Ready to quit your 9 to 5 and take your financial freedom into your own hands? Starting your own food truck may be a way to do that.
A food truck is essentially a mobile restaurant. It’s for culinary enthusiasts who want flexibility. Knowledge of food safety regulations, operational efficiency, and a unique menu can set you apart. Scouting popular locations is also essential. If you are able to offer a great product, you can see your business really take off.
On this page, you’ll find the data, tips, tools, and resources you need to start a food truck in Louisiana.
If you’re new to the entrepreneurial journey, starting your own business may seem like a daunting task. Luckily, QuickBoilBusiness.com has the information and resources to help simplify the process and get your venture on the right track. You can find more helpful resource at the links below:
- How to Start a Business
- Starting a Business in Louisiana
- Tips for Starting a Food Truck
Louisiana Food Truck Overview & The Local Business Landscape
Whenever you start a new venture, it’s a good idea to get an idea of the existing business landscape.
To do this, you can take a look at both state-wide trends as well as food truck trends in your local area.
First, let’s dive into some data from the U.S. Census Bureau along with the Small Business Administration to analyze trends for businesses in the same category.
For a food truck, we can use data from other small businesses in the Special Food Services (722300) NAICS category.
Since many small businesses are started as solo-ventures or small partnerships with no employees, let’s first check out non-employer business data for food trucks from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Non Employer Statistics (NES) .
Here we can see the number of non-employer food trucks and similar businesses in Louisiana in the same category broken down by legal structure and revenues.
| Food Truck Type | Number of Establishments | Total Receipts ($1,000s) |
|---|---|---|
| Sole Proprietorship | 5,026 | $101,896.00 |
| Partnership | 131 | $13,901.00 |
| C Corp | 12 | $947.00 |
| S Corp | 67 | $7,216.00 |
In Louisiana, there are 5,236 total Food Truck and similar businesses non employer establishments which bring in total revenues of $123,960.00 (x $1,000). These can be further broken down by legal structure:
- Special Food Services Sole Proprietorships account for 5,026 establishments and $101,896.00 total receipts ($1,000).
- Special Food Services Partnerships account for 131 establishments and $13,901.00 total receipts ($1,000).
- Special Food Services C-Corps and S-Corps account for 12 and 67 establishments and $947.00 and $7,216.00 total receipts ($1,000), respectively.
As you’re just starting out with your own food truck, you’ll likely get started as a sole proprietor or form your own Louisiana LLC (more on that below).
Louisiana Food Truck Small Business Data
We can also take a look at more food trucks in Louisiana using small business data and County Business Patterns from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
This data provides information on small businesses in the Special Food Services category with employees. As your own food truck continues to grow, you may find the need to hire your own employees yourself.
It can be useful to get an idea of the landscape for other food trucks and businesses in the same category based on employment numbers, annual payrolls, and total revenues.
| Business Size (# of Employees) | Total Firms | Employment | Annual Payroll ($1,000) | Annual Revenues ($1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <5 | 125 | 206 | $5,457.00 | $35,351.00 |
| 5-9 | 53 | 357 | $7,547.00 | $29,329.00 |
| 10-19 | 38 | 536 | $9,750.00 | $43,795.00 |
| 20-99 | 51 | 1,911 | $46,446.00 | $102,887.00 |
| 100-499 | 9 | 887 | $46,446.00 | $206,099.00 |
| 500+ | 13 | 8,647 | $218,662.00 | $683,585.00 |
Looking at the data for food trucks and similar establishments with employees in the NAICS category Special Food Services, we see 289 total businesses, 12,544 employees, annual payrolls of $322,701.00 ($1,000), and annual revenues of $1,101,046.00 ($1,000).
Businesses with less than 20 employees account for 216 of the total and account for $108,475.00 ($1,000) annual revenue.
Food Truck Startup Checklist
So, now you’ve got the lay of the land for your food truck in Louisiana.
