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Food Truck Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Food Truck Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your food truck business plan.

We have helped over 100,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their food trucks.

Food Truck Business Plan Example & Template

Below is a template to help you create each section of your food truck business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is a new food truck located in Portland owned by local critically acclaimed chef, Zane Benedict. The menu will consist of popular food options that consist of burgers, sandwiches, gyros, and tacos uniquely made with the creativity and uniqueness that Chef Zane can offer. Chef Zane’s eclectic style and consistency make him a favorite among Portland foodies and his food truck will garner a loyal following amongst young professionals and college students.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be located in the immensely popular food truck pod known as Cartopia. Chef Zane will receive lots of exposure by being a part of this community as there are plenty of neighboring food trucks, bars, nightlife, and entertainment options nearby. With the popular location of Cartopia and an impressive Instagram social media following, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is destined to become a local go-to dining destination for anyone craving delicious, interesting fare at an affordable price.

Products Served

The following are the products to be offered by Zesty Zane’s Food Truck:

  • Sandwiches & paninis
  • Assorted non-alcoholic beverages

Customer Focus

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will target customers in Portland who live, work, or socialize near Cartopia. This area is frequented by numerous young professionals, college students, and the late-night crowd who regularly eat at food trucks. Anyone seeking trendy dining options are the target customers of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck.

Management Team

Chef Zane has worked in the culinary industry for over ten years and is accustomed to the long, demanding hours of operating a kitchen. He attended culinary school in San Francisco and returned home to Portland to be a part of the world-renowned food scene that Portland has built for itself. After working under three award-winning chefs, Chef Zane is ready to venture out on his own and start his own business as a food truck.

Chef Zane Benedict will be the food truck owner and operator of his food truck. He will operate the food truck Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 am until 1:00 am. Chef Zane will also employ two part-time cooks to assist him during peak hours of operation.

Success Factors

The following success factors will set Zesty Zane’s Food Truck apart from the competition:

  • Exceptional cuisine made fresh with locally sourced ingredients.
  • An eclectic menu that is unlike any other in the Portland food scene.
  • Convenient location: Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be located in a highly-trafficked food truck pod that is frequented by college students, young professionals, and night-life regulars.
  • Delicious food at a good price. Zesty Zane’s food items will be cheaper than other food truck dishes without sacrificing quality.

Financial Highlights

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is seeking $40,000 in debt financing to open its food truck. The funding will be dedicated for the purchase of the food truck, cooking supplies and equipment, working capital, three months worth of payroll expenses and opening inventory. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Purchase of food truck – $20,000
  • Food truck kitchen supplies and equipment – $10,000
  • Opening inventory – $2,000
  • Working capital (to include 3 months of overhead expenses) – $3,000
  • Marketing (website design and management) – $5,000

The following graph outlines the pro forma financial projections for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck:

food truck financials

Company Overview

Who is zesty zane’s food truck.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is a startup food truck business located in Portland, Oregon. The menu offerings are eclectic, made-to-order, bistro-type dishes served fresh and fast in the entertainment district of Portland. The ingredients are locally-sourced from independent food growers and artisans in and around the Portland region. The dishes are incorporated with an ingenious twist to commonly known popular food menu items. The menu options are simple dishes commonly seen at food trucks, but Chef Zane adds his own spin to the typical fare – sandwiches, gyros, burgers, and tacos all made his way unlike any other food establishment.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is owned and operated by Zane Benedict, a local Chef classically trained in culinary school and under the most prestigious chefs in Portland. Chef Zane is known for his creativity, consistency, and quickness in the kitchen and his dishes receive multiple positive reviews in the restaurants Zane has been employed. Chef Zane specializes in fine French, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisine with a creative twist not typically found in other restaurant establishments.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck History

After graduating from culinary school in 2008, Chef Zane Benedict worked as a sous chef in three different restaurants in Portland. All of the chefs Zane worked under were award-winning, locally-acclaimed chefs that frequently trained their apprentices to prepare dishes up to their expectation and standards.

Chef Zane learned a great deal from these chefs and garnered a reputation himself for his creativity and consistency. Now that Zane feels he has learned as much as he can from the senior chefs, he would like to venture out on his own and start his own business. Due to the large amount of capital required to open a full-scale restaurant, Chef Zane decided a food truck business was the most cost-effective option for his operation.

Since incorporation, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck has achieved the following milestones:

  • Developed the food truck’s branding image, social media, and website.
  • Has a soft hold on a used food truck that recently went out of business.
  • Developed and finalized the menu of the dishes Chef Zane will serve.
  • Obtained a food permit license to be able to prepare and sell food and drinks in Portland County.
  • Obtained a sales and use tax permit for use in Portland County.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck Products

The following are the types of menu items Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will produce:

Food Truck Industry Analysis

Food truck vendors will continue to perform well over the next five years, benefiting from consumers with deeper pockets who are able to spend on pricier gourmet food options. Revenues are expected to increase to $1.4 billion during this time period.

Food Truck industry operators are expected to continue to experience growth, as generally positive economic conditions and momentum from the gourmet food movement propel growth.

Consumers nowadays demand higher-quality food, a wider variety of styles and tastes, better presentation and, most importantly, more healthy menu options. Therefore, operators that include healthy options on their menus will be best situated for success over the next five years. Vendors that continue to offer unique food options will also be in a strong position by carving out a niche and developing a loyal customer base.

The food truck industry will also benefit from an increase in the urban population, which is expected to comprise the majority of the US population in five years. The food truck industry benefits from agglomeration because it relies on high foot traffic. Additionally, urban dwellers are also more likely to purchase meals rather than cooking at home due to their above-average incomes and limited spare time.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will target the population of Portland that frequently dines in the entertainment district. There is a large food truck area of Portland known as Cartopia, where Chef Zane will set up his business. This area is home to numerous dining establishments, nightlife, bars, clubs, and food trucks. The target market of this area are usually young professionals and college students who have disposable income.

The precise demographics for Portland, Oregon are:

Customer Segmentation

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will primarily target the following customer profile:

  • Local residents of Portland who partake in late-night activities such as socializing with friends or bar-hopping
  • Business professionals that work and reside in the Portland Cartopia area – law offices, hospitals, clinics, insurance agencies, retail, and schools
  • College students who are in search of fast, cheap, and trendy eats

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be competing with other food trucks in the Portland community. A profile of each competitor is below.

Potato Champion

Potato Champion is a local favorite of Portland foodies that is also located in Cartopia. Started in 2008, Potato Champion quickly established itself as a fan favorite for late night food. Potato Champion serves a limited menu of hand cut, twice fried Belgian style fries, a variety of dipping sauces, and their own version of the Canadian classic Poutine, as well as other fry related dishes. They pride themselves in using the highest quality ingredients and focus on an inventive menu that combines tastes from all over the world with one of the most popular foods found on the globe, the french fry.

Potato Champion is open for lunch, dinner, and late-night. They are available for catering and delivery through Postmates. Followers of Potato Champion are also able to purchase swag from their store that includes music, bags, pins, and hoodies.

Started by John Eads in 2009, Pyro Pizza was built out of a 8’x16’ food cart that he custom-built with a cast iron wood fire oven. Aside from wood fired pizza, John also makes his own sodas using all real ingredients and natural cane sugar. John’s belief is that good ingredients make good food. His crew makes many components in-house and sources regional flour, pepperoni, sausage, blue cheese, soda ingredients, and seasonal produce all from Portland businesses and farms. In 2015, Pyro’s expanded to a new sandwich cart, Pyro’s Wicked Wiches – a scratch-made sandwich, soup, chips and cookie food cart.

Pyro’s serves an assortment of wood fire pizzas made from scratch. Their choices are margherita, marinara, arugula and mushroom, pepperoni, quattro formaggi, fennel sausage, veggie bianca, breadsticks, salads, and sodas.

Chicken and Guns

Chicken and Guns is another local favorite among Portland foodies. Also found in Cartopia, Chicken and Guns serves up Latin American chicken, wings, tacos, salad, soup, and their “guns” are crispy seasoned potatoes. The chicken is served by the quarter, half, or whole bird. Another item they are acclaimed for is their peruvian aji sauce, habanero carrot sauce and chimichurri sauce. They have been named the best fried chicken in Portland by the PDX Eater.

Chicken and Guns is open everyday from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm for takeout and delivery options. With a large Instagram and social media following, there is always destined to be a line at the Chicken and Guns food truck.

Competitive Advantage

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck offers several advantages over its competition. Those advantages are:

Food Truck Marketing Plan

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will offer a unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Delicious food made fresh with locally sourced ingredients using exquisite techniques.
  • Located in the ultra-hip food truck area known as Cartopia.
  • Great food at a great price. The menu offerings of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be accessible to customers of all walks of life.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck are as follows:

Social Media

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck’s main source of marketing will be through social media, primarily their Instagram page. Chef Zane has become adept at taking appealing photographs of his dishes. He will post pictures of his menu and add details on the location and hours of operation. His food truck account already has over 3,000 followers and he posts daily “Coming Soon” teaser photos.

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be parked in the immensely popular food truck hub known as Cartopia of Portland. There are dozens of food trucks located in this pod and there is always a crowd of people. Cartopia hosts bands, art shows, shopping events, and other social gatherings to enhance the entertainment vibe of the pod. By being part of Cartopia, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will receive lots of exposure and traffic.

SEO Website Marketing

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck plans to invest funds into maintaining a strong SEO presence on search engines like Google and Bing. When a person types in “local food truck” or “top food trucks in Portland”, Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will appear in the top three choices. Zesty Zane’s will also invest in their website also to ensure that it is user friendly, always up to date, and displays professional photographs of its menu items and location.

Third Party Delivery Sites

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will maintain a presence on sites like GrubHub, Uber Eats, Doordash, and Postmates so that people looking for local food with the option of delivery will see Zesty Zane’s listed.

The pricing of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be moderate and on par with other food trucks so customers feel they receive value when purchasing their menu items.

Operations Plan

The operations plan for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck is relatively simple as its overhead and cost is small. The functional roles for its employees are as follows:

Operation Functions:

  • Chef Zane will run the food truck operation. He will be in charge of inventory, menu creation, food truck marketing, customer service, and bookkeeping. Chef Zane will work every day that he chooses to open the food truck. Chef Zane plans on operating the food truck Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 am to 1:00 am.
  • Two part-time cooks that will alternate helping Chef Zane during the hours of operation. As business picks up, there will be two cooks at the same time assisting Chef Zane during peak hours.

Milestones:

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck aims to open in the next 3 months. The following are the milestones needed in order to obtain this goal.

4/15/202X – Purchase food truck

5/1/202X – Finalize menu

5/15/202X – Social media and advertising campaign begins

6/1/202X – Finish cleaning up the food truck and prepare it for operation

6/10/202X – Purchase food and drink inventory, stock truck, and park it at Cartopia

6/11/202X – Grand Opening of Zesty Zane’s Food Truck

Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will be owned and operated by Chef Zane Benedict.

Chef Zane Benedict, Food Truck Owner

Chef Zane Benedict is a Portland native who attended culinary school in San Francisco and returned to Portland to become a part of the world-renowned food scene Portland is uniquely known for. Zane was trained under three different chefs at fine dining establishments in downtown Portland and was awarded Best Sous Chef of Portland in 2017. Chef Zane has won two local culinary competitions, placed runner-up in a statewide competition, and participated in a cooking competition show on the Food Network.

Chef Zane has received numerous awards for his creativity and consistency of his food while being able to prepare dishes in a short amount of time. His ability to prepare food under pressure allows him the unique skill of serving numerous customers without having them undergo long wait times. This will keep customers happy and coming back for more.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Zesty Zane’s Food Truck will come from the menu items being offered daily.

The cost drivers will be the ingredients and products needed to make the menu items (oil, bread, meat, chicken, produce, drinks) as well as the cooking materials (pots, pans, bowls, plates, utensils, etc.). Other cost drivers will be the overhead expenses of payroll for the part-time employees and propane for the food truck.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

  • Food Truck Marketing (website design and management) – $5,000

Key Assumptions

The following table outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the business loan.

Initial Number of Customers Per Day: 50

Average Menu Item Cost: $9.00

Average Order per Customer: $15.00

Annual Cost for Maintenance of Truck: $10,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, food truck business plan faqs, what is a food truck business plan.

A food truck business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your food truck business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your food truck business plan using our Food Truck Business Plan Template here .

What Are the Main Types of Food Truck Companies?

There are a variety of types of food trucks, each specializing in a specific type of cuisine or food item. There are food trucks that sell burgers, cookies, ice cream, tacos, pizza, sandwiches, salads and more.  

What Are the Main Sources of Revenues and Expenses for a Food Truck Business?

The primary source of revenue for food truck businesses is its food and beverage sales. 

The key expenses for a food truck business are food costs, salaries, and transportation expenses. 

How Do You Get Funding for Your Food Truck Business?

Food truck businesses are typically funded through small business loans, personal savings, crowdfunding and credit card financing.  A well-crafted food truck business plan is essential to securing funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Food Truck Business?

Starting a food truck business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Food Truck Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed business plan for your food truck that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your food truck business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your food truck business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Food Truck Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your food truck business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your food truck business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary Food Truck Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your food truck business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your food truck business. Food truck marketing includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful food truck business:

  • How to Start a Food Truck Business

Where Can I Get a Food Truck Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free food truck business plan template PDF here . This is a sample food truck business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Business Plan Templates

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How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan – Download Template

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Want to look inside the business plan of a real food truck business? We’ve organized detailed business plan templates from successful food trucks and made them available to you in PDF and Word doc in this post. In addition to offer templates, we give you detailed instruction how to complete each section of the plan using this guide.

Before we dive in, keep in mind that it could take weeks if not months of planning to develop a business plan that’s helpful. Whatever time takes for you to write the business plan will be well spent. When researched correctly this document serves as the “game plan” for operating your entire mobile food business and sets the direction of your company.

Approach this document seriously because it can become the roadmap to operate your business and ensure you’re set up for success. When you’ve finished writing your plan, you should know where you plan to vend, estimated food costs, the marketing plan, and how you’ll raise money for the food truck. Pretty important stuff right? Let’s dig in.

Food Truck Business Plan Guide 

Introduction

  • Download Templates
  • Components of a Food Truck Business Plan
  • Executive Summary
  • Mission Statement
  • Company Concept
  • Market Analysis
  • Management Structure
  • Product Line and Services
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Funding Request
  • Financial Projections

Page Contents

  • Serious about Starting a Food Truck? Click Here To Get Our Free Food Truck Business Kit.

Download Business Plan Templates

Components of a business plan, executive summary:, food truck mission statement:, company concept and description:, market analysis:, management structure:, product line:, sales and marketing:, funding request:, financial projections:, bonus tips when creating your building plan, is creating a business plan a total waste of time.

I want you to get the most value possible out of your business planning process. Why? I believe having an accurate business plan gives you the best odds of success for operating a profitable food truck.

And if you’re going to be investing tens of thousands of dollars into a food truck or trailer, cooking equipment, and permits, why not invest a few days creating a detailed plan for how to run the business.

Here’s one example why going through this process can be helpful from our Annual Food Truck Academy class, where train future food truck owners how to start a food truck. One student completed her research estimating food cost, overhead, and anticipated sales as part of her business plan. Then she came back and revealed that based on her current plan, the food truck wouldn’t be profitable. After factoring in tax, labor, and food costs there were no profits left over.

Our student was initially discouraged by the numbers, but I was happy. It’s much better to identify a revenue short-fall before you start the business than months after when you see sales coming in, but can’t figure out why there’s nothing left in the bank account. As a result of the work invested on the front end through planning, she was able to evaluate her ingredient cost and pricing to create a business plan that set herself up for success.

Still, many first time food vendors don’t take the time to put in this work. It’s a shame because it’s so easily avoidable.

One more tip before we get into researching and writing the business plan, don’t get overly hung-up on the structure of the document. Unless you plan to apply for a small business loan (then you will need to be more concerned about formatting, but let’s worry about that later), you’re not going to be graded on how pretty the document looks or how nice the nice fonts and illustrations. This isn’t an assignment for school where you’re going through the motions to get a B.

