IDEAS FOR MOBILE FOOD BUSINESSES
IDEAS FOR MOBILE FOOD BUSINESSES
This entry was posted on January 8, 2014 by Paige.
According to Entrepreneur.com, there are approximately 3 million food trucks operating in the U.S., more than 5 million food carts, and an unknown number of kiosks.
Food trucks have become very popular within the last decade, especially with the rave of the LA-Based Kogi BBQ food truck back in 2008. People are excited by amazing little traveling trucks of food that they can't get anywhere else but the next unknown curbside spot. If you've got beyond amazing I'll-wait-in-any-weather kind food on your mobile food business chances are hungry stomachs will follow.
The great thing about a transplant-able business is that they are relatively easier to plan for than full dine-in restaurant. If you want to get your feet wet in the business of selling food or need a start-up chance, a mobile one might be a great beginning into learning the ropes towards a more permanent location.
Here are list of ideas for Mobile Food Businesses according to Entrepreneur.com:
1. Food kiosks
Food kiosks are temporary booths or stands that sell pretzels or hot dogs. Kiosks are typically easy to open and close, which is why they’re typically so popular. Kiosk typically operate indoors so they only have to sign licensing agreements at malls, stadiums, movie theaters or other locations. Ben & Jerry’s is a franchise express kiosks.
2. Food carts and concession trailers
Cart owners prepare food in advance or purchase ready-made food like ice cream bars. Then, the food is heated up or pulled from the freezer. Food carts usually focus on simple items, but have expanded their menus in recent years to include dishes like kebobs, gyros, salads, and fish and chips.
Food carts usually have room for the vendor to be inside and serve food, or they utilize the space for food storage and equipment. Concession trailers, are often found at fairs, sporting events, or such traveling places. Unlike most carts, trailers allow for cooking and have room for two or three people inside.
Carts are less expensive than food truck and are easily able to be hitched to a car or pushed by hand. They're fairly easier to maintain and require less licensing than the full-sized food trucks.
3. Food trucks
Larger than carts, trucks can carry more food and handle more business. However, they need more space to park.
A food truck can carry much more equipment for cooking and preparing foods. They can do big business in corporate parks and places that have limited access to restaurants.
There are two types of food trucks: the mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV), where food is prepared as customers wait, and the industrial catering vehicle (ICV), which sells only prepackaged foods. Complying with additional health department rules and regulations can drive up food truck costs.
4. Gourmet food trucks
Basically the same as a food truck, the gourmet food truck takes food quality to a higher level. Of the 4,000 food trucks licensed to do business in the Los Angeles area, only about 115 are considered gourmet. They are run by ambitious young chefs who offer cuisine not typically found in food trucks, such as specialty crepes, Korean-Mexican fusion, osso buco or velvet cupcakes. Many gourmet trucks have specialties and themes. They usually post where they’ll be parked through their websites and social media sites like Twitter.
5. Mobile catering businesses
Mobile catering trucks are similar to mobile food trucks, but are hired for specific events. The client chooses food from a catering menu, and the truck then serves the food at the event.
The differences between catering trucks and food trucks are primarily in the manner of doing business.
6. Bustaurants
As the name implies, a bustaurant is not a truck but a bus, often a double-de decker with the lower level for the kitchen and the upper level for customers to sit and eat. This is a new concept and hasn't really been proven yet, especially since the idea tests a rash of licensing issues. They also certainly require more room to park, and are more costly to start because the buses need to be fully refurbished.
IDEAS FOR MOBILE FOOD BUSINESSES
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