customers. They can focus on providing unique dishes that are only available at their food truck and focus on delivering excellent customer service. Additionally, they can look into utilizing local ingredients whenever possible in order to appeal to customers who are conscious of where their food is coming from. By doing these things, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can become a leader in LA’s BBQ scene.
Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is the newest BBQ food truck to hit Los Angeles. Our mission is to provide customers with an unforgettable dining experience that combines quality ingredients, generous portions, and unique flavors for a price that can’t be beaten.
Our Product : We offer classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches slathered in house-made barbecue sauce enhanced by our signature rubs and sauces. All of our dishes are freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and come in generous portion sizes that can easily be shared among two or three people.
Price : At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we understand that value matters just as much as flavor so we strive to keep our prices competitive without sacrificing quality or taste. You won’t find better deals anywhere else!
Promotion : We will promote through digital channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter along with local advertising campaigns like print ads in newspapers and magazines. Additionally, word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers are key to helping us spread the word about Barbecue Brothers On Wheels!
Place : Our food truck is conveniently located on busy city streets where commuters have easy access during their lunchtime break or while they’re running errands. We also offer catering services for events such as office parties and family gatherings.
At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, our goal is to provide customers with an unforgettable and unique dining experience. Our daily operations focus on delivering quality food that is freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Every day we will start by preparing the sauces and rubs for our signature dishes as well as preparing the sides. Once all of the ingredients are prepped and ready, we will begin cooking on-site to ensure that every order is served hot and fresh.
Staff Requirements:
For the successful day-to-day operations of Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we need a team of dedicated individuals.
We need a variety of supplies in order to run our business effectively. This includes ingredients, paper products, cleaning supplies, and small wares. We will focus on sourcing all of our supplies from local vendors to ensure that we are using quality ingredients while supporting the local economy.
Our menu consists of classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches, pulled pork, and ribs. We also offer sides like slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. In addition to our regular menu, we will offer daily specials that can range from tacos to nachos.
Customer Service:
At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we strive to provide our customers with the best possible experience. Our goal is to make sure every customer is satisfied by delivering excellent customer service that is prompt and friendly. Additionally, we will listen to feedback and make changes as necessary to ensure that customers are always happy with their experience.
The safety of our customers and staff is paramount. We will adhere to all regulatory standards and best practices when it comes to food handling and sanitation. Additionally, anyone working in the food truck must wear protective gear such as gloves, masks, and hats.
John and David are the co-founders of the Barbecue Brothers On Wheels. John, who has a background in culinary arts, is the head chef and primary visionary of the business. He oversees operations and ensures that all dishes are made with the finest ingredients. His passion for barbecue stems from his childhood in Texas where he fell in love with the art of making authentic, mouth-watering barbecue.
David is an experienced business professional and handles the administrative side of the operation. He focuses on marketing, financials, and customer relations. His goal is to make Barbecue Brothers On Wheels a household name by providing unbeatable quality and service.
With their founding Members John and David teaming up, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is set to be the go-to BBQ food truck for city dwellers.
At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we understand that the financial aspect of running a business is integral to its success. We have formulated a financial plan that will help us achieve our goals and ensure the longevity of our business.
Startup Costs:
To get our business up and running, we need to cover a variety of startup costs such as purchasing equipment, leasing a truck, and acquiring ingredients.
Operating Costs:
Once we are open for business, our operating costs will include labor and overhead expenses. We plan to keep these costs in check by implementing cost-saving methods and leveraging technology to streamline processes.
Revenue Model:
Our revenue model relies on selling our signature products and daily specials at a fair price. We will also pursue additional revenue streams such as catering and delivery services.
Profitability:
Our goal is to achieve profitability within two years of launching the business. We plan to do this by increasing revenue through catering services and expanding our customer base, as well as reducing expenses by maximizing efficiency and maintaining ongoing cost-saving practices. Additionally, any profits will be reinvested into the business to further expand our services and capabilities.
