As a culinary matchmaking service for clients and food truck caterers, we’ve met a lot of food truck owners and seen what works, as well as what doesn’t. Food trucks have exploded in popularity in recent years, and with that popularity has come a lot of common mistakes that we’ve seen far too often.
Mistake #1: Not Being Willing to Put in the Work
Food truck catering is a rapidly-changing and competitive market. In this industry, business owners need to be adaptable, available, and have a good attitude. You will need to answer phone calls, train your staff, work with other vendors, coordinate with your clients, manage your business, keep up with administrative work, market your business, come up with innovative menu ideas, and be ready to change everything at a moment’s notice. We’ve seen business owners who had great food and worked well with clients, but they weren’t willing to market themselves or follow up with leads to keep their business growing. On the opposite end, some business owners are social media savvy with an entrepreneurial spirit, but they aren’t able to sit down and do all the paperwork that comes with Philadelphia food truck catering. In order to see your business succeed, you will need to do a lot of work.
Mistake #2: Not Being Financially Prepared
To successfully start and grow your business, you need to have money in the bank for unexpected expenses and times when business is slow. If all goes well, your business will run smoothly with a steady stream of customers, popular and appropriately priced menu items, seamless kitchen operations, and a great staff to serve your customers. There are certain times, though, that you should have a cushion in place to ensure you can keep your business running. Most food trucks experience a 50% drop in sales during the winter. Is your business prepared to handle that kind of slump? If not, you’ll need to crunch some numbers and figure out how to make it work. It’s possible to grow a sustainable business in this industry, but to do so, you need to be prepared financially.
Mistake #3: Not Listening to Feedback
In our line of business, that old adage is true: “The customer is always right.” Even if you think your donut food truck catering business is a smash, if you’re not getting customers, something is wrong. You need to find out what it is and make it right. Maybe your donuts are priced too high or your customers are peeved with slow service. Additionally, sometimes other people in the industry have valuable feedback. We’ve offered tips and advice to many of our vendors, and they’re grateful and receptive to the information. By responding to feedback, adjusting your options to make your customers happy, and having the ability to listen, you’re setting your business up for lasting success.
Mistake #4: No Marketing
Unfortunately, parking your food truck on the side of the road and hoping people will come visit you doesn’t work anymore. Even in Philadelphia, food truck catering requires proactive marketing. Social media, email campaigns, following up with leads, and having a fresh and up-to-date website are all major factors in building a successful mobile catering business. Engaging with your customers by responding to their comments, posting live story updates on Instagram, and sharing upcoming events with your followers will all help boost your digital presence.
Mistake #5: Cutting Corners
We know — running a food truck gets expensive fast. Vehicle costs, buying equipment, purchasing quality ingredients, and getting all your paperwork in order adds up. We urge you not to cut costs, though. The last thing you want is broken equipment during the lunchtime rush. You’ll lose customers, and your business’s reputation will suffer. Serving food cooked with cheap ingredients will only ensure that you don’t get repeat customers. For every corner you cut, you’ll see the repercussions later on. Invest in your business from the start with equipment that will last and by serving quality food.
If you read this list and saw some mistakes you’ve made, don’t worry! It happens to the best of us, and now you can apply what you’ve learned to make your business better. Want more resources and support for your business? Click here to get in touch.