Food Truck Startup Costs: Don’t Make This Mistake When Buying a Food Truck
Last updated on November 19th, 2024 at 08:59 pm
As a future food truck owner, you want to know about food truck startup costs.
You heard that getting started is cheap and you’ve always wanted to start a food business.
But you don’t have the money to open a restaurant.
So, how much does it cost to buy a food truck?
I could give you a bunch of random prices.
Or I can tell you the truth.
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The #1 thing you need to know about food truck startup costs that almost everyone gets wrong
How much a food truck costs depends on a variety of factors. One being the kind of food you plan to sell.
Which will determine the type of equipment you need. Which will let you know the kind of truck and truck size to get.
So, ‘how much does it cost to buy a food truck?’ isn’t the question to start with.
Instead, start with your menu.
Common equipment costs
The kind of equipment you need in your food truck is determined by your menu.
Expect to spend $20K and up on equipment for your truck.
Common food truck equipment:
- Range/oven
- Grill
- Fryer
- Warmer
- Smoker
- Microwave
- Sinks
- Food prep surfaces
- Fridge
- Espresso machine
- Ice machine
Buying a new food truck vs buying a used food truck
How much does it cost to buy a new food truck vs a used food truck?
The cost of a new food truck varies from $50K to over $100K.
For a used food truck, budget for at least $30K.
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Courtney Lindsay, owner of Houston Sauce Co & Mo Better Brews in Houston, TX, says that he bought his used food truck & started his business with $35,000. Keep in mind that he bought his food truck several years ago.
Other food truck startup costs you need to consider
This is a list of some of the food truck startup costs you need to factor into your budget:
- Permits and/or licenses required by your city/state/country
- Inspection
- Getting your truck wrapped
- Hiring someone to build out your truck
- Food costs
- Insurance (business insurance & vehicle insurance)
- Electrical & plumbing
- Ongoing repairs & maintenance
- Gas/fuel
- Staff
- Uniforms for staff
- Paper products (plates, napkins, cups, to-go containers)
- POS (point of sale system) / register
- Internet/wifi
- Website
- Marketing (social media & content)
Related post: Food Truck Marketing Best Practices
Ready to start a food truck?
Aspiring food truckers have so many questions. How do I start a food truck? How much does it cost to start a food truck? How do I market my food truck?
With Before you Launch a Food Truck, Ariel covers the top questions you need to ask before you start your food truck to set yourself up for success.
Buy the e-book or paperback at TheFoodTruckScholar.com or Amazon.
Interested in opening a restaurant instead?
How much does it cost to open a restaurant?
