FoodTruckEmpire Podcast - How to Start a Profitable Food Truck Business

Tutta's Pizza serves up unique slices of gourmet pizza to the fortunate residents of the Dallas / Fort Worth area. Tutta's Pizza also recently celebrated first anniversary being open for business. In episode 10 of the FoodTruckEmpire Podcast, Jeremy Scott, owner of Tutta's Pizza, shares his story leaving a career as a mechanical engineer to start his own food truck venture. For Scott, the drift toward culinary entrepreneurship began with a passion for BBQ and pizza. Eventually, that passion went from hobby to career when he decided to take the big leap and start his own food truck. In this episode, Scott explains the reasons he decided to use a converted FedEx truck for his own business and how a custom food truck manufacturer was able to make his vision a reality. He also shares his advice and lessons learned from his first 12-months of ownership. This episode is approximately 20 minutes in length.   Here's What You'll Learn: Why Jeremy from Tutta's Pizza Decided to Convert a FedEx into their food truck Where to locate used FedEx trucks How Tutta's Pizza leveraged custom food truck builder Cruising Kitchens to fulfill their vision The process Jeremy took to ensure his truck would pass all health inspections The challenges and rewards of his first year owning / operating a food truck  Mentioned in the Show TuttasPizza.com - This is the official website of the Tutta's Pizza food truck. Check tour dates, read the menu, or book Tutta's for your next gig here. @tuttaspizza - Read the Tweets of Tutta's Pizza here. Tutta's Pizza Tour - Get a virtual tour of the converted FedEx truck lovingly referred to as "The Beast." This two minute video showcases the inside, including all the cooking equipment and outside of the truck. This is the closest you can get to being inside Tutta's Pizza without being an employee! Cruising Kitchens - This is the custom builder Jeremy went through to have his food truck developed. These guys put together mobile kitchens for customers located across the United States. Stay Connected Did you know we are on iTunes? We totally are. Leave us your feedback and a review and you might just be mentioned on an upcoming episode of the podcast.

Eric Silverstein, founder of The Peached Tortilla food truck in Austin, Texas, describes his transition working as a litigator to owning a food truck as brief... straight into the frying pan so to speak. Here's what the transformation was like in his own words: I gave my notice (to a job) and three weeks later I drove down to Austin with my girlfriend and set up shop. I knew nobody in Austin. I knew nothing about food trucks. I knew nothing about the food truck industry. I didn't know where I was going. I mean, it was pretty raw. Fortunately, Silverstein is a very fast learner, operating one of the most recognizable food trucks in the Austin area. His truck has developed a loyal customer base in addition to acquiring numerous awards like Food Truck of the Year and Best New Food Trailer in Austin. In episode #009, Silverstein shares his advice for getting started and stresses the importance of "thinking big" when you launch a truck. More often than not it's not good enough to start something as a hobby or in your spare time and still achieve success. Also, Silverstein looks back and reflects on leaner times and the first few months of operating his business. What You'll Learn in this Episode: Why not knowing exactly what you're in for might be the best way to start a business. Why "thinking big" is essential component of launching a food truck Why you should never treat a food truck business as a hobby How to find new parking locations without contacts and why you should keep 2-3 prospects in your back pocket at all times. Mentions During the Show ThePeachedTortilla.com - This is the official website of The Peached Tortilla brand. View images of mouth-watering tacos, read the full menu, and learn more about Eric Silverstein. @peachedtortilla - Stay on top of latest news and location of the Peached Tortilla food truck by following them on Twitter. Eater Awards for Austin - Story from Eater.com where The Peached Tortilla was named Food Truck of the Year for Austin in 2011. 2012 Austin Food Blogger Favorites - Local bloggers the Austin Food Bloggers Alliance voted The Peached Tortilla as the Best New Food Trailer in 2012. On Tap Next Week We publish a new episode each Friday morning. Next week, we'll be speaking with an owner that converted a FedEx truck into a food truck and talk about how you can go about duplicating the process. If you haven't already, leave a comment on our iTunes page. See you next week!