Commitment to Excellence:
At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we are committed to delivering the highest quality product and service possible. We strive to use only the freshest ingredients and prepare our dishes with care. Our staff is highly trained in customer service, food safety, and proper food handling techniques.
We understand that quality is paramount and that is why we will never sacrifice our standards. We want to build a long-lasting business that customers can trust and rely on for delicious, mouth-watering barbecue cuisine.
Balance sheet.
[insert financial statement]
Cash flow statement, food truck business plan example pdf.
Download our food truck business plan pdf here. This is a free food truck business plan example to help you get started on your own food truck plan.
Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your food truck business plan?
With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!
Planning to start your own food truck business? Well, you need to have a business plan first. Although it is not a requirement in starting a business, having a business plan serves as a blueprint and itemizes the processes you will be doing before you start a business.
To help you create your own food truck business plan, we have provided some examples (in PDF) that you can use when you will be creating your own business plan. You may also see importance of business plans .
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1. company profile.
Every business plan, or any type of business plan always starts off with a company profile or company background. The company profile acts as a summary of the entire business plan, but important details are also being discussed in the said section. Among the contents of the company profile includes the products or services in which the company is selling, the company’s vision and mission, organizational structure, and marketing/financial strategies. You may also see self-catering business plan examples
All of the mentioned contents are not discussed thoroughly in the company profile, as they will be further discussed in the succeeding section of the business plan.
Since the business plan is not meant for company use only, it is always suggested that information written in the company profile should be concise to detailed (despite being a summary) so that the readers will have a clear understanding of the company and its products before they start reading the rest of the business plan. You may also see business plan guidelines examples .
The marketing structure (or otherwise called as the marketing plan) is one of the most important sections of a business plan. The marketing structure thoroughly discusses the company’s products and services as well as marketing strategies to help the company gain an advantage against competitors. The marketing structure also identifies marketing strategies to help the company achieve long-term sustainability. You may also like business operational plan examples .
As previously mentioned, the marketing structure discusses the company’s products in detail. But if the company sells hundreds of products, then there is no need to discuss all of the products in the business plan. It will take up too much space which might cause the reader to avoid reading the remaining contents of the business plan. In this case, if the company sells a large variety of products, then it is highly suggested that important details of the product will be listed instead of writing down each and every product specification. Some of the important product details include the name of the product, product number, available colors, price, and manufacturing date. You may also check out hotel business plan examples .
Take note that listing down the products is not enough as you should also explain how each product will be beneficial to your customers and clients. Products are being manufactured because they always provide benefit, and they are not manufactured just for the sake of it. Take for example for a food truck business. There is a need for food truck businesses so that people don’t have to go far just to eat affordable and delicious food. For food trucks, they go to the customers instead of the other way around. You might be interested in market analysis business plan examples .
Marketing structure also includes the marketing strategies being implemented by the company to achieve high revenue and long-term sustainability. There are numerous marketing strategies that companies deploy for their respective products or services, but the strategies they use always align to the products they are selling (for example, a person who underwent numerous plastic surgeries cannot be used as an actor for a natural skin care ad). You may also like business plan outline with examples .
Marketing strategies are based on established marketing theories. They have proven to be very effective and are still being used by companies around the world today. But when technology suddenly moved at a very fast pace during the dawn of the 21st century, new marketing strategies also were introduced. Some of these marketing strategies specifically include social media.
The great thing about social media is that most of these platforms are free to use, and have also proven to be much more effective than their traditional marketing counterparts such as posters, flyers, brochures, and billboards. But did you know that these traditional marketing materials can now be created using graphic design software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Corel? And you won’t have to spend a single dollar in printing and distribution as you can insert the designs in your online profile. You may also check out implementation plan examples .
Aside from the marketing structure, a well-written and well-researched business plan should also comprise another important section—a financial structure. Since you are still creating a business plan, most likely that you have not even began spending any amount for your business yet. This is completely understandable as you will still be creating forecasts on how the business will be earning once the operations go underway. You may also see advertising and marketing business plan examples .
