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Food trucks have been popping up on every street corner over the past few years, and it does not seem like these wheeled restaurants are going away any time soon. People love getting their meals on-the-go, especially professionals in need of a quick business lunch. However, if you are one of the many culinary artists and entrepreneurs ready to break into the food truck industry, you are going to need a solid business plan. The key to a good food truck is more than just making good food. Below is a break down of the top 5 essential points you need to include in your food truck business plan so that it can succeed.
1. An Idea
Every good food truck starts with an idea. Yours should take center stage in the business plan. Before you write anything else, flesh out the idea by writing an executive summary. This should be a condensed version of your business plan, containing all of the wheres, whats and hows. Here, you should make clear exactly what you envision for the food truck.
2. An Outline
Once you have the executive summary in place, you are going to need to outline your plan. Most importantly, you will need to list exactly what it takes to get your food truck up and running. This will include all of the technical information, such as what licenses you will need, what equipment your menu requires and anything else required for you to provide your service.
3. An Analysis
An analysis is the next major point for your food truck business plan. Here, you will analyze the market so that you can see where your business fits in. Think about how many other food trucks are in your area and consider where they are and what they sell. Is there already a taco truck parked on a corner of the business district? This is your competition, so make sure you know who they are and what sets you apart.
4. A Budget
The next point that belongs in your business plan is a budget. You will have already outlined the equipment and other products needed to get your food truck going. Now you can start crunching numbers. Consider the up-front costs you will face first, then work extra costs into your budget. How much will the food truck cost? How much can you expect to spend on maintenance? Having a plan for future expenses will help you stay on track.
5. A Menu
This final point will probably be the most fun for you. Before you can start up your food truck, you need to have a menu prepared. In this part of the food truck business plan, you will write down all of your culinary creations. Try to keep your menu cohesive and on-brand, and remember to consider the limit on your Capital One Spark Business card. The food is what will give your business an identity.
Anticipate Problems
When writing a food truck business plan, you also want to take into account any problems that may arise during the business opening and the first year of business. Making sure to anticipate problems allows you to plan for those difficulties. This habit will make these issues have much less of a negative impact on business performance when you open your doors. Make sure to account for any and all business problems that may arise when writing a business plan for a food truck. This is the only way to avoid the most common startup mistakes, and is one of the most useful habits of successful people.
Food trucks have gained major popularity in the past few years. From gourmet meals so quick and easy lunches, food trucks are captivating hungry customers everywhere. In order to make yours a hit, follow our 5 essential points above when writing up your food truck business plan.
Photo from http://www.mybusinessfreedom.com/food-truck-business-plan-basics/
