How to Start a Food Truck Business in 10 Steps

Do you want to know how to start a food truck business in India? Do you want to know about the plan, profitability, design, and promotion? If YES, you have come to the right place. Find in this post, a detailed step-by-step food truck business plan guide.

A food truck business is different from a normal food restaurant in two major ways. One is you are moving and you don’t have a retail location. Second is you yourself are going to the customers. A person having minimum experience in the food service industry can initiate this venture in the city area.

From a food truck, you can sell frozen and packaged items like ice cream, soft drinks, sweets, and snacks. You can also go for cooked items with a specific menu including breakfast, Tiffin, and lunch. People with a busy work schedule always prefer instant hygienic cooked food on their doorsteps.

This business is a lot of fun to run. However to be successful in this business you need to put in effort and dedication. If you are passionately looking at building a food truck business, take a look at the following steps mentioned below.

10 Steps to Follow to Start a Food Truck Business

Step 1. Market Research 

Before starting the food truck business it is important to have market research for the locality and food culture of the place you want to cater to. You need to study the food culture of your target consumers.

What types of food do they generally take? What are the other food truck menus that are running well in the area? What pricing of the food are they offering? As the mobile food truck business is a capital-intensive business you need to be more careful about the proper approach and operating procedures.

Step 2. Food Truck Business Plan

After the market research create a detailed business plan for your mobile food truck business. You will need to determine how many vehicles you will initiate the venture. Fix long-term and short-term goals with a mission statement. Fix your promotional strategy. Calculate the startup budget with expected revenue return.

In starting a mobile food truck business you may have tied ups with local restaurants and started to sell their products from your mobile cart. After getting a sufficient customer base and brand popularity you can think of your own cooked food.

Step 3. Analyze the profitability

This business can earn good profit from the high population density zones. Simply, you will need to ensure enough customer footfalls. Initially, start with a moderate price structure. Also, try to keep fast-moving food items like small cakes biscuits cold drinks, etc.

These are all part of the activity to get established in the market. You will need to provide good food at a reasonable price. Never try to earn huge profits from unit sales. Go for volume sale.

Step 4. Food Truck License & Registration

You will need to acquire several different types of licenses and permits to start this business.

Firstly, you need to have a vehicle’s registration as ‘commercial’. Also, get proper insurance for the vehicles and for the entire business. Apply for a trade license from the local authority. As you will make some brand promotion on the vehicle you will need to have that specific permission from the corporation.

You will need to ensure compliance with the fire safety guidelines. It is required to obtain NOC from the Fire Department. You will also need to have a food business operating license from the local competent authority.

Do not forget to register your truck business if you want to run legally.

Step 5. Food Truck Location

Concentrate on location. It is important to select a location with a high traffic density. Accordingly, you might need to have a specific parking space for the vehicle. Choose the location close to the shopping area, offices, schools, colleges, parks, religious places, and community centers.

Step 6. Food Truck Equipment

Your mobile food truck needs to be equipped with it rightfully. According to your food varieties first, choose the vehicle size.

It is advisable to purchase chassis only. According to your customized requirement to build the interior of the body part. You will need to have small storage, a cooking area, and delivery space. Purchase the equipment like oven, microwaves, freezer, and utensils.

Step 7. How do design the Outside of a Food Truck

This is really an important part of the business. Your food truck must look clean, attractive, and well-organized. It is better to hire a designer. Talk to him about your specific requirements and let him design a blueprint.

The food truck must have a specific storage area, cooking station, and serving area. Also, plan for the outside area of the truck. Decorate with your company name, logo, and attractive food images.

Step 8. Menu Selection 

As in any restaurant business, menu selection is an important factor to get success in this venture. Select your menu according to the food habits of the people of the locality where you are starting the business. You will need to create menus that can be cooked with a simple process but deliver different attractive tastes.

You may keep some ready-to-eat foods like ice cream, cake, pastry, soft drinks, etc. Successful food truck business operators serve gourmet cuisine, delicacies from other countries, health foods, and specialty sweets like unique cupcakes and exclusive chocolates.

Step 9. Hire Resources 

Hire experienced and skilled personnel to run the mobile food truck business. It is important to have friendly personnel so that they can make a good impression of the brand and food when making conversation with the customers.

Step 10. Promotion for Food Truck Business

Good food and the right service with a smile are very important aspects of a mobile food truck business. Choose a catchy name for your business expressing what you sell in a meaningful manner. Make an internet presence for your mobile food truck business. Creating a website is a must nowadays. Check our guide to create a website of your own or check the best e-commerce website builders if you want to create an online store.

On your website give all the menu details with price. Also, you can add some valued content about healthy food habits. Social media is now a useful tool for the mobile food business. You must have an account on Facebook and Twitter. These interactive social media will keep your customers updated about your happenings. You can also initiate a mobile application where people can check your real-time location, and menus, and can submit orders.

One of the best tried and tested methods to have happy customers is by giving something away. You can give promotional gifts or a sample of your food products. You may also offer some initial discounts to the customers.

Finally, to be successful and make good money in the food truck business, you must plan creatively and offer full dedication.