The financial structure is composed mainly of financial forecasts. These types of forecasts include details on your initial investment (raw materials to purchase, business requirement and legal fees to settle), working capital, and yearly revenue/income projections for the next five years. You may also like company plan examples .
Financial forecasts are very important to a business plan because it gives a map on how the company will earn in the next few years. Additionally, business plans are also presented to investors so that they can give out necessary investment for your business. Of course, they will still decide if your product is worth investing in, since they also want to earn from your business through the interest fees you will be paying back to them once they have fully recovered the amount that they initially invested. Even if you have a large and sizable initial capital, you will still need investors in case there are additional costs that you won’t be expecting. You may also check out advertising plan examples .
The financial structure also includes the revenue and income projections for the next five years. You may be asking, “Why five years?” The five-year time span is usually where start-up businesses recover the full amount of their initial investment. Although some companies, especially large corporations, take longer than five years to break even, five years is usually the benchmark if the business can actually earn in the long run. When making the five-year financial forecast, you should consider inflation as well as customer preferences.
For example, the prices of raw goods that you will be listing down in the forecast (specifically in the income statement) will certainly be different in the succeeding years. Your investors will certainly be looking at how the forecast is being analyzed, so make a forecast or projection that considers and analyzes all options, as well as not being too optimistic nor pessimistic. You might be interested in annual plan examples .
The financial structure is one of the hardest sections to create in an business plan, so make sure that the management team consists of a financial specialist (preferably a CPA or an individual who has long-term experience in financial services) to create the financial structure. If your management team does not comprise any specialist, you can always hire a third-party CPA to do the work. Just make sure you discuss with the third party on the details you want to incorporate in the forecast or projection. You may also see implementation plan examples .
The socioeconomic structure involves social and environmental aspects of the business. Usually, the socioeconomic structure discusses how the business impacts the community and natural environment in particular. The business obviously collects resources from the natural environmental, and it is only understandable that the resources should be returned to its natural state. Additionally, the business also has the responsibility to provide not only jobs for the community but also makes sure the individuals in the community do not get displaced or do not suffer any negative effects from the business’s operations. You may also like quality plan examples .
Socioeconomic structure is also called corporate social responsibility (CSR). Every business organization, no matter how large or how small, has a responsibility to its stakeholders (most specifically the community and the environment). That is the reason why these companies should give back especially if they are attaining revenues from their operations. You may also see management plan examples .
When you are creating a business plan, it is not yet necessary to provide details on how you are going to give back to the community. You just need to give a short background on the activities you will eventually be doing. It is not only investors who will be reading your business plan, as various social welfare groups or non-government organizations might also get a copy of your plan. You may also see coffee catering business plan
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Listed below are some food ideas you want to try out for your food truck business. Even if you already have a menu planned, you can still add some of the food items listed below to increase variety.
Shawarma is one of the most popular wrapped foods in the world. Shawarma consists of chopped beef or chicken, mixed with a variety of vegetables and sauces which are then wrapped inside a pita bread or toasted dough. You can always mix it up by using different combinations of meat and vegetables as well as adding new ingredients such as pork, potatoes, bell peppers, olives, etc. You may also see desert catering business plans .
Everyone’s favorite dessert also makes this list. Whether the temperature is scorching hot or freezing cold, ice cream is still being sold by the millions every day. Ice cream is quite easy to make as long as you have the right equipment. You can sell different flavors depending on the availability of ingredients, but you can always start with the most basic flavors (i.e., vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, etc.) then increase the variety once you get more customers. You might be interested in daily plan examples .
One great way to entice passersby to buy your food is to let them indulge in the smell of grilled food. You can either grill pork, chicken, beef, seafood, or even vegetables (onions, corn, bell peppers, etc.). No matter what meat you are going to grill, it will certainly become a hit with your customers. You may also check out sales plan examples .
Grilled food is another favorite that is not only served as snacks but served as entrees and full course meals as well. If you want to maximize the grilled food experience for your customers, serve them together with mashed potatoes or with grilled/steamed vegetables. And don’t forget the drinks!
