How Much Does It Cost to Start a Food Truck?
Opening a food truck typically costs $70,000–$218,000; our worked example comes to $113,916. The largest line is truck, kitchen build-out and fire suppression. Here is every line with the range we found in published prices, what moves it, and what it costs to run each month.
Price your own food truckFree numbers first · $49 for the full planStartup costs, line by line
| Item | Our example | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck, kitchen build-out and fire suppression | $85,000 | $50,000–$175,000 | The biggest swing in the budget. A used truck with a recent, inspected build-out costs far less than a custom build; leasing spreads the cost but adds a monthly payment. |
| Opening food and packaging inventory | $3,000 | $1,500–$5,000 | Enough food and packaging for your first week or two of service. |
| Point-of-sale hardware | $800 | $299–$899 | A tablet or terminal that takes cards and phones; many systems add online ordering. |
| Truck wrap and signage | $5,000 | $3,500–$8,500 | The truck is your sign. A professional wrap is how people find you again. |
| Food manager and food handler certificates | $250 | $100–$500 | Food manager certification for you and food handler cards for staff. |
| LLC filing and registered agent, first year | $350 | $134–$749 | State filing fees vary; a registered agent is required in most states. |
| Licenses and permits budget (confirm with your city and county) | $1,500 | $1,250–$1,502 | Health permit, plan review, fire inspection and city or county licenses. Fees differ widely — call your health department. |
| Logo, website and printed materials | $800 | $238–$1,038 | Logo, a simple website or booking page, cards and signage. |
| Working capital: 3 months of fixed costs and wages | $17,216 | computed | Cash to carry fixed costs and wages while sales build. Lenders look for it. |
| Total to open | $113,916 | $70,000–$218,000 |
Ranges come from published prices, insurer cost data and trade sources — see every source. The working-capital reserve is 3 months of fixed costs and wages. Replace each line with your own quotes in the calculator below.
Monthly running costs
Once open, a food truck has fixed costs that arrive every month and variable costs that rise with every sale.
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| Commissary (central prep and parking) | $900 / month |
| Fuel and propane | $650 / month |
| Insurance (liability, auto, workers comp) | $325 / month |
| Marketing and event fees | $300 / month |
| Phone, POS and software | $150 / month |
| Food and packaging | 30% of sales |
| Card processing | 3% of sales |
| Repairs and maintenance | 2% of sales |
For comparison, payroll at food trucks with employees came to 23.4% of sales in the 2022 Economic Census, with about 2.9 employees per business.
What labor costs by state
Wages for restaurant cooks vary widely by state — the national mean was $18.62 an hour in 2025. Highest and lowest:
| Highest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| Washington | $22.69 |
| Hawaii | $22.64 |
| District of Columbia | $21.91 |
| Massachusetts | $21.85 |
| Maine | $21.75 |
| California | $21.65 |
| Oregon | $21.22 |
| Vermont | $21.00 |
| Lowest | Mean wage |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $14.31 |
| Louisiana | $14.73 |
| West Virginia | $14.88 |
| Arkansas | $15.22 |
| Alabama | $15.87 |
| Texas | $16.04 |
| Kentucky | $16.20 |
| Oklahoma | $16.31 |
Paying for it
Most owners combine their own cash with a loan. In our example, $10,000 of the owner’s money leaves $103,916 to borrow; over 7 years at 13% — the bank prime rate of 7% plus 6 points, the SBA’s maximum 7(a) spread for a loan this size — the payment is about $1,890 a month. Your lender sets the real rate and terms.
Break-even
Covering year-one fixed costs, wages and the loan payment takes about $11,736 in monthly sales — about 38.1 orders per working day at $14 per order.
Your own numbers
Questions
How much does it cost to start a food truck?
Typically $70,000–$218,000, based on published prices and cost data for each line; our worked example comes to $113,916, including $17,216 of working capital. The largest line is truck, kitchen build-out and fire suppression ($85,000 in the example).
What are the monthly costs of running a food truck?
Fixed costs in our model run $2,325 a month before wages and loan payments — commissary (central prep and parking), fuel and propane, insurance (liability, auto, workers comp), marketing and event fees, phone, pos and software. Costs that rise with each job add about 35% of every sale.
How can I start a food truck for less?
Buy a used truck with an inspected build-out, start with a small menu and a farmers-market or catering season to prove demand, share a commissary, and keep a cash reserve instead of borrowing for extras.
Can I get a loan to start a food truck?
Many owners use equipment loans or small-business loans, usually alongside their own cash. Lenders will want a business plan that shows your costs, a realistic first year and how the payment is covered.
Related
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 — NAICS 722330 (Mobile Food Services).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census — receipts, payroll and employment.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 — Cooks, Restaurant.
- Federal Reserve, bank prime loan rate (via FRED).
Figures are computed by Main Street Plans from the published federal files listed above. See how we build our numbers.