Next, you’re ready to start laying out your business plan and getting ready to launch.
Here’s a simple checklist for starting your food truck.
Food Truck Checklist
At this point you’re ready to hit the ground running!
You can dive into the details with some of our free business planning tools including:
- Startup Cost Calculator.
- Profit/Loss Calculator.
- Small Business Insurance Guide.
How to Form an LLC for Your Louisiana Food Truck
Forming an LLC is a great way to launch your food truck simply and quickly while benefitting from the protection and separation from your personal and business assets.
You main options for forming an LLC for your food truck in Louisiana include:
- Doing it yourself with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
- Using an LLC formation service.
- Hiring a lawyer.
Those options are listed from least expensive to most expensive.
No matter what, you’ll always have to pay Louisiana formation and filing fees when starting your Food Truck LLC.
Louisiana LLC Formation Fee: $100.00
We’ll give you an overview of the Louisiana LLC formation process below.
More details can be found on the website for the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Step 1: Naming Your Food Truck
The first step will be choosing a name for your food truck that isn’t already in use in Louisiana.
The name must include “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.”, or “L.C.”. Confirm the name’s uniqueness by consulting the Louisiana Secretary of State’s business name database. You can reserve a name for up to 60 days with a fee of $10.
Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent for Your Louisiana LLC
This can typically either be yourself, another member of your company, or a 3rd party registered agent (that is often available through most LLC formation services).
Every Louisiana LLC must have an agent for service of process in the state. This can be an individual who resides in Louisiana, a Louisiana individual attorney, a partnership, or a domestic or foreign corporation authorized to act as a registered agent in Louisiana. The agent must have a physical street address in Louisiana.
Step 3: Certificate of Formation
File the Articles of Organization Limited Liability Company with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The articles may be filed online or by mail, email, or fax. Online filing is required for LLCs located in certain parishes. The filing fee is $100.
Step 4: Maintain Your Louisiana LLC
While not mandatory in Louisiana, it’s advisable to have an internal document that details the operation of your LLC. If your LLC has more than one member or if a single-member LLC has employees or opts for corporate taxation, you’ll need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. If you file the LLC’s Articles of Organization online, an EIN is required.
All LLCs doing business in Louisiana must file an annual report with the Secretary of State every year on or before the anniversary date of organizing or qualifying in Louisiana. The annual report must be filed online.
Insurance for Your Food Truck
Common coverages for the typical food truck may include business owner’s policy, workers’ compensation insurance, general liability insurance, and commercial auto insurance..
We’ll get into some more coverage explanations and estimated annual and monthly premiums for businesses in categories like Special Food Services below.
Business Owner’s Policy
A Business Owner’s Policy is a cost-effective plan that combines commercial property insurance and general liability insurance. Best suited for businesses needing coverage for customer injury, damaged business property, and business interruption incidents.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
A Worker’s Comp policy is often mandatory in almost every state for businesses with employees. It also covers sole proprietors against work injury costs not covered by health insurance. It’s ideal for businesses needing coverage for employee medical expenses, missed wages, and legal costs.
General Liability Insurance
A general liability policy protects against common risks such as bodily injuries, property damage, and advertising injuries. It’s frequently required for commercial leases. It’s ideal for businesses seeking coverage for slip-and-fall accidents, damaged customer property, and potential libel or slander lawsuits.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance is generally required for business-owned vehicles. It covers costs of vehicle accidents, theft, or vandalism. It’s ideal for businesses that use vehicles in their day-to-day operations and are seeking protection against car accidents, vandalism, theft, and weather damage.
Cost of Insurance for Your Louisiana Food Truck
| Coverage Type | Est. Monthly Cost | Est. Annual Cost |
| General Liability | $40.00 | $480.00 |
| Business Owner’s Policy | $130.00 | $1,560.00 |
| Commercial Umbrella | $65.00 | $780.00 |
| Commercial Auto | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
Choosing the right coverage for your unique business need will insure you’re ready for the risk that come along with running your food truck.
