Food Truck

How Profitable Is A Food Truck? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 5th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Food Truck? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a food truck?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are food trucks actually profitable?”

With a market size of $1.3B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a food truck with as low as $8,000
Based on our data, food trucks generate an average of $4.42M per year

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a food truck.

Let’s dive in!

Is a food truck profitable?

Yes, a food truck is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $4.42M per year with an estimated gross margin of 43%, you could expect to recover your investment within 9 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your food truck.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your food truck is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a food truck worth it?

If you’re wondering if a food truck is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With food trucks, you have the potential to earn $4.42M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $1.3B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a food truck to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful food trucks case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Food Trucks

Here are a few examples of profitable food trucks, and a few more details about them:

1. Portable Chef ($744K/year)

Uri Attia, founder of Portable Chef, came up with the idea for his business out of desperation after losing his banking job in the 2008 financial crisis. With a passion for cooking and understanding the demands of busy New Yorkers, Uri saw the opportunity to provide customizable, healthy meals for his clients. Today, Portable Chef generates an average monthly revenue of $60,000 by making 25,000 custom meals a year.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $744K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0

How I Started A $60K/Month Business Cooking And Delivering Custom Meals

New York food business founder goes from broke and desperate to cooking 25,000 custom meals per year with an average monthly revenue of $60,000, focusing on pleasing existing customers and word of mouth for new clientele.

Read this case study

Read by 4,867 founders

Learn more about starting a food truck:

Where to start?

-> Food truck plan
-> How to finance a food truck?
-> How much does it cost to start a food truck?
-> Pros and cons of a food truck

Need inspiration?

-> Other food truck success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a food truck
-> Food truck names
-> Food truck Instagram bios

Other resources

-> Food truck tips

How much can you make with a food truck?

With a food truck, you can make an average of $4.42M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $8,000. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 9 months.

How much does a food truck make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a food truck ranges around $92.1K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $368K.

To know if your food truck achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your food truck.

How much do food trucks owners make?

The income of a food truck owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established food truck is about $92.1K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a food truck owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Food Truck Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a food truck can expect profit margin of around 43%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a food truck, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, food truck owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, food truck owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Food truck owner salary

The salary of a food truck owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established food truck, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $39.6K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a food truck may be a promising business to start - but the success of your food truck mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable food truck.

Part of

Starting A Food Truck: Everything You Need To Know

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