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Fried chicken is another staple in the food truck business industry. According to research, 8 out of 10 food trucks or food stalls sell fried chicken. This is testament to people wanting to eat fried chicken for the rest of their lives. Similar to grilled food, you can serve fried chicken as a light snack or full course meal. It is highly suggested that you go for the full course meal route as chicken is always meant to be consumed with hearty (but unfortunately fatty) side dishes such as mashed potatoes, buttered vegetables, and gravy. Remember, fried chicken is never complete without gravy (unless you’re Japanese or Asian where you prefer fried chicken to be complemented with mayonnaise or soy sauce). You may also see consulting business plan.
Your food truck business does not need to be a cholesterol-filled affair with your customers. Go for a healthier alternative by selling delicious salads. These colorful and flavorful dishes are very appetizing and they can be a great substitute for a meat-based dishes. If you thought salads are only limited to lettuce, tomato, onions, vinaigrette, and Caesar dressing, think again. There are hundreds of vegetable, fruit, and dressing combinations you can use for your salads. You may also see company plan examples .
Selling pastries is another option you should consider for your food truck business. The great thing about pastries is that you can sell a number of variations, and not just being limited to one form of pastry. There are numerous options, such as cakes, cookies, puff pastries, tarts, and frozen desserts, just to name a few. Since you will be selling a variety of desserts, you may want to partner with different sellers so that you don’t only increase the variety of pastries you are selling but also increase revenues. You may also like implementation plan examples .
We hope you found this article to be informative as you will be creating your own food truck business plan.
Text prompt
Create a study plan for final exams in high school
Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair.
Thinking about how best to spend a long weekend, I knew I wanted to get out of Moscow but was having trouble deciding which city to visit. In a country as big as Russia, you’re spoiled for choice. On the spur of the moment, the day before leaving, I decided to travel to Ufa (1,165km southeast of Moscow and south of the Urals), the capital city of the Republic of Bashkortostan.
Despite being a relatively large city with a population of almost 1.1 million, few people know much about Ufa since it is rarely mentioned in the Russian media. The region is predominantly Muslim, and it is the cultural and historical center of the Bashkirs, the fourth largest ethnic group in Russia after Russians, Ukrainians and Tatars.
Not long after I settled into my sleeper train compartment, I met an energetic 50-year old woman named Maria. She was a bubbly woman with bright eyes and a lively spirit. The moment she found out I was French and unmarried, she made sure the entire carriage learned about this too. She tried to play matchmaker and introduce me to a young lady sitting nearby, claiming if only she’d been younger...
Maria plans to retire in a few months and leave Moscow to live with her family in Chelyabinsk, a city that is currently most famous for a recent meteor explosion.
Taking a break at Samara station
In the morning, the train made a short stop in Samara, and Maria took this opportunity to buy some dried fish wrapped in a newspaper on the platform. Some say this tradition is dying out, but I’m not so sure.
While I was having lunch with Maria, a 10-year old girl and her mother came up to us, intrigued by the presence of a Frenchman on the train. Despite being so young, Yulia has a busy schedule that includes chess classes, singing competitions and participating in an international camp in Crimea (Artek). She even has photographs of herself sitting next to Vladimir Putin at the camp. She dreams of visiting France someday. She asked for my autograph on the inside cover of a book that contained the thesis of her sociological study. I signed it next to the signatures of army officers and various famous Russians.
From the train window the landscape is somewhat dull, but very peaceful.
We all admired the beauty of the Urals. Along the way, we gazed at the picturesque towns and surrounding mountains, lit up here and there by bright gas flares. After traveling for 22 hours, it was time for us to part ways. I was finally in Ufa!
The next day I traveled south to see one of the city’s main monuments, the statue of Salawat Yulayev, a Bashkir national hero and poet of the second half of the 18 th century, who took part in the Peasants’ War (also known as Pugachev’s Rebellion ) from 1773 to 1775. His name is everywhere: on license plates and all sorts of buildings. The city’s hockey club is even named after him.
