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By
Sarah Ward

Food and Beverage Truck Profits: 10 Essential Profit Points

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Food and beverage truck profits are a part of learning how to start a food truck business and one of the overall goals of being one of the best food trucks. They go along with growth opportunities and customer retention strategies as you dive into the types of food trucks you can own and operate within the food and beverage truck regulations of your location.

The function of food and beverage truck profits ties into the cost to start a food truck business in the balance of revenue you need. They can be related to the best places to start a food truck business, as profits can be higher when you’re in the best spots. Overall, food and beverage trucks and their profit points are tied to the success of your business in every way. 

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Food and Beverage Truck Profit Points

There are two questions everyone who wants to start a food and beverage truck business asks themselves along the way. 

  • Will the profits of this business be worth the work?
  • How can I, as a business owner, take care to build my profits with strategic sales and marketing techniques and customer service?

For the first question, the answer is generally a yes, but it can also be a personal question. For the second question, once you’ve decided to start a food and beverage truck business, these 10 food and beverage truck profit points are the answer. Read on to learn how you can work to specifically target profit-rich sections of the food and beverage truck industry.

10. Classic Food Truck Dishes

Classic food truck dishes, from barbecue to burgers, will be a good consistent piece of your profits. They reach a range of customers to bring in regular revenue.

9. Brand-Specific Dishes

Brand-specific dishes are anything that is unique to your business. Maybe it’s a special sauce on your burgers. Perhaps it’s a salad with a unique take on croutons. Whatever it is, market it to bring in profits.

8. Location-Based Pricing

Location-based pricing is all about making sure your prices match your locality. You can always turn a profit, but check yourself against the standard food truck prices in the area to make sure you’re charging enough. 

7. Regular Merchandise Sales

As a business built around a strong brand identity, regular merchandise sales have the potential to boost your profits. Having your logo on mugs, hats, and a mix of shirts and sweatshirts is a good start. 

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6. Catering Jobs

Food and beverage trucks and catering work go hand in hand. You can frame yourself as a catering business to work with different types of catering events and set specific prices. 

5. Mobile Bartender Jobs

Mobile bartender jobs pair with catering jobs in that you can frame your food and beverage truck for specific events. Having a bartender or mixologist on your staff will help in this regard. 

4. Food Truck Standout Events

Major food truck standout events for park parties, live music, and other spaces that gather lots of food truck vendors will help you have regular profit boosts. Seek them out in your community for the profits and the community representation.

3. Repeat Customers

Repeat customers are one of the best ways to build up your profits for consistent revenue. Converting one-time customers into loyal fans through promotions and great customer service is a true investment in the future of your business. 

2. Mixed Mocktails

Mixed mocktails are perfect for any beverage truck. Whether you serve other alcoholic beverages or not, mocktails are a profit booster that works for any customer. 

1. Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic beverages are one of the best sources of profit for any food service business that serves alcoholic beverages. With the low overhead cost of alcohol and mixers, you can charge a nice price for these drinks and still turn a great profit on them.

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Growing Food and Beverage Truck Profits

Food and beverage truck profits are about your base profits and general strategies, but they’re also about the future of your business. When it comes to growing food and beverage truck profits, you can and should continue to use these 10 tips and tricks. You should also keep a keen eye on the food truck market, to see where there might be new opportunities for profit.

The Future of Food and Beverage Truck Profits

The U.S. food truck industry has grown at an average rate of 9.9% each year since 2018, with new types of food trucks cropping up ever since. With more businesses looking for unique ways to reach customers and build their brands, food and beverage trucks are continuing to rise as a business model that works for many business owners. The future is bright and rolling forward.

"Key Takeaway: Food and beverage truck profits are about your base profits and general strategies, but they’re also about the future of your business."

Frequently Asked Questions About Food and Beverage Truck Profit Points

Food and beverage truck profits and key profit points are something every truck owner is deeply invested in from the start of their business. You should always keep learning about food and beverage truck profits, to keep growing your business. Our answers to these frequently asked questions will help you continue on that journey of education.

How Much Profit Should a Food Truck Make?

A food truck should aim for a profit of up to 15%, with most food trucks bringing in around 7% or 8% on a regular basis. You can grow your profits and give them concentrated boosts by focusing on the 10 food and beverage truck profit points in this BinWise blog

What Type of Food Truck Has the Highest Profit Margin?

The food trucks with the highest profit margins are the ones that sell something that is cheap to make and can sell for a variety of prices. For food, in the U.S. currently, the main highly profitable food truck type is barbecue. For drinks, alcoholic beverages are always good for bringing in profits, because the truck can get those cocktail ingredients for a nice price. 

What Is the Failure Rate of a Food Truck Business?

The failure rate of food truck businesses rests around 60% for the first two years of the businesses being open. This is similar to standard format restaurants, which have a 60% failure rate in the first year, and an 80% rate within the first five years. It’s a tough market, but if you stick with it and budget well, it’s the entrance to booming business.

Who Is the Target Audience for Food Trucks?

The target audience for food trucks is Millennials and Generation Z folks. The 10 profit points covered in this blog relate to reaching out to this target audience. From specialty cocktails to comfort food to social events centered around food trucks and community, those age groups are looking for these types of scenes. 

What Attracts Customers to Food Trucks?

Good food and great service are the two key components that attract customers to food and beverage trucks. If you can master those points of profit and customer satisfaction, you’ll be hitting the ground running. From there, things like hosting brunch events and starting a customer rewards program can bring you further along.

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Food and Beverage Profit Points 

Learning your food and beverage truck profits and unique profit points to boost business will help you grow in more ways than you could imagine. You’ll find loyal customers and become a part of the food and beverage truck community as you go along. The more you work these points and the thought process behind them into your business, the more success you’ll find.

When you’re ready to start turning a profit, reach out to BinWise and BlueCart. The BinWise Pro beverage inventory program, paired with the BinScan mobile app, gives you peace of mind when you take inventory. BlueCart’s order management software simplifies your order management system.

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