Burger van starter help

[paris griffiths]

Hi I'm thinking about starting up a burger van as I've been told it's a good way to start out your own business. I'm looking to buy one for around 3-4000 and the permits in my area are 450 per year. I'm just wondering if the profits are worth me starting on up and how I go about it because this is all I know as of yet

I'm wanting to sell more than just burgers and hot dogs I.e sweets pastries milkshakes hot sandwiches etc as I think this might improve my intake

 

[billybob99]

Do you know how to make tasty burgers tho? What kind of burgers will you offer? Is it just burgers, or sides as well? Tell me your whole menu.

 

[The Byre]

In our area, burger vans seem to come and then vanish like the snows of Winter.

 

[WaveJumper]

Paris I would suggest you type in 'burger vans' in the search box top right hand corner, there are loads of threads on here covering this topic which could be of value to you

 

[Socio South West]

I'm looking to buy one for around 3-4000 and the permits in my area are 450 per year. I'm just wondering if the profits are worth me starting on up and how I go about it because this is all I know as of yet

You've been told it's a good way to start out.... Next prove it to yourself on paper

Crunch the numbers to form a budget ... how much will each meal cost you to produce? How many do you think you will you sell per day? What selling price is competitive to get the custom?

Get all that down on a spreadsheet, not forgetting to factor in the fixed costs of the enterprise - insurance, permits, vehicle running, and depreciation of the vehicle you buy etc

It takes some research and legwork to get it together, but it's the basis of a business budget and business plan.

The figure at the bottom of this large list will either confirm to you what you have been told is correct, or that its not a plan worth pursuing....

That's the first step towards going about it. Retain this information if you proceed as a measure of how the business is performing against your budget

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

I am in the transport industry did I ever mentioned this before !
I would think carefully about the future market for fat boy food
Traditionally people like me would have chips and burgers everyday and site in the office on maybe do a long run in a truck or van
Now I like many others am very careful about what I put in my system and I don't eat sugar salt fat or proceeded foods and bread I eat only fresh and whole food
You may not have a market in five years If you could sell food that is good for the body you could be onto something

 

[MBE2017]

I would think carefully about the future market for fat boy food

Now I like many others am very careful about what I put in my system and I don't eat sugar salt fat or proceeded foods and bread I eat only fresh and whole food
You may not have a market in five years If you could sell food that is good for the body you could be onto something

I think the burgers market is a safe bet for many years to come, and most people still give very little thought to what they eat on the road, mainly due to a lack of choice and personal preference built up over the last 50 years.

 

[james_77]

The biggest factor on whether it will be profitable, will be where you are pitched. The market appears quite saturated and there seems to be a vendor in nearly every lay by.

Just from my own observations, sited in a layby on a dual carriage way, not that much trade. Find an industrial estate with workers near by looks better, but these are often already taken. Does the permit dictate where you are located? I would get a location first, then work out a menu to best attract the passing trade. I spoke to a guy recently who has a pitch at a boot fair (which is pretty much just burgers). That sounded very lucrative, but he still needed other income around winter. The biggest issue I could see with that, was the pitch was only via an agreement, not a contract. If you just want to do burgers etc, doing shows and events is the way to go, but I know from first hand experience of trading at shows and events that this is so competitive and really needs years to get established. There are dozens of vendors chasing each pitch. I always talk to these guys about their businesses and more often than not, they are families who have multiple units and multiple relatives to share the work, and multiple income from similar activities.

No I dont think it will be profitable. I think you will work very hard to scratch a wage. But if your smart, I think the hours and lifestyle will enable you to start more businesses / other incomes. You might be doing very well in a decades time.

 

[james_77]

Another post because this is a subject I follow closely..

I have worked at the same job for 13 months. It is on an a large industrial estate on the outskirts of town. 13 months ago.. There was a McDonalds in walking distance, 2 static catering vans (both looked very tired and run down). A food van that called every day, a coffee van that called everyday. I did not use any of these facilities, preferring to drive off at lunch time to get food else where just to get out for a bit.

