Many entrepreneurs have already proven in practice that fast food is a highly profitable type of business. This applies to both stationary fast food outlets and mobile ones. Despite the lower cash turnover of an individual fast food on wheels, its profitability in percentage terms can not only be equal to, but even exceed that of a retail outlet tied to a locality. With a competent approach to business, the funds invested in mobile fast food can be justified within six months. As a business, selling fast food on wheels abroad has existed for a long time, so competition in this area is very high there. In Russia, market saturation is still average, which can be an excellent opportunity for start-up entrepreneurs to organize a business, because to begin with, it is enough to open only one point, which will not require large investments. Before moving on to the question of how to open a fast food on wheels, let's look at the distinctive features of this type of business.
Advantages and disadvantages of mobile fast food
The peculiarity of fast food in general is that it is an inferior catering establishment. Compared to canteens, cafes and restaurants, such food outlets cannot offer a large and varied menu. After all, the main goal of the buyer of fast food is to quickly have a bite and go on about their business, since there is no time not only for cooking, but also for a meal in a calm and measured atmosphere.
In other words, the main disadvantage of fast food is the inability to attract absolutely all categories of people with different food preferences. It’s easier to do this in a cafe and restaurant if you make the menu universal.
However, the above-mentioned characteristic feature of fast food is also a plus, since the simplicity and speed of preparing food simultaneously satisfies the interests of the business organizer and the needs of the target audience, which, as a rule, are business people, schoolchildren, students relaxing in parks , squares, etc.
Food made from semi-finished products is especially in great demand in large cities with a frantic pace of life. Fast food attracts people for the following reasons:
- pleasant taste;
- affordable price;
- high energy food values.
The disadvantage of “fast food” is known to everyone - it is its harmfulness associated with the high content of fats, carbohydrates, salt and spices, which is why part of the population does not accept such food under any circumstances.
Fast food on wheels as a business receives additional advantages, compared to a stationary outlet, due to the possibility of changing the location if trade in the previous location was not effective enough. In addition, in order to increase sales, you can alternate trading locations during the working day or on certain days of the week - for example, sell food near business centers, schools, institutes during the day, and in parks and squares in the evening.
What you need to start a business on wheels
Since the main thing you need to run this business is a fast food van on wheels, it is recommended to start by finding a suitable vehicle. An ordinary truck will not work for this; you need a specialized van.
There are companies on the market engaged in the conversion of mass-produced vehicles for various needs. If you wish, you can order car tuning from them according to an individual project that takes into account all your needs, but such work, as a rule, costs a pretty penny. Therefore, it is better to buy a ready-made car or trailer for fast food.
In order to save money at the initial stage, it is advisable to buy a used fast food van on wheels. If the starting capital is not enough even for a used vehicle, the only option left is to rent a car for fast food. There are quite a lot of offers on the market for commercial vehicles of this type. In the future, with successful business development, the leased property can be purchased.
Buying a mobile fast food kiosk is even less than half the battle. The most difficult thing you can encounter when organizing this type of business is all kinds of permits, obtaining which can take from 3 to 9 months. In addition to registering your activity and registering it with the tax office, you will need to undergo an inspection by the sanitary and fire services, and obtain approval of the recipe for the production of all dishes from the Rospotrebnadzor institution.
If you have the financial capacity, you can involve a specialist in coordinating the legal aspects, since there are quite a lot of nuances in the preparation of documentation.
Do not also forget that a commercial premises, in fact, is a vehicle that must be registered in accordance with all legal standards - register the car with the traffic police, undergo a technical inspection and obtain insurance.
Mobile fast food specialization
Before starting work, you need to decide on the direction of the fast food on wheels business, having worked out the menu and recipes of dishes in detail, since the amount of revenue will directly depend on the offered range of food. To create a menu, you can resort to analyzing competitors’ offers. Of course, no one will share statistics about which products are the most popular among the population and bring the greatest profit. However, in the process of observing competitors' outlets, you can draw certain conclusions and use them for your own purposes.
