Lease food truck

Types of leased food trucks

Lease food trucks come in several types based on their functionality, cuisine, size, and other factors. Understanding these variations is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to enter the mobile foodservice industry.

Based on kitchen set up

Food truck leasing, based on kitchen setup, distinguishes the trucks based on how the cooking and food serving areas are arranged.

• Fully-equipped food trucks

  These trucks come with all the necessary cooking appliances, such as ovens, grills, fryers, and refrigerators. They are ideal for businesses that require extensive food preparation and cooking on the go, such as burger or pizza outlets and bakeries.

• Pre-owned food trucks

  They are another option, as they usually cost less than new trucks. However, one must consider the condition of the truck and its equipment as well as the history of its maintenance.

• Specialized food trucks

  These trucks come with specific equipment for certain cuisines. For instance, a truck designed for Mexican food may have a comal and salsa bar, while a truck for Italian food may be fitted with a pizza oven. Specialized food trucks, although more expensive, are ideal for businesses that want to offer niche food items, such as Mexican or Italian cuisine.

• Custom-built food trucks

  These trucks are constructed to meet specific requirements. They can be leased new or used. However, custom food trucks are more expensive to lease. Still, they can offer unique branding opportunities and may attract customers looking for specific food options.

• Cart-based

  For entrepreneurs starting small, leasing a cart-based mobile food unit can be an economical option. These carts are typically more portable and less expensive to lease than full-size food trucks. They work well for serving simple menu items or beverages and are especially useful in high-foot-traffic areas. Carts also offer the flexibility to set up shop quickly at various locations.

Based on food service

Based on food service, food trucks are additionally categorized depending on how they serve food to customers.

• Cook trucks

  Lease companies providing trucks with cooking equipment entail clients who prepare meals onsite before serving them to customers. Hence, such trucks will have ovens, grills, and fryers to handle any needed cooking.

• Serving and transporting trucks

  Some trucks are primarily meant for transporting food from one area to another or for serving pre-prepared food. These trucks are not meant for cooking and are ideal for businesses that need to serve food in specific locations, such as caterers.

• Prep-based trucks

  These trucks are meant for food preparation only. They include space for chopping, marinating, and assembling dishes, but they do not have space for cooking.

Based on size and capacity

Leasing a food truck's size and capacity are important when choosing a mobile kitchen, as customers' requirements and the food truck's location determine the best option.

• Compact food trucks

  Thus, they are suitable for tight urban areas with limited parking. In addition, compact trucks are easier to navigate through busy streets, making them ideal for serving customers quickly. Compact food trucks are also more cost-effective when it comes to fuel.

• Full-size food trucks

  They usually have more kitchen equipment, which allows complex menus. Although larger trucks are more difficult to maneuver and park, they are still better suited for serving large customers.

• Stationary food trucks

  They are ideal for leasing to set up in one location permanently, such as in a food court or outside a business. Such trucks usually have more kitchen equipment, increasing how much food can be prepared and served. They are also better for businesses with high customer volumes, like those at festivals or sporting events, as they can serve larger audiences.

• Pop-up food trucks

  They are similar to stationary trucks but are meant to be more versatile. Their main advantage is that they can be moved to different locations or even transformed into different sizes depending on the space available.

Important features of leased food trucks

Lease food trucks vary in features, which affect their performance, durability, and usability.

Kitchen appliances

• Ovens

  They also enable the preparation of baked items like casseroles, pastries, or even roasted foods. Any food truck offering items that require baking will need an oven, either a convection, a deck, or a pellet.

• Grills

  Grills are ideal for foods that need direct heat, such as burgers, sandwiches, or kabobs. Most trucks have at least one grilling area since grilling produces flavorful, tender, and caramelized foods.

• Fryers

  Fryers also come in handy for most food truck businesses, especially those that sell fries, wings, or anything else fried. To save space and energy, many trucks use double basket fryers or pressure fryers.

• Refrigeration

  Like a regular kitchen, food trucks also have to store perishable ingredients. However, they need either a prep table refrigerator, under-counter refrigerator, or make-through refrigerator to keep ingredients cool while saving space.

• Storage

  Food trucks have limited space and, therefore, utilize cabinets, shelves, and storage bins to keep tools, equipment, and even ingredients. However, collapsible or hanging storage is used in pop-up trucks, where space is limited or dynamic.

