Before you run out and quit your day job to jump into the mobile food industry, take a moment to think about this major decision. While becoming a mobile food vendor is an exciting endeavor, it’s just not for everyone. Remember that this culinary adventure should be looked at as a long-term lifestyle change and commitment. You will pour blood, sweat, tears, and money into your food truck business, and if it doesn’t work out, you won’t be able to recoup that investment. Today we’ll share some reasons you absolutely should not open a food truck business.

Reasons you might not be ready to open a food truck business:

Passion Without a Plan

While passion is requirement for a successful food truck business, it’s simply not enough. You also need to determine how you’ll make money and grow your business. If the idea of developing a business plan bores you or stresses you out, it might not be a good fit.

Not Enough Passion

Looking back at our first point; you have to be passionate and excited about starting a food truck business. Do you see yourself building your mobile food business for years to come? You need to be willing to do whatever it takes (work 80 hours a week, see your family less) to realize your dreams of food truck ownership. If you’re not, then it’s just not worth the pain of starting a food truck business to find that out.

Short on Money

Starting a food truck is not going to get you rich quick. It can take months before you turn a profit, and in the meantime, you’ll need enough cash to pay your daily personal and business expenses.

Big Changes

Maybe you just got married, or had a baby. Are you’re in a transitional stage in your life? Remember that starting a mobile food business will add to the already high levels of stress you’re experiencing. Starting your food truck should probably be put on hold until things slow down.

You Just Want to be the Boss

Is the appeal of not having an overbearing boss to answer to is your driver for starting a food truck business? If so, consider this: your customers will be your new bosses. They’ll dictate much to what you do and how you do it. If they don’t like your menu, they won’t buy it.

You’re the Breadwinner

Shifting from one salary to support your family to an erratic, mobile food vendor’s paycheck is one many families can’t handle. If your family finances will suffer if you quit your current job, wait until you have six to twelve months of living expenses in the bank.

No Experience

Although you’ve worked in a white collar job for years, you’ve dreamed of opening a cupcake truck. If you’ve got mad baking skills, that might help you survive, but if you have no experience in, finding locations to park a truck, buying baking supplies, and managing staff, you may find yourself struggling.

You Want to do What you Love

Why would this be a reason to not open a food truck business? Unfortunately, few people do that thing they love 40 hours a week. In the previous example, you may find that, while you really enjoy the baking portion of the work, you’re actually doing very little of that in between the administrative tasks a food truck owner is responsible for. You’ll be busy creating employee schedules, making deposits at the bank, keeping up on social media and dealing with your suppliers. Someone else may have to handle the baking.

Knowledge of the Business Side of Things

You certainly don’t need an MBA to be a food truck operator. But it helps to have a basic understanding of marketing, accounting, management and finance. You can take continuing education courses at your local community college, read books and websites (hint: mobile-cuisine.com), or simply teach yourself.

RELATED: How To Start A Food Truck Business

The Bottom Line

Thinking about starting a food truck? Running a mobile food business can be an amazing adventure. It can also give you more security than a regular day job. Being your own boss may sound like heaven on earth, but what you have to remember is that it’s still a lot of hard work.

What told you that you were ready to open a food truck business? We’d like to hear your story. Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or through social media. Facebook | Twitter