FoodTruckr School - How to Start, Run and Grow a Successful Food Truck Business

Today’s guest has made a big splash in his Atlanta community, thanks to some wildly popular ice pops and one stunning brand.

As their website makes clear, the team behind King of Pops knows how to make an impression. They’ve developed a huge social media following and built a community around creative tie-in events, all while staying true to their personality, message, and passion for creating great pops.

Steven Carse is with me today to share some of his strategies for keeping customers coming back, leveraging social media and local press, and building a loyal following.

King of Pops’s creative approach to their business is something every FoodTruckr needs to hear. Let’s get to it!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: William Frank Fox

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

Today’s guest is in the midst of building her dream. Magic Coffee Truck is about to hit the streets of Atlanta, thanks to the hard work of owner Sharon Turner.

Many of my guests on the FoodTruckr School Podcast are already living the dream: Their trucks are up and running, and the hurdles of getting their business on the road are behind them.

Sharon, however, is right in the middle of those early struggles, and she’s gained insights every FoodTruckr should hear. She’ll share her tips on navigating strict codes and permits, reaching out to local food truck associations, and finding the right legal help.

If you’re an aspiring FoodTruckr like Sharon, listen up! Her advice will help you spend less time reinventing the wheel and more time turning your dream into reality.

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: Magic Coffee Truck on Instagram

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

What does it take to cater to hundreds of hungry pizza lovers at one time? No one knows better than  Joshua Goldstein, head chef and owner of The Pizza Wagon.

Josh’s trailer serves up delicious pizzas to the Pennsylvania area, all cooked inside a wood-burning brick oven. The Pizza Wagon doesn’t follow the traditional food truck route, however—it’s a catering business specifically designed to feed large groups.

In this episode, Josh shares how he feeds a crowd and keeps his brick oven running like clockwork. He’ll reveal the benefits of catering over serving from the street and the unique challenges of maintaining a mobile pizzeria.

If you’re curious what the catering route can do for you and your food truck, listen in!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: Pizza Wagon Catering

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

Does the thought of buying and maintaining a traditional food truck seem daunting, expensive, or simply not your style? You might be interested in this radical food trucking alternative: cargo bikes.

My guest today is Phillip Ross, owner of Metrofiets, a Portland-based company that creates cargo bikes. When food vendors first approached him about creating custom bikes for their business, he was skeptical—would it really work?

As it turns out, serving food from a cargo bike is not only possible, but a successful and totally unique way to make a huge impact with a small footprint. Phil’s here to share how food vendors have used their cargo bikes to streamline their business, bypass expensive permits, and stand out from the crowd.

Let’s get to it!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: Richard Masoner / Cyclelicious

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

You just might recognize this episode’s special guest. That’s because Carol Rosenberg competed on Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race with the unforgettable Military Moms.

After being a stay-at-home mom for ten years, Carol (whose husband serves with Special Forces) decided it was time to try something new. For her, that meant culinary school. Carol became an accomplished chef and soon became hungry for a way to take her career to the next level. She found it in food trucking.

Carol’s food truck journey has thrown her plenty of curve balls, but she hasn’t let that stop her. She’s here today to talk through some of the speed bumps she’s encountered, how she got through them, and the story behind her totally unique truck.

If you’re craving some FoodTruckr inspiration, you won’t want to miss Carol’s amazing story!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

This episode is one every FoodTruckr should hear. Today, we’re digging in deep on how to market your food truck.

My guest today is Brandon Lewin, a marketer and strategist with a special place in his heart for food trucks. Brandon has taken his digital marketing training all over the country, sharing his wisdom with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike. He’s learned where business owners tend to struggle with their marketing, especially in social media. He decided to do some in-depth research into these issues, and he’s bringing that research straight to the FoodTruckr community.

Whether you’re a food truck veteran or just starting out, you’ve got to hear Brandon’s tips for giving your marketing a serious boost. He also has a special gift for the FoodTruckr community: a free copy of his Twitter strategy guide, Chirp, Chirp. Check out his guide, and get ready to start marketing your food truck the smart way.