Instead focus your energy on making this plan useful for your business. Find specific locations that you plan to sell food. Get the contact information for these venues to learn how you can get into them. Figure out your exact food cost and how much it’s going to cost to get permits in your area. Putting ink to paper or word document is going to make the operations of your business real.

Now let’s get on with making your game plan!

Note to Reader: This is part of a series of posts following the process of starting a food truck with Anthony Salvagno (featured in the image below) as he writes a business plan, seeks funding, develops a concept, builds a menu, and ultimately launches his first food truck. Listen to the audio lesson inside this post to learn more about writing a winning food truck business plan.

The person that doesn’t have one [a business plan] sets themselves up for failure. – Anthony Salvagno on the importance of thinking before leaping into a business.

Serious about Starting a Food Truck?  Click Here To Get Our Free Food Truck Business Kit.

365 days on a food truck

In my opinion, this case study is most effective when listening to the audio and downloading the example that Salvagno was kind enough to provide for this post. I’ve also linked to other resources that can help you write your own business plan.

Download Business Plan – Yes, this is the PDF business plan used to acquire $5,000 for a food truck during a business pitch competition. This document is referenced in the companion podcast.

Download Business Plan Template – Here’s a sample template you can use and edit for your own truck.

SBA – Create Your Business Plan – The Small Business Administration (SBA) does an excellent job outlining the steps needed to create a business plan. It’s not food truck specific, but it gives you what you need and there’s plenty of valuable information here.

You can learn a lot by reading business plans for other food businesses like restaurants as well. Operating a profitable restaurant is similar to operating a successful mobile food business. The main different is that a trailer is that it’s mobile.

Below is an outline of the key sections you’ll need to complete for a standard business plan with a description of how each section applies to a food truck or trailer business. Complete each section and you’ve got yourself a real plan for your business my friend.

Keep in mind that if you’re creating this document for yourself and not a banker you don’t need to get fancy with the formatting. The important thing is to have a detailed plan for the business before you open. If you feel the burning desire to make this look nice, you can make formatting updates after the

This is an overview of the information contained in the business plan and should introduce the name of your food truck and the food you plan to serve. This section should only be one page in length. Give readers the high-level overview of what the plan. You’ll have plenty of opportunity to dive into the nitty gritty in the next sections of the document.

The purpose of this section in most business plans is to give prospective investors information about your startup. Lenders reviewing a small business loan might be another audience, although they will be much more focused on financial side of things. But for most of our readers this section is for you, a business partner, and potentially a spouse.

For our Executive Summary we included 2 – 3 sentences describing these important aspects of the business. The provides anyone reading this document with a general understanding of what the business is and how it expects to make money:

  • The food item we plan to sell and specialize in.
  • The key people that will manage the business. In this case, the food truck will be owned and operated by two partners.
  • The business entity we plan to form. We formed an LLC.
  • Where you plan to operate the business and hours of operation. Our initial plan had us operating 5 days per week for lunch and dinner.
  • The basic marketing plan. Again you’ll dive into the details in the marketing and sales portion of the document.
  • Projected cost to fund the business and anticipated revenue.
  • Future goals. How will you know you’ve won? For some this will be a specific revenue number and for others this could be opening up a franchise with 100s of locations.

Again, unless you plan to bring on outside investors don’t worry too much about perfect formatting in the executive summary. This is to ensure you and your partners are clear on the high-level plan for the business.

The mission statement for a food truck can be as short as a sentence or as long as a paragraph. This statement should define what you plan to serve, who you will serve, and the ultimate vision for the business. When done right the mission statement should guide every major decision you make for the business.

Here’s the mission statement from our business plan as an example: 

To provide the residents of our city, young and old, an out of this world gourmet peanut butter and jelly inspired sandwich experience. We use local ingredients and provide gluten-free, contaminant-free products for those with special dietary needs.

When a mission statement is done right it should actually influence how you operate and run your business day to day. For example, since the utilization of local ingredients is part of our mission statement, we’ve got to actively be looking for local suppliers to buy inventory. If we don’t, we’ve failed.

We also need to consider the dietary needs of different groups of people. This impacts the sandwiches we put on our menu every day. Again, if we don’t do this, won’t reach the goal we’ve set out to achieve.

A mission statement can be the most influential part of the business plan when it’s used the right way. On the other hand, this guide can be forgotten when it’s not used to guide decisions. To learn more about making impactful mission statements, watch this interview to go deeper on the subject.

free sample business plan for food truck

This is the fun part. Here you will describe what you hope the food truck will become, the food you plan to serve, and why you believe it will be a successful business. For most food trucks this section only needs to be a few paragraphs in length.

Make sure to include information on why your food is both desirable and unique to customers in the area. Also, if you have some type of theme, like an island theme for example, include little details like this in the description.

If you plan to operate something more mainstream like taco truck, take the time to express what it is that makes you different in your market. A common way food trucks differentiate themselves is through their ingredients or style. For example, you could be the only taco truck in town that uses organic, locally raised meats. Or you might be the only one in town that specializes in making fish tacos. Find a way to standout and offer something that isn’t available elsewhere.

You want folks that read this section to be able to clearly envision the kind of overall experience they’ll enjoy when visiting your food truck. Here are a few guidelines for writing this section:

  • What food will you serve?
  • How is your food different than other vendors in the area?
  • Is there a specific type of consumer you want to attract?

As you can see from our own business plan, we differentiated ourselves through seasonal menu changes all the time and have menu options that cater to people that require a gluten-free diet. It’s also worth noting that our core product of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches is unique to the market.

free sample business plan for food truck

Understand the players in your market before starting a business.

For smaller markets with a couple hundred thousand people living nearby this section might be short and include just 4 – 5 other trucks. However, if you’re entering a market like Los Angeles this section will be larger and more in-depth.

If you’re planning to enter a market that has 10 traditional taco trucks and you plan to start a traditional taco truck too, it will be to differentiate yourself from other vendors in the area.

Consider adding a spin to your own food concept like serving Asian tacos instead to provide local consumers will more variety and fill a potential need. If you’re not sure about the type of truck you want to create yet, looking at the market and seeing what type of food is missing can be a smart way to approach this.

In this area you’ll also want to identify the type of customer that will frequent your establishment. Any data about local trends that you can find will be useful to include as well like this report from IBIS World that forecasts growth in the United States food truck industry for the next 5 years. Google can be a good friend in locating the data to include in the document.

stress restaurant owner

Most food truck owners start with a management structure of one.

This section is straightforward for most food vendors. You can list yourself as the owner and operator if that applies. But don’t forget about key employees or partners too. Many food trucks need a team of 3 – 5 employees to operate successfully during a lunch rush. Make sure these long-term players are accounted for.

In our business plan, it’s a partnership between brothers. The work load is split up between one brother operating the front of the house and marketing: accepting orders, booking new business and events, emailing and calling catering leads. The other brother focuses more on the chef duties including sourcing ingredients, cooking food, working with suppliers, and ensuring food quality.

Industry Survey Results: What is the Average Income of a Food Truck Vendor?

If you have more than one owner of the business this is where you want to take the opportunity to clearly define roles. This is an extremely important section of the document when multiple parties and their money are involved. By outlining everyones responsibilities in this document, it serves as a record of who was in responsible for certain aspects of the business. The more people involved, the more diligent you need to be with assigning tasks.

If it’s not written down, it’s easy for partners to recall things differently. This will help avoid conflict in the future for all parties involved. You need this.

The more stakeholders involved, the more complicated this section will be. You should also include investors and advisors in this section even when people aren’t excepted to help with the daily business operations. Outline what value these people have delivered to the business and what return they can expect in the future.

free sample business plan for food truck

Ready-made meals can be a great way to diversify your product line.

Finally… This is the section you finally get to describe your food. I recommend outlining the main menu items and any signature dishes that you have in this section. But don’t stop at just the food that you plan to serve.

Other products and services that you plan to offer could include corporate catering gigs or weddings. These can be the biggest money makers for a mobile food vendor.

It pays to think outside the box too in this section. Some vendors that started out by serving food out the window of a truck exclusively have now begun to sell their trademark dishes in stores, online, or at restaurant. Don’t forget to think about possible paths for growth in the business.

  • Previous guest of the show Martie Richie of Motley Crews is an excellent example of someone that is doing just that. They’ve expanded to selling snacks online through their e-commerce website and at local gas stations.
  • Malcolm decided to open a restaurant to attain more consistent sales, especially through the slow winter months.

s'wich it up

A food truck can serve as a mobile promotional platform.

How do you plan to market your business and get sales? One of the biggest factors that determine the success / failure of a lunch truck is location. Will you be able to get into major events or areas with a lot of potential customers?

One of the biggest favors you can do for yourself to input into your sales and marketing plan is to create a tentative list of places you might be able to vend. Get extremely granular with this task. In fact, it might even help to print out a map to evaluate where the best potential vending locations are in your area.

Here’s the information you should gather as part of this process. You can add this information inside the sales and marketing section of the business plan as you gather it. 

  • Name of the vending location and cost details.
  • Contact information including telephone, email, and address. Ideally a dedicated point of contact in charge of booking vendors.

Here are some locations that work well for food trucks:

  • Farmer’s markets: You can usually find vendor information listed on the website.
  • Annual events: Browse your cities website for a list of upcoming events like car shows, fairs, or parades.
  • Social Media: One of the easiest ways to find good vending locations is to monitor the social media accounts of popular food trucks in your city. If they are vending somewhere, it’s probably a lucrative location that you might be able to vend at as well.
  • Corporate Workplaces:  Big corporate employers with a few thousand employees working at a single location can be a good option for generating consistent lunch sales.
  • Breweries and Wineries: Places like this often don’t want to build in a restaurant into their operations and partner with mobile food vendors to supply food to guests.

Pro Tip: Make sure to have a a lot of  different parking location options before getting started. Not every location you try is going to be profitable. By developing a big list of opportunities upfront, you won’t feel stressed about vending options because your dream vending location didn’t work out.

There are an endless number of tactics you can use to attempt to drum up business in the early days, but for most successful food business getting into events with big hungry crowds is the first step to building a brand locally and gaining traction. Learn more about finding profitable vending locations here.

free sample business plan for food truck

Just another day on the food truck.

The key to a good funding request is knowing exactly how much money you need and having a detailed plan explaining how you plan to use it. For food truck owners, the biggest early expense will be in buying a food truck and the kitchen equipment installed onboard.

You should also account for the amount of money you’ve raised or have on hand in this section. In our business plan for example, we were looking at $55,000 all-in to start the business. This would include the purchase of a food truck, our initial inventory of food, and permits. Be extremely diligent in outlining how you intend to spend every dollar in this section. It will safe you time late in the process and lenders will appreciate your attention to detail.

We were able to bring $14,850 or 27% of that total investment to the table that was raised mostly through personal savings, a small crowd funding campaign, and winning a business plan contest. The remaining 73% was acquired through the help of a small business loan. Being able to start a real food business like this for below $15,000 out of pocket is pretty cool.

Reader’s Note: If you’re not planning to seek funding through a traditional bank (or are simply planning to take out a personal loan based on your credit history) you can technically disregard this section, although you should still analyze closely how you intend to spend your money.

If you plan on asking for friends and family for money this attention to detail can help too. Even if they’re not in the food industry, it’s easy to understand that a commercial oven or fridge could cost a few thousand dollars. If you have a specific use for funds that makes sense, it increases the likelihood of obtaining a loan with friendly terms amongst family.

This is an extremely important area to spend time on before starting a food truck. I’d argue this section is as important as the product, sales and marketing plan of the business plan. This section will offer your first insight into whether or not the business idea you have is going to work or not in its present form.

From a practical standpoint, the main thing you want to figure out is what your break-even point for the business is. In other words, how much food do you need to sell in order to pay all of your monthly expenses? This is a simple, but critical question you must find the answer to before getting started.

You can determine the break-even point for a food truck business with this formula: 

Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs) = Bread Even Point

Here’s the due diligence you’ll need to complete to find the break-even point for your food truck:

  • Add up the total monthly expenses you expect for the food truck to find your fixed cost number. This number will include loan payments, insurance, cell phone, and everything else you need to pay on a monthly. Use our guide to create a quick estimate of monthly costs.
  • The price refers to how much you plan to charge customers and how many sales you anticipate in a given month. From your perspective the less sales you need to break even the better as it will.
  • The variable costs is the expenses you put into cost of goods sold. In your case this if the food you’re selling. As you sell more, your variable cost will also increase because you need to buy more product. This is a good thing!

Based on your current fixed cost and variable cost estimates, find out how many total sales of your food total you would need to generate to pay all your bills. Does that number seem seem attainable based on the frequency you plan to vend each month?

Figuring out what your sales is going to be in the future will be the biggest leap of faith you make in the business plan. I always urge people to be being super conservative with sales estimates. You are going to have slow days and extremely busy days when you get out into the real world. Being financially ready for challenging times will make your business more resilient.

Forecasting Financial Projections:

In the financial projections, focus on estimating how much money you will make in the first year of the business. Investing too much time on longterm projections 5-years out doesn’t make any sense since you haven’t actually started the business yet. After the business has been operating for about a month, you’ll want to go back and review the previous estimates to ensure everything is making sense.

While estimating the projected revenue will require some guessing, figuring out startup and monthly operating expenses once the business gets going is much simpler. While there might be unexpected expenses that pop up before opening the business, you already know the monthly bills like insurance, phone, inventory, loan payments (if you have one), commissary.  Read our post that includes a spreadsheet on the Complete Breakdown of Food Truck Operation Costs for help researching this section.

Here are a few other quick tips for the financial projections section: 

  • Always start a business with some extra capital on hand and establish an emergency business fund. We suggest $3,000 – $5,000 minimum. You don’t want to find yourself underfunded going into the second week so and not be able to purchase supplies. Unfortunately, break downs also happen in this business so you want to be ready for them.
  • You’ll need to be comfortable making a few “educated guesses” in this section especially when it comes to revenue projections. Always be conservative with sales estimates. If you do end of exceeding expectations then that’s fantastic.
  • The primary goal of completing this process is to understand how much money you’ll require to operate the business and break even on a monthly basis. After determining a break-even, find out how much it will require to pay yourself a comfortable wage after taxes.

This is the place to include your permit from the health department, photos of the vehicle, and other legal documents needed to operate a mobile food business. This is a good spot to add photos of food or people smiling and enjoying your meals at events (if you’ve vended at an event already). Add in anything else you feel could be helpful too.

Here are a few key concepts pulled straight from the audio companion of this guide.

  • Don’t be afraid to ask current food truck owners for help when writing a plan. They have the best understanding of what the market looks like and may even help you to create more accurate market projections. Not everyone will be willing to lend a hand, but some might.
  • The financial projections section is the most important and practical element of the business plan. You need this to be able to evaluate how much money you’ll to start the business and what prices you’ll need to charge for longterm success.
  • Don’t invest a ton of your time into longterm projections especially years 3, 4, and 5 of the food truck. Restaurants come and go. You won’t be able to make accurate projections out that far anyway.
  • You should be extremely detailed when estimating expenses. Including often overlooked items like sandwich wrappers, napkins, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies. Knowing how much cash you need for day one of starting the truck right is critical.

free sample business plan for food truck

Good question. That really depends on who you ask.

There’s a whole group of like savvy entrepreneurs and business people who don’t believe in the business plan at all. They’re like okay, you have this written document that you never ever use again. But then there’s this whole other group of people that actually believe in the business plan.

If you’re planning to try to get a traditional bank loan you will need to create a business plan. Having a written plan does not guarantee you will be approved for a loan. In fact, you might get turned down even with an okay credit history.

While it’s not perfect, I firmly believe going through the process of writing a business plan, when taken seriously improves your chances of success. You want to understand your competition. You want to understand where you plan to park. You want to have a few ideas about how you might market your business and what your overhead is going to be before starting the business. This document helps you make more educated decisions based on the work you’ve put in.

The Bottom Line: Will drafting a detailed business plan like this one take a long time? You bet it will. If you do it right, it could easily take a month or two to complete. But the benefits of doing so can be worth it and pay dividends for the life of your business.

So what’s the next step? I suggest enrolling in our free food truck business kit to learn more about the startup process. 

