Photo by Karen Zeng on Unsplash
Did you know that in only three years food truck revenue increased 300% industry-wide?
Food trucks are more popular than ever and owners are making smart decisions to earn money all year long, especially when it comes to preparing for the unexpected.
Below we’ve compiled this list of five tips to never get caught off guard. Keep reading to learn more.
1. Always Have a Back-up Plan for Bad Weather
As the owner of a food truck, you need to stay on top of the weather forecast. Watch local television reports and download a reliable weather app on your smartphone.
Not every forecast is 100% accurate but you should always have a back-up plan to avoid losing business.
2. Develop Business Partnerships To Survive the Unexpected
Always keep an open mind when it comes to expanding your business. One thing you can do is reach out to a major company in your community to see if they will reserve a spot for you.
This could help develop a steady revenue stream and increase your customer base. Customers will start to expect to see you at that location on certain days.
3. How Food Trucks Survive the Off-Season With Seasonal Menus
Meal preferences change throughout the year. Customers may love salads or tacos during the summer months but once it gets cold they’ll be desiring soups, casseroles, and hot drinks like coffee or tea.
You should start switching up your seasonal menus to ensure you’re filling customer demand. It could be as simple as using more seasonal flavors like pumpkin or mulling spices.
4. Try Catering Local Events During the Winter
Wondering how to survive the off-season? Many food truck owners will cater over the winter months. They do it on their own or partner with another local business. This is perfect for customers who crave your food all year long.
If you start taking orders, there are a ton of food delivery services to use: Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Doordash. Trying to cater or deliver your food will ensure you don’t lose revenue in the slow months.
5. Develop Winter Marketing Ideas To Attract New Customers
Every successful business embraces marketing. This is true for food trucks as well. You’ll need to switch up your marketing several times throughout the year to address customer behavior.
Winter is the best time to offer seasonal sales, ramp up your online presence, or expand your business into other areas.
Marketing tools you should be using include social media apps, an SEO optimized website, local online listings, online ordering, an e-newsletter, and a brand loyalty program.
Don’t Let the Unexpected Hold You Down
This article should provide you with more ideas on how to survive the unexpected. Besides partnering with local businesses in the bad weather, you can also use social media apps or food delivery services to keep earning when it’s slow.