Mobile fast food can specialize either in one dish or offer for sale an expanded range of fast food. Popular “menu items” in Russia are the following:
- hot dogs;
- shawarma;
- grilled chickens;
- pizza;
- pies;
- pasties;
- pancakes;
- vareniki;
- cakes, buns and other confectionery products.
The menu should definitely include several hot and cold drinks, which are always in great demand, since these products are related to fast food.
Fast food brand development
In addition, the business plan for fast food on wheels must take into account such an important aspect of the business as a unique brand, which should become recognizable over time. Indeed, with a successful combination of circumstances, the business will expand, and the number of retail outlets will increase. In this regard, it is necessary to think in advance about the design of a car for fast food on wheels, since subsequently rebranding vans can negatively affect business results. For a brand name to be remembered, it must be bright and different from its competitors.
Most likely, to develop a trademark you will need outside help - from professional designers.
As a last resort, in order not to waste time and money on promoting and promoting your own brand, you can take advantage of ready-made offers from successful brands on the market by purchasing a license (franchise) for the right to carry out activities under someone else’s name.
A fast food franchise on wheels will allow you to reach a high level of profitability already in the initial stages of work. True, in this case, in addition to the initial costs of purchasing a license, you will have to make monthly service payments in favor of the franchise company, which can be very significant for the budget of a start-up company.
Moreover, it must be taken into account that the conditions for cooperation with franchise owners are often difficult to fulfill, since franchise companies make excessive demands on the organization of the activities of retail outlets, establish rules for compliance with various technical regulations, etc.
Selecting a retail outlet
Despite the fact that the point is mobile, it will not work to place it in any chosen place, since it is necessary to coordinate the lease of the land in advance.
In any case, in order to maximize profits, a mobile counter should be installed in places with high traffic, and not in residential areas, where, of course, there will be customers, but not in such numbers as, say, in the city center.
Ideally, a mobile cafe should be located in the following places:
- at large markets;
- in the station areas;
- near shopping centers;
- in a part of the city with a greater concentration of offices;
- on the central streets.
During fairs, festivals and holidays, you need to change the location by installing a retail outlet at the venue of the event, since in such cases you can even get a monthly income in a few days of work.
In order to install a mobile kiosk counter in the chosen location, permission must be obtained from the local city government or from the private owner of the territory. At the same time, it is not recommended to immediately conclude a long-term land lease agreement, since first you need to find out in practice whether there will be good revenue in this place. If the result is unsuccessful, you can change the place of trading.
Necessary equipment for work
Equipment for fast food on wheels is inexpensive. If you're on a budget, you can save money by buying used kitchen utensils. But in this case, you need to be careful not to acquire illiquid assets.
The list of necessary devices depends on the chosen specialization of the business. Typically, a mobile outlet is equipped with:
- microwave;
- grill oven;
- heated counter;
- refrigerator;
- water dispenser;
- coffee maker.
By and large, specialists are not needed to work with the above equipment - even beginners can be trained. In order to maximize revenue, there should be at least two employees who will work in shifts. Of course, every employee must have a health certificate.
Financial side of business
The most significant initial cost is, of course, the fast food machine. The price of a van can reach up to 1-1.5 million rubles. Trade trailers are cheaper - about 500 thousand rubles. In case of renting a vehicle, the investment will be reduced to 300 thousand rubles.
When choosing a narrow business specialization, it is enough to purchase mobile carts for fast food, which cost up to 50 thousand rubles.
You will need to spend up to 200 thousand rubles on purchasing kitchen equipment.
Registration of individual entrepreneurs and paperwork will cost approximately 50 thousand rubles.
At first, there may also be additional costs for advertising - branding, distribution of flyers, promotions with discounts, etc.
If franchising was not chosen as a start, then you should not count on big profits at the initial stage until the auto kiosk gains popularity.
