What Are The Best Books on Starting a Food Truck Business?

What was once an extremely niche industry, and an item you only saw at the local fair, food trucks are everywhere these days.

And the food!

Well, let’s just say the food coming out of food trucks can rival any brick-and-mortar restaurant.

So, it is no surprise that food trucks are one of the most popular new businesses starting at the moment.

Finding the best books for starting a food truck business will help give your new business venture a boost.

The Best Books on Starting a Food Truck Business

Below is a list of some of the best books on the market for anybody looking to start (or is already running) a food truck.

I have included a list of what I like, and what I don’t like about each book too.

The Food Truck Handbook: Start, Grow, and Succeed in the Mobile Food Business

This 288-page paperback is a treasure for anyone who considers starting a food truck business. It covers the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of the trade, so it can help those who are still thinking about making an informed decision. 

The people who have already invested in that business still get some benefits, as the book details the best practices for day-to-day operations, with checklists and all.

It’s also an honest account of what happens behind the curtains and it also lists unforeseen pitfalls that could set back the business, but really shouldn’t.

That’s why the book is very informative and thoroughly entertaining.

Things We Like

• Helps in outlining the business plan
• Includes examples of profitable food truck businesses
• Focuses on the operational aspects and day-to-day management
• Presents many ready-to-use templates and checklists

Things We Don’t

• Some of the information is outdated or generic
• A bit short on financial advice about the food truck business

You can check it out here

Running a Food Truck for Dummies

The ‘For Dummies’ series is the Go-To tile whenever we want to take up something new, and they always deliver. This book is no different from their other contributions, it’s wholesome, well organized, and doesn’t go too deeply into the details.

It’s a great first reading for anyone considering starting up a food truck business. It can also be a lovely gift for a food enthusiast, it’s quite entertaining and fun to read.

The writer is a thought leader, and it shows in the last chapter. His insights about the future of the food industry are worth reading.

The author is a seasoned writer and food expert, Richard Myrick is editor-in-chief and founder of Mobile Cuisine Magazine, which is a valuable resource on the mobile street food industry. 

Things We Like

• Covers a lot of ground on starting up the business
• The section about handling social media is very informative
• Easy read

Things We Don’t

• Too general
• Doesn’t offer practical advice

You can check it out here

Idiot’s Guide: Starting a Food Truck Business

This book is packed with information, it’s a 304-page startup bible for the food truck business.

It’s very handy from the early stages of thinking about a concept to setting up the business, running the day-to-day operations, and eventually ‘popping up’ everywhere and expanding. 

This comprehensive guide should be kept as a reference to be rechecked after every milestone. There’s something new for every stage of business development.

The author Alan Philips grew up in the food business, he started working at age 16 with the celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Philips pursued studying further at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Management. He’s an entrepreneur and the owner of several popup dining projects in NYC.

Things We Like

• Very informative
• Offers advice on financing
• Gives detailed guidelines on starting up and operations
• There’s a whole chapter on inventory and maintenance
• Includes a section on licensing and regulations

Things We Don’t

• Some readers felt overwhelmed by the amount of information

You can check it out here

Food On Wheels: The Complete Guide to Starting a Food Truck, Food Cart, or Other Mobile Food Business

This book is great for those taking their first steps into the food truck business. It’s short and sweet with about 178 pages, but it’s full of clever details and practical worksheets.

It covers the nitty-gritty of the food truck business in an entertaining and very professional way.

The author is Jennifer Lewis, who started as a pastry chef for a luxury hotel chain, then she founded her own food business in 2006. She holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She’s a seasoned entrepreneur and a scholar of marketing and finance. 

Things We Like

• It contains ready-to-use worksheets
• The part about finance is very valuable
• It’s focused and well organized

Things We Don’t

• It focuses a bit much on the basics

You can check it out here

Start Your Own Food Truck Business: Cart, Trailer, Kiosk, Standard and Gourmet Trucks, Mobile Catering and Bustaurant (StartUp Series)

This 225-page paperback spans a broad range of topics, giving much more than a sneak-peek into the world of food trucks.

It starts with the history of this business and takes the reader on a guided tour through all of its wonders, ups, downs, and everything in between.

This book is one of the ‘Start Your Own’ series of books published by Entrepreneur Media Corporation. They have already produced tens of similar books for various business ventures.  

Things We Like

• Extensive information on all sides of the business
• Fun to read and well-researched
• Objective about the pros and cons
• Contains a section on commercial kitchens
• Gives useful tips on hiring and managing people
• Contains valuable information on branding and e-marketing
• Useful guidelines and practical advice

Things We Don’t

• The author is a researcher not an insider from the food business

You can check it out here

Final thoughts

If you’re looking to start a food truck business, reading the best books on the topic will get you started.