The street names written both in Russian and Bashkir
Along the way, I noticed that everything on the streets, from shop signs to the list of bus stops, as well as the street names, was written in two languages: Russian and Bashkir. I asked an elderly woman passing by if many people speak Bashkir. While she is fluent in the local language, she informed me that regrettably not many people in the city speak this language.
Just a short walk from the city center and I’m in the heart of the countryside.
I arrived at the edge of one of the hills of Ufa. A dozen small wooden houses, haphazardly built between bushes and dirt tracks, separated me from the Belaya River down below. Just as I was about to venture off into this unknown landscape, an 80-year old woman, holding a bucket in one hand, approached me.
Tyotya Lyuda, or Aunt Lyuda (the diminutive of Lyudmila), as she calls herself, seemed surprised to see me on this steep and muddy track with a camera in one hand. After we got acquainted with each other, she invited me back to her house to admire the view from her back garden. It was absolutely breathtaking. Her house overlooked a stream and the horizon, which was adorned with hundreds of colorful houses. The view must be twice as spectacular in summer, when the landscape is covered with greenery.
Tyotya Lyuda showing me around
During our short conversation, the old lady reassured me that many people still speak Bashkir in the region. I left her house and headed in the opposite direction towards the hill, where the statue of Salawat Yulayev riding his fiery steed awaited me.
The giant horseman on the hill is Salawat Yulayev, Bashkir national hero (and the title of hockey club)
I found myself in a huge, newly built square that was surrounded by modern buildings. There was a permanent exhibition devoted to local culture in one of the yurts nearby, where an indigenous representative showed me their national attire, tools, utensils and weapons that were traditionally used by nomads in the area.
Park 'Vatan', Hilton hotel on the background
I stopped for a few moments at this point, looked around and noticed the glaringly obvious tension between the traditional yurts, the immaculate modern buildings and the small wooden houses scattered around and, unfortunately, surrounded by a lot of waste. Russia is a country of contrasts, and Bashkortostan is no exception.
View from the hill where the legendary statue of Salavat Yulayev stands.
I climbed to the top of another hill and discovered a well-maintained wooded park. At the end of this park, I found the impressive statue of Salawat Yulayev, looming over this republic that is ¼ the size of France.
Salavat Yulayev and a man in the national Bashkir headwear
The view here was spectacular, and there was an accordionist playing songs that resonated far and wide.
The landscape is breathtakingly beautiful
While eavesdropping on various conversations around me, I noticed that around half of the discussions were in Bashkir, which confirmed to me that the language was not, in fact, dying out. As a Breton, the issue of language extinction is of particular concern to me.
Salawat Yulayev park
While wandering around the streets, I came upon the Bashkir State Academic Drama Theater and the Alexander Matrosov Gardens, which contained several Soviet monuments. I walked along the “ArtTerria” alley, which is adorned with a dozen modern sculptures made by artists from around the world.
The ArtTerria sculpture alley.
The next day, I visited Yakutov Park and then headed north on foot. The city is huge with mains roads that sometimes have up to six lanes. I walked along one nerve-racking road that was lined with eclectic buildings: residential blocks rising up from the ground, 100-year old wooden huts with finely crafted window frames, strange looking Soviet-style buildings as well as enormous, multicolor shopping centers...
The buildings display an impressive architectural diversity
After walking nearly 7 km, I reached my first stop: a souvenir shop which was recommended to me the day before. You can find there all sorts of local products here. My eye fell on two items: a kobyz , which is a Bashkir version of the Jew’s harp, and a flag of Bashkortostan because I usually buy a flag in every place I visit.
Satisfied with my purchases, I headed towards Victory Park. I got off two stops before my destination in order to enjoy a long walk surrounded by pine trees and tall buildings. The atmosphere was lively and festive. Some children were playing near a fountain, while others were riding on scooters and hover boards or bouncing balls and blowing soap bubbles. There was a market on the other end of the square, right in front of the majestic Ufa State Petroleum Technological University. I went up to a stand selling tea and sweets, simply unable to resist the intoxicating scent of fresh food!
