Which is the best Food Truck vs Food Cart vs Food Trailer?
Food truck vs food cart vs food trailer, which is the best? Which is the most profitable? This is a quick comparison, plus the pros and cons for everyone.
The mobile food business is very popular among entrepreneurs because it is cheaper than opening a restaurant. People like mobile food because they create a special atmosphere and sell delicious food and drinks at affordable prices. Crowds of people who want to try something delicious are your potential customers.
Mobile food has become a popular hotel industry and an important part of the hotel industry. Customers flock to these mobile food companies. Compared with traditional restaurants, the relatively low cost of entry and the free and low-cost way to market them to the general public through the many social media platforms available are many of the selling points of the mobile food business.
In addition, the ability to participate in events such as concerts or festivals is a stream of income that cannot be used by restaurants. Mobile food vehicles can also be a supplement to mature companies, such as catering companies that want to increase revenue or expand the market without drastically changing operations.
The following are other advantages of mobile food companies;
You can modify the menu at any time.
This is a good introduction to the food industry (especially if you want to own a restaurant in the future).
Easier to meet different events (you have the ability to sell your food at concerts and festivals,
Faster customer service.
As more and more companies take action, the mobile food industry is also very competitive. Profit margins may be very low, and sometimes companies may lose money. Because customers will buy from food trucks, the weather will affect revenue. In cold climates, the operation of food trucks may be seasonal, and even in warm places, unexpected rainfall can affect sales.
Food suppliers are nothing new, but the rapid popularity of the industry provides huge opportunities and potential for success for today's innovative and passionate entrepreneurs. Every business enterprise has its risks and rewards, but know where you want to go and try your best to deal with it, despite the challenges.
For entrepreneurs who want to be in the mobile food business, it is not uncommon to be confused about which one to go; therefore, the question of better food trucks, food carts and food trailers usually arises. In order to try to answer this question, we need to first analyze the various mobile food businesses mentioned above, and compare and contrast their pros and cons.
Advantages and disadvantages of food trucks and food carts and food trailers
Food truck
This is a mobile kitchen with a kitchen and a vehicle in one unit. The kitchen is built in the "box" space of the walker. The size of the kitchen space can vary from 10' to 26'. The most common size is a 16’ or 18’ kitchen space.
The biggest advantage of choosing a food truck on a food trailer or food cart is that it is a unit, making it ideal for multiple locations. You don't have to worry about towing anything, your overall size will be smaller (than a food trailer instead of a food cart) and it's easier to navigate the narrow city streets and sharp turns.
Food trucks are generally allowed on more city streets than trailers, allowing a wider range of service locations. There is no need to tow anything, which makes it less troublesome to switch service locations within a day.
Food trucks are usually more expensive than competitors' food trailers. However, for a food trailer, you need a vehicle trailer with towing capability. This may be a huge increase in expenses, and sometimes may exceed the cost of the food truck.
Since the food truck is a unit, if your truck has mechanical problems and needs to be in the store, your business will be in this store as well. When you buy a new walker, this is usually inappropriate. If you buy a second-hand scooter to build your mobile kitchen, it is very important for the mechanic to check it first to avoid costly repairs and dwell time.
Food trailer
Food trailers are the intermediate link between food carts and food trucks. You cannot drive a food trailer like a food truck, but you can hang them on the car and tow them where they need to go. Food trailers are often large enough to have a kitchen similar to that on a food truck.
Food trailers are generally cheaper and can reduce the entry cost of mobile kitchens.
The biggest advantage of food trailers is the choice of various sizes. The length of the food trailer can vary from 8 feet to 53 feet. Compared with food trucks, the width of food trailers is usually 8.5 feet wide and usually only 7 feet wide. In the compact kitchen space, we are very grateful for any extra width.
Food trailers usually have more storage space. In food trucks, the generator is almost always built in the kitchen space; however, on the food trailer, the generator is placed on the "tongue", allowing more internal space inside the food trailer. The extra space can have a positive impact on the speed and service quality of the food business.
