Essential Steps and Expert Advice When Buying a Food Truck
Selecting the right custom food truck takes careful planning, but we make the process easy. We’ll guide you through the key decisions to make sure your truck is ready to serve from day one.
1. Look at Layouts and Custom Options
On our website, you’ll find many types of food vending trucks for sale. Usually, you have two ways to get started:
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Start from a floor plan: pick one of our layouts as a starting point, then we adjust the equipment and finishes to your menu.
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Design from scratch: work with our design team on a layout built entirely around your concept, from equipment placement to the exterior wrap.
It’s important to review all your options and understand how your desired level of customization and truck size will affect the final food truck price.
2. Planning Your Menu and Equipment Needs
The food you want to serve will determine the equipment you need and how your kitchen should be set up. Are you thinking about Italian, Indian, American barbecue, or a fusion menu? Or maybe desserts, sandwiches, or gourmet dishes?
When you decide on your menu early, we can help you choose the right NSF-approved equipment and design a layout that keeps your team working efficiently during busy times. This planning is important for effective operations.
Small details shape a food truck’s layout. Our sales director, Keith Brown, explained to FES Magazine that the wheel fender on a triple axle truck can take up about 91 inches of interior space where solid appliances cannot go. We map your equipment against the truck’s real interior before anything is built.
3. Setting Your Budget and Understanding Food Truck Prices
Always think carefully about your budget when you are looking to buy a food truck. Key questions to ask yourself include:
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Will you pay with your own money, or do you need financing?
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What is your total investment goal for the vehicle and equipment?
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If you are financing, what monthly payment are you comfortable with?
Conversions start at $47,000 (truck not included), and we’ll help you find the right size for your budget. We provide quotes for different sizes, like the 18ft or 24ft food truck, based on the equipment you need. For more details, check out our food truck pricing guide.
4. Location, Compliance, and Operations
Your business’s mobility gives you many operating options. You also need to plan for logistics.
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Operating Locations: Will you target local fairs, private events, busy downtown corners, or industrial parks?
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Compliance: We make sure your vehicle meets all local and national health and DOT rules.
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Logistics: Where will you safely park your mobile kitchen and store your food inventory? Finding the right commissary and parking space is key to making your food vending truck productive and profitable.
Ready to price out your truck?
Contact a Concession Nation food truck builder to get advice, discuss your floor plan, or request an exact quote on a custom food truck for sale.
