How To Start A Food Truck With The Rub BBQ

The food truck revolution is well underway, with thousands of Britons turning to street food vending as a means of earning a living. They’re currently more popular than ever, with over 7,000 units serving food at festivals, markets, stadiums, and street corners all over the country. So, if you’re looking to get involved in this rapidly growing industry, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to explain how you can start a food truck with The Rub BBQ.

How To Start A Food Truck Business

Many entrepreneurs are drawn to the street food industry due to the relatively low startup costs. However, making a splash in such a competitive market can be extremely challenging. That’s why 50-60% of all food trucks go out of business within five years of opening. So, if you’re looking for a way to boost your chances of street food success, The Rub BBQ’s franchise scheme is an excellent way to do so. Keep reading to learn more about one of the most exciting food franchise opportunities in the UK.

• Franchise Opportunities
• Find Your Territory
• Set Up Your Van
• Make Your Mark
• Average Cost To Start A Food Truck

Franchise Opportunities

Franchising is a business model used by many of the biggest businesses in the world, including McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, and KFC. It involves a brand, the franchisor, expanding its reach through a network of franchisees. The franchisees will pay a percentage of their revenue to the franchisor, and in return, they’ll receive startup assistance, training, and the right to trade under the franchisor’s brand name. To learn more about the mutually beneficial dynamic of our franchising opportunities, check out our previous article, ‘How Does A Franchise Work?‘

If you choose to franchise with The Rub BBQ, starting your food truck business will become a lot easier as you’ll have a tried and trusted process to build on. After signing your franchise agreement, you’ll receive in-depth 1:1 training on all of our recipes and systems, access to our supply chain, a detailed marketing plan and much more. When you’re ready, we can move forward with preparing your franchise for its first day of trading.

Find Your Territory

Choosing the right area for your food fan is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you establish yourself in the street food industry. Whether you opt for a busy street or target festivals and events, you must ensure it’s a location with plenty of footfall. Additionally, almost all locations will require a trading license, so check out the fees associated with a range of locations before committing to one spot. Here are some of the places food vans find the most success:

Parks

In the warmer months, parks are filled with potential customers. With a high level of foot traffic and an active crowd who are likely to have worked up an appetite, you’re likely to enjoy a steady stream of customers. The downside of being based in a park is the competition. Market research will help you get ahead of other food vans, so try visiting your nearby parks and looking out for what the other food trucks do, when they arrive, how long they stay, and how many of them there are.

Events

Whether it’s a music festival or a sporting event, some of the most successful food trucks base their business around big events. Typically, food trucks at these events can charge higher prices due to increased demand and added convenience. A summer of catering festivals, markets, and other outdoor events can be enough to fund a food truck owner for an entire year.

Private Events

From weddings to corporate catering, private events are an excellent opportunity for street food vendors to make some serious profit. In most cases, you’ll be responsible for supplying food for every attendee at the event, which means no competition and a steady stream of customers. On some occasions, the event organisers will pay a single fee for your services at the event; on other occasions, you might agree to charge customers at the event individually.

Markets

With street food vendors on the rise, as are street food markets. Places like Spitalfields, Borough Market and Mackie Mayor are packed with hungry visitors whenever they’re open. If you can secure a regular pitch at one of these markets, it’s a great opportunity to build a loyal customer base and consistent income stream.

Business Districts

Despite the rise in home-based working, business districts are still an excellent place to make money as a street food vendor, particularly during the quieter mid-week. By targeting workers on their lunch break, you know a significant amount of people walking by your truck are in the market for food. We recommend connecting with businesses and building a relationship with them so you can set up mutually beneficial systems for you and their staff.

Set Up Your Van

Once your business plan is in place and you’ve decided on a location, you can move forward with creating your dream food van. As your franchisor, The Rub BBQ will help you get your unit up to standard, but these are some things you’ll need to consider when setting up your unit.

Choosing The Right Vehicle

From catering trailers to transit vans, food trucks come in all shapes and sizes. So, whatever type you choose, make sure it has enough space for all of the necessary equipment and matches your brand. It’s also worth considering how your vehicle is fueled. While electric vehicles require greater initial investment, they may offer long-term savings. On the other hand, petrol or diesel vehicles may be better suited to those operating in rural areas.

Powering Your Unit

Powering your truck can be expensive, so finding more sustainable ways to do so can save your business a significant amount of money. Before you choose a power source for your truck, consider how much voltage your equipment requires, the emission guidelines and regulations in your area, and how your power source will affect your insurance rates. Whether you choose a fuel-powered or solar-powered generator, you’ll need to ensure it is high quality and provides enough power to maintain the smooth operation of your business.

Decide On The Layout

The kitchen is where the magic happens, so a good design is crucial. Not only will your interior need to look good to draw in customers, but it’ll also need to be highly functional. You should prioritise staff safety, efficiency, and enjoyment. Some of our interior must-haves include non-slip, inflammable floors, proper ventilation, and an easy-access inventory.

Make Your Mark

Once you’re ready to get up and running, it’s time to focus on the growth of your food truck. It can be difficult to create successful marketing campaigns as a street food vendor due to the lack of a permanent address. However, with the support of our marketing and social media plan, you can draw in customers wherever you go. We’ve built a sizeable following across all of the main social media platforms, and this online presence will help you stand out from other street food vendors wherever you go. As a franchisee, you’ll also benefit from our marketing as a wider business, including our website, advertisements, and other forms of traditional marketing.