Industry: Mobile Food Truck

Today's mobile food truck is not yesterday's roach coach. A food truck is a large vehicle equipped to cook and sell food. Some, including ice cream trucks, sell frozen or pre-packaged food; others have on-board kitchens and prepare food from scratch. Sandwiches, hamburgers, French fries, and other regional fast food fare is common. Catering trucks are speciality food trucks featuring varied and fancy menus"¹

The mobile food truck industry is showing consistent growth. There is still plenty of room for growth. Many cities are trying to figure out how to regulate the food truck industry. Most cities are favorable to ordinances that will allow the food truck industry to expand and be successful.

2015 Food Truck Industry Statistics	Data
Annual food truck revenue	1,200,000,000
Industry revenue increase over past five years	12.4%
Total number of trucks in U.S.	4,130
Average revenue generated by each truck	$290,566
Average spending per order at food truck	$12.40
Average cost of food truck	$85,000
Food Truck Location Market Segments	Percent of Sales
Street locations/corners	55%
Other locations/venues/events	18%
Industrial/construction sites	15%
Shopping malls	12%
Food Truck Expenses and Breakdown	Percent of Expenses
Food and beverage resale (COGS)	27%
Insurance, repairs maintenance, fuel	26%
Employee wages	18%
Other	29%
Food Truck Startup Costs	Average Cost
Food truck (includes equipment)	$85,000
Initial product inventory	$1,500
Permits/Licenses	$300
Website	$100
Register/POS	$500
Uniforms	$500
Paper products	$250
Misc Expenses	$500
Pots and Pans	$1,500
Fire Extinguisher	$150
Initial Start up Cost	$90,000

(1) Wikipedia

(2) Mobile Cuisine source for information contained in the table

Mobile Food Truck: Company Name

Try out your business name choices on friends to get some feedback. Make sure that the name you select is not too specific so that it might impede you business expansion. For example, suppose you name your company Taco Loco and then later decide to add burgers to your menu. The name would be restrictive. Make sure that the name somehow reflects on the type of business that you have. I chose the name Inside Sliders & Catering A slider is basically a small hamburger or it can be pork or chicken on a small bun They are much easier to eat than a regular hamburger and lend themselves to a food truck operation.

Mobile Food Truck: Job Descriptions

Owner: job Description

For a food truck business to be successful the owner must have some good business skills in addition to food catering and preparation skills, or people need to be hired to do the jobs of accounting, web design, and marketing. Good computer skills are a must in today's marketplace. The owner must prepare a business plan and marketing plan. A sales catalog must also be produced.

Caterer Job Description

Caterers are cooks and food preps who make large amounts of food for parties, galas and events. Instead of working in a restaurant and making food to order, caterers prepare all dishes at once, course by course, so that everyone is served at the same time by banquet servers. Caterers may work with the event hosts to create a menu, work with special requests, and often cook in non-kitchen rooms or with mobile food prep stations, depending on where the event is being held.
Caterers buy the food, prep the food, move it to the location and finish off the cooking and plating so that each dish is hot and delicious, whether they are serving 10 or 1,000 guests.

HOW MUCH DO CATERERS MAKE?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that in 2010, the median income for chefs was $19.53 per hour, or $40,630 a year.

WHAT ARE THE EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS?

Experience is important. Most caterers start in the kitchens of restaurants. However, some caterers will gain experience through training at a community college or trade school, with 2-year and 4-year degrees. Caterers looking for more advanced training can get involved in apprenticeships through culinary schools and other organizations. These typically last 2 years.

JOB SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

Creativity: Caterers are often in charge of creating new and innovative dishes for celebrations or events, as well as knowing what will be possible to cook all at once. Knowledge of ingredients and how to use them in a creative way will serve you well. Hand-Eye Coordination: Caterers work with knives and must have excellent technique when cutting and preparing food. Hand-eye coordination is needed. Sense of Taste and Smell: Serving delicious food brings to customers creates business. Caterers are the last line of defense to make sure each piece of food is safe, prepared correctly and tasty.

Time Management Skills: Kitchens get busy quickly, food can get ruined easily if you cannot manage your time. Great time management will help you avoid burned or spoiled food and angry customers. Business Acumen: Caterers must understand the business. You have to balance your expenses with your profits, manage the kitchen staff, minimize waste, and keep the kitchen running smoothly.

Food Truck Manager Job Description

SUMMARY

The food truck manager is responsible for managing food service operations within food truck. Ensure all employees follow in-house policies and procedures and meets with all federal and state requirements. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Oversee the day-to-day operations at food truck and commercial kitchen.
Plan for and purchase food for daily operations.
Maintain required records including food production, inventory, income/expense, meal counts and personnel records.
Ensure food truck staff members follow proper sanitation procedures.
Preside over food truck employees, including cooks, food preparers, cashiers, and other employees.
Ensure safety standards are maintained while food is being cooked.
Prepare and serve the food.
Plan menus.
Respond to customer preferences and complaints.
Set prices for each product on menu.
Plan and budget for future meals.
Maintain equipment including refrigerator, stove, prep table and cookware.
Ensure customer dining experience is satisfactory.
Expedite food. preparation.
Hire, recruit, and train employees.
Deliver orders to appropriate customers.
Direct the cleaning of the truck and commercial kitchen.
Maintain employee records, prepare payroll, and complete paperwork to comply with laws and regulations.
Keep records of supplies and purchases.

Tutorial:Starting your own business

Week 1

Mobile Food Truck: Company Name