Small businesses across the country have been taking a beating over the last few years due to the economy and even the growing mobile food industry isn’t an exception. No matter the reasons behind some food trucks closing, there are still a huge number of individuals who are looking to enter the industry. Taking over a failed truck can be an easy way to get onto the streets of your local area. Here are four tips to follow if you are taking over an existing food truck without plans on re-branding it.

Four Tips For Taking Over An Existing Food Truck Business

Communicate the change in ownership to old customers

When you are taking over an existing food truck business that has been around for some time, show the longtime customers that you appreciate their business by giving them customer appreciation discounts.

Get to know them and establish yourself as the new owner. When people are used to brands they are not used to change. Let them know that their favorite staples will remain on the menu. Assure them that you are going to carry on the brand just as good as it was before, if not better.

Add some new items

When comes to change you have to be very careful with established food truck brands. Keep on the old staples, but make sure that the quality of the food is upgraded to current standards.

Familiarize yourself with new taste profiles, quality control and other things that will make a difference to new and old recipes. Let older customers know about the new changes so they won’t be shocked.

RELATED: How To Add A New Menu Item To Your Food Truck

Bump up the truck’s profile

Don’t be afraid to step up your game and compete with other food truck businesses in the area. Do things that have never been done at that truck before. Increase advertising and marketing.

Play on new strategies in social networking. Use Twitter, Facebook, and geo-location services like Foursquare to find new customers. Think with the new generation in mind. It can be a hard pill to swallow to change something that has been around awhile.

Consider hiring new staff

The final tip for taking over an existing food truck business is to analyze the current staff and determine if they have what it takes to move forward with your changes. You’ll probably have to get rid some staff that don’t fit your plans.

Put them to work to see what they can do. Keep the ones that are willing to listen to change and who are loyal to your vision for the direction of your business and not the previous owner’s vision.

RELATED: Post Your Food Truck Jobs At Mobile Cuisine

The Bottom Line

The food truck industry will always have vendors leaving the industry. Whether it’s due to a lack of business sense, a poor business plan or just bad luck, existing trucks are an option for new members to the industry. If this is a route you’d like to follow, use these tips to give yourself a better chance for success.

Have you been involved taking over an existing food truck business? If so, we’d love to hear how you handled it. Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section, our food truck forum or social media. Facebook | Twitter