Food Trucks for Sale (2024)

FAQs

What is the most profitable thing to sell on a food truck? ›

Barbecue is consistently rated as North America's most popular – and most profitable – food truck item. Find out what kind of BBQ your customers want, and you'll be the hottest eatery on the block. With some simple spices, sauces, and seasonings, you can make any kind of BBQ food truck your own.

Food trucks can make as much as $500,000 per year. That said, they can also make next to nothing and leave you in debt. The average food truck income depends on factors like the market size in your region and how good your offer is compared to the competition.

Millennials have been great supports of food trucks. According to an article by Statista, the National Restaurant Association reported that consumers ages 18-34 were the most likely to purchase a meal from a food truck, followed by those ages 35-44.

Can the food truck be driven with a type-B driver's license? If so, does it respect the weight and size requirements provided by the vehicle's manufacturer? Is the interior equipment of professional quality? What brands are used?

Not Knowing Your Audience

So you have a decent vehicle and are ready to start selling; that's great. But do you know where you're going to sell or how much you're going to sell? One of the most common reasons food trucks fail is a lack of understanding of their target market.

Most food trucks can expect to become profitable within the first year and a half to two years, depending on the food costs and your businesses' and region's KPIs. You'll have to work to ensure that your food truck becomes profitable before you spend through your contingency funds and financing.

Food Truck Park Parking Costs – Monthly food truck park rental rates are typically between $500 - $1000 depending on the city. While food truck parks offer daily rates, they are higher than what you pay for a monthly lease. Food Truck Event Parking Costs – Food trucks can expect to pay $75+ per event.

Cons of a Food Truck Business

If you get claustrophobic, starting a food truck business may not be the best choice for you. The limited space can also make it difficult to stay stocked on ingredients.

What percentage of food trucks fail? ›

With a failure rate of about 60%, food trucks can be an unreliable business idea.

Understanding Average Food Truck Income Per Day

Daily earnings can fluctuate widely, influenced by factors like event attendance, weather, and local competition. The average food truck income per day can range from $200 to $2,000, with a median around $1,000.

A good rule of thumb is that most food trucks can handle five to 12 different menu items at any given time. The fewer the better to keep your quality top notch.

Although it's easier and more affordable to start a food truck instead of a brick-and-mortar location, it does take time and effort to ensure success. Specific strategies can help you stand out from other food trucks, gain new customers, retain loyal ones, and maximize your profits.

It requires detailed planning, knowing your costs, finding the best location, and running your operations smoothly. Your menu should offer something unique that attracts customers. Your prices should be fair while still making a profit. You should also think about providing a delivery service to reach more customers.

However, a rough estimate suggests that an average food truck would serve around 50 to 100 customers per day. This range, of course, varies based on factors like location, menu, price, and the day of the week. Location is a significant determinant of how many customers a food truck gets per day.

The various licenses required for the food truck are business license, food handler certification, fire certificate, and health certification. Then there are state-administered licenses for different cities which add to the costs according to the aspirations of the food trucker of the radius he/she wants to cover.