Food Truck Chef

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Food Truck Chef? (In 2024)

Updated: January 18th, 2023

Looking to start a food truck chef?

But curious about:

  • how much it costs to start a food truck chef?
  • what are the typical food truck chef startup costs?
  • or the actual cost of starting food truck chefs?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real food truck chefs and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

Learn more about starting a food truck chef:

Where to start?

-> Pros and cons of a food truck chef

Need inspiration?

-> Marketing ideas for a food truck chef

Other resources

Retail Business Expenses

If you plan to have a brick & mortar location for your food truck chef, you must weigh the costs of your rent, as it may be the most expensive part of running your business.

Rent costs for your food truck chef very much depends on your location. This cost will vary by both region and specific areas of town: a lease in the heart of Manhattan could cost over $80,000/month in rent. Meanwhile, a storefront lease in Florida or Tennessee could cost less than $1,000/month.

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost

Utilities (storefront business)

Optional

$0

$1,000

Building improvements and remodeling

Optional

$0

$950

Storefront Property Rent ➜

Optional

$1,250

$3,500

POS System

Optional

$0

$1,200

Business Formation Fees

There are a few key costs associated with forming your business entity, such as setting up an LLC and getting trademarks, copyrights, and patents sorted.

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost

Set up business: LLC & Corporations

Required

$50

$500

Small Business Insurance

Recommended

$500

$2,000

Permit and License Fees

Optional

$50

$700

Lawyer Fees

Optional

$0

$1,500

Software Expenses

Your food truck chef needs software to run efficiently!

Why spend money on software? Because it can help you save time and automate certain parts of the business, so you can focus on the most important matters. Software and technology can help you grow your business, and save you from expensive personnel costs.

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost
CRM Software ➜

Recommended

$12

$300

Accounting & Invoicing Software

Recommended

$0

$50

Email marketing tool

Recommended

$0

$100

Internal Communication Tool

Recommended

$0

$20

IT Support ➜

Optional

$150

$2,000

Payroll Software

Optional

$0

$200

Social Media Management Tools

Optional

$0

$50

Employee & Freelancer Expenses

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost
Payroll Costs & Fees ➜

Optional

$150

$250

Employee Hiring Expenses

Optional

$1

$2

Website Costs

Every business should have a website, and it's worth spending a bit of money to set it up right.

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost
Domain Name ➜

Required

$12

$200

Website Hosting Costs ➜

Required

$0

$300

Website Builder ➜

Recommended

$10

$500

Business Email Hosting Service ➜

Recommended

$1

$15

Web Designer ➜

Optional

$200

$6,000

Vehicle Expenses

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost

Mode of Transporation

Optional

$0

$10,000

Advertising & Marketing Costs

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost
Business Cards ➜

Optional

$0

$50

Business Signage ➜

Optional

$75

$2,486

Direct Campaigns, Printing and Mailing

Optional

$0

$300

Press

Optional

$0

$500

Google Ads

Optional

$0

$300

Facebook & Instagram Ads

Optional

$0

$350

Office Space Expenses

It will be your call to determine if you need office space. It is not a requirement but may be necessary as your food truck chef grows.

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost
WiFi & Internet ➜

Optional

$0

$100

Specific Industry Expenses

Cost Required? Min Cost Max Cost

Handyman Tools

Optional

$0

$500

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