Want to start your own food business?

Hey! 👋I’m Brett Lindenberg, the founder of Food Truck Empire.

We interview successful founders and share the stories behind their food trucks, restaurants, food and beverage brands. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started.

If you liked this story, sign up for our newsletter that includes our food business startup kit and most popular interviews sent straight to your inbox.

Know someone interesting that should be interviewed on the website? Tell us about them here. 

About the Author: Brett Lindenberg

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Food Truck Business Plan

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With the expanding popularity of street food and drinks, trying global cuisine, and busy schedules, the street vendor culture is increasing. The interesting thing is you are going to join this market in the period when the demand is growing.

With the selection of the food truck, buying equipment, and hiring the right people, have you forgotten to plan your business thoroughly? If yes, then here is our food truck business plan template with examples that will help you plan yours.

From industry trends to various examples; we have covered it all. So, let’s wait no more and proceed.

Key Takeaways

  • A business plan offers strategic direction for your food truck business, helping you set and achieve your goals.
  • The executive summary is an important part, so keep it briefly engaging.
  • Conducting a thorough industry analysis is crucial to understanding the food truck market, including its size, trends, key players, and local demographics.
  • With high competition in the food industry, you need a robust marketing plan.
  • Keep your financial projections practical and do not have extravagant expectations.

Food Truck Industry Highlights

Before diving right into the business plan guide, let’s go through some food industry trends and statistics:

  • The industry size of street vendors in the USA was around $2.29 billion in 2021.
  • In the US, there were 67,271 food trucks in 2022, growing at an average annual rate of 18.1% per year over the five years 2017-2022.
  • The popularity of plant-based diets as in vegan options is growing.
  • From Thai food to spicy Mexican food, food trucks are serving everything and anything showcasing the popularity of street food.
  • Food trucks are not limited to evenings, they are exploring new markets like corporate campuses, universities, and residential areas for breakfast and lunch time too.

How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan (Description + Examples)

1. executive summary.

An executive summary is the summary of the whole business plan. It is the first section of the business plan and probably the only section your readers will go through.

It is normally the part that business owners prefer to write at the end because, till then they will have a keen understanding of the whole business plan.

Start your summary with a brief introduction to your business (about who you are and what services you will provide). After that, mention the other things like:

  • Products and services
  • Business goals
  • Food truck objectives
  • Mission statement
  • Market Opportunity
  • Target market
  • Food truck business concept
  • Financial summary
  • Financial projections

Here is an example of a mission statement:

mission statement for food truck business plan

Tip: the executive summary is a quick overview, so keep it simple and engaging.

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free sample business plan for food truck

2. Company Overview

Provide detailed information about your food truck business in this section. It includes the food truck concept, name, location, legal structure of your business, and everything else about your business.

Here is an example of a business description made by the use of Upmetrics:

food truck business plan example

Also, do not forget to mention the type of food truck you are going to start, for instance, your business might be the one from below: 

  • Gourmet food trucks 
  • Taco trucks 
  • Pizza trucks 
  • Burger and sandwich trucks 
  • Dessert trucks 

If you already have another local food truck and this is the other one, then write the business history about your food business.

After that, mention the vision and mission of your food truck business along with the future goals. Include the names, qualifications, and specializations of the owners.

3. Industry Analysis

The industry analysis will give you all the details about the food industry you are going to enter. It will support you in a better understanding of your business.

Here are some types of questions you might ask while conducting a food industry analysis:

  • What is the current size of the food truck industry in the USA?
  • What are the major trends in the food truck industry?
  • Who are the huge players in the industry and what is their market share?
  • How is technology affecting the food truck industry?
  • What is the average price range and spending limit of the customers?

In short, industry analysis will help you have a better understanding of the market and support you in making informed decisions.

4. Competitive Analysis

Competitive analysis will help you to know the price point and positioning of your business in the food industry. This way you will also get to know about your direct and indirect competitors, as in other food trucks in your location.

Start your competitive analysis section by listing all your competitors with all their plus points and negative points. Some of the questions you might ask to know your competitors are:

  • What food items does their menu include?
  • What is their market share?
  • What are their USPs and what do their customers like about them the most?
  • How much does a food truck cost?
  • What is their pricing strategy?
  • What are the weaknesses through which you can have a competitive advantage?

After getting all the above answers, analyze your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to get a better understanding of your USPs.

This way you can get to know the USP of a food truck business. Once you get the USP, flaunt it in your own business plan.

5. Market Analysis

Competition in the restaurant industry is high, and to get a small gap to enter the market is a huge opportunity. Once you enter the market, it is time to define and mention your target market first.

Your target audience will depend on the type of food truck services you provide and the location of your food truck.

Once you know who you are going to serve, then understand the market by knowing the current trends and customer preferences. For example, some of the market trends for a food truck are:

  • Health conscious diet
  • Local sourcing
  • Food transparency
  • Kiosks (contactless ordering and payment)
  • Creative menu items

At the end of the market analysis, do mention the regulatory environment a food business needs to follow in the particular location.

6. Sample Menu

One of the most necessary steps to launch your food truck business is designing the sample menu. Generally, food truck businesses provide fast-preparing meals.

A sample menu forces you to think about what will you make and serve your customers. Consider where you will store uncooked food, what you will need to prepare that food, and what you will use to serve that food to your customers.

Your menu should be in coordination with your target customers; for example, if you have students around the corner then design your menu with fast-serving dishes.

The menu is also a part of your branding, so keep the color and design of the menu the same as your food truck. Here is an example of including your menu in the food truck business plan:

food truck business menu example

7. Sales and Marketing Plan

You can see a food truck in the corner of every alley, so you need to reach customers and not wait for them to come to you. For that, you will need a food truck marketing strategy in place. Some of the strategies are:

Create a professional and mobile-friendly website including your location, contact information, and images of the food items you offer. This will help local customers find you online.

Social media marketing

Maintain active profiles on TikTok, Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, and all other major social media platforms to spread your reach. It will help your target market to recognize you and will interest them to visit your food truck.

Loyalty programs

Think of implementing a loyalty program to reward your existing customers. You can offer free food dishes, BOGO offers, discounts, or any other such thing. These programs can help you increase the customer retention rate and encourage them to visit your business more.

Community engagement

Participate in food truck gatherings, local events as a stall, and other fun food festivals. Engage with the local community by sponsoring or collaborating with local organizations. Building a strong local reputation can help you reach a wide customer base.

Email marketing

Send regular newsletters, special offers, discounts, and event invitations to everyone whose details you got from your website. Email marketing can be a powerful tool for customer retention and engagement.

8. Management team

Letting your readers or investors know who is behind your food truck will allow them to understand your business more.

The management team is all about who is behind the wheels of your food truck and what are their roles. If you are starting a new food truck, then showcasing your experienced managers or head chef will make your business look stronger.

Here is an example of a management team:

management team for food truck business

9. Business Operations

In the entire business plan we have talked about goals, but here is the point where you have to mention what will you do to fulfill those goals.

Everyday goals

They are the heart and soul of your food truck business. From buying the most qualitative food items to fulfilling customers’ needs and everything in between is included.

Long-term goals

It’s all about milestones: the moments that make you pop the champagne. Picture celebrating your 10,000th delivery, hitting that milestone sales figure you’ve dreamt of, or expanding your team.

10. Financial Plan

For a successful food truck business, you will need a proper financial plan with realistic financial projections. In this section add the financial statements like income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet for 3-5 years.

  • Income statement

An income statement is also known as a profit and loss statement, which describes the profitability of the business by deducting expenses from revenue.

The income statement is one of the important things your investors will focus on. So, don’t be greedy and display huge impractical numbers.

  • Balance sheet

Balance sheets display your assets and liabilities. Although they can contain a lot of details, like equity, goodwill, other intangible assets, etc.

  • Cash flow statement

Your cash flow statement helps you see how much money you need to start or grow your business and avoid running out of money. This cash flow should be maintained even for certain months after launch that is before you start making profits.

Surprisingly, you can make a profit but still face financial problems that could lead to bankruptcy. Therefore, you will need proper cash flow planning to avoid such circumstances. Here is an example of a 5-year cash flow statement:

food truck business plan cash flow statement

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for Your Food Truck?

If you are wondering why there is a lot more voice for a business plan, then consider this:

  • A food-truck business plan offers a strategic direction to your business goals and helps you achieve them.
  • A business plan will also help you understand the finances of your business and help you to secure funding.
  • It will clarify the vision of your food truck, so you can focus on the daily operations.
  • Also, it allows you to know specific risks you might face in the future, as a result, you will be prepared.

Now that you have plenty of reasons to have a food truck business plan, start writing one.

Related Food Truck Resources

  • How Much Does It Cost To Start A Food Truck
  • How to Start a Food Truck Business

Download a Food Truck business plan template

Ready to kick-start your business plan writing process? And not sure where to start? Here you go, download our free food truck business plan pdf , and start writing.

This intuitive, modern, and investment-ready template is designed specifically for food truck businesses. It includes step-by-step instructions & examples to help in creating your own food-truck business plan.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

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Write Your Business Plan with AI

Lastly! With the help of our food truck business plan template, you know how to write a business plan. So, you are a step closer to starting or expanding your food truck business exciting, right?

You know what else is exciting? Making your business planning process a lot smoother than this; yes, it is possible with the AI assistant of Upmetrics.

So, take a deep breath as we will take care of your business plan, and focus only on your business operations.

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Frequently asked questions, can i start a food truck business without a formal business plan.

You can start a food truck business without a professional business plan, but it is not advisable, as a business plan will act as your roadmap. If you are going to start your business with bootstrapping, then you can take the risk of not writing a food truck business plan.

How often should I update my food truck business plan?

Your food truck business plan is a live document. So, you can edit it wherever and whenever you want. Ideally, you can read and edit your business plan once a month or as many times as required.

What should I include in the financial projections section of the business plan?

In a food truck business plan, you will need various estimated financial statements like

  • Break-even analysis
  • Sales forecast
  • Uses of Funds
  • Financial ratios

What are some tips for writing a food truck business plan template?

Some tips for writing a food truck business plan are:

  • Be clear and concise about your goals
  • Use data and statistics to support all your claims
  • Be practical and realistic about your financial projections
  • Ask friends and family to give feedback on your plan
  • Read and re-read it before presenting it to your investors

What is the ideal length for a food truck business plan template?

Generally, the length of a business plan is around 15-35 pages. It also depends on the audience of your business plan, the type of your business, and the type of your business plan. As for a one-page business plan, the length is going to be 1 page.

About the Author

free sample business plan for food truck

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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></center></p><h2>How To Write A Food Truck Business Plan (with Examples)</h2><ul><li>By Tam Nguyen</li></ul><p><center><img style=

Table of Contents

Embarking on a new food truck business is an exciting venture in the world of street food. Unlike a traditional restaurant, a food truck offers the flexibility to reach a variety of locations and serve many potential customers.

However, similar to any other profitable business, it requires careful planning and strategizing. A solid business plan can be your roadmap to success, enabling you to navigate the complexities of the market.

A well-crafted business plan outlines your business goals, target audience, and operational strategies, and can also be a compelling tool for securing funding. This article will guide you through the process of writing a comprehensive food truck business plan, complete with templates and examples to help launch your culinary venture on wheels.

What is A Food Truck Business Plan?

A food truck business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the objectives, strategies, and operational aspects of your mobile food business. It serves as a blueprint, detailing all the elements you’ll need to consider and address to ensure your venture’s success.

Unlike a traditional restaurant, a food truck offers a unique opportunity to reach many potential customers in various locations, making it essential to have a solid plan in place.

A well-structured food truck business plan template will cover aspects such as market analysis, menu offerings, financial projections, and marketing strategies. It helps you get organized and anticipate challenges, paving the way for a successful food truck business . By following a business plan, you can ensure that every food truck business aspect is thoroughly considered, minimizing risks and maximizing profits. More on how much do food trucks normally make in this article. 

Why A Business Plan Is Important For A Successful Food Truck Business?

A business plan is crucial for a successful food truck business for several reasons:

1. Clear Vision and Objectives

A business plan helps you establish clear objectives for your food truck, ensuring that you have a well-defined vision for your venture. It enables you to set realistic goals and provides a roadmap to achieve them.

2. Financial Planning

All successful food trucks have a business plan with detailed financial analysis, which is essential for securing loans or investment.

Investors and lenders will require a solid plan to assess the viability of your venture and decide if it’s worth their investment.

3. Operational Efficiency

A ready business plan guides you through the operational aspects of your food truck, such as sourcing ingredients, hiring staff, and implementing food safety measures. This ensures that you have a well-organized and efficient system in place, minimizing costs and maximizing profitability.

Step-by-step Guide To Write A Food Truck Business Plan

1. executive summary.

The executive summary is a brief overview of your food truck business plan. It presents a snapshot of your business, including summary of the budget, business’s purpose and values, and what your brand is about. This section is typically 1-2 pages long.

What should you cover in an Executive Summary?

Introduce your food truck business: Describe your business concept, the kind of food you’ll serve, and what makes your food truck unique. Highlight how your venture fits into the local food truck market and why it’s likely to succeed.

State your mission and vision: What are the core values driving your food truck dreams? What long-term goals do you have for your mobile food business?

Outline your objectives: What are your goals for your food truck business? Define what you plan to achieve in the short term, such as opening a food truck in 2023 or expanding to multiple locations within five years.

Provide a financial overview: how much will it cost to open your food truck and how much do you expect to make? This will help potential investors understand the financial viability of your venture.

2. Restaurant Description

The restaurant description provides detailed information about your food truck. It gives readers a clear understanding of what your business is, what it does, how it operates, and how it will benefit the existing market. Check out this article for 35 food truck ideas for your business venture. 

What should you cover in the Restaurant Description section?

Talk about your food truck concept: Describe the ambiance and customer experience you’re aiming for. 

  • Which specific group of customers will you serve?
  • Are you planning a funky, colorful truck, or a sleek and modern design?

Explain your unique selling proposition (USP):

How will the food items you provide compete with the menu items of existing food trucks or restaurants in your target area?

What is your competitive advantage?

  • Why did you choose a food truck instead of a physical restaurant location?
  • Where do you plan to park your food truck?
  • What type of food truck will you use (truck, trailer, or food cart)?
  • Will you prepare your food inside the truck or at a commissary kitchen?

3. Market Analysis

The most important factors to consider when writing a food truck business plan are: target market, location and competition

What should you cover in your Market Analysis?

Define your target market: Who are your potential customers? Consider demographic factors like age, income level, and food preferences. Also define the size of growth potential of your target market. 

Analyze your location: Where do you plan to park your food truck? Consider the foot traffic of the location. 

Analyze your competition: Who are the other food trucks or restaurants in your area? What kind of food do they serve, and how can you differentiate your offerings?

This comprehensive market analysis will not only help you get a good understanding of your business environment, but it will also demonstrate to potential investors that you have a solid understanding of the food truck industry.

4. Organization and Management

The organization and management section of your business plan describes your food truck business structure and team behind your food truck business. 

Your management section should highlight the people behind your business, their roles, and their experiences relevant to running a successful food truck business. 

Remember, potential investors and lenders are not just investing in a business concept; they’re also investing in a team. So, use this section to showcase the strong leadership and expertise that will drive the success of your food truck business.

What should you cover in the Organization and Management Plan?

Food Truck Ownership Information:

  • Describe the legal structure of your business. Are you the sole owner, or are there partners? Is it an LLC or a corporation?
  • Full names of the owners
  • Percentage of company each owner holds

Profiles of Your Food Truck Management Team: Detail the experience and expertise of your team. This should include the food truck owners and any key employees. A solid food truck management team can significantly improve your chances of success. Include:

  • Manager’s full name
  • Position and primary responsibilities
  • Educational background
  • Past track record with hard numbers to back it up
  • Food industry recognition
  • Important experience and skills that will help your business be successful

5. Sample Menu

Your sample menu is an essential part of your food truck business plan. It’s where you get to showcase the delicious food you plan to serve and how it aligns with your business concept.

What should you consider when creating a sample menu?

When creating your food menu , consider:

Menu Items:

  • What kind of great food will you serve? 
  • Why will you customers choose to eat your food?
  • Why do you choose to offer this type of food?

