So you want to start a food truck... Great! Food trucks can provide amazing opportunities for expansion, restaurant ownership and a way to get your name and signature dishes in front the public. They still remain one of the fastest and least expensive ways to start a food service business. However, before you drop thousands of your hard earned dollars or take out a loan to start your food truck, consider taking a temporary job or volunteering to shadow a current food truck operator before you make the jump.

S-A-L-E-S. You're in the food truck business, but first and foremost you're in the sales business. It seems that many food truck operators underestimate the importance of sales. I've eaten at trucks with average food, but amazing branding and sales staff. I've also eaten at many trucks with terrible branding and customer service, but some of the best food I've ever tasted. You can be successful somewhere in the middle, but why not be great at both food and sales? I can't help with your food, but here are some tips to be better than average in sales:

As a frequent eater of many food trucks I’ve seen all types of menus; short ones, long ones, easy ones and complicated ones. You probably have invested a tremendous amount of time and creative thought into your menu. However, you want to be sure your customers can understand it and order quickly.

I understand you are extremely busy. Operating a food truck is one of the most demanding businesses possible. It's hard to squeeze in marketing and branding when you're up early prepping for the day and up late cleaning your truck and paying bills. However, branding is essential to the success of your business. You need your name and food to be known by your customers and your soon to be customers.