Book as far in advance as possible
If you have a specific date in mind start your search as soon as you can. Popular trucks sometimes book popular Saturdays a year or more in advance. Saturdays in June book fast for weddings and graduations. July and August weekends are filled with fairs, festivals, and other events. September and October are also very popular months for weddings as the weather is typically more mild and less rainy then other months.
For weekdays you may have better luck on short notice but it’s still a good idea to book as far in advance as possible.
Know what you’re looking for
There are a few types of events that book food trucks.
Catering Events
The host hires a food truck to provide a predetermined number of meals from an agreed upon menu. The host pays for all of the meals & services. This is the typical set-up for just about every private party or business event – wedding receptions, graduations, retirement parties, celebrations of life, employee or customer appreciation events, and summer BBQs.
Vending Events
The food truck sets-up at the event and sells directly to attendees. Each customer pays for their own meal. Large public events like fairs & festivals are usually vending events.
Vending with Minimum Guarantee
The food truck sets-up at the event and sells directly to attendees but requires the host to guarantee a sales minimum. If gross sales falls below the agreed threshold then the host guarantees to make up the difference. Food trucks often ask for a minimum guarantee when the vending event profitability is less certain. Examples are first time events, smaller events, or one time events.
Charity Events
The food truck agrees to vend at a charity event and may donate a set dollar amount or a percentage of gross sales. Many event organizers just want food options available and do not ask for a donation. For events that do ask for a donation, the donation amounts will vary with the most common arrangement being a small fee (about $50) or 10% of gross sales . The best arrangements allow for the truck to be profitable while the charity benefits from the food truck presence. When approaching trucks to vend at your charity event remember that food trucks are businesses that must remain profitable to stay in business. It may be difficult to find trucks during high demand in-season Saturdays. Tip: consider holding your event on a weekday evening or on a Sunday when trucks or more likely to be available.
Hybrids
Sometimes hosts need a combination of services. For example, a host may pay for VIP guest catering and ask the truck to also vend to the general public.
Be Flexible
New Hampshire food trucks are in high demand. Popular trucks have full schedules. If you can be flexible on your event date, day of the week, or type of cuisine it will be much easier to book a truck.
Hire Local
Food Trucks NH will try to connect you with trucks in your area (within an hour or so drive). Hiring a local truck can save you money! Most trucks will work distance into a quote one way or another. Some have a specific mileage or travel time fee. Some work it directly into the quoted price. The further the truck has to travel then the more they will likely charge. This makes a lot of sense since trucks will incur additional costs that they’ll need to cover (fuel for truck & generator, wages). Also, it’s unlikely they can book a second event that day when traveling great distances.
In addition to saving you money it’s great for your local community when you hire local!
Parking
Determine a parking location ahead of time. Most food trucks need a somewhat level surface to park on (a sloping kitchen is dangerous) that is free of obstacles. Make sure there is enough room for the food truck to maneuver into the spot. Larger trucks (especially trailers) will need a lot of runway. Make sure the spot is not blocked when you expect the truck to arrive. A parked car in the way can delay window opening time. It’s a good idea to cone-off the area ahead of time. If you have any concerns with the space reach out to the truck ahead of time to discuss.
Minimums
Most food trucks have a minimum charge for catering. Some trucks also have a minimum guarantee for vending events. This makes sense as a truck can’t be in two different places at the same time. If a truck commits to a $500 event then they have to turn down a $5000 event! Minimums will vary. Well established busy trucks will usually have higher minimums ($2500+). New trucks may have a lower minimum (under $1000) as they work to build a client list.