When pricing dishes offered for sale, you need to take into account the cost of similar products from competitors and try not to exceed the market average without good reason.
Thus, fast food on wheels is an ideal option for new entrepreneurs that does not require large investments. Organizing this business is not difficult, and the risks of bankruptcy are minimal. Due to the average saturation of the market, enormous opportunities open up for obtaining high profits and further expanding the chosen direction.
Modest investments, quick start, wide choice of franchisors - this is what makes fast food on wheels attractive. But the biggest attraction of the business is that the mobile point can easily and quickly move to any location. And, as you know, the profitability of any business depends on the location.
Deciding on the type of diner
First of all, you need to decide whether your mobile kiosk will specialize in one product or offer a wide selection of different quick foods. Its location depends on this. In residential areas, it is better to offer food that can replace a quick dinner when people do not have time to prepare it themselves: grilled chicken, dumplings - everything that cannot be eaten on the go. But spring rolls, shawarma and pies are perfect where people need something quick to eat without changing their route or spending too much time on food.
Appropriate place
As mentioned, a lot depends on the location. Sometimes even 50 meters play a decisive role in the success of a business. This issue will be especially acute for a 24-hour diner. There should be a constant flow of people passing through it, even in the dark. Therefore, it is recommended to place such a snack bar near the road.
Please note that in order for your business to operate without problems, you must agree with the local authorities on the location of your fast food. A van or minibus is not a reason to park where you like and conduct business from there. Such actions are regarded as an administrative offense.
Therefore, it is important not only to choose a good place, but also to decide on its owner and contact him for the appropriate permission. If the territory belongs to the city authorities, you must contact the municipal property committee. There you can also request a layout plan for mobile retail outlets, indicating places where there is no need to obtain special permits.
Start-up capital
The first thing that attracts entrepreneurs to this business is its low entry threshold. A converted car or trailer will cost about $20,000, and if you buy a used item, this expense can be cut in half. Also, the main expense items will be:
- registration and other organizational issues;
- creating a corporate identity;
- purchase of a batch of products;
- staff salaries.
If you open a franchise business, you can significantly reduce the risks of a startup, although you will significantly increase the initial investment. But in this case, the entrepreneur receives a number of advantages:
- no expenses for organizing your own style;
- free staff training and recommendations for entering the business;
- there is no need to conquer the market with a new product.
If you don’t make a mistake with the location, the business can achieve a good return on investment. Moreover, it is best to start with several vans at once in different places in the city. True, in this case you will have to completely obey the rules of the franchisor.
Necessary formalities
The business must be registered with the tax authorities as an LLC or individual entrepreneur. The activities of eateries are regulated by OKVED 55.30: “activities of restaurants and cafes.” For tax purposes, the UTII regime is used, since the amount of tax depends on the area occupied by the retail outlet. And it is, of course, small. Also in this case, the coefficient k2 is applied, which softens the tax regime. Remember that a van is a vehicle, which means it must be registered with the traffic police.
But these are not all the formalities that a business will face. Since the outlet is a snack bar, its activities must be coordinated with the fire inspectorate and Rospotrebnadzor. In the latter, you must provide the following concluded agreements:
- for inspection of ventilation systems;
- for cleaning clothes;
- for disinfection;
- for garbage and solid waste removal.
Equipment
Today on the market you can find offers of ready-made equipped vans for specific areas. But if you are just starting your business, there is no point in buying new equipment for $25,000. You can buy an equipped used van for $5,000-7,000 and test your business.
If you sell piece goods or cook food from semi-finished products, you need to purchase refrigeration equipment. In this case, you will have to organize a power source. You can’t connect to residential buildings, so entrepreneurs often buy a generator (another thousand dollars). Although it does not always cover the needs.
As for equipment manufacturers, it is better to give preference to French companies if you buy electrics, German and Italian ones if gas, and Danish when choosing refrigeration units.