Unique Selling Proposition:

What makes your menu different from others? 

  • How much do you plan on selling your food?

6. Marketing and Sales

The marketing and sales portion of your food truck business plan outlines how you plan to attract and retain customers. This section is critical as it shows how you plan to grow and sustain your business.

Marketing for food truck might be more challenging comparing with traditional restaurants as food truck change location more often. 

What should you cover in the Marketing Strategy for Your Food Truck Business?

Define Your Brand: What’s the personality of your food truck? How will you communicate this to your customers?

Outline Your Marketing Strategies:

How will you attract customers? This could include social media advertising, local events, loyalty programs, or partnerships with local businesses.

  • Considering using an online food ordering system in your food truck
  • Create a digital menu with QR code to make your menu easy for your customers to access online

Sales Strategy: How will you keep customers coming back? Excellent customer service, consistent quality, and a rotating menu are some strategies to consider.

Remember, whether you plan to start small or aim for rapid growth, a thoughtful marketing and sales strategy is key to driving your business forward.

7. Business Operations

The business operations section provides a detailed look at the day-to-day operations of your food truck business. This includes your operating hours, supply chain, staffing, and equipment.

What Operational Issues Should You Address in Your Business Plan?

  • Parking: Where can you park the truck?

Operating Hours: What days and hours will you operate? Consider peak meal times and special events.

Supply Chain: Where will you source your ingredients? How often will you need deliveries?

Staffing: How many employees will you need? What will their roles be?

Equipment: What equipment will you need to operate your food truck? This includes the truck itself, cooking equipment, point-of-sale systems, and more.

8. Financial and Loans

How much does it cost to start a food truck.

Starting a food truck business can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $120,000 . Costs can vary greatly depending on the type of food truck , the equipment needed, and permit fees, among other things. It’s also a good idea to factor in ongoing costs such as food items, fuel, maintenance, and insurance.

To get a good idea of the total startup cost, you’ll need to research and compile all these costs. Keep in mind that since food trucks are mobile, they generally cost less to start compared to the cost of traditional restaurant business .

How Many Ways to Fund Your Food Truck?

There are many ways an entrepreneur can fund a new food truck business. Personal savings, business loans, and investments from friends or family are common options. If these are not enough, you may also consider crowdfunding, attracting an investor, or even applying for government grants designed for small businesses.

Important Questions to Consider When You Create Your Funding Request

If you’re seeking funding, there are several questions you’ll need to answer in your business plan:

  • How much money do you need to start and maintain your food truck business until it becomes profitable?
  • What will the funds be used for specifically?
  • How do you plan to repay any loans or provide a return on investment?

The answers to these questions will help potential lenders or investors understand your financial goals and the level of risk involved.

9. Financial Projections

Break-even analysis.

The break-even analysis is a critical part of your financial plan. It’s the point at which your revenue equals your costs – neither profit nor loss. Knowing this helps business owners set realistic financial expectations and determine pricing for food items.

How to calculate the break even point?

To calculate your break-even point, you’ll need to gather your fixed costs (e.g., truck payments, insurance), variable costs (e.g., food costs, fuel), and your expected selling price per item.

Use this formula: Fixed Costs / (Price – Variable Costs) = Break Even Point

Projected Profit and Loss Statement

You’ll also need to provide the profit and loss statement. This statement provides an overview of your expected revenues, costs, and profit over a specified period. This is crucial for understanding when your business will become profitable.

Cash Flow Analysis

Finally, you need to include a cash flow analysis to show investors how you plan to allocate funds for operations. Cash flow analysis involves tracking when and where your business receives and spends money. It’s crucial because it shows how well your business can pay its bills and fund its operations.

We’ll continue with an example of a food truck business plan in the next section, providing a practical illustration of all the points covered.

Food Truck Business Plan Example

The following is a concise yet comprehensive example of a food truck business plan. It’s a great tool to guide you in writing your business plan, especially if you’re opening a food truck business for the first time.

Mission: To serve high-quality, fresh, and delicious street food to our local community.

Vision: To become a popular and profitable food truck business that contributes to our community’s vibrant street food culture.

Restaurant Description: “ Tasty Traveler “, a food truck serving globally-inspired tacos, each representing a different cuisine.

Costs: Initial investment of $96,000 

Profits: Anticipated net profit of 20% within the first year, with a steady increase in subsequent years.

2. Description of the Restaurant

Our food truck, the Tasty Traveler , is a mobile restaurant providing a unique dining experience. We operate in various locations in the city, capitalizing on areas with high foot traffic during peak dining hours.

Restaurant Concept:

  • Food Truck Name : Tasty Traveler
  • Restaurant Type: Food Truck offering tacos made with fresh ingredients
  • Location: 500 Travis St, Houston,
  • Dining: Casual outdoor tables dining
  • Order Fulfillment: Walk-up orders and online orders for pickup and delivery
  • Working Hours: 11 AM – 8 PM, Tuesday – Sunday

3. Menu Offer

Our food truck offers a creative food fusion of global flavors packed into a traditional taco shell. We serve vegan, vegetarian, and meat options to cater to a broad range of dietary preferences.

  • Type of Cuisine: Global Fusion
  • Offer: Variety of tacos inspired by different cuisines
  • Unique Selling Point: Our menu items are inspired by many food cultures, providing an exciting culinary journey for our customers.

4. Market and Competition Analysis

Market Analysis:

  • Target Customer: Foodies aged 18-35, who are open to trying new flavors.
  • Size of the Target Customer: Approximately 100,000 individuals in our city fall within our target demographic.

Competition Analysis:

  • Size of the Competition: We have identified 10 food trucks and 5 traditional restaurants offering similar products within our operating radius.
  • Competitors’ Offer: Our competitors mainly offer standard American or Mexican style tacos.
  • Competitors’ Prices: other food trucks offer tacos similar to ours, but their menus are limited, and they do not offer delivery.

5. Investment Plan (Detailed Cost Analysis)

  • Food Truck: $40,000
  • Kitchen Equipment: $10,000
  • Permits and Licenses: $5,000
  • Initial Food Inventory: $5,000
  • Food Inventory: $2,500
  • Maintenance: $500
  • Insurance: $500
  • Marketing: $1,000
  • Miscellaneous: $1,000
  • Total Cost: Initial investment plus the first six months of operating expenses amount to $96,000.

6. Financial Forecast

Our financial data predicts that the Tasty Traveler will become profitable within the first year of operation. We expect an annual growth rate of 10% in sales for the first three years.

Our team consists of three professionals with combined expertise in culinary arts, business management, and marketing. We plan to hire two more staff to help with prep work and service during peak hours. Our team’s passion for food and commitment to quality service are key drivers of our business.

8. Marketing Plan

Our marketing strategy involves a mix of online and offline tactics to maximize our reach. We’ll leverage social media platforms to engage with our customers, post updates about our location and menu, and run promotions. Offline, we’ll participate in local food festivals and community events to create buzz and attract a wider audience.

Online Marketing:

  • Social Media: Daily updates on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to showcase our menu items and interact with our followers.
  • Website: An informative and easy-to-navigate website with our menu, location updates, and a blog featuring stories behind our globally inspired tacos.

Offline Marketing:

  • Food Festivals: Participating in local food festivals to gain exposure.
  • Community Events: Sponsoring local community events to increase brand visibility.
  • Flyers and Posters: Distributing flyers and putting up posters in high foot traffic areas.

We believe that our marketing plan is an integral part of the food truck business plan as it helps in getting the word out and attracting potential customers. A solid marketing strategy will also give us an edge over our competitors in the food truck and traditional restaurant market.

Tips For Creating A Successful Food Truck Business Plan

Creating a business plan is a significant step towards launching a successful food truck business. Here are some expert tips to help you get started:

1. Start with Your Business Concept Description

Before you dive into the details, you need to clearly define your food truck business concept. Describe the type of food you plan to serve, the design of the truck, and the experience you want to provide to your customers. Explain how you’ll stand out in the many food truck market and why customers would choose you over others.

2. Highlight Your Competitive Advantage

Your business plan should clearly articulate your unique selling proposition (USP). What is it that makes your food truck unique? Maybe you’re offering a unique fusion of cuisines, or perhaps your menu is entirely organic or locally sourced. Highlighting your food truck’s competitive advantage can make your business more appealing to both customers and potential investors.

3. Give Importance to Financial Projections

Your financial projections are a critical part of your business plan. They give potential investors an idea of the profitability of your business. Make sure to include detailed financial data, including startup costs, operating expenses, projected sales, and profitability analysis. Remember, food trucks cost less to start and operate compared to opening a traditional restaurant, which can be a significant advantage.

4. Use Visual Aids

Graphs, charts, and tables can make your business plan more engaging and easier to understand. Use these tools to present financial data, market analysis, and sales projections. Visual aids can help readers quickly grasp complex information.

5. Regularly Update Your Business Plan

A business plan isn’t a static document. As your business grows and evolves, your plan should, too. Regular updates can help you track your progress and make adjustments as needed. Remember, getting into the food business is a great adventure, and a dynamic business plan can help you navigate the journey successfully.

6. Seek Professional Help If Needed

If you’re having trouble with your business plan or just want a second opinion, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Many entrepreneurs find it beneficial to consult with business advisors or use business plan software.

Despite the popularity of food trucks, success in this industry isn’t guaranteed. A robust and comprehensive food truck business plan can help set you on the path to success. Happy planning, and may your food truck business be a hit!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. what are the objectives of a food truck business plan.

A food truck business plan serves multiple objectives. It provides a roadmap for how the business will operate, offers a platform to articulate the business concept, and details financial projections. The plan also helps to identify potential challenges and strategies to overcome them. Furthermore, if you’re seeking investors or a business loan, this plan can demonstrate the viability and profitability of your business.

2. How to Write a Business Plan for a Food Truck?

Writing a food truck business plan involves several steps. Start by defining your business concept, describe your food truck menu, and analyze your target market. Then, detail your marketing and sales strategies, operational plan, and financial projections. Using a sample food truck business plan or a free business plan template can be very helpful in this process. Don’t forget to review and update your plan regularly, in case things don’t go as expected.

3. What are Some Effective Marketing Strategies for a Food Truck Business?

Effective marketing strategies for a food truck business may include leveraging social media to engage with customers, participating in local events and food festivals, offering promotions or loyalty programs, and collaborating with other local businesses. Also, consider how your menu items compete with other food trucks or restaurants in your area, and use this information to your advantage.

4. What are the Initial Costs to Start a Food Truck Business?

The initial costs to start a food truck business can vary widely, but typically include the cost of the truck itself, kitchen equipment, initial inventory, permits and licenses, insurance, and marketing costs. It’s essential to include all these factors in your financial plan to get a good idea of how much capital you’ll need.

5. How Can I Differentiate My Food Truck Business in a Saturated Market?

Differentiating your food truck in a saturated market can be challenging but it’s not impossible. Unique food offerings, superior customer service, distinctive branding, strategic location selection, and effective marketing can all help your food truck stand out.

6. What is the Most Profitable Food to Make on a Food Truck?

The profitability of food items can depend on various factors including ingredient costs, preparation time, price point, and customer demand. Typically, items with low ingredient cost, quick preparation time, and high demand tend to be more profitable. However, it’s crucial to balance profitability with providing a menu that aligns with your brand and attracts your target customers.

7. How to Start a Food Truck with No Money?

To start a food truck with no money, consider these steps:

  • Begin with a cart or stand instead of a food truck.
  • Get family and friends involved for support and resources.
  • Utilize a restaurant incubator to access shared kitchen space and equipment.

For more details, you can visit this resource:  How to Start a Food Truck Business with No Money .

Embarking on a food truck business is a great adventure filled with potential and excitement. However, it’s not without its challenges. A well-structured business plan is your compass, guiding your decisions and giving you the tools to navigate the complexities of the industry. It helps you to establish a solid foundation for your venture and prepares you to face any obstacles that come your way. Remember, the journey of creating your food truck business is just as important as the destination. So, roll up your sleeves, fire up the grill, and set the course for your food truck’s success!

As you look for ways to increase revenue for your food truck, an online ordering system is a must. Partner with Menubly to reach a variety of customers and introduce more diners to your food.

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Food Truck Business Plan Template

Download our template and start creating your food truck business plan today.

food truck business plan template

Updated June 25, 2023 Reviewed by Brooke Davis

Are you ready to start a food truck business? You will have many questions at this beginning stage, and a sample food truck business plan can help you find answers.

With the right food truck business plan, you will be better prepared to find investors and get your company on the road.

A food truck costs less to start up than a brick-and-mortar business, but it still requires capital to get going.

Once you know how to write a business plan for a food truck, you can seek the money you need to get started and outline a plan for success.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Food Truck Business

How to write a business plan for a food truck, food truck business plan sample.

Many people think: “It’s a food truck; it’s simple. Why do I need a business plan?” A food truck requires planning, just like any other successful business. It would be best if you answered questions like:

  • What food will you sell?
  • Is there a demand for your product?
  • Who will be your customers?
  • Where will you travel?
  • What are your startup and ongoing costs?
  • What will your revenue look like?

A business plan sets the essential details you need for yourself and anyone looking to invest. Successful food truck businesses create a consistent schedule of where they will be and how they will communicate their location.

They know how they will buy their products and how much they will mark up to make a profit.

You must plan accordingly if you invest tens of thousands into a food truck. If you want others to support you, they need to know what they are getting into.

A food truck business plan lays out important details to attract the right kind of capital investors.

Food Truck

To develop your business plan, you must be prepared to cover critical topics and include the correct information.

If you use the template and complete each section correctly, you will have a well-formed business plan for you and potential investors.

1. Executive Summary

The first section of your food truck business plan should be the executive summary. This is an introduction and overview for whoever is reading the plan. It should make an excellent first impression and offer concise information without too much detail.

The executive summary highlights what your food truck business will look like and how it will be successful. It is considered by many to be the most crucial section of your business plan.

As for any startup business, you must build a solid case for the idea’s merit and why others should get financially involved. A typical executive summary includes sections such as:

  • The target market for the food truck
  • The business model
  • Marketing and sales strategies
  • Competition in the area
  • A financial analysis
  • Who the owners and staff will be
  • An implementation plan
  • What food will you offer, and why is it appealing

This section can contain a mission statement that describes your business values and philosophy. It should focus on concrete and achievable future goals for the company.

2. Management Team

Your business plan should include ownership information and details about the management team. A detailed outline of responsibilities sets the tone for how your food truck will run and makes expectations clear to everyone involved.

It also demonstrates to investors that you have considered how you will run your business effectively.

Ownership information should include the following:

  • Full names of all owners
  • The legal structure of the business (limited liability company, sole proprietorship, partnership, etc.)
  • Percentage of ownership for each owner
  • Types of ownership (partner interests, capital expenditure basis, stocks)

You also want to include information that fully outlines and profiles your management team. For each individual, this should have their

  • Full legal name
  • Position and summary of responsibilities
  • Education and background
  • Any relevant prior employment
  • Past business success
  • Food industry training or recognition
  • Salary and benefits information

3. Products and Services

This is the section where you talk about the most essential part of your business — the food you will sell. Your business plan’s products and services section should include the full menu you plan to use at the opening.

If your full menu isn’t yet prepared, get it done to include it in the business plan. Including a fully designed menu shows you are ready to start your food truck immediately.

This section will also address:

  • How will you order supplies
  • Product costs and sale prices
  • Why customers will eat your product over others
  • How the product offerings will change over time
  • How will you measure product sales success

Addressing each of these details is important to investors. It also provides guidelines to keep your good ideas practicable and achievable in a competitive food truck business market.

4. Customers and Marketing

Knowing who will buy your product is vital to a food truck business plan. This section will outline who will be interested in your food and why they will buy it. Are you focusing on a certain demographic, or is your food pleasing to many different types of customers?

You must outline this information and provide sufficient facts. One of the most common mistakes in business plans is to make statements without supporting evidence.

Your market research should be included here to show why you will have customers who will utilize your business.

Marketing is a key factor in the success of a food truck. How you advertise can make or break your brand recognition and ultimately affect your sales.

