Wondering how to buy a new food truck or food trailer? We want you to be successful, so Firefly is revealing industry secrets about how to choose a trustworthy and reliable custom food truck builder.
So you’ve decided to open a new food truck to share your delicious recipes with the world. Congrats! After some basic research, you’ve learned that a custom food truck costs way less than the $750,000 opening a brick and mortar restaurant costs. Maybe you’ve even made a basic business plan for your new mobile food business. Now what?
Where Can I Buy a New Food Truck?
You quickly realize buying a brand-new food truck isn’t like purchasing a new car. Unfortunately, there are no food trucks ready to drive off the dealership lot. Instead, food truck builders make everything to order to meet your exact specifications and your local health department codes.
There are dozens of food truck manufacturers scattered all over the country. As a result, there’s a lot of variation in the build quality, cost, and customer service that these different builders offer! In fact, anyone can call themselves a food truck builder. Unlike other industries, there are no license, certification, or education requirements to become a food truck builder. So how do you choose someone good?
How Do I Find Good Food Truck Builders?
If you’re struggling with where to start, look for food truck builders‘ businesses with 4 stars and above from review sites like Google and Yelp. You want an experienced builder with a strong track record of customer satisfaction. If no local food truck builders have good reviews, expand your search to nearby cities. Some food truck and trailer builder hotspots include Los Angeles, Houston, Florida, Indiana and the Tri-state area.
A custom food truck is the biggest purchase you will make for your new business. Going local isn’t nearly as important as choosing someone who knows what they’re doing. Remember, you can always drive or ship your completed food truck back home.
What Should I Ask Food Truck Builders?
The next step is to call around to reputable and experienced builders. like Firefly, and schedule a free consultation.
There are a couple of things to look for in a good food truck or food trailer manufacturer.
Firstly, they should have proof of past projects that they’ve completed similar to yours. Secondly, they should demonstrate a genuine eagerness to help you understand the process of starting a food truck business. Thirdly, and most importantly, you should feel confident that they will actually build you a food truck and not just steal your money.
Food truck scammers are surprisingly common and we’ve seen lots of people get taken advantage of. Avoid Chinese sellers on Ebay, backyard builders, and builders that look reputable but don’t follow through on promises. If you can, reach out to the food truck builders’ past customers and ask them about their experience.
Plus, a good food truck builder should be able to advise on:
- your local health department requirements
- your menu
- kitchen equipment and layout
- how a food truck is constructed and why
- food truck safety features like fire suppression systems and emergency exits
- financing options
- food truck commissaries
- licenses and documents required to start a food truck business
- food truck wrap design and installation
Also, a builder should be able to talk knowledgeably about the tradeoffs of buying a food trailer vs food truck given your situation.
They should even be able to field questions about the benefits and costs of buying a new food truck or trailer vs buying a used food truck or tailer.
Every new build comes with a Firefly Warranty
Your success is our success. We stand behind our work with an industry-leading, 2-year warranty on every new build so you can spend more time connecting with customers and less time in the shop.
So Should I Buy a New Food Truck or New Food Trailer?
Yes, but only if you find a great food truck manufacturer that you trust.
Since food trucks are custom-built and the biggest investment of your new food truck business, make sure you are 100% confident in the builder you choose. They should be able to guarantee your food truck will be able to operate legally, reliably, and safely for years to come. And they should back up their word with a contractually binding agreement and warranty.
The bottom line? If a food truck manufacturer can’t or won’t answer your questions about buying a new food truck, find one who can.
If you’re thinking about buying a new food truck or new food trailer, contact Firefly today at (323) 524-0078. We manufacture the world’s best food trucks and food trailers in Los Angeles, California and ship them nationwide. Get your custom food truck or trailer in as little as 12 weeks.