Service staff
To work at one outlet, you need to hire two employees who will work according to the schedule for two days after two. Each of them must have a health certificate. The optimal wage regime is the rate plus a percentage of daily revenue. Moreover, it is desirable to establish a minimum daily revenue on which interest will be paid. This motivates staff to do quality work. It is advisable that they have experience working in catering establishments.
It is important that these are conscientious employees, especially if your fast food sells food by weight and not by piece. Underweight means additional revenue in the seller’s pocket, but also a minus for the reputation of your point. And monitoring the work of staff is not so easy.
Supplier search
Usually, after opening a point, suppliers themselves begin to contact the owners. But for your business to be successful, it is important to choose a good supplier in advance. The quality of the food you offer, and, therefore, the demand for your services, depends on high-quality and fresh products.
For grilled chicken, you need to collaborate with local poultry farms. To sell pies, it is worth establishing relationships with bakeries. You can find manufacturers of semi-finished products and purchase products from them, which you can cook right on the spot.
Income calculation
The main mistake of novice entrepreneurs is too high or too low prices when starting a business. In fact, you need to find the average price on the market and at the initial stage set your prices a little lower.
A well-promoted outlet during the season (spring-summer) can earn up to $800 per knock. In winter, because of the cold, people prefer to eat in stationary catering establishments. The most interesting thing is that competition plays a minor role in this business. Even two mobile outlets located nearby or a mobile fast food located at a stationary eatery can be a good success.
You can determine the profitability of a point using a simple test - if after rush hour you don’t have a single customer, it’s better to close it or take it to another location.
A van with selfie pancakes, a snack bar on wheels from the Russian army and a food truck with Donald Trump’s “nonsense sandwiches”... Read these and other examples of unusual types of mobile fast food trade and more in the material of the portal “1000 Ideas”.
There are a lot of ideas for creating snack bars on wheels. One has only to say that the first predecessors of modern fudraks appeared in the USA back in the 19th century. It’s quite difficult for a novice entrepreneur to come up with something new, but borrow one or more tricks - please. In this collection, the “1000 Ideas” portal has collected 35 examples of unusual food trucks and other types of food-related street trading on wheels.
Winnermobile by Oscar Mayer
A miracle called the Winnermobile from the Oskar Mayer company, selling hot dogs. The first such car was manufactured in the USA in 1936 according to a special order from the founders of the brand, the Mayer brothers. The drivers of the Winnermobiles were called hotdoggers, and their arrival greatly delighted local residents and children. Attention to this miracle on wheels has not subsided among Americans to this day: “winners” are still driving around in US cities today.
Cafe shuttle
This mobile eatery is called Space Shuttle Cafe. Its story dates back to the 1970s, when a Californian decided to use part of the fuselage from a decommissioned American Douglas DC-3 transport aircraft and stick it on a school bus. Subsequently, the appearance of the diner was redesigned more than once, until the last owners decided to settle on the space shuttle.
Cuisine of "undesirable" animals
This food truck from Amsterdam is famous not for its appearance, but for what it sells. Here you can buy dishes made from animals, the meat of which is either rarely consumed by humans or completely thrown into the trash. On the menu you can find pigeon rolls, pony burgers, as well as dishes from geese, parrots, crows and rodents.
Snowmobile snack bar
This snowmobile was designed to deliver hot burritos to the slopes of California's Mammoth Mountain ski resort, giving skiers the perfect chance to grab lunch on the way down the mountain.
Three-story bicycle restaurant
A masterpiece of Vietnamese engineering is the three-story bicycle restaurant Ta Di Oto from Hanoi. It is a pedicab with a structure made of somehow welded metal pipes. On the ground floor there is a kitchen, on the second floor there is a bar, on the third there is a restaurant and a lecture area.
Grocery store on wheels
Rollin' Grocer is a mobile grocery store in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite the fact that the city's business district is growing, residents in the very center experience a shortage of grocery stores. Inside you can find everything that you would find in a regular store, starting with fruits and vegetables and ending with canned goods.The truck mainly serves low-income urban residents who cannot afford to regularly shop in supermarkets.
