
This is quite a bit higher than the annual wage of a line cook in a restaurant, which is around $51,000 annually. For food truck businesses that are growing, hiring workers and sharing the potential growth in wages they can attain is a good way to attract and retain talent. Between $24,000 and $153,000 is how much food truck owners make a year nationally. This equates to about half of the profit from the business itself and is one of the main reasons why food truck ownership is rising. The chance of such a high margin for personal profit in the food truck industry is great, especially since each truck only employs 1.2 employees on average. The number of food truck businesses in the US increased by 15.9% between 2018 and 2024.
Accounting Basics: Profit and Loss Statement (P&L)
- In all cases, it is very important to keep in mind that building a food truck revenue model requires you to make conservative assumptions backed by a solid market survey if possible.
- The average food truck in the U.S. pays $28,276 on permits, licenses and ongoing legal compliance according to Food Truck Nation.
- If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.
- Recording your cash flow, including income and expenses, is critical to your food truck’s accounting procedures.
Monthly income for a food truck business owner can vary widely based on factors like location, menu pricing, and daily footfall. The profitability of a food truck business depends on factors like location, menu, and marketing. Street food, unique cuisine, or thematic offerings often attract more customers, contributing to higher profitability.
- Here we must break down the number of customers into the different products they may buy.
- You can do it the easy way or make it more complex based on your requirements.
- This is quite a bit higher than the annual wage of a line cook in a restaurant, which is around $51,000 annually.
- In order to calculate profits for a food truck, you must first forecast revenues and expenses.
- This includes the vehicle, kitchen equipment, wrapping, and initial inventory.
- Today's food truck patrons are looking for more than just a quick meal; they seek culinary adventures and quality food that aligns with their values.
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For this sample food truck business plan, we imagined a chef and his wife with several years of experience in the restaurant industry. They want to start their own food truck and sell their products to locals and tourists. The numbers in this plan are estimates and are used to show how the calculations were done. However, they are not exact, and you should not use them to make your own business plan. Designing a consistent brand for your food truck business is an enjoyable aspect of creating a business plan. Remember to include example logos, vehicle wraps ideas, branded menus, posts, food truck slogans, or food truck name ideas if you’re just starting off.
How do you create a financial plan for a new food truck?
It's the blueprint that helps you articulate your concept, map out objectives, and devise a strategy to turn your food truck dreams into reality. For more information, check out our restaurant business plan guide, which will help you start creating your own business plan. In the food business, anything food truck income statement that becomes "a material part of" the product you sell is also treated as supplies.

We offer complimentary projection reviews and have access to helpful SBA & industry data to make sure your projections are ready for action. When it comes to Mobile Catering Revenue Projections, it is important to consider factors such as the location of the food truck, the target market, and the menu offerings. By analyzing these factors, food truck owners can make informed estimates of their potential revenue and adjust their business strategies accordingly.
Forecast Expenses
It is important to note that because the cash flow unearned revenue statement is a snapshot of cash entering and leaving the business, there are a lot of assets and liabilities that are not factored into the report. While some food trucks operate by driving around neighbourhoods, it's essential to comply with local traffic and parking regulations. Secure necessary permits for mobile vending to avoid legal issues.
Start Preparing Your Food Truck Financial Plan

Our projected cash flow statement will detail the inflows and outflows of cash, ensuring that we can meet our financial obligations and maintain a healthy cash reserve for unexpected expenses. Direct competitors include other food trucks with similar or overlapping menu offerings, as well as quick-service restaurants and local eateries. These statistics underscore the vibrant market potential for new food truck businesses looking to cater to the appetites of mobile consumers. All these elements have been thoroughly included by our experts in the business plan template they have designed for a food truck. A good business plan for a food truck must be tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of the mobile food industry.
Detailed Record-Keeping
- These financial statements should include sales volume and all sources of revenue and subtract expenses to calculate the net profit or loss.
- Other examples include adding new menu items, or expanding your territory to new neighborhoods or cities.
- Look no further, as we're about to guide you through a comprehensive business plan tailored for the mobile culinary scene.
- Food trucks are well-known for the large amount of money they can bring to their owners.
- If you don’t have your own financial resources, you can look for a business loan, crowdfunding, business line of credit, etc.
- It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.
So, make sure that your key financial reports provide a clear picture of your food truck’s financial health. If you need funding or want a business partner, a strong financial plan is essential to show the potential of your food truck business. Outline your marketing and sales strategy, including how you plan to reach your target customers through social media, email marketing, and local events. This section should include strategies to compete with the menu items of restaurants in your target area. Your immediate goals should focus on covering daily expenses and initial investments. This includes breaking even on day-to-day operations, ensuring you have enough cash flow, and covering startup costs.


It summarizes the assets and liabilities of your Food Truck at a certain point in time (typically at the end of the year). Food truck market analysis found that the industry experienced some encouraging growth in the last five years, especially considering the obstacle that was the COVID-19 pandemic. This 10.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) speaks to the increased popularity of the https://www.mmcrecordingstudio.co.za/2020/12/30/insurance-bookkeeping-best-practices-for-agencies/ industry. Below are 25 food truck industry statistics that can give you an insight into how this sector is performing in 2025. If you are just starting out, there will likely be a period where net worth is negative.
- You have to produce a menu keeping this in mind and guide your team to meet these requirements.
- The average cost of a food truck is $82,500 based on a study from POS Bistro.
- Describe your food truck business and explain how it will benefit the existing market.
- Add your projected monthly expenses to create the Monthly Expenses line in the break-even analysis.
- Our free food truck sales projection calculator and the below video will help you walk through this process.
Food Truck Financial Plan: Cash Flow Statement
In contemporary business environments, having a physical food truck may not be enough to drive the desired income. E-commerce platforms have become a go-to for businesses worldwide to drive additional revenue and reach more customers without geographical limitations. It provides an indication of the efficiency of your food production process. If your gross profit margin is too low, you might need to adjust your pricing strategy or reduce costs. It's generally recommended that food costs account for 25% to 38% of revenue.
