Calculate startup costs, daily profits, break-even point & ROI for your mobile food business.
Define Your Food Truck Concept
Tacos & Mexican
Fast service, high margins
Burgers & Sandwiches
Popular, consistent demand
Asian Fusion
Unique, premium pricing
Healthy & Bowls
Growing health trend
BBQ & Smokehouse
Premium, event-focused
Desserts & Coffee
Low food costs, high margin
🏙️
Downtown Lunch
Office crowds
🎪
Events & Festivals
High volume weekends
🎓
College Campus
Student budget friendly
🍻
Brewery Circuit
Evening & weekend focus
Initial Investment & Setup Costs
🚚 Truck & Vehicle Costs
⚡ Kitchen Equipment
Financial Projections & Scenarios
📅 Weekday Service
$0
Daily Net Profit
Lunch rush focus
🎉 Weekend Service
$0
Daily Net Profit
Events & dinner
🎪 Festival Day
$0
Daily Net Profit
High volume potential
Daily Revenue
$0
Food Cost %
0%
Labor Cost %
0%
Daily Net Profit
$0
Food Truck Business Analysis
Total Startup Cost
$0
Monthly Revenue
$0
Monthly Net Profit
$0
Break-Even Point
0 months
Cost Breakdown
Truck & Equipment
$0
Licenses & Permits
$0
Initial Inventory
$0
Total Startup Cost
$0
Monthly Operating Costs
Food Costs
$0
Labor Costs
$0
Fuel & Vehicle
$0
Overhead & Fees
$0
Key Performance Indicators
Gross Profit Margin
0%
Food Cost Percentage
0%
Labor Cost Percentage
0%
Average Daily Revenue
$0
⚠️ Attention Needed
Your food costs are above industry standards. Consider adjusting menu prices or reducing ingredient costs.
📅 Seasonal Considerations
Remember to account for weather impacts, seasonal demand changes, and local events in your final business plan.
Food Truck Business Roadmap
📍 Months 1-3: Launch & Customer Acquisition
Startup Phase
💰 Months 4-9: Optimize Operations & Reach Break-Even
Growth Phase
📈 Months 10-18: Expand Menu & Add Catering
Expansion Phase
🚀 Month 19+: Consider Second Truck or Brick-and-Mortar
Scale Phase
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Quentions
1. How much does it cost to start a food truck business?
Startup costs typically range from $50,000 for a used truck with basic equipment to $150,000+ for a new custom-built truck. Major expenses include the truck itself ($25,000-$120,000), kitchen equipment ($10,000-$30,000), licenses and permits ($2,000-$5,000), and initial marketing ($2,000-$5,000).
2. What's the average daily profit for a food truck?
Successful food trucks typically earn $200-$500 in daily net profit during their first year, scaling to $400-$800+ daily as they establish regular customers and optimal locations. Event days can generate $800-$1,500 in net profit.
3. How many customers does a food truck need per day to break even?
Most food trucks need 60-120 customers daily to break even, depending on average order value ($12-$18) and fixed costs. Downtown lunch spots typically serve 100-150 customers daily, while event locations can serve 200-300+ customers.
4. What percentage should food costs be for a food truck?
Aim for 25-35% food costs as a percentage of revenue. Taco trucks typically achieve 25-28%, burger trucks 28-32%, and premium concepts like BBQ may run 30-35% due to higher meat costs. Dessert trucks often have the lowest food costs at 20-25%.
5. How much should I pay food truck staff?
Typical wages are: Cooks $16-$22/hour, Servers/Cashiers $14-$18/hour, Managers $20-$26/hour. Many owners pay themselves $0 in the first 6-12 months, reinvesting all profits back into the business.
6. What are the most profitable food truck concepts?
Taco trucks, coffee/dessert trucks, and Asian fusion typically have the highest profit margins due to lower food costs and faster service times. However, profitability depends more on execution and location than specific cuisine type.
Use the formula: Selling Price = Food Cost ÷ Target Food Cost Percentage. If an item costs $3 in ingredients and you want 28% food cost, charge $3 ÷ 0.28 = $10.71 (round to $10.75 or $11).
8. What ongoing expenses should I budget for?
Monthly expenses include: Commissary kitchen ($500-$1,000), vehicle insurance ($200-$400), fuel ($300-$600), propane ($100-$200), waste removal ($100-$200), POS fees ($100-$300), and marketing ($200-$500).
9. How long does it take for a food truck to become profitable?
Most food trucks reach break-even within 12-18 months. The first 3-6 months are typically operating at a loss as you build customer awareness and optimize operations. Consistent profitability usually begins in months 7-12.
10. Should I focus on regular spots or events and festivals?
A balanced approach works best: Regular spots provide consistent income and customer building, while events offer higher revenue potential. Aim for 70-80% regular locations and 20-30% events for optimal growth and stability.
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