Automotive features

• Engine

  The engine of a leased food truck should be powerful enough to handle the truck's additional weight caused by the included kitchen appliances and supplies, as well as the challenging traffic situation.

• Suspension system

  Any leased food truck may need to drive on rough roads or off-road and, therefore, requires strong suspension that absorbs shocks and impacts to prevent damage to the kitchen equipment and ensure safety for the driver and the passengers.

• Braking system

  Also, since the trucks are large and have extra loads, the braking system has to be efficient to bring them to a stop, especially in emergency cases. Some common types of braking systems are disc brakes, drum brakes, and anti-lock brakes.

• Transmission

  The transmission should be efficient enough to handle city traffic or be able to deliver power if the truck will be working mostly on hills. In general, automatic transmissions are easier to operate, but businesses that are more cost-oriented will prefer manual as the clutch tends to wear out fast when in heavy traffic.

• Fuel type

  Most food trucks use gas, but some use diesel because it is more expensive than gasoline, although it gives greater fuel efficiency. In addition, electric and hybrid fuel trucks are less common but more environmentally friendly and cheaper to maintain.

Health and safety features

• Fire suppression systems

  They are also useful for automatically putting off fires, especially in kitchens where frying or grilling occurs. While most municipalities do not require them, their presence can earn businesses discounts on insurance.

• Ventilation hoods

  They help eliminate smoke, grease, odors, and excess heat from the kitchen. However, most municipalities require food trucks to have proper ventilation, mainly because of fire hazards caused by accumulated smoke and grease.

• Sealed storage containers

  These containers are essential for preventing pests, such as rats, and ensuring food safety. Also, regular maintaining and replacing of sealed storage containers will help keep food on trucks safe and healthy.

• Emergency exits

  Trucks need at least one emergency exit that is easily accessible in case of an emergency. This ensures that in case an exit door becomes unusable, there is another way to get out of the truck.

How to choose leased food trucks

Selecting the right food truck lease entails investors evaluating several factors to ensure they lease a truck that meets their business goals.

Budget

Ideally, the decision of which truck to lease depends on the budget one has to lease the truck. This is because different types of food trucks have different lease costs. Also, while leasing is more affordable, it can lead to higher long-term costs due to continuous repairs. Therefore, investors should consider all costs, including fuel, maintenance, insurance, and permits, when budgeting.

Business needs

Also, entrepreneurs should be specific about their food service concepts and the target audience so that only trucks suitable for serving the target market are chosen. For instance, a gourmet pizza truck will need a food truck with a pizza oven, while a coffee cart only needs the space for a coffee maker.

Lease terms

Further, entrepreneurs should consult the terms of the lease, paying close attention to the duration, mileage limits, maintenance obligations, and penalties for early termination. Also, before signing, they should ensure they understand everything because certain conditions can be changed.

Branding

Lastly, investors should consider whether the truck allows for effective branding. This is because well-designed graphics and signage attract customers, thus creating a unique identity that sets the truck apart from competitors.

Q&A

Q. What costs must be covered when leasing a food truck?

A. Generally, the monthly lease payment will be the primary cost that will need to be covered. Yet, other costs include insurance, permits, maintenance, fuel, and repairs. Daily operating costs, such as employee salaries, ingredient purchases, and utility bills, will also be included.

Q. What should be done to prepare a leased food truck for success?

A. Proper and consistent maintenance of the leased food truck will ensure it operates smoothly and safely. Thus, entrepreneurs must schedule regular maintenance checks on vital components like the engine, brakes, and kitchen appliances. They should also address repairs immediately after they are identified to minimize downtime and avoid more expensive problems in the future.

Q. How can food trucks reduce their operating lease costs?

A. Food truck owners can save on fuel by driving trucks with fuel-efficient engines and avoiding rush hour traffic. Trucks can also be driven at moderate speeds.

Q. Is leasing a food truck better than leasing a restaurant?

A. Leasing a food truck is usually cheaper than leasing a restaurant because restaurant space costs more to lease due to the larger square footage and prime locations. The cost of fully equipping the kitchen and installing utilities also adds to the cost of leasing a restaurant.

Q. How can leased food trucks attract more customers?

A. Attractive truck designs and well-placed graphics will attract more customers. Therefore, trucks can be wrapped with colorful graphics, pictures of menu items, and the business logo to promote the business and make it stand out. Entrepreneur can even lease pop-up trucks to have more branding opportunities.