More than 60% of food trucks fail in their first 3 years. Aybla Grill is one that bucks this trend, growing steadily since they opened in 2004. In today’s interview, we’ll talk to the owner about how to start a food truck business that lasts.
Saied Samaiel moved to the United States from Greece in 2001 with formal chef training and a dream to own his own business. When he opened Aybla Grill, it was one of the first 10 food truck businesses in the Portland metro area. Today, they have 3 trucks bringing in an average revenue of more than $50K each month, a massive growth from the $20K Saied started the company with.
Today, we’ll hear all Saied’s advice on starting a food truck business that can stand the test of time. He’ll share how he invested his start-up funds to set his first food truck up for success, and how he built a customer base as one of the first food trucks in his city.
We’ll also find out when and why he added his second and third truck, his systems and processes for managing multiple food trucks, and what extra challenges come along with expanding a food truck business.
Finding reliable employees is a challenge for any food business, and especially so in the current labor market. We’ll get Saied’s advice for finding and hiring workers, along with his tips on marketing, scaling, leadership, and all the other behind the scenes work that goes into running a successful business.
Resources:
https://bit.ly/4cjsahO - Start or Grow Your Business with UpFlip Academy
https://ayblagrill.com/ - Find Out More About Saied's Food Truck Business
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:22 Saied’s Story
1:06 How To Break Even
2:26 Tips on Securing The Best Location
4:16 Mobile vs Stationary Food Trucks
5:01 Inside Look on Saied’s Food Truck
6:28 Saied’s Game Changers
7:05 The Margins To Expect
7:21 Let’s Talk Revenue
8:17 The Key To Good Management
9:25 Crucial Skill To Start a Food Truck Business
10:19 How To Hire Good Employees
11:33 Tips for Good Advertising
12:46 The Importance of Quality
13:33 How To Stand Out Over Competitors
14:44 How To Deal with Inflation
15:34 The Most Profitable Location
16:32 How To Find The Best Deals
17:13 The Importance of Reviews
18:27 Breaking Down The Costs
20:12 Efficiency Tips and Advice
21:29 Systems and Processes
22:23 The Advantage of Joining Festivals
23:40 Blitz Time with Saied
25:22 Avoid These Mistakes
26:58 How To Get Repetitive Customers
27:30 Saied’s Favorite Resource
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