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.

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
• Financials
• Funding
• Growth and Development
• Appendix

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.

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:

• Schools
• 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.

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

Marketing

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.

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!

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