Does your restaurant business plan include a food truck?

A restaurant business plan that incorporates a food truck or multiple vehicles for off-site food service can make sense for a number of reasons. The minimal capital outlay, low added labor cost and potential market share increase could substantially justify it as part of the day to day operations. Here are some reasons why it makes sense in your planning and some commentary to support it: Think of a Food Truck as Another Servers Station Most stations in a restaurant are comprised of 4 to 8 tables or approximately 16 to 30 seats depending on the type of menu and service you are offering. A food truck is in essence a moving station that can easily serve 20 to 25 persons in an hour or less, which is typically how long customers would linger at stationary seating in your food and beverage operation. It Will Create a New Market Share There are probably areas even in a dense urban city where your particular food concept or cuisine would be welcomed into the neighborhood. In this recent article in Nation’s Restaurant News, “Kevin Higar, a director at Technomic, said food trucks could be far from approaching their peak in popularity, given the number of American consumers who live in areas without them or who have yet to try food trucks. Read more here for your restaurant business plan. Your Brand Gets Known and Grows Overall Business Food trucks are a mobile extension of your operation. These vehicles also serve as moving billboards promoting your business as well as getting your name out to the many new customers who try your menu items via the food trucks. It also may help other units if you are ultimately developing a restaurant chain. Food trucks are getting a fair share of restaurant startup fame too. Need other help in your planning? Here are resources in our bookstore on how to open a restaurant and more. Are you planning to start, expand or buy a foodservice business? If so, what in your restaurant business plan has to be decided in order for you to add or consider a food truck as part of the operation? Please share your thoughts and ideas with our readers.