Food trucks used to be hot attractions in a handful of cities. Now they’re the next hot franchise opportunity nationwide.
IN LESS THAN A DECADE, the food truck industry went through four acts. During the recession, when the trucks first exploded on the streets of New York and Los Angeles, they were a way for underemployed chefs to earn a living. Then they became a symbol of hipster buzz: Gourmet roach coaches would tweet out their locations, sparking a citywide stampede. Then the marketplace became crowded, as restaurants of all kinds used trucks to test concepts and recipes before investing in a storefront. And today, in Act Four, food trucks are commonplace—appreciated for their convenience outside parks and office buildings, but just another utility of urban life.
The business opportunity seems to have faded—until you look outside those two cities.
“I think the really interesting thing is that this trend, which started on the coasts, has moved inward,” says Brett Lindenberg, of the blog Food Truck Empire. “It’s still the golden age of food trucks in Middle America. We o–er business courses on running these trucks, and we sell out in places like Denver and Minneapolis.” And these wide-open, emerging marketplaces are creating a fifth act for the food truck business: franchising.
Denne historien er fra April 2016-utgaven av Entrepreneur.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 2016-utgaven av Entrepreneur.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The Better Way to Fail
The next time something you do flops, here's a new way to learn from it.
Making the Midlife Leap
After getting laid off in her early 50s, Keri Gardner decided she wanted to control her own fate-so she bought a franchise with her 401(k).
A Quick Guide to Franchise Ownership Costs
Franchising costs money. Here's what everything means.
This Doughnut Franchise Is Hitting the Road
To grow, DonutNV needed a steady supply of delivery trailers. So last year, it started making them itself.
3 Steps to Find Your Perfect Franchise
There are many brands out there. Finding the right one is up to you.
This Fencing Franchise Is Ready for Growth
Superior Fence & Rail nearly doubled its sales in one year. How? By stepping back and focusing on fundamentals.
What Are a Franchisee's Role and Responsibilities?
If you're going to be a franchisee, you should know exactly what's expected of you.
This Dog-Training Franchise Is Zooming Ahead
After a rough few years, Zoom Room made major changes...and has emerged as a stronger, faster, very well-behaved business.
What's the Real Damage?
Most clean-up companies just fix messes, like fire or flood damage. But 911 Restoration's new CEO saw an opportunity to help with the other emergency they often encounter: customers' emotional trauma.
Mental Health Services, Franchised
The U.S. is facing a growing mental health crisis. Ellie Mental Health wants to be the solution.