Your business plan should answer questions like:

  • Will your truck contain brand advertising and logos?
  • Will you have a social media presence? If so, what will it look like?
  • Will you advertise on TV, radio, or other methods?
  • Where will you go to sell your food? How will you let customers know where you will be?

This information is crucial and should be addressed in detail in this section. Be specific with your marketing strategies.

Vague information demonstrates that you have failed to clearly outline how you intend to advertise your food truck to the public.

5. SWOT Analysis

This section should address your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The SWOT section is a framework used to evaluate how a company will compete in the market.

It analyses internal and external factors affecting your food truck’s success. It uses realistic and fact-based data, not your best hopes. This section should utilize actual data-driven market research.

The analysis should focus on why the product line will be successful against its competition. It should answer questions like:

  • What is our competitive advantage?
  • Where can we improve?
  • What threats does our company face?
  • What technology or other resources can we use to expand our market?

Answering these questions in detail provides key insights into how your food truck business will succeed despite any challenges.

With this information, investors can be assured their capital is wisely invested, and you are the right choice.

6. Financials

This section focuses on financial projections for the food truck company. It offers information about how your business will perform. Your financial information should address your break-even point and how you will exceed that amount.

The owners and investors must know how much money it will take to cover expenses, much less see a profit.

This section should also include:

  • Financial projections based on mathematical models
  • Monthly expenses for the business for supplies, employees, and more
  • Price points for products
  • Variable costs of goods, gasoline, truck maintenance, and more
  • Projected revenue

This information should be backed up with complex data from your market research.

7. Operations

This section will outline the nitty-gritty operational details of your food truck business. It will include information related to products and services but will also outline crucial details like:

  • Potential vending locations
  • Business hours
  • Business licensing and other legal requirements
  • How many employees will you hire, what are their wages, and any benefits
  • Food truck design
  • Cooking and cleaning procedures

These crucial details show how you will get the job done each day. Every business owner understands it takes work — not just a great idea — to succeed.

Investors know this too, and will look for your business operations plans.

8. Appendix

The appendix is the place to include legal documents and other important information relevant to the rest of your business plan. Here you can provide the following:

  • Copies of legal permits
  • Photos of the product
  • Customer reviews
  • Market research on which your data was based
  • Other relevant information
  • Letters of reference
  • Regulatory and Compliance Requirements

This section is meant to bolster the rest of your business plan and end on a positive note. Pictures of smiling people eating your food may leave a positive image for anyone who has read your business plan.

The appendix is flexible and meant to give you options.

Legal Templates can provide a free sample food truck business plan to help you get started. Whether you are just beginning the process or ready to look for investors, we can help.

Use a template builder to build your business plan step-by-step. See the food truck business plan sample below:

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You can download a business plan in Word format here  or start creating your food truck business plan using our document builder.

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Sample Business Plan For a Food Truck Business

sample business plan for food truck businesses

Writing a business plan is an essential part of starting a successful food truck business. It acts as the guiding document that outlines the goals and objectives, informs decisions, and helps to secure the financing needed to launch the venture, whether it be from lenders or investors. For new food truck business owners, having access to a sample business plan can provide invaluable direction and insights on how to create their own food truck business plan .

Download our Ultimate Food Truck Business Plan Template

Having a comprehensive business plan in place is vital for any successful food truck venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can also give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help secure financing from lenders or investors. An example of a food truck business plan is a great resource to draw upon when creating your own business plan to ensure that all the key elements are included in your document.

Below is an example food truck business plan to help you see what one should look like. It can provide a good starting point for writing a business plan for your food truck. However, it is not nearly as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your food truck as Growthink’s Ultimate Food Truck Business Plan Template . But it can help you write a food truck business plan for your business.

Food Truck Business Plan Example – Barbecue Brothers On Wheels

Table of contents, executive summary.

  • Company Overview

Industry Analysis

Customer analysis.

  • Competitive Analysis

Marketing Plan

Operations plan, management team, financial plan.

  Download the Food Truck Business Plan Sample PDF here.

Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business founded by brothers John and David. After successfully operating their flagship mobile kitchen for the last five years, they are now looking to expand their operations and open up a second location. To do this, the Barbecue Brothers have crafted a comprehensive business plan that outlines their goals and objectives, as well as the steps they will take to achieve them.

The Barbecue Brothers plan to open their second food truck in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. With over one million people living within a five-mile radius, the brothers intend to capitalize on this large population by providing delicious and affordable BBQ cuisine that is prepared on-site with high-quality ingredients. To stand out from their competition, the Barbecue Brothers will offer unique menu items such as pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket tacos, and smoked turkey wraps.

To fund this expansion effort, the Barbecue Brothers are seeking $250,000 in startup capital from Angel investors. This money will be used for purchasing a new truck and equipment as well as setting up the necessary kitchen space. With a successful track record of satisfied customers, the Barbecue Brothers believe they have what it takes to succeed in this highly competitive industry and are eager to get started on their next venture.

By following this business plan, the Barbecue Brothers will be able to reach their goal of becoming one of the top BBQ food truck businesses in Los Angeles. With your support, we can make our dream a reality and bring delicious BBQ cuisine to even more people.

Company Description

Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business that has been serving customers in Los Angeles for the past five years. Founded by brothers John and David, the business has quickly become one of the most popular mobile BBQ kitchens in town. With an emphasis on using only high-quality ingredients, they specialize in mouthwatering pulled pork sandwiches, beef brisket tacos, smoked turkey wraps, and other savory favorites.

The Barbecue Brothers have forged successful partnerships with many local businesses as well as organizations such as schools and corporate events which helps to expand their reach beyond just downtown Los Angeles. Their flagship food truck has been consistently recognized for its excellent customer service rating across all online sites helping them build a loyal following throughout their community.

John and David recognize the importance of giving back to those who are less fortunate than them so all profits generated from catering jobs are donated to local charities such as soup kitchens around Los Angeles county. Through these efforts combined with delicious recipes unique to this business, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels has achieved great success in developing its brand identity over the last five years but now they look towards further expansion into more locations within the Los Angeles area.

The food industry in the Los Angeles area is growing rapidly and becoming increasingly competitive. Food trucks offer an exciting alternative to traditional restaurant dining, allowing customers to enjoy high-quality, fresh, and affordable meals without having to commit to a single location. Over the past decade, food trucks have become increasingly popular in major cities across the US, with cities such as Los Angeles boasting over 2,000 licensed food trucks.

The main competition for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is other food trucks in the area offering similar menu items. This competition forces businesses to stay ahead of their competitors by constantly innovating and reinventing their recipes and menu offerings. In addition, they must create a strong customer loyalty program that will encourage repeat customers and remain competitive on pricing due to a large number of options available to consumers.

Finally, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels must be prepared to scale quickly in order to keep up with the growing demand for mobile dining options in LA county. With careful planning and strategic investments, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can succeed in this highly competitive market by setting itself apart from the competition.

The customer analysis for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels should focus on two main target markets: mobile diners, and BBQ aficionados.

Mobile Diners : Mobile diners are those individuals who prefer to dine outside of a traditional restaurant setting, either at food trucks or other outdoor locations like events or festivals. These customers tend to be younger, single professionals or families with young children who are looking for convenience, affordability, and delicious meals. They also care about being able to support local businesses and the community.

Psychographics of this target demographic includes people on the go; tech-savvy consumers who are comfortable using online platforms for research and ordering; adventurous eaters who enjoy trying new foods; and those looking for a unique dining experience.

To reach these individuals, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels should invest in an effective digital marketing strategy that includes social media channels as well as online advertising.

BBQ Aficionados : The second target demographic for Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is barbecue aficionados – customers who have an affinity for barbecue cuisine and a preference for authentic flavors. These customers often look beyond just the taste of the food but also seek out restaurants that can offer something special in terms of atmosphere, customer service, quality ingredients, and presentation.

Psychographic characteristics of this group include adventurous foodies seeking out the best barbecue in town; those with a strong appreciation for craftsmanship in their meals; fans of small businesses looking to support local entrepreneurs; and those with a passion for cooking will appreciate the emphasis on high-quality ingredients used by Barbecue Brothers On Wheels.

To reach this audience effectively, Barbecue Brothers should consider investing in traditional print marketing materials such as flyers or brochures that can be distributed at popular BBQ joints around Los Angeles County. Additionally, they could participate in local festivals that draw large numbers of barbecue enthusiasts from all over California making sure to bring enough samples so everyone can get a taste of their signature dishes.

Competitor Analysis

For a BBQ food truck business like Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, competitor analysis is essential for success. In the highly competitive Los Angeles food truck industry, it is important to identify the main competitors and understand their strengths and weaknesses. Doing so will allow Barbecue Brothers to set themselves apart from the competition by offering something unique that will draw in customers.

The main competitors of Barbecue Brothers On Wheels are other BBQ-focused food trucks in Los Angeles County. These include notable names such as The Rib Whip, Pig Out Delights, Smoke N’ Grillers, and Hog Heaven BBQ.

The Rib Whip is known for its specialty sandwiches featuring slow-cooked meats paired with signature sauces and fresh vegetables on a hoagie roll. They cater to both lunchtime and evening crowds alike, serving up large portions at a reasonable price. Strengths of The Rib Whip include quality ingredients, generous portion sizes, affordability, convenience, and excellent customer service. However, one area where they could improve is the level of creativity in their menu offerings which may not be appealing to more adventurous or experimental eaters looking for something new every time they visit The Rib Whip.

Pig Out Delights serves classic BBQ favorites such as ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese topped with bacon bits, and sweet potato fries. Their signature dishes are made using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and come in generous portions that can easily be shared among two or three people. Strengths of Pig Out Delights includes freshly prepared meals made with high-quality ingredients at very fair prices as well as attentive customer service that many customers have come to expect from this establishment. Unfortunately due to its location away from popular downtown areas like Hollywood or Downtown LA, some customers are unable to try out this delicious cuisine unless they make a special trip out there- something many LA locals might not be willing to do just for some good BBQ!

Smoke N’ Grillers offer classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches slathered in house-made barbecue sauce along with sides like cornbread muffins or coleslaw salad. They focus on providing generous portions at an affordable price point while allowing customers to customize their own meals with various toppings and condiments. Strengths of Smoke N’ Grillers include their location in a busy part of town, competitive prices, and their ability to accommodate special dietary requests. On the other hand, Smoke N’ Grillers could improve its menu by offering more creative and unique dishes that can differentiate them from the competition.

Finally, Hog Heaven BBQ is a gourmet BBQ food truck that serves up only the finest cuts of meat prepared with signature rubs and sauces. They focus on delivering high-end dining experiences at an affordable price, setting them apart from other BBQ establishments in the area. Strengths of Hog Heaven include their commitment to using only the freshest ingredients, their quality service, and their delicious dishes that consistently wow customers. However, they could improve by diversifying their menu with more budget-friendly options or dishes that cater to different dietary needs.

By understanding their competition, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can identify areas of improvement as well as opportunities to stand out and attract more customers. They can focus on providing unique dishes that are only available at their food truck and focus on delivering excellent customer service. Additionally, they can look into utilizing local ingredients whenever possible in order to appeal to customers who are conscious of where their food is coming from. By doing these things, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels can become a leader in LA’s BBQ scene.

Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is the newest BBQ food truck to hit Los Angeles. Our mission is to provide customers with an unforgettable dining experience that combines quality ingredients, generous portions, and unique flavors for a price that can’t be beaten.

Our Product : We offer classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches slathered in house-made barbecue sauce enhanced by our signature rubs and sauces. All of our dishes are freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and come in generous portion sizes that can easily be shared among two or three people.

Price : At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we understand that value matters just as much as flavor so we strive to keep our prices competitive without sacrificing quality or taste. You won’t find better deals anywhere else!

Promotion : We will promote through digital channels such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter along with local advertising campaigns like print ads in newspapers and magazines. Additionally, word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers are key to helping us spread the word about Barbecue Brothers On Wheels!

Place : Our food truck is conveniently located on busy city streets where commuters have easy access during their lunchtime break or while they’re running errands. We also offer catering services for events such as office parties and family gatherings.

At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, our goal is to provide customers with an unforgettable and unique dining experience. Our daily operations focus on delivering quality food that is freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Every day we will start by preparing the sauces and rubs for our signature dishes as well as preparing the sides. Once all of the ingredients are prepped and ready, we will begin cooking on-site to ensure that every order is served hot and fresh.

Staff Requirements:

For the successful day-to-day operations of Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we need a team of dedicated individuals.

  • Chef – To prepare the signature dishes using fresh ingredients and signature sauces.
  • Cashier – To take orders and process payments in a timely manner.
  • Food Runner – To deliver orders to customers quickly and accurately.
  • Cleaner – To make sure the food truck is clean and presentable for customers.

We need a variety of supplies in order to run our business effectively. This includes ingredients, paper products, cleaning supplies, and small wares. We will focus on sourcing all of our supplies from local vendors to ensure that we are using quality ingredients while supporting the local economy.

Our menu consists of classic American BBQ fare such as brisket sandwiches, pulled pork, and ribs. We also offer sides like slaw, potato salad, and baked beans. In addition to our regular menu, we will offer daily specials that can range from tacos to nachos.

Customer Service:

At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we strive to provide our customers with the best possible experience. Our goal is to make sure every customer is satisfied by delivering excellent customer service that is prompt and friendly. Additionally, we will listen to feedback and make changes as necessary to ensure that customers are always happy with their experience.

The safety of our customers and staff is paramount. We will adhere to all regulatory standards and best practices when it comes to food handling and sanitation. Additionally, anyone working in the food truck must wear protective gear such as gloves, masks, and hats.

John and David are the co-founders of the Barbecue Brothers On Wheels. John, who has a background in culinary arts, is the head chef and primary visionary of the business. He oversees operations and ensures that all dishes are made with the finest ingredients. His passion for barbecue stems from his childhood in Texas where he fell in love with the art of making authentic, mouth-watering barbecue.

David is an experienced business professional and handles the administrative side of the operation. He focuses on marketing, financials, and customer relations. His goal is to make Barbecue Brothers On Wheels a household name by providing unbeatable quality and service.

With their founding Members John and David teaming up, Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is set to be the go-to BBQ food truck for city dwellers.

At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we understand that the financial aspect of running a business is integral to its success. We have formulated a financial plan that will help us achieve our goals and ensure the longevity of our business.

Startup Costs:

To get our business up and running, we need to cover a variety of startup costs such as purchasing equipment, leasing a truck, and acquiring ingredients.

Operating Costs:

Once we are open for business, our operating costs will include labor and overhead expenses. We plan to keep these costs in check by implementing cost-saving methods and leveraging technology to streamline processes.

Revenue Model:

Our revenue model relies on selling our signature products and daily specials at a fair price. We will also pursue additional revenue streams such as catering and delivery services.

Profitability:

Our goal is to achieve profitability within two years of launching the business. We plan to do this by increasing revenue through catering services and expanding our customer base, as well as reducing expenses by maximizing efficiency and maintaining ongoing cost-saving practices. Additionally, any profits will be reinvested into the business to further expand our services and capabilities.

Commitment to Excellence:

At Barbecue Brothers On Wheels, we are committed to delivering the highest quality product and service possible. We strive to use only the freshest ingredients and prepare our dishes with care. Our staff is highly trained in customer service, food safety, and proper food handling techniques.

We understand that quality is paramount and that is why we will never sacrifice our standards. We want to build a long-lasting business that customers can trust and rely on for delicious, mouth-watering barbecue cuisine.

Sample Menu

  • Fried Catfish
  • Pulled Pork Sandwich
  • Smoked Sausage Platter
  • Hand-cut French Fries
  • Baked Beans
  • Collard Greens
  • Corn Bread Muffins
  • Cobbler Pie

Financial Projections

Balance sheet.

[insert financial statement]

Income Statement

Cash flow statement, how to finish your food truck business plan in 1 day.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your food truck business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

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Food Truck Business Plan Template

If you are considering starting a food truck business, you are in the right place. Our free food truck business plan template is designed to help entrepreneurs like you turn their culinary dreams into a reality. This comprehensive template provides a step-by-step guide to developing a solid business plan, which is essential to securing funding, attracting customers, and ultimately achieving success. Whether you are a seasoned chef or just starting out, our food truck business plan template can help you get started on the path to launching a successful and profitable food truck business.

free sample business plan for food truck

Get the free business plan template here!

