Getting Your Food Truck Past The First Year Of Business

One of the riskiest times for any business especially those in the mobile food industry is when it first opens. In the first two years, three of every ten startups go out of business according to the US SBA. And while they also claim that by five years, half those startups are history, the mobile food industry is still so new, we can’t confirm that this statistic applies yet. So how can you improve the odds that your food truck start up will survive that tough first year of business?

5 Steps To Getting Your Food Truck Past The First Year Of Business

Starting a new mobile business can be very demanding, and the first year is the make it or break it period for vendors. Covering all bases in the first year is integral for business longevity. The following tips for food truck owners to ensure they’re setting themselves up for success in their first year of business.

Talk to customers. Doing market research at before you launch can help you avoid so many mistakes. You’ll have the right menu, at the right price, in the right area.
Choose your location carefully. Whether you’re in a town where you can park on public streets or one where you will be parked in a vacant lot, make sure your truck, cart or trailer is where it needs to be.
Keep expenses down. Look for every possible way to save. This will allow you to keep going longer, hopefully until revenue starts to cover your nut. Hire culinary interns, postpone unnecessary purchases, or pick up a broom and do it yourself. Do it all yourself, for as long as needed.
Plan for problems. The only thing as sure as death and taxes is that unexpected issues will crop up with your newly born food truck business. Sit down and think about everything that could go wrong — then, make a plan for how you will survive each possible scenario.
Analyze your numbers. Even though it’s hard to find time in those crazy days after you first hit the streets, it’s important to stop and look at your numbers to see where your mobile food business is headed. Is that where you want to go? If not, change course. Most successful food trucks went through multiple iterations before they found their groove.

The Bottom Line

If you are starting a food truck business, you have probably heard the horror stories of business failures. Launching a business is a risky, stress-filled endeavor. But more food truck businesses actually succeed than fail in their first year. If you are ready, don’t be afraid to take the plunge, but communicate, research and watch your expenses.

Are you an owner that has made it past the first year of business? How did you do it? Share your story in the comment section below or on social media. Facebook | Twitter

About the Author: Richard Myrick

Richard Myrick is an architect by degree (Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan) who began his career in real estate development and architectural planning. In September of 2010 he created Mobile Cuisine Magazine to fill an information void he found when he began researching how to start a mobile hotdog cart in Chicago. Richard found that there was no central repository of mobile street food information anywhere on the internet, and with that, the idea for MCM was born. Richard also wrote the "Running a Food Truck for Dummies" available in bookstores everywhere and Amazon. You can reach out to Richard by email at: [email protected].