| Are you looking for a new venture but not looking to | | | | over to a kitchen. These are usually even more limited |
| break the bank? Well it is possible to start a restaurant | | | | in space and but can make frequent stops throughout |
| with a rather small budget and a lot of hard work. A | | | | a day. A box trailer converted to a mobile kitchen is a |
| mobile kitchen can be a great way to make some | | | | more semi-permanent idea and can have more |
| cash while doing away with being held to a single | | | | storage space and have the ability to serve more |
| location. | | | | customers. They can vary in size, shape, and function |
| It is important to decide how your mobile kitchen will | | | | as they can meet the needs of almost any type of |
| serve your customers. You could make frequent | | | | restaurant. |
| stops, never staying in one location for long or you | | | | Will there be a power source available or will a |
| could be in place for weeks or months at a time. How | | | | generator be needed? Needing a generator can be |
| you go from here will be a deciding factor on how to | | | | expensive but makes your operation much more |
| continue with your design. If you will be mobile | | | | mobile. Also, what will be your cooking source? You |
| frequently then you need to factor that into how the | | | | can use all electric, from a power source or generator, |
| kitchen is built. Though you will not have to worry about | | | | natural gas, or propane. All of these are sufficient to |
| mobility as much if you will be in one place for long | | | | use but each have pros and cons. So you will need to |
| periods of time. | | | | weigh the facts to find what will work for you. |
| The size of your restaurant and other options, as in | | | | Simply put, how much can you spend on this project? |
| storage, will need to be factored in with how many | | | | While a mobile kitchen is not close to the cost of a |
| meals will be served. So try to be precise when | | | | brick and mortar restaurant, there is definitely still a |
| estimating this and leave room for growth. Also when | | | | budget. You should expect to spend $40k to $100k on |
| will you be serving? You need to estimate for slow | | | | the mobile kitchen alone, depending on the options you |
| and busy periods during these times. | | | | choose. |
| Who are you planning to market to? The menu is | | | | Another expensive part of this venture will be the |
| important especially when planning your location and | | | | equipment needed to start serving. You will need |
| the community around you. What type of restaurants | | | | refrigeration to keep your goods from spoiling. You will |
| is hot there? What is desired there that you could | | | | also need different types of cooking equipment, |
| fulfill? All of these are relevant when deciding your | | | | anything from convection, ranges, or microwaves. You |
| menu as it can be the most important decision you can | | | | will need prep equipment as in stainless steel tables, |
| make. | | | | pizza prep tables, etc. You will also need beverage |
| What type of mobile kitchen will you build? The two | | | | equipment to serve your customers with fresh cold |
| types we will talk about here are box trailer and trucks. | | | | drinks. |
| A mobile truck is a step truck that has been converted | | | | |