Fast food truck or trailer

Market and festival visitors, workers at industrial areas and building sites, brewery customers, and event organisers hiring you for private functions.

Meal sales at each trading session, plus fees from catering private events. Fixed site fees or event fees are paid on top of ingredients.

• Fast, consistent cooking in a small space
• Menu planning and stock control
• Customer service
• Driving and towing

• Mobile food vehicle registration with your council, and often a statewide food business notification system, so check yours
• Rules on where you can trade, which differ by council and may need permits
• Gas, electrical and fire safety compliance for the vehicle fit-out
• Public liability and vehicle insurance
• Food safety supervisor and handler training requirements in your state
• Income swings with weather and event seasons
• Event and market fees can be significant, so check them before committing

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $30,000 to $130,000, depending on whether you buy a truck or trailer and how it is fitted out. Event and market fees can be significant, so check them before committing.

Check mobile food vehicle registration with your council, and whether your state has a food business notification system. Rules on where you can trade differ by council and may need permits. Also check gas, electrical and fire safety, insurance, and food safety supervisor requirements.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue of typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on weather, event seasons and where you trade. Income can swing through the year. Plan on at least around 20 hours a week, plus prep and travel.