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

Correction from the Editor: During the interview, Pat mistakenly said that Shiel Worcester is from Richmond, Virginia, and that her website is jam-bakery.com. Shiel is actually from Richmond, Vermont, and she has a brand new website up at http://www.jambakerymobile.com. We apologize for the incorrect information. Please be sure to visit Shiel’s website and check out all the awesomeness Jam Bakery has to offer!

Shiel Worcester has a passion for building community through food. But Shiel doesn’t just feed her Vermont community—she’s building her business with them, gathering locally-sourced ingredients and connecting with local farmers along the way.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, Shiel took her passion for baking on the road with Jam Bakery, serving up a seasonal menu of pies and pastries. In this episode, you’ll here more on how she used crowdfunding to kick off her food truck journey and the challenges she faced turning her part-time passion into a full-time business. Shiel also has some excellent advice for food truckers who want to source their ingredients locally.

Sound sweet? Check out what Shiel has to say about building a food truck with and for your community.

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: Jam Bakery

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

In today’s episode, we’ve got another amazing food truck alternative for you: Taco Bike. Cayla Mackey brings organic, local, sustainable breakfast tacos to the Nashville community, all from the back of a bicycle. Not only does Taco Bike produce absolutely zero waste, but it’s also the first certified organic restaurant in the South.

Sustainability isn’t just Cayla’s business model—it’s a personal passion. As a vegan, Cayla grew frustrated by how difficult it was to enjoy a meal anywhere but her own home. She decided to change that herself, and Taco Bike was born.

Cayla’s here today to give us the low-down on sustainable food trucking, becoming USDA organic and REAL certified, the challenges of being a solo food vendor, and what she would have done differently if she could do it all again. If you’ve got a passion for making a difference with your food trucking, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

Image credit: Taco Bike on Kickstarter

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

I’m very excited to introduce Nathan Beck, founder of Natedogs. Nathan’s here to talk about something we haven’t covered yet on Foodtruckr: the unique challenges and benefits of running a food cart, rather than a food truck. Nathan also shares his approach to building a memorable, high-quality brand for his cart.

Nathan’s cart allows him to have an even more personal interaction with his customers than he would in a conventional truck. He’s also had to get creative about using a small space, building his menu, and meeting demand—important skills for any food trucker.

Take a look at the Natedogs website, and you’ll see that Nathan’s been just as creative with his branding. Nathan’s put thought into the look and feel of everything, from the mustard labels to the shoes he wears. And it’s not just visual—Nathan’s grown his brand and connected with his community by partnering with other local businesses in some very clever ways.

If you like the idea of a smaller-scale, more affordable alternative to food trucking, you’ve got to check out Nathan and his one-of-a-kind cart!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

image via Natedogs

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.

This week’s guest has taken San Francisco by storm with his ingenious food truck, Bacon Bacon. That’s right—one food truck, twice the bacon!

Jim Angelus started out in the restaurant world, but when he and his wife started a family, Jim started looking for a way to escape the difficult hours so common in the restaurant industry. Bacon Bacon was his solution. He’s watched business blow up (on one occasion, literally!) to include three food trucks, a café, and a mobile trailer.

I asked Jim what he’d do differently if he could go back in time and build Bacon Bacon all over again, and his answers pack some great advice. Jim talks about sticking to a crystal-clear vision, building the perfect menu, where to turn for advice, and letting go of the desire to be everything to everybody.

Jim’s words of wisdom are a must-listen for any aspiring food trucker, no matter where you are in your journey. Tune in to hear Jim’s amazing, bacon-filled story, and enjoy!

Right click and save-as to download the podcast MP3 file

Please leave a rating and review on iTunes, and share this podcast with your friends and family. Thanks for joining me, and I’ll see you in the next episode of The FoodTruckr School Podcast!

image via Bacon Bacon SF

Pat Flynn is the founder and CEO of FoodTruckr. He’s a regular ol’ Joe and happy family man who happens to be a successful online entrepreneur. When he’s not building companies, engaging fans, or (most likely) chasing his kids around the house wearing something ridiculous, he’s tracking down a buffalo chicken grilled cheese sandwich from the Urban Eats truck in San Diego. Twitter is his favorite hangout—say hi to Pat @PatFlynn.