What do financial advisors and mechanical engineers dream about doing while at their day jobs? If you're the future owners of the La Casa Azul starting an authentic Mexican restaurant that's inspired by the artist Frida Kahlo is what's on your mind. But after getting turned down for a lease on a brick-and-mortor restaurant location, the partners of La Casa Azul decided to pivot into the mobile food business as a way to continue pursuing their vision. In this week's interview, I had the opportunity to speak with Raj one half of La Casa Azul, the food truck that is expected to hit the Dallas Fort Worth scene in just a few weeks. Raj is in a similar position to many truck owners just starting out in that he wasn't exactly sure what it took to launch a food truck business just a few short months ago. Raj turned to Google to begin learning about the business model, permits needed, and food handler licenses required to operate in his area. From there Raj asked a lot of questions from folks with more experience operating food service businesses until he got the information he needed. In the coming months FoodTruckEmpire plans to follow the story and progress of the La Casa Azul food truck and keep you up to date. We hope to speak with Raj again in a couple of months. We wish the partners Raj and Gabriel the best of luck in their new venture! What You'll Learn in this Episode: How to transform artistic inspiration into a one-of-a-kind menu and culinary experience Where to begin the research process for starting a food truck business How to locate prospective parking locations when just starting out The basics of pricing a menu based on fixed food costs Mentions During the Show @CasaAzulDallas - Be the first to know when La Casa Azul food truck hits the streets of DFW by following them on Twitter. Facebook - This is the official Facebook page for La Casa Azul. You can also view their unique menu here. Frida Kahlo - Learn more about the Mexican artist that inspired the food of this truck. KickStarter Campaign - Connect with the vision of La Casa Azul? Support the cause by contributing to their KickStarter campaign. U.S. Food Trucks - This is the DFW-based commissary being used by La Casa Azul. They have helped connect the truck with some of its first events in the DFW area. Are you on the iTunes? What's the easiest way to get your brand mentioned on the FoodTruckEmpire podcast? Leaving us a review on our iTunes page of course! When you leave an iTunes review (preferably five-stars) it helps our little podcast generate more exposure online and introduce us to a wider audience, which is awesome. Looking forward to reading your feedback about the show!

In a hyper-competitive food truck market like New York City, only the strong will survive longterm says Andy, founder of Andy's Italian Ices a gourmet gelato truck business. In episode 7 of the FoodTruckEmpire Podcast, Andy shares his guidance for survival in a tough market and the importance of differentiating every aspect of your business from the food, to the truck, all the way to how the truck is powered. Andy also explains how his ability to differentiate has helped his business land press coverage in local newspapers, magazines, and national coverage on ABC's Nightline. He also discusses why you might want to consider joining a local food truck organization if one exists in your area. Thanks to Jesslin23 for leaving us a 5-star review on our iTunes page last week. We really appreciate it. What You'll Learn in this Episode: How Andy secured national exposure for his gourmet gelato truck on ABC's Nightline Andy's philosophy for success in a hyper competitive market like New York City. The importance of differentiating every element of your food truck business The benefits of aligning yourself with an organization like the NYC Food Truck Association Mentions During the Show Andy's Italian Ices NYC - This official website of Andy's Italian Ices and Espresso Bar. Check out Andy's full menu and list of flavors here. @AndysItalianIce - Live in NYC? Find out where Andy will be next on Twitter. Facebook - Befriend Andy's mobile truck on Facebook. NYC Food Truck Association - This is the organization Andy is involved in New York City. The goal of the organization is to raise awareness about food trailers locally and advocate for fair laws at the local level. Ice Cream Confidential Video - Click here to watch the video referenced during interview featuring Andy's truck on ABC's Nightline. FoodTruckEmpire Wants You! As mentioned in the interview there have been a number of emails and Tweets inquiring about how truck owners can be interviewed. Simply send an email via the contact form on this website, Tweet us, or leave us a Facebook message on our page and I'll get back to you. Make sure to provide a link to your website and a brief description about what differentiates your business. As usual thanks for listening!

Have you ever wondered why customers selected your truck from all the dining options in the area? Well, in episode #6 of the FoodTruckEmpire Podcast get ready to peer into the head of a typical food truck customer to answer this question and more. If you've ever wondered why some carts flourish while others fail this week's guest JP will be able to shine some light on this frustrating question. In addition to better understanding customer preference you'll also learn some actionable ways you can improve your offer to hungry prospects. All this and learn about some of the best carts to eat at while in the D.C. area in this episode. If you haven't reviewed us on iTunes yet, please do! Leave us a message and I'll *probably* give you a shout out in an upcoming episode. What You'll Learn in this Episode: How food truck customers make dining decisions The website JP uses to discover new trucks to try How a unique presentation or theme can help your business stand out Why our guest hates bland lasagna Mentions During the Show FoodTrucksDC.com - This is where JP blogs about trucks in the D.C. area--the good and bad. Unbiased reviews only. Bland Pasta Review - This is the negative review referenced in the podcast. Facebook - Keep tabs on the D.C. scene and JP by checking out his Facebook page. Tasty Kabob - One of JP's favorite trucks in the D.C. area. Quick Tip Food Truck Apps - These apps might not report 100% accurate information, but there the best information we've got right now. Check out the top five mobile food apps for your iPhone or Android device here. Thanks again for taking the time out of your day to listen and support this podcast. If you've got any show topic suggestions, feel free to send them my way as I take listener feedback very seriously. See you next week!

