|
Catering, Vending and Cooking For The Masses. this forum is OnTopic. A resource to help with catering, vending and just cooking for large parties. Topics to include Getting Started, Ethics, Marketing, Catering resources, Formulas and recipes for cooking for large groups. |
|
Thread Tools |
07-07-2013, 04:39 PM | #31 | |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 04-18-13
Location: MD
|
Quote:
My personal goal was to get at least 150 people served per hour during peak times. This is nigh impossible without proper holding equipment for finished product. To put $200k into a business, pay the event fees/commissions, labor, fuel, etc, you need to be able to do high volume. The line behind your window will only queue so long before people settle for an alternative, even if they were interested in your product. I began with the question, "What do I need to do to get that many people to my trailer?". Some will say just the aroma of BBQ will do it. Others say all you need is a sign. Personally, I think it is a lot more than that, but it is at least a question that must be addressed. I see a lot of people starting businesses that they are probably very good at, but they fail because they don't get the sales side. |
|
07-07-2013, 05:09 PM | #32 |
Banned
Join Date: 02-07-11
Location: brenham, texas
|
Very good situations and possibilities that I have overlooked. Won't be pulling any triggers till I get it right. Thanks for all if the replies and just wanna be the best I can at what I do. The ice and water is definitely a big concern, as well as bumping butts while I'm cooking with my helper.
|
07-07-2013, 05:14 PM | #33 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 05-26-13
Location: Rogers, Ar. In the beautiful Ozark's
|
Impressive, sounds like to me you have done your homework and you have the food service experience to make it work.
__________________
Lang 36" Hybrid offset w/warmer Box Weber Smokey Mtn 22-1/2" Jumbo Joe Stainless 18" Smokey Joe mini Smokin Cajun Gasser |
07-07-2013, 05:42 PM | #34 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 10-16-08
Location: Virginia
|
You dang right, my set up is much smaller than this rig but I can tell you if 200K popped in my lap I would be opening a restaurant way before buying a food truck of that size.
|
07-07-2013, 05:48 PM | #35 |
Banned
Join Date: 02-07-11
Location: brenham, texas
|
Obviously I didn't do it good enough. I have raised my eyebrows a couple times already. I still wanna do the truck and not a restaurant, I'm married to my wife, not my job
|
07-07-2013, 08:53 PM | #36 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 04-18-13
Location: MD
|
jmoney, if you want more information, feel free to pm me. I am happy to set you up with my guy for a quote. He did some great work and I can show you pictures throughout construction of mine, if you like.
|
07-07-2013, 08:57 PM | #37 | |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 04-18-13
Location: MD
|
Quote:
You will either get your ass kicked a few times at events and it will light a competitive fire under you, or you will quit and sell everything for pennies on the dollar, turning your $200k into 70k, very quickly. |
|
07-08-2013, 02:01 PM | #38 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 06-09-12
Location: Cary, NC
Name/Nickname : Jason
|
2 KEY rules to a successful food truck....Very good food and GREAT marketing!! Unless you have food as good as Franklin's because he didn't do any marketing in his original trailer.
__________________
Char-Griller Akorn Kamado,18.5" WSM, UDS |
07-08-2013, 02:59 PM | #39 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 01-29-07
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
|
Hey Money - Couple things, and it may not be an issue there in TX, but would be here in CA. 1 - Here, you cannot cook in another vehicle unless the product is transported to the serving vehicle in NSF containers. 2 - Here we need a seperate order and pick up window, as the HD does not want money and food passing thru the same window. 3 - Center aisle needs to be at least 34 inches.
We do bottled drinks due to logistics of fountain sodas (Ice, water, bag in box storage) and we can replenish anywhere. Think about plenty of overhead shelving for bread, food containers, etc. Onan generator if possible, propane powered if possible (Refrigeration depends on a good generator). We bought existing trucks, (both 98's) which are gasoline powered (Easier to find mechanics, based on the odd hours needed for repairs). We are fast, and serve quality, and can do about 80 tickets an hour. We run the truck with a max of 3 workers. In our 3rd year and still going strong, but there are always issues. PM me if you want to talk - Best of luck.
__________________
Just me, the Wife, and the Dogs |
07-08-2013, 06:15 PM | #40 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 06-28-13
Location: Ciudad de Panama, Rep. de Panama
|
Hey C. Rocke... You wouldn't happen to be able to post an overhead view of the layout of that truck would you?
|
07-08-2013, 08:00 PM | #41 |
Got Wood.
Join Date: 04-18-13
Location: MD
|
|
07-08-2013, 08:16 PM | #42 | |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 10-16-10
Location: Culver City, CA
|
Quote:
Sorry for the hijack - just trying to get some good BBQ over here!
__________________
50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 "Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one." - Miles Davis Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD? |
|
07-08-2013, 09:32 PM | #43 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 01-29-07
Location: Fountain Hills, AZ
|
No overhead, sorry - I will see if I can scareup some pix.
__________________
Just me, the Wife, and the Dogs |
07-09-2013, 04:59 PM | #44 |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 10-16-08
Location: Virginia
|
I'm just trying to help you out here, if you spend $200k in food truck business you and your wife both will be married to it. That is unless you have an another income source to support you and are spending $200k from savings. My wife and I opened our concessions and catering business in 2010 with a start up cost of about $40k and we are both married to it just to keep up with it's growth and make a little profit.
|
Thanks from:---> |
07-09-2013, 05:22 PM | #45 |
Banned
Join Date: 02-07-11
Location: brenham, texas
|
Thanks,
My wife is a doctor here in Brenham so the truck will definitely not be the main source of income. She makes 4x what i do now. We wouldn't be pulling anything out of savings, it's gonna be part of my inheritance from my mom. She doesn't believe that we should get it all when we are too old to enjoy it, so she is giving partial soon. Going to pay off heathers medical school loan, our house we are about to build as well as start me a business. That way anything we do will be straight profit on whatever we do. I love cooking and BBQ, might as well make some $$$ off it while I'm doin it. |
|
|