Are you passionate about food and looking to start your own business? If you've considered starting a food truck, you're in luck! Our free food truck business plan template can help guide you through the process of starting your own successful food truck business.

Starting a food truck business can be an exciting and fulfilling venture. You'll get to share your passion for cooking with others and have the freedom to work for yourself. However, launching a food truck requires more than just a love of food - it takes careful planning, organization, and strategic thinking to make it a success.

That's where our free food truck business plan template comes in. This comprehensive template is designed to help you create a solid business plan that will guide you through each step of the process. From identifying your target market and creating a menu to securing funding and developing a marketing plan, our template covers all the essential elements of a successful food truck business.

Here are just a few of the key features of our food truck business plan template:

  • Executive Summary: This section provides an overview of your food truck business and includes a summary of your mission, goals, and target market.
  • Company Description: This section provides more detailed information about your business, including your business structure, legal requirements, and any partnerships you may have.
  • Market Analysis: This section helps you identify your target market and understand the demand for your food truck business in your area. It includes a competitive analysis to help you understand your competition and how you can differentiate yourself.
  • Menu: Your menu is the heart of your food truck business, and this section helps you create a compelling and profitable menu that will attract customers.
  • Marketing Plan: Once you have your food truck up and running, you'll need to attract customers. This section helps you develop a comprehensive marketing plan that includes both online and offline tactics.
  • Financial Projections: This section will demonstrate some actual food truck financial projections so you can see what should be included in your food truck business plan.

Our food truck business plan template is easy to use and customizable to fit your unique needs. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow an existing food truck business, our template can help guide you through the process of creating a solid business plan that will set you up for success.

Starting a food truck business is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it's important to remember that success doesn't happen overnight. With careful planning, hard work, and a solid business plan, you can turn your culinary dreams into a thriving business. So why wait? Download our free food truck business plan template today and get started on the path to success!

Food Truck Business Plan Frequently Asked Questions

Q: why do i need a business plan for my food truck.

A: A business plan is essential for any food truck entrepreneur, as it outlines the foundation and strategy of your business. It helps you define your goals, identify your target market, and map out the steps you need to take to achieve success. A solid business plan can also help you secure funding and attract investors.

Q: How do I create a menu for my food truck?

A: Creating a menu for your food truck can be a fun and creative process, but it's important to keep a few things in mind. Consider your target market and what types of foods they're interested in, as well as what is popular in the area you plan to operate. Think about how you can make your menu unique and stand out from the competition, while also keeping your costs low and your prices reasonable.

Q: How much does it cost to start a food truck business?

A: a good estimate is around $50,000 to $100,000 for a new food truck. This includes the cost of the truck, kitchen equipment, permits, and other start-up expenses. The cost of starting a food truck business can vary widely depending on factors such as the size of the truck, equipment needed, and local regulations.

Q: What kind of permits and licenses do I need for my food truck business?

A: The specific permits and licenses you need for your food truck business will vary depending on your location and the type of food you plan to serve. Generally, you'll need a food service permit, health permit, and business license. You may also need a parking permit and special permits for events and festivals. Be sure to check with your local health department and city officials to find out the specific requirements for your area.

Q: How do I market my food truck business?

A: Marketing your food truck business is essential to attract customers and build your brand. There are a variety of marketing tactics you can use, such as social media marketing, email marketing, and local advertising. You can also participate in local events and festivals to get your name out there and build relationships with other food truck owners and vendors. The key is to find the marketing channels that work best for your business and target your audience effectively.

We Know a Good Business Plan When we See One

Collectively, our team has reviewed thousands of business plans and has nearly 20 years of experience making SBA loans. We've also helped more than 50,000 businesses create financial projections across many industries and geographies.

free sample business plan for food truck

Adam served as Executive Director for a SBA microlender in Indiana for over 10 years helping businesses and reviewing thousands of business plans.

free sample business plan for food truck

Grace has built hundreds of custom financial models for businesses as well as our projection templates which are used by thousands of businesses every year.

free sample business plan for food truck

Kyle served as an SBA loan officer for 7 years working directly with startups and business owners to review their business plans, projections, and prepare their loan package.

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Boston Food Truck Blog: Reviews & Ratings

Food Truck Business Plan Guide + Template

business plan for food truck

If you want to start a food truck, then a food truck business plan should be one of your very first steps.

A food truck business plan helps you to think through all the possibilities of your new entrepreneurial endeavor and face critical challenges before investing sweat, equity, and monetary resources.

The more developed your plan of action is now, the better chance you have at success down the road. Having a detailed food truck business plan will help provide a roadmap as you grow and will keep your business focused and organized.

Writing Your Food Truck Business Plan: How to Prepare

Writing a business plan does not have to be time-consuming or difficult. Focus on gathering all the information you need to make the actual writing process much easier.

The main skills that you will need are likely to be:

  • Collection of relevant data
  • Determining the readers’ needs for information, depending on your audience
  • Organizing the material that will be of greatest interest
  • Creating a professional document that represents your business in the best possible light

At first this all may feel overwhelming, but don’t worry – you can do it!

The main purpose of your plan is to introduce your food truck, show how you plan on being successful, and laying out some of the immediate groundwork ahead so that you can better prepare for the future and assess what you need to begin your food truck enterprise.

Customize Your Business Plan For Your Audience

Although a business plan can be generalized so that anyone can read and understand it, it’s smart to  have a specific group of readers in mind when crafting your business plan so that their interests can be targeted.

how to start a food truck

For example, if you plan to apply for grants, loans, or crowdsourcing funds, you’ll want to prepare your food truck business plan in a way that is oriented to those specific readers.

If one of your main goals is to promote your business to local civic groups and community organizations, your plan may be arranged in a slightly different way to inform and impress them with your business goals and focus on local efforts.

In other situations, you’ll want to gear your business plan for personal investors or professional associates who are considering a partnership with your enterprise. Keep the language simple and clear without being too casual or “slangy”. Avoid technical terms that some readers may not understand, or they may lose interest.

In all situations, you’ll want to customize your business plan’s content and language for the different audiences you’re addressing.

Food Truck Business Plan Outline

Here are the main aspects to consider when creating your food truck business plan.

  • Executive Summary
  • Company Description
  • Business Operations
  • Market Analysis
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Management and Ownership
  • Growth and Development

Part 1: Executive Summary

Most business plans start off with a thorough Executive Summary at the beginning of the document. Most executive summaries are one page, providing a brief overview of the entire scope of your food truck business venture.

Here you’ll include:

  • Overview:  In just a few sentences, explain why you’re starting your food truck. Include your name, the name of your food truck, and where you plan on operating your business.
  • Products and Services:  Quickly describe the type of food you’ll be selling and what gap or need in the market your food truck will be filling. Explain how you plan on selling the food (will you just be selling from your truck or will you provide catering services or a brick and mortar location as well?). Be brief here, as you’ll explain more about the food and ingredients further on in your business plan.
  • Financing:  Explain how much money you predict needing to start your food truck and how you’ll use that money. Again, you can keep it short since you’ll be going into more depth later.
  • Mission Statement:  This is the heart of your business plan – why do you even want to start a food truck? Why sell the food that you are selling? Give some insight into your vision and why your food truck business will thrive.
  • Management Team:  Briefly mention who you are, any parters you’ll be working with, and note any experience they may have.
  • Sales Forecasts:  Investors’ eyes go straight to the sales forecasts. Here, provide a quick one year forecast regarding the financial costs and expected food truck’s sales and profits of your food truck.
  • Expansion Plan:  What future do you see for your food truck business? What are your goals? How do you hope to expand?

In your executive summary, you’ll explain the  point  of your food truck – what is it all about?

If technical terms are necessary throughout the plan, include a list of words with their definitions at the beginning that will help readers better understand the document.

A good executive summary is no longer than one to two pages, can be more or less memorized, and is ingrained into your thoughts. It’s the core of your business concept on paper!

Part 2: Company Description

In the company description of your business plan, you’ll go more in-depth with the focus of your truck. Here, you’ll go into more detail about your food truck’s purpose and the role your truck will play in the community.

Some trucks focus on using locally sourced ingredients and using eco-friendly materials. Some food trucks may be all about nutrition and providing healthy food options in food deserts. Others may orient their brand around colleges and universities, providing cheap and tasty food for students.  Discuss your target customers and how you plan on winning them over.

line busting food trucks

In addition to everyday business activities, you can add special events or occasions that your business will be able to handle from the outset, such as catering parties or local charity events.

Provide readers with a clear idea of what you plan to do and how you will do it. This section also allows you to go into more detail about the specific goals you hope to accomplish with your truck.

Consider what your truck can do differently – how will you stand out from the crowd?  Talk about what makes your food truck special. The company description is a great place to sell investors on your truck – be confident and show them what you’ve got!

Part 3: Business Operations

In this part of your food truck business plan, you’ll provide a breakdown of activities, equipment, and supplies that will be needed. You don’t need to mention expenses here, as they will be covered in the financials section.

Include key points such as the following:

1. Hours of operation , along with anticipated special events if applicable.

2. Describe what your food truck will do , i.e., deliver hot or cold food, prepare convenience food on site, offer hot or cold beverages, set up indoor or outdoor eating areas, etc.

3. Outline the expected locations , using maps if desired, of your daily activities. For example, you may establish a specific list of destinations or stops of your daily deliveries, as well as weekend special events.

4. Make a list of any hired help , such as managers, assistants, employees, etc. Describe the duties and expected hours of each person, as well as any additional help you plan to hire within the first year or two.

5. Menu Items.  Outline any menu items or signature dishes you plan on servings, plus any key ingredients or food sources you plan on using. Also consider including special dishes you’ll offer for catering services or events.

Part 4: Market Analysis

Your market analysis is where you’ll explain your reasonings for entering the food truck market and why you foresee your truck being successful based on food truck trends.

You need to prove  why  your food truck will succeed. Include a market analysis of your target area and show food truck trend data, gathering information from any relevant sources. Include information on:

1. Industry & Audience Research

What is your target audience, and why can you expect them to eat at your food truck? What is the size and preferences of your key audience?

Do your due diligence – research and use the information you gather in your market analysis.

For example, you might meet with a company’s HR representative who oversees meal catering or food planning services for a company or organization. Employees in these positions may have authority to schedule your food truck on a routine basis, or they may explain why your food truck might not find many customers due to the company already having other sources of convenient lunch or snack options.

It is often helpful to consult the local chamber of commerce, which is typically aware of the many businesses operate in the area. They may be able to let you know if there’s a need for convenient mobile food in certain areas.

Other potential markets to consult include:

  • Community centers
  • Large companies
  • Tourist sites

These are all markets that may be able to provide information about their interest in your mobile food business.

You should also consider consulting with the city planner’s office or town council, as they might be able to help you obtain information about:

  • Traffic patterns
  • Planned construction projects
  • Festivals where food trucks would be desired
  • Upcoming venues where your food truck may be welcome

This is all valuable data for your market analysis!

2. Competition and Roadblocks

In addition, you may need to consider your competition as well as any city regulations or food truck licensing requirement  that might affect the food truck market.

Provide information about competitors, including the types of food they offer, their prices, and how you plan on overtaking them.

food truck festivals 2015

Don’t be afraid to include predicted obstacles or problems you may encounter – it’s important to show you’ve done your homework and have planned ahead for any potential issues.

Part 5: Marketing and Sales

Promoting and marketing your business is essential for success.

A solid food truck design is one major aspect of brand promotion, and you’ll want to make sure your truck has a memorable design and provides information on how to contact your truck.

However, promotion doesn’t end with the look and design of your truck. You’ll want to create plans on how you’ll extend your reach with strategies such as:

  • Your Website.  Keep your website up to date and include information about catering, food menus, and other info site visitors might be interested in.
  • Chamber of Commerce Business Directory.  Contact your local Chamber of Commerce and inquire about getting on to their business directory. Also research into other local business directories you could potentially join (some cities even have food truck associations).
  • Social Media.  Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other online media can generate interest and keep your food truck business actively engaged with an online customer base. Make sure to get your food truck up and active on social media!
  • Local News Outlets. Get in contact with local news outlets to try to get some coverage about your new truck. Many local news organization will be happy to do a piece on an up-and-coming new food truck, especially if you have a unique hook or spin to your business.
  • Getting Involved With Local Events.  Consider ways in which you can get involved with local events, such as catering community events or donating food to charity fundraisers. You could also sponsor a local little league team or even provide a talk about your food truck start up experience at a local business seminar. Activities like these put you in a favorable light with the community and spread awareness of your business.

In your food truck business plan, you’ll need to explain all you are willing to do to promote your food truck and convince readers of your business plan that you are ready and willing to work hard to build clientele and generate sales.

You’ll also need to include sales information in your food truck business plan. Include key points such as:

  • The number of sales you’ll need to keep you truck open
  • The number of sales you’ll need to turn a profit
  • Average menu prices or cost of dishes
  • How many days and hours you plan on selling

These down-and-dirty numbers will be key for keeping you on track and measuring the success of your truck.

Part 6: Management & Ownership

In this section of your food truck business plan, you’ll detail your key food truck team more extensively . If you’re a team of one, this section may be very short.

Explain the organization and structure of your business, such as:

  • Who is the main person in charge?
  • What are the various team members’ roles?
  • How will profits be divided?
  • Background, skills, and qualifications each member of your team will bring to the table

Part 7: Financials

Some experts believe that financials are the most critical aspect of a business plan.

Savvy investors sometimes take a cursory look at the Executive Summary and then jump right to the financial section to see how well the entrepreneur has planned the profits and expenses.

You’ll probably want to include information about the following areas of your food truck business:

  • Estimated start-up costs.  How much will it take to jumpstart your food truck business? Consider the cost of your vehicle and commissary rentals, plus other startup costs. Should contingency funds be set aside? If so, how much?
  • Supplies and equipment.  A breakdown of supply and equipment costs will help readers understand costs involved. They may also have ideas on ways to save money and cut down on costs.
  • Employees.  Include your earnings as well as income for other employees or consultants like accountants or legal advisers, taxes, and benefits, if any.
  • Intangible costs.  Insurance, vehicle maintenance, returns or food loss (due to spoilage), and other “invisible” expenses should be factored in.
  • Financial first year projections. Consider creating monthly or quarterly food truck sales projections based on your  existing sales plans while incorporating income, costs, and losses over the first year. After your first year’s projections, you can create monthly or quarterly annual estimates for the next few years of your business (don’t worry too much about the 3, 5, and 10 year projections at this stage – just focus on the first year or two for now). Make sure you dedicate a solid chunk of time to researching how much money you’ll need to operate your food truck – you don’t want to run out of money mid-season due to poor projections.

If you feel like you don’t have all the answers, that’s OK. You’re going to be making a lot of educated guesses, and that’s absolutely fine. Just make informed predications with real data to back up your assumptions.

Part 8: Funding

If you are looking for funding to help run your food truck, you’ll want to make sure you have the right numbers to back you.

In the funding section, you’ll want to explain:

  • How much money you need to start (and upkeep) your food truck
  • Where you plan on spending the money
  • How you plan on repaying any loans (and over what time span)

When it comes to earning funders, it’s essential that you’re clear and upfront about what you’ll need. Make sure to express the returns and benefits for potential investors.

Remember, getting investors isn’t a requirement by any means. Many successful food trucks save money and invest in the food truck themselves, so if you don’t love the idea of being dependent on an investor, you have plenty of other options.

Part 9: Growth and Development

In addition to making a case for starting up your food truck company, a business plan should include a segment for growth and development.

Although you may be satisfied to cater to a limited crowd of local college students or lunch time office workers, you may find yourself looking to expand in the near future.

Sometimes the demand for your food services may grow, even if you do not initially plan to expand.

A long-range plan for two, three, and five years, or even ten years, may be advisable if you plan to be doing this for a long time. Investors and others who read the plan will get a better idea of your long-term commitment as well as your insight to area marketing conditions as they decide how to respond to your initial set-up plan.