Burger mobile
This burger mobile is parked in front of the Wesport Flea Market Bar & Grill. The idea to create it came to the owner of the establishment, who “strained” one artist he met in New York with his idea. While running through Central Park in the morning, he came across a uniquely designed car selling vegetarian food, after which he decided that such an idea would be ideal for a meat cutlet.
Martini van
It is not at all necessary to sell fast food, coffee, pizza or yoghurt from your car. For example, a van called Gray Goose is used by the owners as... a martini bar. Inside the converted Citroen H van there is only luxury: marble coverings of the bar counter, forged and metal parts, glass display cases.
Pork food truck
This food truck called Maximus Minimus from Seattle makes money in any weather, and its owner, as the Americans say, is able to “bring home the bacon” every day, which literally translates as “bring home the bacon,” that is, to earn a living and provide for his family. The reason for this, of course, is the unusual and slightly creepy pig shape of the truck. By the way, the piggy food truck sells not only pork but also chicken sandwiches.
Bomber style van
The Gastro Bomber food truck operates in the American city of Dallas. Its design is made in the style of World War II bombers. The aggressive, toothy appearance and holes in the body seem to let the buyer know that the van has been in more than one scrape, but came out of it well. The menu includes snacks like mashed potatoes with meat and various types of pies.
Bigfoot with ice cream from Skoda
This is the world's largest ice cream van from Skoda. Its parameters cannot be called childish: its “height” is more than 6 meters, its weight is over 5 tons. To get to the window with the ice cream maker and get his portion, the child needs to climb a stepladder. By the way, the best-selling delicacy is also impressive in size.
Beer bar-bike
The beer bar bike is a vehicle that is particularly popular in Germany, but is also found today in other countries around the world. You can rent it and travel around the city with a glass of beer and in the company of friends. Typically, a beer bike is equipped with seats for 10-16 people, a beer dispenser, a beer keg and... a sober driver.
Steampunk trailer
This steampunk fast food trailer was put together by Artisan Cake Company. You may ask: what is the point of creating such a style? Nothing. The point is precisely in these very copper mechanisms and pipes, creating the aura of steampunk. The main thing, as they say, is that the idea catches the eye.
Star fast food
This food truck from Fayetteville, USA, is inspired by Star Wars. Here you can try themed snacks with names that refer to the film. For example, a bun with cheese, bacon, turkey and cucumbers and garlic called “Chewbacca”. The truck itself bears the parody name Grillenium Falcon. Let us remember that one of the main fictional Star Wars spaceships was called the Millennium Falcon.
Food truck with banana cheeseburgers
You don't have to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to make your food truck popular. “Why not spruce up the menu with something out of the ordinary, like banana cheeseburgers,” this gentleman from Florida decided. From his food truck called Tropical Point, he sells Brazilian fast food, and for some reason, such a not-so-exotic ingredient as fried bananas and burgers with them for some reason is especially loved by locals.
Student food truck
The thing about the Gryph "N" Grille food truck is that it's designed to cater to students. The truck is at the disposal of the University of Guelph in Ontario. Students are offered not only affordable food, but also the opportunity to pay for it with a student ID. In addition to the ordinary service at the walls of the educational institution, fudrak is involved in university events so that students do not go hungry. The student food truck sells not fast food, but only healthy food.
Restaurant on a double-decker bus
The distinctive features of this establishment on wheels are visible to the naked eye. First of all, this is a double-decker bus. And secondly, this is a double-decker restaurant bus. He appeared in Los Angeles on the idea of two business buddies Travis Schmidt and Jason Freeman. From the old bus, they decided to make an institution of high cuisine of various nations of the world with gourmet dishes and a dining area at the top.
