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by Alan Philips
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting a Food Truck Business
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Introduction
Part 1: Food Truck Basics
1 The Food Truck Revolution
What Is a Food Truck?
How It All Began
What’s Driving the Growth?
The Recession
Technology
Foodie Culture and Social Media
The World of Food Trucks
Taco Trucks: The Original
Pizza Trucks: It’s All About the Ovens
Dessert Trucks: Nighttime Sweetspots
Ice-Cream Trucks: Good-Bye, Good Humor
Dumpling Trucks: Simply Delicious
Burger Trucks: Look Out Mickey D’s, We’re the Burger Kings!
Mediterranean Trucks: New York’s Taco Truck
2 Secrets of Food Truck Success
Understanding the Business Model
Projecting Food and Labor Costs
Estimating Average Sales
Estimating Labor Costs
Determining Whether You Pass the Test
Testing Your Production Time
Hitching Your Truck to Three Revenue Streams
Estimating Commissary Costs
Choosing an Authentic Concept
Making Sure You Have Sufficient Start-UpCapital
Generating Volume, Volume, Volume
Identifying Your Spots
Creating an Assembly Line
Getting from Place to Place Efficiently
Achieving Consistency
Perfecting Your Recipes
Sampling Your Food
Training Your Staff
Taking Charge
Hiring Great People
Adding Value
Creating an Emotional Attachment
Turning on the Personality
3 The Right Concept and Food
Staying True to Who You Are
Picking Your Niche
Determining Your Cultural Perspective
Knowing Who You’re Feeding
Profiling Your Food Truck Clientele
Meeting a Demand
Matching Your Menu to Your Concept
Making the Proper Selections
Presenting Your Menu
Pricing to Your Market
Calculating the Price-Value Relationship
Ensuring Profitability
Downplaying the Price for Customers
Creating Your Brand
Testing Your Concept with a Focus Group
4 The Right Truck
Types of Trucks
Chevy Step Vans
Sprinters
Prefabricated Trucks
Calculating Truck Costs
Finding Your Truck
eBay and Craigslist
Truck Dealers and Auctions
Customizers
Redesigning an Existing Truck
Choosing Your Equipment
Powering Your Vehicle
Budgeting for Fuel and Maintenance
Finding an Off-Truck Kitchen (Commissary)
5 The Right Location
Being Mobile: The Pros and Cons
Identifying Where You Should Park
Office Buildings and Office Parks
Residential Buildings
Large Events
Dorms and College Buildings
Seasonal Locations
Nightspots
Food Truck Lots
Determining Where You’re Allowed to Park
Considering Traffic
Knowing Locations to Avoid
Low-Traffic Areas
Restaurant Rows
Looking at Other Businesses in the Area
Building Your Spots
Part 2: The Mobile Food Mogul
6 Preparing Your Business Plan
Why a Business Plan Matters
Describing Your Concept, Brand, and Market
Your Identity
Your Market
Your Competition
Forecasting Sales
Forecasting Expenses
Determining Your Breakeven
Estimating Profits
Choosing Your Business Structure
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership
Limited Partnership
Corporation
7 Finding Financing
Knowing How Much Money You Need
Calculating Your Start-Up Costs
Calculating Operating Capital
Determining Your Contribution
Identifying Investors
Potential Partners
Silent Partners
Family and Friends
What You Need to Show Potential Investors
How to Structure an Investment
Getting a Loan
What You Need to Show the Bank
Small Business Administration Loans
Other Ways to Increase Liquidity
Supplier Credit
Sponsorships
8 Regulations and Licensing
Knowing Your Local Laws
Getting Permits and Required Licenses
Following Health Codes
Obtaining Health Inspections
Staying on Top of Evolving Regulations
Buying the Insurance You Need
General Liability Insurance
Commercial Auto Insurance
Finding an Agent and Asking the Right Questions
Establishing a Domain Name and Trademark
9 Creating Your Marketing Plan
Designing Your Brand Logo
Finding a Graphic Designer
Creating Your Online Presence
Website
Twitter
Facebook and Foursquare
Planning a Launch Event
Reaching Out to Bloggers
Working with the Mainstream Press
Treating Every Day As an Event
Making Social Media Your Friend
Creating Strong Product and Personal Relationships
10 Setting Up YourOffice
Deciding Where to Put Your Office
Creating a Communications Hub
Telephone
Internet Services
Fax
Handling Payroll and Records
Keeping Records
Getting Outside Help
Part 3: Getting Road Ready
11 Setting Up the“House”
Understanding Your Unique Situation
Designing the Exterior of Your Truck
Painting
Vinyl Wrap
Window
Awning
Drink Fridge
Exterior Menu Holder
Menu Board
The Point of Sale System
Tablet Systems
Credit Cards
Setting Up the Kitchen
Organization
Job Assignments
Creating an Efficient Workflow
12 Hiring and Managing Staff
How Many and What Positions?
Getting the Right People On Board
Prep Cook
On-Truck Cook
Cashier/Greeter
The Hiring Process
Training and Educating Your Staff
Setting the Right Tone
Training
Teaching the Importance of Customer Service
Scheduling
Setting Policies
Motivating and Retaining Your Staff
13 Inventory and Maintenance
Purchasing and Managing Supplies
Understanding the Role of the Purchasing Agent
Researching Your Product Options
Determining Preparation Time
Locating Suppliers
Comparison Shopping
Negotiating
Inventory
Inventory Counts
Preventing Theft
Minimizing Waste
Truck Maintenance
14 Food Preparation and Safety
Working with Your Chef
Keeping Your Kitchen Clean and Safe
Battling Illness
Preventing Cross-Contamination
Food Safety on the Truck and Off
Cleaning Supplies
Emergencies
Part 4: Growing Your Business
15 Protecting Your Business
Financial Reviews
Playing by the Numbers
Calculating Your Breakeven Report
Reviewing Daily Sales and Expenses
Generating an Income Statement
Performing a Cash Flow Analysis
Evaluating Operations
Reviewing Your Menu Mix
Reviewing Purchasing and Inventory
16 Building Your Clientele
Feedback: Listen to the People Who Feed You
Truck Conversations
Feedback Cards
Online Dialogue
Responding to Criticism and Praise
Gathering and Listening to Employee Feedback
Understanding Your Customers
Observing and Listening
Anticipating Their Desires
Exceeding Expectations
Making Amends: Service Recovery
Strategies for Earning Customer Loyalty
Gathering Contact Information
17 Expanding Your Marketing Efforts
The Compounding Cycle
Determining Your Message
The Campaign
The Steps
Social Media
Doubletree CAREavan
Made for Mexicue
Chil’lantro BBQ
Publicity
Community Outreach
Advertising
18 Food Truck Events and Opportunities
Festivals
Getting Noticed
Getting Involved
Covering Costs
Food Truck Lots
Television
The Great Food Truck Race: Season 1
Top Chef
Throwdown! with Bobby Flay
What’s Next?
19 One Truck or More?
Lifecycle of a Hospitality Business
Stage One: Market Introduction
Stage Two: Growth
Stage Three: Maturity
Stage Four: Decline
Making a Living from a Food Truck
Am I Ready to Expand?
Demand
Capital Resources
Staff
Systems
Adding a Bricks-and-Mortar Location
Identifying the Benefits of Expansion
Watching for the Pitfalls of Expansion
Selling Your Business
Appendix
A Glossary
B Resources
C Truck Tales
Index
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Copyright
Starting a Food
Truck Business
by Alan Philips
A member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
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