Part 10: Appendix

The appendix is where you can include additional material that readers may find relevant. This can include things like:

  • Your health department permit
  • Photos of your food truck
  • Any design concept material
  • Any applicable legal or licensing documents relevant to your food truck
  • Your food truck menu
  • Letters of reference
  • Food truck industry statistics and research data

Food Truck Business Plan Style and Design

When it comes to the look and style of your business plan, make sure your document is collated and bound in an attractive folder or report cover. You may also want to consider a slightly thicker paper stock for situations when you want to make an especially big impression.

Your food truck business plan should begin with a title page including your company name, followed by a table of contents to list all the material found within. Page numbers may be needed if the document is lengthy.

More Help, Examples, & Templates

Food truck business plan examples.

There are several real-life examples of food truck business plans on the web.

  • Food Truck Empire. Here’s a great food truck business plan example from Food Truck Empire. You may also want to check out their podcast on food truck templates , featuring advice from a food truck owner.

Food Truck Business Plan Templates

There are several free food truck business plan templates we recommend, including:

  • Legal Templates. Legal Templates offers a fantastic and extensive free mobile food business plan sample template . This is a great example to look at as you create your own food truck business plan.
  • SCORE.  SCORE is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping small businesses get started and become successful. This organization offers a number of useful services for small business owners, including business plan  templates .
  • U.S. Small Business Administration. The much larger parent organization that supports SCORE is the U.S. Small Business Administration. It, too, offers helpful business planning  templates  and advice for entrepreneurs.
  • Startup Business Plan Template. While this template may have information and sections not relevant for food trucks, much of the included info will be applicable. Since this business plan in uniquely geared towards startups, it’s a great template to begin with. Get the Startup Business Template here.
  • BPlans. Bplans offers many business plan templates, and while there is no food truck plan specifically, there is a Fine Fining Business Plan Template which can be a great resource as a place to start. It’s extensive and has more information than a food truck would need, but is still worth checking out. There’s also a Coffee Kiosk business plan example that will be especially helpful for food trikes or trailers.

Bonus Food Truck Business Plan Tips

  • Ask For Help.  If you’re struggling, consider asking other food truck owners for help with your business plan. They’ve been through it all before and may be able to help you.
  • Focus on Financials. Having hard, concrete numbers incorporated into your food truck business plan will build confidence and provide a roadmap for your business. These financials will help you evaluate how much money you’ll need to start your food truck business and how much you’ll need to charge to stay successful. Be as detailed as possible, considering the cost of everything from sandwich wrappers to cleaning supplies so that you can prepare accordingly.
  • Do It Your Way. Business plans vary greatly depending on the stage of the business, the structure of the business, and all kinds of other factors. Don’t be afraid to cut out what you think is un-necessary and only focus on the aspects of your food truck business plan that make the most sense for your unique needs.

Have you written a food truck business plan? What was your process like – did you use any resources you found helpful? Share your experience in the comments!

4 thoughts on “Food Truck Business Plan Guide + Template”

Writing a business plan does not have to be time-consuming or difficult. Are you kidding seems like you need a college degree in Business, Marketing, etcl Do you know any Incubator businesses or Mentors in the Hartford, CT Area.

It really can be as simple or complicated as you’d like it to be. Unless you’re bringing on outside investors, the business plan is mostly just for your own piece of mind and planning.

I don’t know off the top of my head if there are incubators in that area, but most likely there are some groups. I’d suggest asking existing food trucks in your area or asking the Chamber of Commerce.

So helpful, thank you

Thanks for this great info..

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How To Write A Food Truck Business Plan (With Examples)

Table of contents.

Budget Branders is dedicated to helping independently owned and operated businesses thrive. We offer a range of high-quality disposable products , each of which can be printed with your food truck’s name, logo, and/or slogan. Read on to learn more about writing a food truck business plan – and then reach out to us to learn more about our custom disposable products.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for Your Food Truck?

Even if you don’t need funding for your food truck, you should still have a business plan. This plan isn’t just a document that you provide to the bank to get a business loan. It can guide you through the process of starting your food truck and managing it as it grows. A business plan gives you the opportunity to think through all of the details of how you will actually run your food truck.

A business plan can also be used to check your progress and determine if you are hitting milestones. For example, if you set goals for sales in the first year to two years of business, you can check in to make sure that you are on target. If not, then you may need to adjust your plan to accommodate whatever economic realities (such as the rising price of certain ingredients) you may be facing.

Most importantly, writing a business plan does not have to be complicated. There are many templates available online – including the samples that we have included below. You can also adapt your plan to fit your needs, without worrying too much about format.

Writing a business plan does take some research and attention to detail. However, the work that you put into drafting the plan includes things that you should be doing anyways – such as looking into the types of licenses and permits that you will need, pricing out menu items, and figuring out your target demographic. This information isn’t just necessary for a business plan – it is vital to ensure that your company will be financially successful.

What Should a Food Truck Business Plan Include?

An executive summary.

You should consider including the following points in the executive summary:

  • Where you plan to sell your food
  • What type of food you plan to sell
  • Why this style of food will be successful in the target market
  • The projected costs and profits for the food truck
  • Future goals for the food truck (such as buying additional trucks or even franchising)

The Food Truck Vision

A sample menu, organization and management , market analysis, target audience, marketing , expected costs.

  • Buying or renting a food truck
  • Kitchen equipment
  • Labor costs
  • Ingredients
  • Licenses and permits
  • Marketing and advertising
  • Lawyers, accountants, and other consultant fees

Once you have priced out each of these costs, you will have a better idea of how much money you will need to not only start your business but to run it. You can then seek out funding or plan your budget accordingly.

Financial Projections

Food truck business plan example template, how budget branders can help your food truck business grow.

If you’d like to learn more or to request a quote, contact us today by pressing the live chat button, or sending us a message online.

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Food Truck Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Food Industry » Food Truck » Business Plan

Start a Food Truck Business

Are you about starting a food truck business ? If YES, here is a complete sample mobile food truck business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE.

Okay, so we have analyzed and drafted a sample food truck marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for food truck businesses. Over the years, we have come to see different food business spring up. There is the food restaurant business , the food processing business, the food truck business, the food farming business, amongst many others.

However, we want to look at the food truck business here. Food truck businesses, over the decades just like other line of trades, have continued to welcome newbies into the profession. Meals like; local and intercontinental delicacies are being whipped up and it is important to add that it is indeed one trade that assures profit.

A Sample Food Truck Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Food truck business can simply be classified as a restaurant on the go (mobile restaurant). Food truck is essentially a large truck that is equipped with the necessary gadgets to cook and conveniently sell food. It is a business venture that has come to stay; a business that is gaining momentum as the years roll by.

It has been estimated that truck food business serves about 2.5 Billion people daily worldwide ( according to Wikipedia ). The food truck business is a thriving business in some parts of the united states of America, Asian continents, Australia, United Kingdom , Canada, France, Belgium, Germany and Mexico et al.

Recent research and statistics rolled out by a Los Angeles-based industry-research firm called IBIS World, stated in their report that the street-food business which include mobile food trucks and non – mechanized carts rakes in about a $1 billion yearly. They went onward to state that the industry has experienced an 8.4 percent growth rate from 2007 to 2012.

One good thing about the food truck business is that it is far cheaper to start and operate when compared to the usual restaurant business with a fixed location. As a matter of fact, 78 percent of those who operate food truck business have four or fewer employees under their payroll.

For those who want to really make it big in the business, their best bet is to acquire larger trucks that can conveniently carry more foods and also accommodate more clients – the bigger your truck, the larger the quantity and variety of foods you can carry per time.

The only challenge you are likely going to face when you make use of a large food truck might be; sourcing for ideal space to park the truck in order to sell food to your customers and also a parking lot for the truck when you are off duty.

Basically, we have two types of food trucks. One of them is the mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV). It is a truck where food is prepared based on customer’s need whilst they wait. Usually, these customers do not have to wait for a very longtime before getting their orders.

The second one is called the industrial catering vehicle (ICV). The industrial catering vehicle sell only prepackaged foods – as customers pay, they get their food immediately without any form of delay. Typically, the mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV) is far more expensive when compared to the industrial catering vehicle (ICV).

The average cost of a brand new retrofitted food truck with all the required gadget is about $120,000 and a fairly used one can cost as much as $35,000 depending on the condition at the point of sale. A fairly used hot dog cart may likely cost $2,500, or lower.

In essence, the smaller the truck and the fewer the equipment in it; the lower the cost. In case you have a food truck that is not well equipped, you will just have to create an option of cooking your food in a kitchen before transferring them inside the truck.

No doubt the truck food business industry is regulated by key agencies to ensure that they meet the required food, drinks and drugs standard of the state where they operate. Complying with health-department rules and regulations is a must, especially if you want to legally and successfully run this type of business.

Usually in the United States, food trucks that are in active use are inspected at least once a year by a health department inspector, and most often they do it randomly. The inspectors check to see how food is prepared and how they are stored so that it does not spoil and that it is kept at the proper temperature.

Over and above, the truck food business is the way to go, if you don’t want to bother yourself with the cost of securing a location to build a restaurant, as well as if you want to make fast money from the restaurant cum food industry.

2. Executive Summary

On The Track® Mobile Food Company is a Los Angeles based restaurant business that makes use of food truck to sell various menu of foods; basically lunch meals to different category of clients on the go. It is a company that is owned and operated by Mrs. Shavonne who happens to be the Chief Operating Officer.

The aim of setting up On The Track® Mobile Food Company is to take our various types of meals and soft drinks (chapman, punch, non – alcoholic wines, smoothies, and fresh fruit juice et al) to wherever we can find our target market.

It could be on the beach, it could be at a picnic ground, it could be on a carnival ground, sports complex, as well as a religious crusade ground. All that we are concerned about is to provide good quality food at a cheaper price to our highly esteemed customers.

Our intention is to build a mobile truck food business brand, which will help event organizers worry less on how to provide a cafeteria where participants at their event can get lunch. We intend working with managers of public facilities and event planners throughout the State of California.

Despite the fact that we will be based in Inglewood – Los Angeles, areas where we cover won’t be restricted to this city; we will definitely cover the whole of California and even some neighboring states, as long as it is cost effective for us.

We will offer our customers the opportunity to either purchase our neatly packed foods or give us their orders and we will prepare it whilst they wait. We have perfected our plans not to allow our clients wait longer than necessary when they place their special orders.

Although we are a mobile truck food business company, we have our physical office facility ( that accommodates our administrative unit, kitchen and store room ) in Inglewood – Los Angeles. It is a place where people can come in to make enquiries about our business and also a place where we are able to interface with our vendors and government officials’ et al.

The point that we intend selling our franchise to interested entrepreneurs, who may want to replicate our business success in other States and Cities in the US and Canada and also the fact that we are building a brand with the intention to offer trainings and consultancy services to clients based on demand, makes it mandatory for us to secure and maintain a visible office facility and official website.

At On The Track® Mobile Food Company, our meals will be prepared, served and sold at a pocket friendly price in a neat and hygienic environment. The health of our customers is of top most priority to us, which is why we do not intend to leave any stone unturned when it comes to giving our clients the very best of services.

  • Success Bench Mark

Although we intend starting with just one mobile food truck in Los Angeles, but our ultimate goal is to grow the business to a level where we have fleets (a minimum of a hundred) of mobile food trucks scattered all around United States of America and Canada within 10 years of launching the business.

We also intend to train a minimum of 100 entrepreneurs on mobile food truck business annually. Furthermore, we want to see that we create systems and processes so that our food truck business can run on auto – pilot.

3. Our Products and Services

The mobile food truck business might not be too ideal an environment to prepare and sell high end and expensive delicacies like; intercontinental meals et al. However, we at On The Track® Mobile Food Company is set to go all the way to ensure that we meet the basic needs of our esteemed customers.

As much as lies within our power, we will offer a variety of menus ranging from snacks, to real meals, and also assorted non – alcoholic drinks and wine. Here is a sneak peek at what we plan to offer;

  • We sell lunch ( assorted meals )
  • We sell snacks
  • We sell assorted drinks ( Soft Drinks, Wines, smoothie, and punch, Fruit Juice, Chapman and Energy Drinks et al )
  • We Sell franchise
  • We offer training and consultancy services on mobile truck food business

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

  • To become the leading brand in mobile food truck business in Los Angeles and the whole of United States of America and Canada
  • We are in the mobile food truck industry with the aim of building a brand that can meet the needs ( foods, snacks and drinks ) of our esteemed clients in places where they can hardly access standard cafeterias.
  • And also to offer entrepreneurs the opportunity and training needed to successfully lunch their own mobile food truck business in other cities in the US and Canada

Our Management Structure

Most people who go into the mobile truck food business usually choose the business over the conventional restaurant business, simply because it is perhaps less expensive to manage especially when it comes to taking care of overhead and operational cost.

On the average, mobile food companies usually have 4 or 5 employees under their payroll. Because of the type of mobile food business brand that we intend building, we have been able to make provision for the following employees;

  • Chief Operating Officer (Owner)
  • Chef / Caterer
  • Assistant Caterer
  • Office Administrator

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Operating Officer (owner):

  • Responsible for providing direction for the business
  • Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
  • Responsible for the day to day running of the business
  • Responsible for fixing prices
  • Responsible for recruitment
  • Responsible for payment of salaries
  • Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
  • Evaluates the success of the organization

Chef / Caterer /Cooks:

  • Responsible for preparing delicacies
  • Makes lists and budget for kitchen supplies
  • Oversee the entire kitchen staff
  • Responsible for training new cooks
  • Makes sure that the meals being whipped up tastes really good

Kitchen Assistant / Utility Staff:

  • Assist the chef/ cook in the kitchen
  • Ensures that all the needed cooking ingredients are in supply
  • Runs errand for the chef / cook and every member of the workforce
  • Ensures that the kitchen area of the truck is clean and hygienic at all times
  • Responsible for washing cooking pots, utensil and dishes when necessary
  • Assists in packaging food and snacks
  • Responsible for moving packed foods from the kitchen to the cubicle / point of sale
  • Ensures that various types of drinks are present in the fridge per time (get them replaced as soon as they are sold)
  • Any other duty as assigned by the line manager

Sales Girl:

  • Interfaces with our highly esteem customers
  • Collects orders and issues foods as demanded by customers after payment
  • Keeps proper records of daily sales and then reconcile with the cashier
  • Responsible for manning the fridge and every stuffs that are up for sale
  • Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer
  • Receives payments on behalf of the company (POS, cash, mobile money et al)
  • Issues receipt to customers
  • Prepares financial report at the end of every working week
  • Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the company
  • Responsible for driving the truck to sales venues and back to base
  • Ensures that the truck is in top shape at all times
  • Ensures that maintenance schedules for the truck are strictly followed
  • Responsible for renewing the vehicle license, insurance and any other documentation for the vehicle as at when due
  • Any other duty as assigned by the restaurant manager

Office Administrator:

  • Responsible for managing the daily activities of the back end office
  • Prepares payroll for the organization
  • Prepare monthly financial report for the organization
  • Interfaces with vendors and third party suppliers ( drink suppliers, raw food suppliers and maintenance team et al)
  • Responds to enquiries on behalf of the company
  • Handles phone calls for the company
  • Manage the company’s e-mail and website
  • Interfaces with our bankers (lodgment of cash, checks and bank drafts et al)
  • Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills

6. SWOT Analysis

As a team together with our paid business consultants, we have been able to look both inward and outward, as well as critically assess ourselves and business ideas to know if we are truly ready to launch our mobile food truck business in Los Angeles.

No doubt, we have a lot of factors working in our favor but at the same time we have some factors that we must contend with if we intend becoming the number one brand when it comes to mobile food truck business in Los Angeles and the whole of North America. Below is a summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of On the Track® Mobile Food Company;

Aside from the trainings that have been acquired, as well as the hands on experience attained over the years prior to starting On The Track ® Mobile Food Company, our strength lies in our financial capacity and determination to succeed in the business at all cost. We have been able to acquire a brand new mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV).

It has the capacity to meet the needs of well over 500 customers per day. Our strength also lies in the fact that we have relationship with brand experts who are working almost for free for us. With that, will be able to build our brand to a level where we can start selling franchises and offer trainings and consultancy services on mobile food truck business.

