Starting a mobile business can often times start small, such as opening up a cart or a food trailer. When you start small with a cart or trailer you have the benefit of low start-up costs, allowing a founder to learn the ropes and grow their business with less risk than going straight to a food truck or brick and mortar restaurant. By starting off small you can build a solid foundation and build your restaurant’s brand without putting too much capital at risk. A smaller operation does come with downsides - especially as you start to grow. A cart may be too small to meet a growing demand if your food cart becomes very popular. Food trailers have the disadvantage of needing to be towed to and from the area you will be operating in. These are just a few minor examples of the issues that arise that may lead you to start thinking about upgrading your food operation to a food truck. Here are some reasons other cart and trailer operators have decided to upgrade to a food truck.

1) Increased Mobility - a food truck is essentially a fully operational kitchen space on wheels. By upgrading to a food truck you have the ability to get to your customers with ease without the need to have a towing vehicle to move around your cart and trailer. The increased ease of moving from point A to point B with a food truck allows your operation to begin testing new areas, different neighborhoods, and different demographics.

2) Increased Portability = Increased Profits - even though food carts and trailers may seem like they are less space than a food truck, they are actually in fact often times more space consuming then a food truck itself. When you have a cart or trailer you need storage space for both your cart / trailer and for your tow vehicle. By upgrading to a food truck you are technically downsizing the space needed to continue running your food operation. This downsizing of size means that you can often times get reduced rent at wherever your base of operations is by removing the need for multiple parking spaces, and removing the need to for as much storage day in and day out.

3) Improve Your Look - it may not seem like a big deal, but looks do matter to consumers, and a food truck gives a more professional and establish look than a food trailer or cart. It may seem silly, but looks do matter in the end when it comes to selling your food. When you upgrade to a food truck you can take that time to also upgrade your food truck’s branding, add new menu boards and signage, and other pieces of flare to elevate your branding.

4) Expand Your Menu - upgrading to a food truck gives you the ability to increase and upgrade the kitchen equipment inside your mobile kitchen space. New and different equipment can open the door to introducing new food items to your menu and help attract new customers.

The goal of upgrading to a food truck from your mobile cart or trailer kitchen is to increase your overall business. By upgrading to a food truck you make it easier to get your kitchen space to different areas, you get the ability and creative space to introduce more food items to the menu, and you get to elevate your branding overall. HoodMart has worked with many food truck manufacturers over the years, and can help answer any and all questions you may have regarding the size of the food truck you may need, the proper type of equipment you should look at, and the best exhaust hood set up for your food truck operation. HoodMart provides our customers with a wide range of exhaust hood systems - from Compensating (Short Cycle) to Perforated Supply Plenum PSP - as well as all exhaust hood accessories such as no weld Grease Duct, hood filters, canopy hood lights, and curbs. If you have questions regarding the purchase of your hood system, please feel free to contact one of our experts today by calling us at 1.855.411.6386 or by contacting us through our live chat system.