How to Sell Food Using a Concession Trailer Truck

Concession trucks are mobile food vending units that are versatile. Owners of concession trucks have the option of renting semi-permanent selling spaces or selling their food at multiple events throughout the year. Concession trucks allow entrepreneurs to test their ideas without investing a lot of money in a restaurant or brick-and-mortar food business. If you are considering selling food via a concession trailer truck, there are many things you can do to ensure your business's success.

Instructions

1. Call your state's health department to see what permits are required to operate a concession truck in your city. Depending on where you live and where you set up , you may need to secure a temporary food vendor's permit, food enterprise license, food handler permit, sales and use tax permit or fictitious name certificate. Having the proper permits is essential when running a concession business.You will be subject to heavy fines, and likely be shut down, without them.

2. Target a niche, or specialty, for your concession truck. For instance, you can sell tacos, hot dogs, barbecue, funnel cakes, ice cream, flavored popcorn or snowcones.

3. Develop a limited, focused menu for your concession truck. You will not have a lot of storage or preparation space, so only offering a few items is key. For example, if you plan to offer gourmet ice cream, you can rotate your flavors so that you only have to stock five each day in your truck.

4. Make a list of events in your city that you can take your concession trailer to, including craft fairs, bazaars, farmers markets, flea markets, car shows, carnivals, fairs and city festivals. Reference community calendars, social networks that post your city's events or your city's website to find such events.

5. Contact the coordinators of the events on your list to find out how you can reserve a spot as a food vendor. You will be required to pay a fee, as well as fill out forms describing what you'll sell. You may also need to secure liability insurance. Do not worry about getting insurance until you are accepted as a vendor for any event.

6. Secure a regular vending space for your concession trailer truck, if you do not plan to be a vendor at events throughout the year. There are spaces for food vendors around most cities, typically near business offices, in front of grocery stores and near shopping centers. These spaces are usually empty patches of land or pavement. You will be required to sign a lease for your space, just as if you were renting a storefront.

7. Find a space to park and store your concession truck when it's not in use, if you do not have a place for it. Contact your local department of motor vehicles to see where you can legally park it, or contact nearby businesses and warehouses to negotiate renting a space for your truck.

8. Buy wholesale napkins and flatware instead of paying retail prices. Doing so will save you a considerable amount of money in the long run.

9. Make large, attractive, legible signs to attract customers to your concession truck. Using colorful chalk with a folding blackboard works well and will allow you to change your signage as needed. Your signs should state the name of your stand and what you offer. If at all possible, list your menu items and prices.

10. Promote your concession truck business. Launch a website, make use of social media to alert customers what you'll be selling and where you'll be vending, and hand out samples to passersby.

References

• The Fun Times Guide: How To Start A Food Catering Truck Business
• Entrepreneur Business Idea Center: Catering Truck