Choosing a Concession Business Location
If you're thinking of starting a concession stand business, then it's time to get serious about finding the right location. Choosing where to set up your food truck can be tough, but not impossible. Here are some helpful hints on how to choose the best place for your business:
1. Choose a location that's easy to access.
This may seem obvious, but it's even more important than you think! You want to be able to pull up and park at the location so not only is it easy for customers, but also so you don't have too far of a walk when bringing in supplies and food from your truck.
2. Visit the most popular parks in your area before deciding on a spot
There are many factors that will affect potential revenue for your concession stand, including foot traffic and live music events going on nearby. Don't make an expensive decision before considering these important factors first! 3. Find out if you need permission for your location
It's likely that you'll need permission from the park or activity venue to run your concession stand, so be sure to check into that as well.
4. Choose a spot where you can make money!
No matter how great of food you have, it won't do any good if no one is there to buy. Be smart and pick a location where people are excited and eager to stop by!
5. Pick an area with good lighting
People will be much more apt to stop by a food truck that is bright and lively, so don't skimp on outdoor lighting! If necessary, install lights yourself or hire someone to help. 6. Plan for a smooth transition if you have to relocate
One thing that makes food trucks so amazing is their ability to move from location to location, but you should still plan on finding a spot that isn't a huge hassle if you have to end your concession stand business. 7. Stay away from city/sewer/waterfront locations
While many of our readers are planning on opening up somewhere in the country, it's best not to invest time and money in a spot that won't get enough people through the doors in your first year. 8. Get advice
Are you thinking about opening up your own concession stand business? Then this post is for you! The helpful hints above and more can be found at the Food Truck Confidence Blog.
9. Consider selling merchandise, such as hats or shirts,
A business that sells apparel can be a great way to bring in a lot of revenue at the same time! If you're thinking of selling some merchandise on your truck, check out this article at The Confidence Blog for more information. 10. Hire someone to help with inventory
While your food truck is a top priority, it's also really important to make sure you have enough supplies on hand. You don't want to run out of items and miss out on making money! If you're looking for help with inventory, check out this article here. 11. Don't forget about tables and chairs for your customers
If you're outside a park or event, it's likely that you'll need tables and chairs for your customers. Luckily, there are plenty of resources online that will help you find the cheapest options for these products as well as some options to get professional designs printed. 12. Look into insurance
Insurance is crucial when it comes to owning your own businesses, and your food truck won't be any different. Be sure to research all of the possible business insurance options available to you, such as this article at The Confidence Blog. 13. Be open on holidays
Everyone loves going out on holidays and if you're having a hard time drawing in customers during the rest of the year, then you have an even bigger chance of making money during holiday season! 14. Make sure to have a website
Even if you're in an area where most people have smartphones, it's still important to have a website for your business. This will make sure that any potential customers can easily find you and lure them in with a tasty menu and stunning photos! 15. Be sure to get all of your equipment beforehand
If you want to ensure that your truck can run as quickly as possible once it arrives at the location, then buy everything in advance and be ready for the work ahead! For example, if you want to sell merchandise, then order shirts from your online store before the truck is even on its way. 16. Choose a great name to have printed on your truck
It's important to have a great name and logo when planning ahead for your food truck, but this may be even more important if you have an elaborate design planned! 17. Look into the parking and traffic regulations
This may seem like a common sense tip, but it's still important to look into these regulations before choosing your location. Once you know all of the regulations, then you can make sure that your truck won't get any tickets or illegally parked during its first day of business! 18. Have someone help you with your grand opening
Depending on how big of a party you want to host, you may want to hire some extra help for your grand opening event. This will allow you to enjoy the limelight while still being able to connect with customers and impress them with some free food! 19. Think about advertising
Even though online advertising is a great way to advertise for a new business, it's also important that you look into other options as well. For example, local newspaper ads or even just simple flyers can be a great way to bring in customers during the first few days of business! 20. Open early or stay late
If you know that you have a lot of traffic, and you can pull in great profits multiple days a week, then consider opening at those times! On the other hand, if your business is a little slower moving, it may be better to open late so that customers can have hours to enjoy the food. 21. Consider hiring somebody to help with inventory
If your business is close to the end of its first year, then consider hiring someone else to help out with all of the extra inventory! Having an employee on staff will allow you to focus on making sure customers are happy and ready for more food without having to worry about getting more supplies! 22.
Conclusion
If you're a food truck owner, you're going to want to make sure that your first year is as wonderful as possible. It takes a lot of planning, hard work and more than anything, confidence! Remember the tips above before opening up shop and hire someone to help with inventory if you need to. Good luck!
Posted by FoodTruckr on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 (18:20:40) (1010 reads)
It's time for our monthly roundup of the best food truck marketing efforts online! With each passing day and month, we've been seeing some great work in this field and we just can't wait to show them off.