At present, a Subway and Greggs have popped up. One catering trailer is gone. The coffee van does not call any more. The existing catering trailer still looks run down. I think its a 7 till 3 job, which is probably very easy to run with the same people wanting the same things each day, I am only guessing but I cant see it being very profitable. The trailer is static, which compared to one you have to tow away each day is saving 2 hours labor a day. We now also are starting to see empty business units as the recession which everybody is denying begins to take hold.

Who ever has that Subway franchise, must be raking it in.

By the way, a 4k catering trailer will be extremely tired, inside and out. Likely not road worthy either. New units are around 45k upwards. One selling for 4k is going to need to find a static site to slowly fall to pieces at.

 

[Mr D]

I think the burgers market is a safe bet for many years to come, and most people still give very little thought to what they eat on the road, mainly due to a lack of choice and personal preference built up over the last 50 years.

as more choice becomes available then people will take advantage of different items available.

25 years ago fast food was pretty much all that was available unless near a town or village centre and could find a café.
now there are more options - james mentions a subway and a greggs. both of which compete with a burger van.

decent burgers, great. as an occasional treat. bad burgers and never buy them again from that vendor - and likely never any other cooked food either.

 

[MOIC]

Hi I'm thinking about starting up a burger van as I've been told it's a good way to start out your own business.

There are many ways to start a business. . . . . . . . .as long as you understand the business and have the experience to start.

Food must be the hardest trade to get into, due to set-up costs, experience required, suppliers to source, reliable staff (if help is required) and very long hours due to purchasing, preparation, opening times, daily cleaning, administration to name just a very few of the responsibilities required to run a successful food operation.

Given the OP's comments - there is a lot of researching, understanding and preparation before moving forward and spending any money on a van.

 

[Ecomccountant]

Firstly I would look to join a trade body which will help you get your food hygiene cheaper - this is the organisation we advise our clients to use - ncass.org.uk

I think you should consider a stall you can set up, rather than a van at this point - it will be considerably less outlay but also give you an idea of what you want to do foodwise and branding.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Spend a week going around the local exsisting vans, talk to to owner in general than after a couple of days ask how things are going, you will be suprised the information people will give to their regulars
Just ask questions like "seems quite today is it always like this" " these burgers are really nice, do you mind me asking where you get them from" and so on, you will be suprised the info you get, seems to work on a lot on all sorts of companys

 

[Owesdr]

“I have been told” is not quite good approach to choose a business. First you need to know what market wants, who will be your main customers and where and how you will deliver your goods. You know, McDonalds is also selling burgers, why would anyone buy from you? Think about it

 

[GTL]

The problem in food is that the margins are tiny, the competition high, and the investment required is considerable.

The above applies to just about every facet of the food business (manufacture, retail, products, food service, you name it).

Couple this with long working hours and unpredictable weather.

Success comes with a high up front investment, a sound idea (ie ‘why should someone buy yours?), excellent marketing and an ability to lie through your teeth.

Also, to succeed in the market I suggest you look for niche products. Things like gluten free factories, niche online specialist products (vegan bakeries for instance). Anything, so long as it is niche and where you can make money.

If you want to make a living from it you need a margin. If you want to really succeed you need to sell your business/brand. And in between all of that you need a product which sells, and sells, and sells and sells.

And you really only will know that once you are in the market, trying to sell.

My advice on reading the above - either go for it and see what you can make of it or find something else. There is no ‘in between’. I personally would look for something else.

 

[Mr D]

“I have been told” is not quite good approach to choose a business. First you need to know what market wants, who will be your main customers and where and how you will deliver your goods. You know, McDonalds is also selling burgers, why would anyone buy from you? Think about it

Usually its because you make better burgers. However also charge more for burgers - quality and lack of buying power both mean increased cost.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

There is a small trailer type hot dog stall in town center in Norwich that is always busy, just hot dogs and pull the stand away at night to leave the space empty. don't know his rates etc but looks like a sound business