"This guide saved us from a $90,000 mistake. We were three days from signing with a builder who had two pending lawsuits we hadn't found."— Maya R., Owner of Smoke Sister BBQ · Austin, TX
The complete buyer's playbook for first-time operators, restaurant owners going mobile, and investors entering the $2B+ street food market. Vetted builders, location-scouting frameworks, menu engineering, marketing systems, and the checklists that keep you from getting burned.
Every chapter is built around the questions real buyers ask — and the mistakes we've seen wreck good concepts.
The honest financial reality, lifestyle trade-offs, and a self-assessment to decide if mobile food is right for you.
→A side-by-side cost comparison, hidden risks of used trucks, and when financing makes sense.
→Red flags, the 27 questions to ask before signing, and our directory of vetted manufacturers by region.
→Health departments, fire suppression, commissary requirements, and how to navigate jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction chaos.
→Food cost targets, the 7-item rule, prep flow on a 7-foot line, and pricing psychology for window service.
→How to scout daily spots, lock down events, work breweries and offices, and read foot traffic before you commit.
→Your truck IS your billboard. How to make it readable from 100 feet, photogenic at every angle, and instantly memorable.
→Instagram strategy, location announcements, loyalty programs, and the partnerships that fill your line every shift.
→Solo, two-person, or three-person setups. Training a window person who can upsell. When to hire a second.
→Real P&L benchmarks, average ticket targets, COGS, labor %, and the dashboard you'll check every morning.
→When to add truck #2, franchising vs. licensing, ghost kitchens, and the transition to brick-and-mortar.
→40 printable checklists: pre-purchase, daily open/close, weekly prep, monthly maintenance, and event setup.
→Three approaches to finding a builder who won't disappear on you mid-build.
60+ pre-vetted manufacturers organized by region, specialty, and price range. Each has been verified for licensing, insurance, and references.
Tell us your concept, budget, and timeline. We'll personally match you with 2–3 builders who fit your specific needs and introduce you.
Already in talks with a builder? We'll review their quote, contract, and spec sheet to flag missing items before you sign.
12 chapters covering every phase from concept to scale.
Pre-purchase, daily open/close, builder vetting, event setup, and more.
60+ pre-screened manufacturers organized by region and specialty.
Plug-and-play model with real food-truck benchmarks built in.
Calculate food cost, contribution margin, and menu mix in minutes.
New chapters, builder additions, and updated data — free, forever.
"This guide saved us from a $90,000 mistake. We were three days from signing with a builder who had two pending lawsuits we hadn't found."— Maya R., Owner of Smoke Sister BBQ · Austin, TX
60 minutes. Pressure-test your concept, market, menu, and budget before you spend a dollar.
We shortlist 3 builders, review their quotes, and sit in on your kickoff calls.
End-to-end coaching from final build through your first 30 days of service. Weekly calls.
Logo, wrap design, menu board, and full visual identity built for street visibility.
Book a free 20-minute discovery call. We'll figure out where you are, where you want to be, and whether we're the right fit.
Book Discovery CallWhy most successful trucks run 5–7 items, the math behind it, and the rare cases where a bigger menu wins.
Anonymous breakdown of an Austin truck's full year — revenue, COGS, labor, fuel, and what the owner actually took home.
The pitch, the scheduling, the rev share, and how to become the truck breweries call first when someone cancels.
Skip the $50,000 lessons. Get the playbook.