The food truck business looks financially appealing from the outside — lower overhead than a restaurant, flexibility, and relatively modest startup costs. But the ongoing operational costs of running a food truck can surprise even well-prepared entrepreneurs. Here’s a complete breakdown of what it truly costs to keep a food truck running profitably.

Monthly Fixed Costs

Every month, regardless of how much you sell, you’ll pay these costs: commissary kitchen rental ($400–$1,200), commercial insurance ($200–$500), truck payment if financed ($500–$2,000), permits and licenses (amortized monthly, $100–$300), and phone and data plan for your POS system ($100–$200). Your total fixed monthly overhead typically runs $1,500 to $4,200 before you sell a single item.

Variable Costs: Food and Supplies

Your food cost should run between 28–35% of your revenue. On $15,000 in monthly sales, that’s $4,200 to $5,250 in ingredients alone. Add paper goods, packaging, and single-use supplies and your total product cost can reach 35–40% of revenue.

Fuel Costs

Food trucks are notoriously fuel-hungry, especially older diesel models. Expect to spend $400 to $800 per month on fuel depending on how far you’re driving to events and locations. This cost fluctuates significantly with gas prices.

Labor Costs

If you’re working the truck alone, your labor cost is just your own time. But most food truck operators need at least one additional team member during peak service. At $15–$20 per hour for a part-time helper working 30 hours per week, you’re adding $1,800 to $2,400 monthly in labor.

Maintenance and Repairs

Trucks break down. Commercial kitchen equipment fails. Budget at least $300 to $500 per month into a maintenance reserve. A single major repair — a transmission failure or a blown commercial refrigerator — can easily run $2,000 to $5,000.

Commissary and Prep Costs

Beyond the rental fee, your commissary kitchen usage incurs time costs. Many operators spend 2–4 hours daily in prep at the commissary before heading to service locations.

Marketing Costs

Even with a primarily social media-based strategy, you’ll spend money on photography, occasional paid social ads, event fees, and platform commissions if you’re using catering booking apps. Budget $200 to $500 monthly for marketing.

Nutrition and Menu Costs

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Platform Fees for Catering Bookings

Catering platform commissions and booking app fees can add another 5–15% cost layer on catering revenue. Factor this into your catering pricing.

The Bottom Line

On $15,000 in monthly revenue, total costs — food, labor, overhead, fuel, maintenance — typically run $11,000 to $13,000, leaving $2,000 to $4,000 in operating profit before your own compensation. You can also visit go-oodles.com for more reading.

Know your numbers. They’re the difference between a thriving food truck and a money-draining hobby.