These two enormous buildings caught my attention so much I had to step out of the vehicle to explore more
I continued onward, passing an impressive block of flats in a working-class neighborhood that dates back to the previous century. It felt like I’d traveled back in time to another era. Little has changed in this area since Soviet times. I took the opportunity to stop off at a small grocery store and bought some bekkens (small pastries typically found in Tatarstan and Bashkortostan) stuffed with potato and fennel.
Eventually I arrived at Victory Park, and it suddenly dawned on me why the park bears this name. It is filled all over with military-themed objects: monuments in honor of victims and soldiers, actual tanks, howitzers and other military equipment.
Monuments dedicated to the glory of the Soviet army
Children enjoy the vast green spaces. Generally speaking, I noticed that there are a lot of young children in this city compared to other Russian cities I have visited. It therefore comes as no surprise to discover that in 2017, out of Russia’s 85 federal subjects, Bashkortostan had the 16 th highest birth rate. Young toddlers in particular enjoy climbing inside tanks and standing on top of them.
The majestic Lala Tulpan mosque
But I didn’t come here to admire deadly weapons. I traveled across the city to see a unique building that’s just a short walk away from the park: the Lala Tulpan mosque, a Bashkir religious center. The name of the mosque refers to the tulip, a symbol of the Turkish people, and the two 53-meter-tall minarets on top were designed in the shape of flowers in full blossom.
The Tukayev Mosque
On my final day in Ufa, I decided to visit another famous site of worship: the Tukayev mosque. Built in 1830, it was the first mosque in the city and, up until the 1920s, served as Russia’s Islamic center. It consists of a large complex of various buildings, surrounded by an enclosure with richly decorated gates and walls. While I was in the mosque, a wedding happened to be taking place there, and the young newlyweds later posed for photos in the main courtyard of the architectural complex.
The “Seven Girls” fountain
I then headed toward the city center, where I discovered the beautiful “Seven Girls” fountain, which pays tribute to a Bashkir epic that tells the story of seven young girls who were kidnapped by bandits. Choosing death over slavery, they decided to drown themselves in a lake. Afterwards, it is said that seven new stars appeared in the night sky.
Nearby, you’ll find the colorful Verkhnetorgovskaya Square, which has buildings that are relatively new but still charming. It’s definitely a trendy part of town, with a number of shops and restaurants dotted about. I stocked up on almonds and walnuts from a Tajik vendor at a very reasonable price, which reminded me that Central Asia isn’t far from here. Then I crossed the square and walked over to Sattvik, a vegetarian restaurant.
Fully restored, Verkhnetorgovskaya Square is a warm and friendly place located at the heart of the city center
At this point, I only had a few hours left before my return flight, so I abandoned the idea of visiting the botanical garden and instead headed towards the National Museum of the Republic of Bashkortostan, which is two streets away and one of the oldest museums in Russia (it opened in 1864). Visitors can learn about local customs, history and geology through art and nature there.
A model of a wooden kremlin once stood on the hill where the statue of Salawat Yulayev now holds court
The museum was simply fascinating and contained an incredibly rich collection that has been perfectly preserved. I even learned that a wooden kremlin once stood on top of one of the hills in the city and that millions of years ago Bashkortostan was submerged under water. Today, some regions of high ground are actually made up of ancient coral reefs.
Unfortunately, I was running out of time. An employee at the museum advised me to abandon the rooms dedicated to the Soviet period and to visit the rooms dedicated to traditional Bashkir costumes and items.
After going back to the hostel and packing my bags, I hopped on a marshrutka and headed towards the airport. An old lady asked me the time at the bus stop and then shouted goodbye, warmly wishing me good luck. I took one last look at the city’s wide streets through the bus window. I even spotted the Ar-Rahim mosque, a sublime pharaonic mosque that is being built. Once it is completed, it will be one of the most impressive mosques in Russia.