Trump's Nonsense Sandwiches
During the presidential campaign in Portland, Oregon, a food truck was serving "nonsensical Donald Trump sandwiches." The staff of the establishment called "Donald Trump's BS" handed out five types of sandwiches in special packages with the most inappropriate quotes of the presidential candidate, in the comments to which the factual errors of his statements were indicated. The name of each type of sandwich was one or another myth attributed to Trump. As if hinting at the fortune of a billionaire, the creators did not stint on the design of the trailer and laid a red carpet in front of the entrance. In addition, the customer's order was first taken by the concierge, who then passed it on to the chef.
Food truck with Indian tacos
The Seattle-based food truck Off The Rez was conceived by Mark McConnell and his lover, Cecilia Rickard. Inspiration came to Mark when he began to look for his native cuisine in Seattle restaurants and did not find it. After this, an authentically painted van selling Indian tacos appeared in the city.
Izh-barrel
This old Izh, tuned to look like a wooden barrel, spotted in Moscow, although not a snack bar on wheels, is so unusual that it would be a mistake not to mention it in our material. In this unusual way, the owners of one of the capital's restaurants decided to attract people to their establishment for beer and barbecue.
What's unique about this van, called Pancake Selfie Express, is that it sells pancakes with portraits of its customers. The customer is forced to take a quick photo of himself, and then the software in the truck prints his face onto the pancake. The van does not have a specific registration; the creators first decided to organize a tour of American cities such as Austin, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Mobile pizzeria
The famous pizzeria on wheels is the mobile bakery Del Popolo from San Francisco. To create this masterpiece, owner John Darcy worked with four designers and spent about $180,000. Inside there is a real wood-burning oven for preparing classic Neapolitan pizza. At the same time, clients can observe the process through transparent glass.
Fugutruk
Fugu fish is a Japanese delicacy that, if cooked incorrectly, can cause death. In many countries, you must have a special license to sell this fish. But if you're a Bostonian willing to risk your life on the street, then the Fugu Truck is made just for you.
Thank You Van
It’s hard to think of better advertising for a catering establishment than positive customer reviews. And food trucks are no exception. This truck, called Giovanni's White Shrimp Truck, has long been indistinguishable from other shrimp snack trucks in Hawaii. But then one satisfied customer decided to leave a positive review on the board. And thus he started a chain: since then, the walls of the food truck began to be regularly covered with gratitude.
Vegan food truck
It's not for nothing that the Randy Radish food truck has a picture of a radish on its board. From these vans, customers can purchase exclusively healthy food made from fresh vegetables - no fast food. The home of the veggie van is Lauren County, Virginia, USA.
Breastfeeding Van
The Milck Truck was designed by American artist and mother Jill Miller. She drew attention to the fact that nursing mothers often do not have enough places to feed their babies in private. Then she bought an old van, refurbished it and placed a huge artificial breast on the roof. A conspicuous van began to drive around the American city of Pittsburgh, offering women a free place to breastfeed their babies.
Provocative fast food
This food truck from Los Angeles is known throughout America for its fun name. It is called Eggslut - the name combines the word "eggs" and the word "whore". The establishment itself mainly offers breakfast dishes to customers.
The smallest food truck
This smart car-based mobile eatery called The Verts Kebap was designed by two German students, Dominik Staatn and Michael Haie. The guys studying at the University of Texas at Austin decided to surprise Americans with German engineering. Somehow they managed to fit a refrigerator, sink and oven into the Smart. All this could fit into the little car only in assembled form - a tent is also required for the full operation of the restaurant. The restaurant specializes in Turkish cuisine: kebabs and shawarma, which are very popular in Germany.
Air food van
This van was created by the French airline Air France and worked for only 5 days in Manhattan, offering free meals to everyone. As a rule, many passengers like to complain about the quality of food offered on planes, so Air France decided to put itself in the best light. So, for example, the menu included smoked salmon and shrimp dishes, and two lucky people, in addition to delicious food, also received air tickets to Paris.
