Coffee Truck eBook
Coffee, Cash, and Freedom: Transform Your Life with a Coffee Truck
I was a burned out paramedic. I spent 7 years on Albuquerque Ambulance working night shift for pennies. Needing escape, I got a corporate job. So then I became a cog in the corporate machine, working tirelessly day in and day out with little to show for it? Busting my butt to make someone else rich. I needed to figure a way out.
Finds Freedom.
Enter the Coffee Truck. In the Fall of 2014, I bought a 1974 Vintage Scamp Trailer and began the build out. No construction experience. No Barista Experience.
I spent months gutting the trailer and rebuilding it to my city’s permit specification. I scoured the internet trying to find out more about restaurant code, RV Water systems and barista equipment.
In the process, I learned so much about coffee, trailers, restaurants and the food truck industry. But my education was costly. Over $4,000 in mistakes…
In 2015, I launched Green Joe Coffee Truck and my life hasn’t been the same since.
My Coffee Truck Journey
My coffee truck journey has been an amazing and rewarding journey.
I work part time hours and make a full time salary.
I have the weekends that I want off. I sit down with my family to eat dinner each evening. I have balance in both time and money. This experience has been awesome.
But it hasn’t always been like that. I took a lot of learning to get it right. A lot of failed events. Broken equipment. Money wasted.
Having been through the fire, I want to pass those lessons onto you. So you don’t have to make the same mistakes I made.
Too many times I see new entrepreneurs launch only to go BELLY UP in a year.
Don’t make the same mistake!
Less Mistakes = More Profit
There are some really good reasons to Launch a Coffee Truck Business:
Autonomy:
Take control of your life and build a business that reflects your values and passions.
Purpose:
Rediscover your purpose and pursue your entrepreneurial dreams.
Freedom:
Say goodbye to endless workweeks and hello to a lifestyle that prioritizes quality time with loved ones.
Delegate with Ease:
Detailed plans for easy delegation, ensuring smooth construction.
Fulfillment:
Experience the satisfaction of building something meaningful and lasting from the ground up.
Passion:
Fuel your journey with unwavering passion and determination, knowing that every step brings you closer to your goals.
Work-Life Balance:
Say farewell to exhausting workweeks and hello to part-time hours with full-time income.
Quality Time:
Reconnect with loved ones on weekends, cherishing moments that truly matter.
Are Coffee Trucks Profitable?
The very first step in determining the viability of a business is determining its profitability.
Figuring out how much you will make has a couple of separate variables you need to breakdown:
- The Profit from Each Cup.
This equation requires you to look up each and every ingredient in the cup and break it down by serving size. But guess what? We did it for you. - The Monthly Expenses.
Again, months and months of research done for you.. Here’s where my experience pays off. Insurance, POS, vehicle maintenance… I also added in the schedule for when you should maintain your coffee equipment. - Start Up Cost
Different codes/health regulations have different start up costs, so we gave this a range.How much do the different trailers and trucks cost?
How much will the equipment cost?
The Top 3 Espresso Machines for Mobile Coffee
If You Contract the Labor, how much will it cost? Plumber? Electrician? Contractor?
What Permits Do You Need to Start a Mobile Coffee Truck or Trailer?
Should You Start with a Truck or Trailer?
Should You Start with a Cart or Trailer?
How to Price your Menu
How to Maximize Catering Profits
How to Raise Money to Open a Mobile Coffee Business
Raising capital is the most common set back for launching a business. In this eBook we discuss multiple different options for how to raise the capital to Launch your Dreams!
- How to Obtain a Loan
- Different types of Funding Explained
- The 5 C’s of Borrowing
- SBA Loans and How to Apply & How to Get Approved
- Pitfalls to Avoid
- CDFI’s and why you need to know about them
- How to Apply for Grants
- BombProof Best Method for Obtaining Funding
Profit Projection: Determining How Much Money You’ll Make
One of the single, most hardest questions to answer, we need to dive deep to get all the info to make this Dream Happen!
- How to go from Side Hustle to Full Time
- Profit Prediction Formula
- Variables that Contribute to Profits
- How to Pick a Good Location
- How to Approach Landowners
Sourcing Coffee: How to Find Coffee that Keeps Customers Craving More
Quality is key. Good marketing gets them to your truck, good coffee keeps them there.
- How to Find a Great Coffee Roaster
- How to Pick Amazing Beans
- How to do a Proper Cupping
- How to Build a Great Menu
- Menu Items: Explained
- Sample Menu
- How to Price Menu Items
- How to Price Catering
Now is the time to bet on yourself. Let me share with you the lessons I've learned along the way to help you navigate the challenges and achieve your goals.
EFFICIENCY
Save valuable time and effort by accessing expert insights and guidance.
AVOID MISTAKES
Learn from my 9 years of experience, sidestepping common pitfalls along your journey.
CLARITY
Gain a clear understanding of whether the coffee truck is going to work for you.
EMPOWERMENT
Take control of your time and finances.
ACTIONABLE STEPS
Transform dreams into reality with practical, actionable steps outlined in this comprehensive guide.
Table of Contents
Step-by-Step Checklist to Building your Coffee Truck
How to Obtain Funding
- Grants, SBA Loans and Business Loans
- How to Obtain a Loan
- The 5 C’s of Borrowing Money
- Applying for Grants
- The Best Method for Obtaining Funding
Cost of Goods
- How to Calculate Cost of Goods
- Commissary
- Internet
- Fuel
- Equipment Maintenance
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Marketing
- Insurance
Start Up Cost $99 Value
- Collapsible vs Standup
- Framing Apparatus
- Material Cost DIY
- Different Materials explained
Equipment Recommendation $199 Value
- Espresso Machine
- Characteristics of a Quality Machine for Mobile Coffee
- Brand Recommendations
- Model recommendations
- Current pricing
- Espresso Grinder
- Brand and Model Recommendations
- Coffee Brewer
- Different Brew Techniques
- Brand Recommendations
- Blender
- Brand Recommendations
- Generator
- Video: Best Generator for Coffee Cart
- Brand Recommendations
- Power Distribution Recommendations
Permits, Supplies and Miscellaneous
Should you start a Cart or Trailer?
- Should you start a Cart or Trailer?
- Breakdown Pros/Cons and Choice Tree
Profit Projections $199 Value
- How to Go from Side Hustle to Full Time.
- Profit Prediction Formula
- Variables
- How to Pick a Good Location
Sourcing Coffee
- How to Know What Bean to Buy
- A Little Info on the Bean
- Menu
- Sample Menu
Pricing Catering $99 Value
- Video: How to Price Catering
- Upsells
- Code & Regulations $299 Value
- Finding your Regulations
- Health Department
- Do I need my health inspection (permit) if I’m doing private catering only?
- Getting a hold of the county Health Inspector.
- Commissary
- Walls
- Contact Surfaces
- Water Tanks
- Sinks
- Pump
- Water Heater
- Fresh Water Piping
- Grey Water Piping
- Pitcher Rinser
- Water Filter
- Storage
- Fire Department
Two separate floor plans with plumbing and electric examples drawn to scale $199 Value
Parting Words of Advice Priceless
The Ultimate Resource for Coffee Success
Ready to embark on your coffee truck journey? Dive into the ultimate resource for aspiring entrepreneurs. Let’s turn your dreams into a thriving reality.
Curated by a seasoned coffee truck owner, The Ultimate Guide to Opening a Mobile Coffee Business is your roadmap to success.
Whether you’re a seasoned barista or a coffee enthusiast with a dream, this website is your ticket to a life of entrepreneurship.
From obtaining funding to equipment maintenance and menu planning, every aspect is meticulously covered.