My journey ends with the promise of an inevitable return
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toEXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe purpose of this business plan is to secure $50,000 in order to fund the purchase, marketing, and staffing requirements for Donny's Food Truck restaura. t in Small Town, CT. Donny's Food Truck was founded by chef Donny O'Neal, and sous chef Mig. el Sanchez, in 2020. The funds invested will help launch the business ...
29 Proven Food Truck Business Plans (PDF, Word) June 23, 2020 9 Mins Read. The food truck business has recently gained progress in catering for ordinary working folks. It's really not that expensive to set up and it's a cheaper alternative to starting your own restaurant. Of course, this doesn't mean that food trucks are either free or cheap.
Food Truck Business Plan PDF Example
Donny O'Neal, Co-Founder and Owner. Donny O'Neal is the Co-Founder and Head Chef at Donny's Food Truck. In 2005, Donny received a Master of Arts degree in Culinary Arts from Gastronomy University. He is currently the Head Chef at Fancy-Foodie Restaurant in [Town/City, State].
Free Version of Growthinks Food Truck Business Plan
FoodTruckr.com How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan • 2 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As we explained in "How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan," the Executive Summary will appear first in the final version of your document—but you should write it last. The Executive Summary is an overview of your entire truck.
Food truck business plan template + PDF
Updated January 09, 2023. A food truck business plan is created by a food truck entrepreneur to describe the vision, plans, and goals of their business. It should detail the company's core offering, operational procedures, management, sourcing, and financial metrics, as well as food truck industry trends, statistics, and competitive analysis.
Food Truck Business Plan Template & Sample (2024)
Follow these tips to quickly develop a working business plan from this sample. 1. Don't worry about finding an exact match. We have over 550 sample business plan templates. So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details. Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across.
Executive Summary. Add the overview of your food truck business proposal. Introduce your concept, unique selling points, key objectives, target market, and expected performance. The template provides a concise summary, but you may expand on each section later. [Sender.Company] wants to introduce a new food truck venture in (Location).
In our business plan for example, we were looking at $55,000 all-in to start the business. This would include the purchase of a food truck, our initial inventory of food, and permits. Be extremely diligent in outlining how you intend to spend every dollar in this section.
Free Food Truck Business Plan Template & Sample
Marketing Plan. Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P's: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a food truck business plan, your plan should include the following: Product: in the product section you should reiterate the type of food truck business that you documented in your Company Analysis.
It's a $2B a year industry - according to (Food Truck Nation), the food truck industry grew 300 percent from 2014 to 2017. It's super-competitive - according to (Food Truck Operator), food truck growth is outpacing other food service, including restaurants, by 5.4% to 4.3% for the industry overall.
How To Write a Food Truck Business Plan (+ Template)
A good rule of thumb is that someone should be able to just read your executive summary and get a solid overview of your business. 2. Concept. This is the fun part of your business plan. Use this section to describe the general concept or company description for your food truck.
July 14, 2023. Starting a food truck is a great idea because it is a low-cost way to enter the food service industry and allows for a high degree of flexibility and mobility. Additionally, it can be a great way to introduce a new concept to the local market and build a loyal customer base. Don't start without having built a business plan though.
Free Food Truck Business Plan Template
Download the Food Truck Business Plan Sample PDF here. Executive Summary. Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business founded by brothers John and David. After successfully operating their flagship mobile kitchen for the last five years, they are now looking to expand their operations and open up a second ...
To help you create your own food truck business plan, we have provided some examples (in PDF) that you can use when you will be creating your own business plan. ... PDF; Size: 71 KB. Download. Editable Food Truck Business Plan Example. gojiberrycilegi.com. Details. ... Develop a project timeline for a middle school science fair. Free Download ...
I arrived at the edge of one of the hills of Ufa. A dozen small wooden houses, haphazardly built between bushes and dirt tracks, separated me from the Belaya River down below.
Ufa - Rusmania ... Ufa