Culinary is one of the hottest business opportunities, especially for those who have cooking skill and interest. The fast-growing business drives the business owner to create some breakthroughs and creativity to build an outstanding, innovative business. Food truck business is the culinary business owner’s creativity that currently become the worldwide business trend.
The food truck concept is selling meals by using a modified truck. The business activities from taking order, dine in to payment are conducted in this vehicle which is specially designed to attract customers.
Since its unique concept, the food truck has become popular and it offers great opportunity and profits. Here are the steps to start a food truck business:
Step 1. Provide license. License is the top priority in any businesses, including food truck. To start a food truck business, the licenses required relate to health department certificate, vehicle documents, parking request, etc. You can apply these licenses to the local government.
Step 2. Posses a van. Having a van is needed to open a food truck business. If you already have a van, then all you need is to modify it according to your product theme. Consider the large vehicle that enable you to store the equipment and other materials.
Step 3. Food Menu. The trick to set the appropriate food menu is to determine the main menu, whether for appetizer, main course, dessert, or snack. It allows customer to have many options. One thing to remember, recognize your target market and business location. If your food truck is located near schools or office, then it will be better to serve menu that can be prepared quickly.
Step 4. Prepare a business plan. The next step is to prepare a business planning. Make a thorough calculation how many products should be sold daily/monthly to earn maximum profit. If you take a loan, you should take into account your ability to pay the loan from your business profits.
Step 5. Budget management. There are many ways to get fund for your business, such as bank loan where you need to make a financial plan first. You must calculate the monthly loan payment including its interest and the loan period. Managing budget properly will provide you a clear description of business profit -loss.
Step 6. Parking location. Prioritize a strategic location for your business. Crowded places do not guarantee there will be many customers come to your food truck. Contact the local government in to get information related to parking restrictions, so you can avoid un-allowed locations. Administer the permits around city park or attend festivals in your area.
Step 7. Stay Connected. In the business, the more network you have, the more facilitates you will have. Networking is important to make your business heard and get a lot of consumer references. Join the food trucks association and establish good relationships with the members. They will support you by giving many useful inputs, tips, and information.
Step 8. Maximize social media. Use the social media you have to promote your product. There are many ways you can do, like creating an account for your own business and then promoting it from your personal account, or independently creating the content. The social media makes your products closer to customers, because customers will have latest information like new menus, event, and locations.
Step 9. Maintain business growth. Keep developing unique and out-of-the box ideas are the efforts to promote your business. These will drive your business widely known. The more unique ideas, the bigger business opportunity are opened. This is one of the steps to maintain the business growth.