The fact that we are planning to roll out our mobile truck business alongside other similar business offerings like training, consultancy services and sale of franchise could distract us from concentrating and channeling our energy in one direction.

We are quite aware of that and we are working towards blocking any area that will sap our energy and make us under performed in our core business area – sale of foods and drinks from a mobile truck.

  • Opportunities:

The opportunities that we stand to leverage on are much. The fact that we are not tied down to a location is indeed a good opportunity for us to grow our business to the level we want to grow it to. For example; we can afford to trade foods, snacks and drinks in more than two locations within a day. It is all about knowing when to arrive and leave for another location.

There is hardly any business venture that doesn’t face its own threat. Regarding mobile food truck business, one of the threat that we may likely face is; vehicular traffic in key cities.

Traffic can delay one and as a result of that one may get to the location where one intend selling the foods and drinks late- this could be when the lunch break is over ( basically for organized events ). Yet another threat is; the government policies, which could also pose a great threat to the mobile food truck industry.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

  • Market Trends

In this dispensation more than ever before, people no longer have sufficient time to do all they would want to do within the available 24 hours.

Hence, the rise of fast food restaurants all over the cities. As such, mobile food truck business is another business that is designed to fit into a dispensation like ours. Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we shall adopt include but not limited to the following;

  • Submit proposals to event management companies to become their official mobile food vendor
  • Submit proposals to management of public facility (sport centers, beach and schools, et al) to become their official mobile food vendor
  • Send proposals to schools and corporate organizations to become their official mobile food vendor
  • Sponsor relevant events, such as cooking competitions, and cultural events, et al.

8. Our Target Market

When it comes to mobile food truck business, there are no restrictions to the market you can explore, as long as you are operating within the law of the state where you are conducting your business. We do not intend to place any limit to the scope of our target market and these are the places / locations where we intend operating our mobile food truck business with the aim of maximizing sales;

  • Construction sites
  • Tourism locations
  • University Campuses
  • Carnival ground
  • Stadiums and sport centers
  • Community Outdoor Events
  • Blue Collar work locations
  • Farmers Markets
  • Industrial Parks
  • Movie Recording Location
  • Farmers Market
  • Military Bases
  • Office Complexes
  • Mechanic Villages
  • Open air shows and programs

Our Competitive Advantage

Loads of factors count towards our advantage as a mobile food truck business operator. The fact that we have the ability to determine where we want to sell our foods and drinks per time gives us the leverage to make as much sales as we can make in a day.

It has been observed that any organization that offers training and consultancy services is always amongst the leaders in their industry and we at On The Track® Mobile Food Company are set to tow along this part because we want to become experts and amongst the leading mobile food truck company in the whole of the US and Canada.

We have put plans in place to facilitate continuous improvement on what we do, because we know that is one of the factors that will be give us competitive advantage in the marketplace. Another competitive advantage that we have as a company is the size and condition of or food truck.

We have been able to purchase a brand new retrofitted food truck with all the required gadget. It is big enough to accommodate all that we would need for the business, we are going to spend less on maintenance and we can easily obtain approval from the appropriate authorities.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

Sources of Income

  • Sales of launch (meals)
  • Sales of Snacks
  • Offering training services
  • Offering consultancy services in line with our business goal
  • Sales of drinks
  • Sales of our franchise

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies and also assumptions. This is for sales projections based on what we saw.

  • 1000 lunches per day (on average), 12 months per year
  • $20 per person on the average
  • 1500 snacks per day, 12 months per year
  • $5 per person on the average

Sales of Drinks and Water et al:

  • On the average over 80% of people who purchase lunch (meal) and snacks would normally consume drinks as well.
  • $1.5 for a bottle of coke
  • This equates to 2000 drinks in a day when you multiply 2000 by 1.5 we will make an estimate of $3000 daily from the sale of drinks alone.

N.B: The possibility of the figure to increase or even reduce cannot be ruled out. Since most of the figures quoted above are partly based on the report from our market survey and feasibility studies and partly on assumptions.

  • Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Food truck business is one business that requires little adjustment on the field to be able to turn low sales into great sales. For instance; if you are in a location where the sale is very slow, you can decide to change location and move to a place where you feel you can generate more income and sell more of your foods.

It is just a matter of driving to the location. There are several ways that we intend adopting to promote our mobile food truck business and here are some of them;

  • Through Direct Marketing
  • Submitting proposals and biding for contracts
  • Online Marketing (via our official website, social media platforms and blog et al)
  • Revenue Sharing Business Partners (Networking with Event Planners, Facility managers and Business Contractors et al)

11. Our Pricing Strategy

Generally food truck business sells meals, and snacks at a cheaper rate when compared to the conventional fixed – restaurant. We don’t have any plans to sell our foods, snacks and drinks beyond the prices that is obtainable in the industry.

That does not mean that we will fall below standard when it comes to the quality of our food. As a matter of fact, one of our strongest selling points will be the taste and perhaps the quantity of our foods when compared to our competitors.

From our market survey and feasibility studies, we are sure going to make reasonable profits even when we sell a little below the average price for package foods and snacks in the food truck industry, especially if the location we intend selling our foods and drinks is not far away from our base.

  • Payment Options

Our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available to customers when they patronize us;

  • Payment by cash
  • Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
  • Payment via online bank transfer (preferably for those who would need our consultancy services, training or purchase our franchise)
  • Payment via check (preferably for those who would need our consultancy services, training or purchase our franchise)
  • Payment via Mobile money

There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to determining how much it will cost an individual to start a business. The size and capacity of the business you intend starting is what will determine the size of your budget. We have decided to start On The Track® Mobile Food Company with just one truck with the hope of growing it to fleets of truck few years down the line.

So, our budget is based on starting small but with class. As such, here is a picture of the areas we will spend our start – up capital;

12. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

  • The Fee for Registering the Business: $725.
  • The budget for insurance, permits and license: $10,000
  • The Amount needed to rent an office facility with store and parking for 6 months in Inglewood, Los Angeles: $50,000.
  • The Cost for the purchase of the purchase of a brand new retrofitted food truck with all the required gadget (oven, rotisserie, coffee pots, grill, hot – dog roller and refrigerator): $120,000.
  • The Cost for kitchen utensils, and pots et al: $15,000
  • The Cost for supply of raw foods, ingredients, drinks and beverages for a month: $5,000
  • The cost for food packaging: $2,000
  • The cost for a food cart: $3,000
  • The Cost of Launching a Website: $600
  • The cost for parking and maintenance of the truck for one month: $300
  • Additional Expenditure ( Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al ): $5,000

The total cost we are likely going to spend from start to when the business is fully operational is estimated to be at about $250,000 ( please note that the payment for the brand new retrofitted food truck is spread over a period of 48 months ).

Financial Projection and Forecast

Businesses that do pretty well are businesses that have more than one source where they generate revenue. It is risky to run a business where you can only generate income from just one source. The truth is that if anything goes wrong with the source of income, the business might likely collapse.

This is why we worked hard to provide you with a sample food truck marketing plan template to help you through the process. The big picture we have for On The Go® Mobile Food Company is to generate income from the following sources;

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Our Mobile Food Company

We don’t have the intention of bringing business partners outside the family to invest in the business, at least for the first 5 years of running the business that is why we have restricted raising our startup capital to;

  • Generate part of the start – up capital from my savings
  • Source for soft loans from family members and friends
  • Obtaining loan from the bank

N.B: We have been able to generate well over 60 percent of the money we would need to kick start the business and most of the gadgets that we purchased are based on installment payment for a period of time. As regards our brand new retrofitted food truck we have the arrangement to spread the payment for a period of 48 months.

13. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The joy of any business owner is to see the business grow to become as big as possible in their industry. But the truth is that for a business to experience growth, the business must be self-sustained. At On The Track® Mobile Food Company, our major goal and aspiration is to build a world class mobile food truck business from just one food truck in the city of Los Angeles to fleets of trucks in major cities in the US and Canada.

In order to sustain the business, we have been able to create channels that will help us access multiple streams of income within the same food industry. We are aware that in the bid of pursuing business expansion, we might lose focus which is why all what we intend to do with the business revolve around our core business offering.

Check List / Milestone

  • Culinary Training Plan : Completed
  • Business Name Availability Check : Completed
  • Business Registration: Completed
  • Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
  • Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
  • Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
  • Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
  • Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
  • Obtaining a Commercial Vehicle Operator’s Registration for the truck: Completed
  • Obtaining a food handler certificate
  • Obtaining appropriate driver’s licenses for the driver: Completed
  • Obtaining permits for each municipality we intend to operate our business : In Progress
  • Purchase of business and liability insurance for the Business: Completed
  • Renting and furnishing our office facility: completed
  • Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
  • Generating capital from family members and friends: Completed
  • Applications for Loan: Completed
  • Writing of business plan: Completed
  • Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
  • Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: Completed
  • Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
  • Graphic Designs (on the body of the truck) and Printing of Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
  • Recruitment of chef and other key employees: In Progress
  • Purchase of the needed food truck: Completed
  • Purchase of Kitchen Utensils, plates, cups, cutleries, and other accessories: Completed
  • Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
  • Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
  • Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: Completed
  • Compilation of foods, snacks and drinks on our menu list: Completed
  • Design and preparation of our training modules: Completed
  • Establishing business relationship with vendors – suppliers of raw food ingredient and drinks: Completed
  • Proof of ownership, proper identification and license (of the vehicle): Completed
  • Proof of District-issued Food Manager Identification Card: Completed
  • Food-purchase record storage and record keeping software: Completed
  • Copy of license for the service support facility and/or a recent inspection report: Completed

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  • Who is the Target Audience or Customer for Food Truck Business?
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  2. HOW TO OPEN A FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS || खोलें कम पैसों में और कमाएँ महीने का लाख से भी ज़्यादा ||

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  6. Sample Business Plan Overview

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  1. Food Truck Business Plan Template & Sample (2024)

    Download the food truck business plan template (including a customizable financial model) to your computer here <- Customer Focus Zesty Zane's Food Truck will target customers in Portland who live, work, or socialize near Cartopia.

  2. Free Food Truck Business Plan Example and Template

    The Solution Street Eats Food Truck provides a solution by offering quality, flavorful, and affordably-priced meals directly to consumers in various locations. Our dynamic menu keeps customers interested and promotes a fun dining experience. Target Market

  3. PDF DONNY'S FOOD TRUCK

    The purpose of this business plan is to secure $50,000 in order to fund the purchase, marketing, and staffing requirements for Donny's Food Truck restaurant in Small Town, CT. Donny's Food Truck was founded by chef Donny O'Neal, and sous chef Miguel Sanchez, in 2020.

  4. 29 Proven Food Truck Business Plans (PDF, Word)

    Contents [ hide] 1 Food Truck Business Plans 2 Why do you need a food truck business plan? 3 Food Truck Business Models 4 How to write a food truck business plan? 5 Food Truck Business Plan Templates 6 Starting your food truck business Food truck is one of the most popular and cheapest ways to start your own restaurant.

  5. How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan

    We've organized detailed business plan templates from successful food trucks and made them available to you in PDF and Word doc in this post. In addition to offer templates, we give you detailed instruction how to complete each section of the plan using this guide.

  6. How To Write a Food Truck Business Plan (+ Template)

    by Ryan Jones Mar 14, 2023 Start your online business today. For free. Start free trial The US street vendor sector was valued at $2.49 billion in 2022, up from the previous year's total of $2.29 billion. The market is expected to grow another 1.7% in 2023.

  7. How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan

    How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan in 2024 (Free Template) | On the Line | Toast POS By clicking any of the above links, you will be leaving Toast's website. Read this next Operations How to Open a Food Truck: Starting a Food Truck Business Steps Looking to learn how to start a food truck business?

  8. Food Truck Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

    Download Template Create a Business Plan With the expanding popularity of street food and drinks, trying global cuisine, and busy schedules, the street vendor culture is increasing. The interesting thing is you are going to join this market in the period when the demand is growing.

  9. How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan + Template

    Noah Parsons 12 min. read Updated November 13, 2023 Free Download: Food Truck Business Plan Template Starting a food truck business is an attractive alternative to opening a restaurant. The initial costs are significantly lower than opening a traditional restaurant and the popularity of food trucks only continues to grow.

  10. Free Food Truck Business Plan Template

    Free Food Truck Business Plan Template - PDF | Word - eForms Home » Food Truck Food Truck Business Plan Template Updated January 09, 2023 A food truck business plan is created by a food truck entrepreneur to describe the vision, plans, and goals of their business.

  11. How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan

    2. Company Description. Use this section of your food truck business plan to explain the details of your company. Describe your food truck business and convey how it will be a valuable addition to the existing market. Essentially, this is the section where you can expand upon the topics you briefly mentioned in the executive summary.

  12. Food Truck Business Plan Template & How-To Guide [Updated 2024]

    The following food truck business plan sample will guide you to completing the 10 essential sections of your own food truck business plan. Executive Summary Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

  13. How to write a food truck business plan

    Step-by-step Guide To Write A Food Truck Business Plan. 1. Executive Summary. The executive summary is a brief overview of your food truck business plan. It presents a snapshot of your business, including summary of the budget, business's purpose and values, and what your brand is about.

  14. Free Food Truck Business Plan Template & Sample

    Reviewed by Brooke Davis Are you ready to start a food truck business? You will have many questions at this beginning stage, and a sample food truck business plan can help you find answers. With the right food truck business plan, you will be better prepared to find investors and get your company on the road.

  15. Sample Business Plan For a Food Truck Business

    Download the Food Truck Business Plan Sample PDF here. Executive Summary Barbecue Brothers On Wheels is a family-owned and operated BBQ food truck business founded by brothers John and David.

  16. Free Food Truck Business Plan Template

    Our free food truck business plan template can help guide you through the process of starting your own successful food truck business. Starting a food truck business can be an exciting and fulfilling venture. You'll get to share your passion for cooking with others and have the freedom to work for yourself. However, launching a food truck ...

  17. How to Write a Food Truck Business Plan + Free Template

    Describe what your food truck will do, i.e., deliver hot or cold food, prepare convenience food on site, offer hot or cold beverages, set up indoor or outdoor eating areas, etc. 3. Outline the expected locations, using maps if desired, of your daily activities.

  18. Food Truck Business Plan (How to Write One & Example)

    Market Analysis. While writing a food truck business plan, provide the market analysis. The most critical factors you must cover are: Target market - if you plan on selling burgers, analyze if there is a need for this type of food.; Location - this factor is strictly connected with your food truck target market. For example, if you sell burgers and find a location with a demand for them ...

  19. PDF DONNY'S FOOD TRUCK

    Donny's Food Truck - Sample Business Plan CONFIDENTIAL You may utilize this business plan as a starting point for your own, but you do not have permission to reproduce, copy, resell, publish, or distribute this plan as it exists here. Page 1 SMALL BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLE DONNY'S FOOD TRUCK BUSINESS PLAN PRESENTED TO INDIVIDUAL OR COMPANY NAME

  20. How To Write A Food Truck Business Plan (With Examples)

    Currently, there are more than 35,000 food trucks in the United States, with a market size of $1.16 billion in 2021. This market share is expected to rise by 6.4% annually from 2022 to 2030, driven in large part by a demand for novel dining experiences and a greater interest in gastronomy.In many communities, food trucks are a common sight in ...

  21. Food Truck Business Plan [Sample Template]

    If YES, here is a complete sample mobile food truck business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE. Okay, so we have analyzed and drafted a sample food truck marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for food truck businesses. Over the years, we have come to see different food business spring up.

  22. Food Truck Business Plan Sample

    Yankees Suck food truck aims to attract repeat business from local Saint Augustine residents through the truck's presence at the city's hotspots including local parks, beaches, and downtown events. The food truck also aims to attract visitors to Saint Augustine with its unique name, unique food options, and prominent visibility.

  23. Catering & Food Truck Business Plan Examples

    Food Truck Business Plan. Street Eats Food Truck offers high-quality, diverse, and affordable meals on-the-go. We blend creativity with culinary tradition, bringing global flavors directly to local communities, events, and private functions. Unique takes on traditional flavors and plenty of variety within walking distance has made food trucks ...