Tips for First-Time Food Truckers

Tips for First-Time Food Truckers

Considering putting your restaurant on wheels? We think that’s a great idea. If the people won’t come to you, you can take your business to the people!

We’ve got a few tips to make the best of starting out with a food truck.

Avoid Residential Refrigeration – Invest in Commercial Refrigeration

This might seem like a silly tip, but many first-time truckers make the mistake of using a residential fridge for storing food because of space or cost. While it might seem tempting to do so, residential equipment is designed to service VERY different needs than commercial equipment. Residential fridges cannot store and chill the large quantities of supplies that you will need to store. You’ll save yourself more money in the long run by getting the right fridge for your business needs.

We recommend undercounter fridges and undercounter freezers – they offer additional countertop and prep space!

Invest in Warming Equipment

Sometimes orders take a minute to prepare, and your customer might not stay within eyeshot. You may find yourself holding onto orders, so consider investing in food warming equipment. Small holding cabinets and countertop warmers both work well; the former keeps food at safe temperatures, and the latter is great for casseroles or pasta.

You can take a look at our Buyer’s Guide to Food Warmers for an in-depth breakdown of the different types of warmers.

Stock-Up On Take-Out

All your customers will be grabbing and going, so make sure the supplies you have will suit that lifestyle. Opt for packets of ketchup and mayonnaise instead of pump dispensers. Invest in paper plates, plastic utensils, and foam containers for take-out. Focus on disposables. The less washing you need to do yourself, the more you save on water.

Looking for More?

Check out our article on Big Ideas for Little Kitchens. Many of the tips found within can easily apply to the limited spaces in food trucks.

And check out Leasetaurant’s incredible deals on cooking equipment, dishwashers, refrigerators, and more. We hope to see you on the road!