Mobile food trucks tend to go one of two ways. Either the truck sees a lot of success and sticks around for many years, or the owner starts struggling early on and only stays open for a few months. If you're going to open a mobile food truck, then of course you want to fall into the first camp. So, how do you make sure your food truck business is successful? Here are a few key mistakes to avoid. 

Mistake #1: Buying a truck that needs more than a little work.

Buying the actual truck is generally one of the most expensive aspects of opening a food truck business. So, it can be tempting to skimp and buy the cheapest, used truck you can find. However, if that truck breaks down every few weeks and you're always having to repair it, that will hugely interfere with your ability to do business. You won't be able to open it when the truck is in the shop, and the cost of repairs will add up quickly. It's worth spending a bit more on a truck that's in great shape and that won't break down.

Mistake #2: Creating too complex a menu.

You might want to be the food truck that makes it all and serves it all — but that's just not realistic for a food truck. Space is limited inside the food truck, so you don't want to have too many ingredients or dishes. Plus, you can typically only fit two or maybe three people in the truck at one time, so you can't have that many dishes going at once for logistical reasons. Keep the menu simple. If you want to get creative, consider having one rotating dish on the menu; make it something different every week.

Mistake #3: Only going to events.

Yes, parking at events like fairs and food truck rallies is a great way to create new customers and bring awareness to your brand. But in most areas, there are only events once or twice a week, at most. If you want to bring in more business, you'll need to also branch out on your own. Look for workplaces that will let you visit their lots on the weekdays. See if the town will let you park on a certain street corner on Saturdays. The more places you go, the better off you'll be.

For more info, contact a company like Shanghai Mobile Kitchen Solutions.

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