Be sure to review your coverages at least annually and compare quotes to make sure that you’re getting the most competitive price.
How much do food trucks make in Louisiana?
Before you get into any venture, it’s a good idea to see how similar businesses are doing and to take a look at salaries and wage data for comparable occupations.
Knowing this can help you decide how much you should pay yourself and how much you should put back into growing your food truck.
For this, we’ll take a look at wage and salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
We’ll take a look at both the mean hourly and annual wages along with the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles for a variety of positions within food trucks and other businesses operating in Special Food Services.
Hourly wages for Louisiana food trucks
| Percentile | Hourly Wage |
| 10th | $8.55 |
| 25th | $10.17 |
| 50th | $12.23 |
| 75th | $14.39 |
| 90th | $19.08 |
Annual wages for Louisiana food trucks
| Percentile | Annual Wage |
| 10th | $17,770.00 |
| 25th | $21,160.00 |
| 50th | $25,430.00 |
| 75th | $29,930.00 |
| 90th | $39,690.00 |
For those working in food trucks and similar small businesses, the average hourly wage is $13.59, and the average annual salary is $28,260.00.
From the 10th to 90th percentiles, hourly wages for food trucks in Louisiana range from $8.55 to $19.08.
Food Truck annual wages in Louisiana range from $17,770.00 to $39,690.00.
When you’re running your own food truck, you’ll get to decide exactly how much you’ll compensate yourself.It can be tricky to know exactly how much to charge.
That’s why we created our Service Pricing Wizard.
This tool allows you to experiment with pricing variables for you specific food truck to see what your hourly wage and profit margin on expenses would look like a different price points.
And from there, it’s a matter of learning as you go, adapting to challenges, and delivering the best service to your customers.
Good luck on your new venture! Louisiana and your local communities are lucky to have your food truck joining the ranks of small businesses.
Be sure to come back to QuickBoilBusiness.com for tips on how to grow your business, how to maximize profits, and for free small business tools and resources designed to help you succeed.
Alright, let's break it down. It's clear from the text that the focus is on starting a food truck in Louisiana, with an emphasis on providing comprehensive information for aspiring entrepreneurs. The content covers various aspects, from analyzing market trends and business data to practical steps like forming an LLC and obtaining necessary permits.
Market Analysis and Business Landscape in Louisiana:
- The article utilizes data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Small Business Administration to analyze trends in the Special Food Services category.
- It breaks down the number of non-employer food trucks in Louisiana by legal structure and revenues, providing a detailed snapshot of the local business landscape.
Louisiana Food Truck Small Business Data:
- The data expands to include information on food trucks with employees, covering business size, total firms, employment, annual payroll, and annual revenues.
Food Truck Startup Checklist:
- A practical checklist is provided for those starting a food truck, including market research, business planning, startup costs, registration, permits, insurance, equipment, finances, and taxes.
How to Form an LLC for Your Louisiana Food Truck:
- The article outlines the steps to form an LLC in Louisiana, including naming, appointing a registered agent, filing the Certificate of Formation, and maintaining the LLC.
Insurance for Your Food Truck:
- It discusses common coverages such as Business Owner’s Policy, Workers’ Compensation Insurance, General Liability Insurance, and Commercial Auto Insurance. Estimated monthly and annual costs for each coverage type are provided.
How much do food trucks make in Louisiana?
- The article explores wage and salary data for various positions within food trucks, providing percentiles for hourly and annual wages. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the financial landscape before setting pricing for your food truck.
Closing Words:
- The article encourages entrepreneurs to use free business planning tools and expresses support for their venture, highlighting the significance of small businesses in Louisiana.
In essence, it's a comprehensive guide that blends practical advice with data-driven insights, catering to individuals looking to navigate the complexities of starting and running a successful food truck business in Louisiana.