Food trailers are most suitable for fixed or long-term parking spaces.
Although food trailers seem to be the best of the two worlds, entrepreneurs need to consider its potential disadvantages. The larger space of a food trailer may be large for ease of operation, the number of equipment that can be installed, and the storage space for ingredients or inventory, but the initial and indirect costs will also be greater. In addition to the food trailer, the tractor must also be repaired.
In addition, its size can prevent food trailers from parking on public streets, and may be limited to vending in certain places with large crowds like concerts, festivals and other similar events. Changing the location is also a challenge. Just like a food cart, the food cart cannot move suddenly when there are not enough customers.
Also on the other hand, when you think about vehicles, trailers are usually larger towing trailers. This makes it difficult for novice pilots to navigate in small spaces.
Food truck
Food trucks are a good choice for you if you have a smaller menu because they cannot contain as many types of food as a food truck or trailer. The main advantage of food carts is their price. It is cheap, which is why it is used by street vendors all over the world from New York to Mumbai, and allows you to start operations with minimal investment.
In terms of mobility, food carts also have advantages on food trucks and trailers. If you need to walk on the street during the day, all you have to do is push it. This makes it ideal for any downtown location you might think of.
Another advantage of the food cart is that when you use the shopping cart to operate, there is no relationship between you and the customer, which means you can build a relationship with them and serve them quickly.
Food carts also require very little space, which may help if your event is in a small venue.
On the other hand, food carts do not need to be connected to the vehicle to be towed like a mobile device. As mentioned earlier, food trucks require less space, but with the smaller space, food carts cannot provide a variety of food like food trucks. Food carts also lack a kitchen, so please check the preparation requirements in your area. In some places, food in food carts must be pre-packaged.
Operating a cart means that you have almost no shelter to protect you from these factors, which need to be carefully considered in all countries. world.
In addition, unless you are going to a location in the city center and have a safe compound nearby, you need some additional ways to transport your shopping cart to and from your location. This may require some form of vehicle to tow your food truck, and then additional towing permits.
In addition, not all foods can be sold from the shopping cart because you have a limited amount of storage and service. Typical favorites are items that require little preparation, such as ice cream, jacket potatoes or candy. However, there is no reason not to consider other options and get inspiration from all over the world, such as hot dogs (New York).
Which is the best Food Truck vs Food Cart vs Food Trailer?
The initial cost of a food truck may be more expensive than a food trailer, but you must have a reliable vehicle, a food trailer with the proper towing capacity. But the fact remains that food carts are much cheaper than food trucks or trailers, so they are more suitable for potential entrepreneurs who don't have a lot of start-up capital.
Food trucks are very suitable for routes, they have the ability to make multiple stops throughout the day, unlike food trucks or trailers. Food trailers and carts are ideal for activities or areas that are stationary for long periods of time.
Food trucks are unit vehicles, so they can move on their own without being towed. In addition, they are also more compact, making them easier to navigate on city streets. Food trailers are available in various sizes and provide more storage space and cooking space than food trucks or food carts. Zero cooking space for food carts.
All in all, the best mobile food trucks vary from situation to situation, depending on the amount of money you have on hand to start business, the number of meals in the menu, the amount of kitchen space required, how many locations you plan to visit each day, and so on.
It should be noted that some special problems will be encountered when trying to start a mobile food business. An example of this might be the challenges involved in obtaining bank loans. Banks are skeptical when it comes to loans, because some people think that the food supplier trend is just a fad and may suddenly disappear. If you have a lot of business history, some form of collateral, or the loan is signed by someone with a good credit history, it may be easier to get a loan.
Another challenge is regulations. Some states and municipalities have clear regulations on mobile food business, while others do not. Entrepreneurs need to research and contact relevant agencies in individual locations where they plan to operate or sell and obtain business requirements. In addition, due to increased competition and unclear regulations, local restaurants may oppose food trucks, which makes starting a mobile food business more challenging.
