Ideal Storage for Your Food Truck Business
Food trucks and food carts are very popular these days, and with the ability to take their business virtually anywhere, truck and cart owners are able to do very well. Instead of running a traditional restaurant, these food vendors are able to set up on the street or in a parking lot and serve delicious cuisine to anyone who happens to walk by. People on their lunch break are often looking for something quick, and a truck or cart parked right outside their building is often too enticing to pass up.
At EZ Storage® we love helping small business owners succeed, and if you’re thinking of running a food cart or truck this summer, then we can help you find the ideal self-storage unit. Whether you need somewhere to store your supplies, or you’re looking for somewhere to park your cart when it’s not in use, we have the ideal space!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Having a Food Truck or Food cart
Food trucks are a popular business choice for a reason: They offer a variety of attractive benefits. They’re usually cheaper to operate than a regular brick-and-mortar restaurant and offer their owners more creativity to develop their menu and business style — plus, they’re extremely adaptable and enable you to relocate to more popular and busy areas.
There are a few disadvantages to owning a food truck, however. For starters, you won’t have much space to work with, and expanding your business can be difficult. You’ll also need to find parking each time you want to set up shop, and will have to deal with vehicle maintenance. Finally, food trucks are more seasonal than traditional restaurants, with many slowing down their business in the wintertime.
Reasons You Need Storage For Your Food Truck Business
There are plenty of reasons you might need storage for your food truck business. What exactly you need to store can help you determine which type of storage unit you’ll need, and whether a personal self-storage unit will fit the bill or whether a business unit is better.
To Store Supplies
As a food vendor, you likely go through a lot of paper plates, plastic utensils, and Styrofoam take-out containers. You may want to buy these things in bulk, but you might not have the space in the cart or truck to store them. This is where a storage unit comes in handy. You can order several boxes of plates, utensils, and more, and keep them safe until you need them. With access on any day of the week, you can retrieve boxes on Sunday evening and have everything ready to go for Monday afternoon.
To Store New or Heavy Appliances
Every food truck or cart needs a reliable grill, oven, or stove, and if you’ve ordered new appliances like a fridge or cooler but aren’t ready to install them, then you need a safe place to store them. You’re making the upgrade so that your cooking solution is more reliable, and we can store your grill or oven until you’re ready to remove the old one and install the new model. Once you’ve done that, you may want to hold on to the old grill, in which case you can bring that to your storage unit and keep it safe until you decide what to do with it.
Vehicle Storage
Whether you’re operating a full-blown food truck or a small food cart, you’ll need to do something with it when you’re not in business — no matter if that’s the end of the season or just the end of your work week. You may not have room to store it at home, and a self-storage unit can be a great alternative to parking it in your driveway.
Our larger storage spaces have room for your cart or vehicle, and by disconnecting the propane and taking out any perishable items, you can safely store your cart for as long as you need. With seasonality affecting food vendors so much, you may need to store your cart for a few months during the fall and winter.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you’ve still got questions about operating a food truck or cart, we’ve brought together answers to some frequently asked questions about food trucks below.
Where can I park my food truck?
Rules will vary depending on location, but most places will allow you to park your food truck in any general street parking location that isn’t metered. Make sure to research your city or region’s rules on food truck parking before heading out.
Do food trucks pay for locations?
If your food truck or cart is in a regular parking spot, you usually don’t have to pay for the location. If you plan on bringing your vehicle to a particular event, however, you’ll typically be charged a fee to rent out your space.
What permits do you need for a food truck?
It depends on where you live. In many states, all you need to operate a food truck is a driver’s license and registration for your vehicle. In other states, you’ll need additional permits — for instance, in New York, you’ll need what’s called a Mobile Food Vending License.