It's hard to believe we are already half way to the double digits in FoodTruckEmpire Podcast episodes. Welcome to episode #5! For the main course this week, I talk with Stephanie Hawkes of DFWFoodTruckFoodie.com. Hawkes is a prominent blogger locally within the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) area and her work is syndicated nationally through publications like Eat St. Although Hawkes first got involved within blogging as a personal creative outlet, the blog became a serious project after gaining a local following and notoriety due to her unique writing style and in-depth coverage of the local food truck scene. In this FTE exclusive Hawkes shares how food truck owners can attract the attention of local food bloggers and also leverage their relationships to land more special events and corporate gigs, which are some of the most consistent forms of revenue for food trailers. Hawkes also shares her process for making her food truck reviews as fair as possible, even going as far as to visit a food truck 3 - 4 times before publishing a review and having anonymous friends order entrees on her behalf. If you're not sure why your food truck could benefit from connecting with local bloggers, you don't want miss this week's episode! What You'll Learn in this Episode: How to get the attention of a local food blogger The best way to contact a food blogger How to find out about more corporate and special events in your area The best way to respond to a less than glowing review online Mentions During the Show DFWFoodTruckFoodie.com - This is Hawke's blog. Here you can stay up-to-date with everything that's happening in the DFW mobile food scene in addition to learning the best places to eat in the DFW area. @DFWTruckFoodie - Follow Stephanie Hawkes on Twitter. This is one of Hawke's preferred methods of being contacted. Video - Hawkes is a highly-regarded food truck expert. You can find a couple of Hawke's interviews with television programs on her videos page. Quick Tip If you live in a metro area there are probably already local bloggers sharing their experiences about food trucks online. You can start to identify some of the bloggers in your area by going to Google and entering the following into the search field: city name + food truck reviews city name + food truck blogs Ex. Omaha food truck blogs Try different variations of searches until you find someone talking about the scene in your area then reach out to them via email or social media to make them aware of your truck. Got iTunes? Visit our page here, provide a 5-star reviews and you might be mentioned on our next episode. I hope you enjoy this week's episode. See you next Friday!

In episode #4 of the FoodTruckEmpire Podcast we're going green and talking to Jason Brown of Love Hotdog Co. about ice cream bikes that are powered by the sun. In this exclusive interview, Brown shares how a small solar powered ice cream and beverage bike could translate to serious profits for an existing food truck or serve as pathway to business ownership... No matter what you're age. Brown first got the idea of adding ice cream bikes when searching for a way to teach his two sons a about money and the skills needed to run a business. If you're looking for a truly unique and low-cost entry point to break into the mobile food business you won't want to miss this episode. What You'll Learn in this Episode: A unique and low barrier to entry mobile food opportunity How to grab a piece of the green business mega trend What to expect when operating an ice cream or beverage bike Advantages and disadvantages to operating an ice cream bike Mentions During the Show IceCreamBike.biz - Learn more about the ice cream bikes and trikes referenced by Jason Brown in the interview. Here you'll find more on the specs of a bike like this in addition to income expectations. Love Hot Dog Co. - This is the gourmet hot dog stand owned by Jason Brown. Check them out the next time you're vacationing in Skippack, PA. The Lemonade Brothers on Facebook - See what the Lemonade Brothers are up to next by liking them on Facebook. Video - Learn even more about ice cream and beverage bikes in this YouTube interview with Ben of LearnHotDogs.com, a previous guest of the show. Quick Tip PayPal Here - Accept credit card payments on the go with the help of a triangle dongle and an iPhone or Android. PayPal can also be used to invoice customers for special events via email. Square Register - Another popular way to accept credit card payments from an iPhone, iPad, or other device. The Postal Service / Such Great Heights - Watch the official video on YouTube. If you liked this episode please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Got iTunes? You can sign up for our free podcast updates here. Leave us one of those highly coveted 5-star reviews and you could be featured on our next episode. Thank you so much for your continued support. See you next Friday for another new episode!  

