There is a lot involved
This is one of the discouraging factors when people want to build their own food truck and get involved in the food truck industry. They just do not know all that is involved in creating their truck and all the requirements can easily be the straw that stops their effort.
If you want to know how to build a food truck, just continue reading. The article has the information you need to know about before you make your first decision.
Then if this process is too involved or expensive, contact us, High Level Enterprises, as we can help you achieve your goal.
Build your food truck from the ground up
#1. Take your eyes off the revenue
One of the reasons many people fail to produce their food trucks is that their eyes are often on the end goal, the amount of revenue they can make, and do not see all the costs involved.
You need to know the actual cost of building your food truck so you can set your budget and cover all the costs that will arise. Typically and depending on the type of food truck and size you want, the cost to build one ranges between $40,000 and $200,000, including start-up costs.
However, once you are finished and find a prime retail space, your revenue can reach up to $500,000 per year. This ideal persuades many people that this is a worthwhile venture.
#2. Select a truck
This is going to be one of the more vital decisions you have to make. If you go too small, you may save on parking and other expenses but you won’t have enough room to move, store, or prepare food.
If you go too large, your expenses will increase, including parking permits, and may not be cost-effective for your target customer. The right truck will not only provide you with all the room you will need but also keep your expenses low so you can pass on the savings to your customers.
#3. Create the design
There is not much you can do to the exterior to enhance your new business but the interior is going to be where the action is and it needs to fit your menu, your food preparation and storage needs as well as meet city health and fire codes.
This means that you will either need to design the interior yourself or hire a qualified architect to do it for you. The key to your design will be workflow and all equipment, etc., must facilitate a smooth workflow.
#4. The Flooring
After you have your design, you need to start with the flooring. This section of the truck needs to be first as all your equipment rests on top of it. You will want flooring that will not only keep your workers safe from slips but also meet all health and other codes governing the food truck industry.
#5. Food truck electrical
This is a very essential part of building your food truck. Not only do your electrical systems have to meet codes, but they also have to be strong enough to handle the power it takes to run your various appliances and other electrical devices.
This means the wiring has to be made of the right gauge, you need the best outlets and switches along with top-quality conduit to protect the wires from damage as well as other items from the electricity passing through those wires.
#6. The holding tanks
These are items many people who do not own RVs hardly think about. But you need holding tanks that will contain the food, human, and other waste materials that are generated by the truck’s activities.
The truck you pick has to have a chassis strong enough to handle full holding tanks, and there will be more than one, and be able to be emptied without too much hassle. Plus, the holding tanks need to be durable to last a very long time.
#7. The plumbing & gas
Generating power is usually done with a generator but you still need water and gas sources to ensure that your food truck operates seamlessly. This not only requires water and gas tanks to have their own storage area but also solid lines to transport the water and gas to their intended destinations.
The danger here is that the installation did not go right and you encounter a gas leak. For plumbing lines, it may be best to go with ABS or PEX plastic lines as they are lightweight, strong, and cheaper to buy.
#8. The interior of the truck
This is also an important area to pay special attention to. You will need stainless steel sinks, walls, food storage cupboards, and more. Plus, you will need the appropriate stove, fryer, fridge, etc., depending on the type of food your food truck will serve.
In addition to that, you will need an exhaust hood, a window to sell your food, serving containers, a microwave, a toaster, a griddle, and more. There are a lot of details to consider when building your own food truck.
Not to mention installing a proper fire suppression system and other safety devices so your employees are protected and safe.
Some additional words
There is a lot of work involved in building your own food truck. It all starts with knowing what type of food items you want to serve as well as the size of the truck.
Plus, there are a lot of little details that need to be considered before your food truck is determined to be complete. It is a lot of hassle and frustration for those people who want to do it themselves.
There is a better way to build your own food truck. You can call our company, High Level Enterprises, and tell us what you want and need. Once you do that our experts can take the frustration and the hassles out of building your food truck and bring your dream to a reality.
Call us today to see how we can help you achieve your dream.