Three-wheeler running on electricity
The tricycle E-Tuk Vendo was developed by the Dutch company Tuk Tuk Factory specifically for catering. It works on electricity, while without recharging it is able to travel a distance of up to 60 km. At the same time, the creators made the tricycle powerful enough to withstand the work of the refrigerator. For the convenience of street vending, the E-Tuk Vendo is equipped with a folding table and a hinged window that opens outwards.
Eco-friendly food truck
Another example of a food truck powered by electricity is Greg Alden Steel's Philly Greens vehicle. Made a green truck based on Polaris Gem. The maximum speed is 40 km/h; without recharging, the food truck can travel 50 km. Not only does Philly Greens use sustainable energy sources, but its owner also sells only organic non-GMO seasonal food.
Peugeot's snack bar on wheels
The French company Peugeot has its own ideas about what a real urban food truck should look like. Le Bistro Du Lion is an elegant restaurant on wheels with a fully equipped kitchen, DJ space and trailer coffee maker. Among other things, the van does not leave behind waste, as it is equipped with waste recycling facilities.
Food trucks of the Russian army
One of the reasons to be proud of the Russian army is the presence of army food trucks. You can usually see such trailers under the Voentorg brand at major events. For example, this handsome man in the colors of a military uniform was seen at the tank biathlon in Alabino.
Food truck for dogs
For Russia, this may seem surprising, but abroad you can find not only food trucks for people, but also for dogs. For example, this van called Milo's Kitchen, which toured US cities, offered our smaller brothers to taste chicken meatballs, grilled burgers, beef sausages and much more.
Following fast food
Dentyne came up with an unusual promotion to promote their chewing gum. To emphasize the importance of chewing gum after every meal, Dentyone decided to make its own branded van that followed the food truck around the country and stopped behind it at every stop. It was decided to call the campaign #FollowFood - that is, “Following the Food.”
The fast food business is very profitable. Hundreds of entrepreneurs, including newcomers, have already appreciated this. But in order not to make large investments at the start, you can choose a slightly different area - mobile fast food. This format of public catering in Russia is not yet “famous” for high competition, which means you have a chance to carve out your niche in the market. Fast food on wheels as a business is considered highly profitable - investments with consistently high demand for the dishes offered can pay off in just six months.
Our business assessment:
Starting investments – from 300,000 rubles.
Market saturation is average.
The difficulty of starting a business is 5/10.
Mobile fast food can hardly be called a full-fledged catering establishment. In mobile stalls, people only buy “quick” food so they can go about their business again. The format of a mobile retail outlet can be different.
Analyze your local consumer market. If in the business part of the city and on busy avenues there are no food trucks at all or in limited quantities, you can start your own business. It is better to plan the opening for the spring - there will be greater demand, and you will be able to recoup an impressive part of the investment in one summer season. How to open a fast food on wheels? What nuances will an entrepreneur have to sort out in order to start a business?
Where does a business on wheels start?
Start implementing a business project by finding the “right” vehicle. An ordinary truck, of course, will not work here - you need a special van designed for a cafeteria. Moreover, it is more profitable to find just such a car, otherwise it will take a significant investment to “remake” an ordinary car. There are many companies on the market that sell and rent vending trailers - there are plenty to choose from.
To minimize investments at the start, you can not purchase a van for personal use, but rent it. In the future, when things get better, just buy the vehicle.
Perhaps the only drawback of this direction is the need to obtain numerous permits from state inspectors. Register your activity and register with the tax office. To prepare all the documents, you will have to wait at least 3-6 months. The “establishment” preparing to open will be inspected by sanitary and fire services. The local authorities of Rospotrebnadzor will have to approve the menu and recipes.
And don’t forget that a fast food car on wheels is still a car that needs full legal registration - it is subject to registration with the traffic police, a technical inspection and obtaining compulsory motor liability insurance.
It also doesn’t hurt to think about the design of the outlet. Let the van attract customers not only with the pleasant aromas of freshly prepared food, but also with its bright design. This way you will create your own “brand name” - who knows, maybe soon you will expand your network of mobile coffee shops.