Welcome to episode #3 of the Food Truck Empire (FTE) Podcast. In this FTE exclusive, Linda Jo Kushner of Linda's Luncheonette shares how she secured a $20,265 investment for a food truck using KickStarter.com. For those unfamiliar with the website, KickStarter.com is a crowdsourcing website that allows users to vote with their pocket books on creative projects they feel could be worthwhile or personally connect with. Funding for numerous food trucks have already been raised through KickStarter along with thousands of other eclectic projects from comic to cook books. If you're struggling to find cash for your dream food cart, you don't want to miss this episode. Also, in today's quick tip I'll share a resource that will help you launch a successful crowdsourcing campaign. What You'll Learn in this Episode: Why KickStarter is such an incredible opportunity for aspiring food cart entrepreneurs How Linda Jo Kushner acquired over $20,000 in funding in less than 30 days How to generate awareness for a campaign Advice for launching your own crowdfunding initiative Mentions During the Show Linda's KickStarter Profile - Take a look at Linda Jo Kushner's submission to KickStarter. This is the campaign that raised $20,265 for Linda's truck. You can also watch Linda's video here as well. LindasLuncheonette.com - Keep tabs on where Linda's food truck will be next. Linda's Luncheonette Facebook Page - Connect with Linda's Luncheonette on social media. How KickStarter Works - KickStarter's explanation of the online crowdsourcing process. Quick Tip: Tips and Tales for Effective Crowdfunding - Read advice from other folks that have been successful in raising capital through crowdfunding websites online. How Do I Get Funded on KickStarter? -  Another good article with more advice on getting funded. If you liked this episode please share it with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Got iTunes? You can sign up for our free podcast updates here. Please leave us a positive review as that will help us grow our audience. Thank you so much for your continued support. See you next Friday for another new episode!  

Episode #2 of the Food Truck Empire Podcast is bigger, badder, and even bolder than the original. On tap in this week's episode you'll learn the three rookie mistakes food truck owners make when entering a food competition and how to avoid them with Liz Otts of FoodTruckWars.com. In today's feature interview, Otts will demonstrate how to set yourself up for success whether you're entering a contest or are plan to attend a large event. Otts knows a thing or two about what it takes to differentiate your mobile restaurant from the rest of the pretenders. After all, it's not uncommon for her food truck events to attract crowds of 25,000+. Wow! If you're even remotely interested in attending a competition or major event this summer, you won't want to miss this segment. If that wasn't reason enough to tune in this episode's quick tip touches on the touchy subject of acquiring funding for your food truck. After all, not everyone has $50,000 - $100,00 of investment capital just laying around. Today's tip will provide you with some actionable advice to increase your odds of securing funding from either a bank or angel investor. Sound quality note: So admittedly, I'm still getting the hang of improving the overall recording quality of my show, especially my own voice with these episodes. Fortunately, I've managed to connected with one of my radio friends from back in the day who was kind enough to provide me with some advice on my sound. Over the next few episodes, expect to hear improved sound quality.    What You'll Learn in this Episode: How to prepare for a major event How to play to the judges in a food competition The importance of differentiating your business Incentivize customers to line up to your truck Mentions During the Show FoodTruckWars.com - Get all the details on Liz Ott's event here. The next event is July 27th, in St. Augustine Florida. Facebook Page - "Like" and follow Food Truck Wars on Facebook. Quick Tip: Business Plan Resource - Help writing a custom business plan. Videos and documents. Got a quick tip or short piece of advice about operating a mobile restaurant? Email it to support --> at

In episode #1 of the Food Truck Empire (FTE) Podcast, we've got an inspiring interview with Ben from LearnHotDogs.com. Ben of LearnHotDogs.com isn't shy about stating hot dogs saved his life. This initially head-scratching comment makes more sense after hearing his story. You see, after Ben's previous furniture business went under he found himself living in a 2-bedroom mobile home with five kids to support. But not unlike the story of most successful entrepreneurs, after getting knocked down Ben dusted himself off and began searching for the next opportunity. Eventually, Ben decided to get into the hot dog concession business and purchased his first cart. Fast forward two months and Ben's business had expanded to three carts and he was well on his way toward operating his second successful business. In addition to learning Ben's story, you'll also learn what to expect from the Food Truck Empire Podcast in the future. I apologize, but there are few minor technical blips within the podcast. Hopefully there's nothing major that would prevent anyone from listening. In the future, I'll be continually improving the audio quality and format of the show.  What You'll Learn in this Episode: Why hot dog carts are a low-risk business model Advantages of  hot dog vending How to grow and expand a hot dog business How much $$$ you could potentially make Mentions During the Show LearnHotDogs.com - Ben's hot dog vending training site. All the blog posts, videos, and podcasts you would ever need to build this type of concession business. BensCarts.com - Ben's e-commerce site for hot dog carts and accessories. Hot Dogs Saved My Life Book - Ben's book referenced during the podcast. Quick Tip: Paper draft to AutoCad Document If you enjoyed this episode, please share this post with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. I truly appreciate any help you can provide in spreading the word about the Food Truck Empire Podcast. I plan to publish a new podcast episode each Friday and hope you'll make this podcast a weekly tradition. You can also check us out on iTunes.