If there is a financial opportunity, it is better to involve a professional lawyer in “paper” matters - there are important tasks to be solved, which will be problematic for an ignorant person to understand.
Choose a business direction
The business plan for fast food on wheels must necessarily include an item dedicated to menu development. The amount of revenue will largely depend on the range of dishes offered. And here it doesn’t hurt to analyze the activities of competitors - what they sell, what customers are more willing to buy from them, what service they offer.
Mobile fast food can specialize in selling only one dish, or it can offer customers a full range of “fast” food. Our compatriots prefer the following menu:
- shawarma,
- pizza,
- hot dogs,
- pies,
- pancakes,
- confectionery.
It would be great if the mobile cafe would additionally sell hot and cold drinks - there is always a demand for them.
When developing the menu, pay attention to the franchisors' offers. A fast food franchise on wheels will save the entrepreneur from developing the concept and design of the future establishment - all data is provided by the parent company. But there are few offers of this kind on the market, they cost a decent amount, and the rules of cooperation are sometimes simply impossible to implement. Therefore, it is sometimes financially more profitable for a novice entrepreneur to open an establishment from scratch.
Be prepared for the fact that inspection authorities will periodically visit your fast food trailer. Everything here must be kept clean and tidy. And the highest demands must be placed on purchased products for cooking! If representatives of sanitary services reveal any violations during an inspection, the sale of fast food on wheels will be suspended. To avoid this, use products only from trusted suppliers - this is clearly not worth saving. It is better to establish connections with local food factories and vegetable sellers - then you will not have to overpay for the delivery of “raw materials” from afar.
Location of the outlet
Buying a mobile trading kiosk for fast food is half the battle. Now it’s time to decide on its location. And here, too, a number of problems are possible. Even though your cafe will be on wheels, you can’t just stand anywhere on the side of the road and start serving people “quick” food! You will need to “settle” somewhere.
Mobile fast food carts and food trucks must be installed in accessible areas. Sleeping areas are not your option. Here the dishes will not go out as quickly, which will significantly reduce revenue.
A fast food van on wheels can be installed:
- close to major markets,
- on the territory of large shopping centers,
- at train stations,
- in the business part of the city,
- on busy streets.
Many entrepreneurs change their location during major city holidays, installing a fast food car in amusement parks and squares. On one such day you can make a month's income.
To install a mobile stand at the selected location, obtain permission from the local city administration or from a private tenant. You will enter into an agreement with the specified rental amount for the plot. Experts advise not to enter into a long-term contract for the use of land at first - it is important to first understand whether there will be a decent income in a particular place. If you fail, you can always move to another place.
RV Equipment Costs
Equipment for fast food on wheels can be purchased inexpensively. The exact list of necessary kitchen equipment, utensils and appliances will depend on the chosen specifics of the business. In any case, it is quite possible to meet even 200,000 rubles.
As a rule, a fast food machine is equipped with the following equipment:
- microwaves,
- grill ovens,
- coffee makers and juicers,
- cooler,
- heated counters,
- fridge.
If you do not have sufficient finances, you can think about purchasing used equipment. But be careful when choosing it - sellers may simply be selling illiquid goods.
To work with kitchen equipment, you don’t have to look for experienced employees - even beginners can handle the tasks. Hire at least two sales associates to work shifts. Please note that each employee must have a health certificate!
How much can you earn from a food truck?
To buy a fast food van on wheels and all the necessary equipment, you will need at least 1,000,000 rubles. If you rent a vehicle, the starting investment can be reduced to 300,000 rubles - the best option for beginners!
Do not expect huge profits in the first months of operation - the auto shop will gain popularity gradually.
When setting up a business, pay attention to pricing. The cost of the dishes you offer should not exceed the level set by your closest competitors! Customers will not buy expensive hot dogs if there is a diner with more attractive prices literally 100 meters away.
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