It’s safe to say that the food truck industry is a thriving one, given how it’s grown steadily over the years. So while there’s a good chance that starting a food truck of your own will pay off, there’s also no denying that it comes with considerable risk. Like any new business, the biggest obstacle is actually getting that food truck off the ground, so to speak. 

There are success stories, that much is true. But, on the other side of the coin, there are food trucks that just weren’t equipped for long-term success, for any number of reasons. So if you’ve been thinking of stepping away from the food truck industry, despite yours having a witty name that works or your being successful with funding and also being able to pay back any loans, don’t worry. You’re not the only one to try and sell a food truck, nor will you be the last. 

Here are some reasons business owners have had for selling their restaurant on wheels.

4 Reasons Why Owners Sell Their Food Truck

They don’t want to invest in future growth

There are business owners who want to keep their businesses from growing past a certain point, and you may find that you’re one of them. Maybe you don’t like the idea of buying and outfitting a second food truck; or the additional capital investment needed; or the need to hire more staff; or the thought of dividing your attention between two locations instead of concentrating on a single one.

Whatever your reasons are, you aren’t willing to take your food truck business to the next level. Whether you plan to close shop, figuratively speaking, and sell the food truck and its equipment or sell the business itself to someone who’s interested in building the business further, the fact remains that the food truck is going to go.

Their skills aren’t enough to take the business further

No matter how good you are as an entrepreneur and business owner, you’ll eventually reach a point at which your skills in management and planning just aren’t enough anymore. For some, the obvious answer is to find a partner to help build the business further. But what if you can’t find someone interested in a partnership or someone with the skill set you’re looking for? You could hire a business coach or find a mentor to help you develop the skills you need, but that would take time and you may not be financially secure just yet for a potential added expense.

If this is what happened to you, rest assured that you aren’t the first food truck owner to realize they can’t handle everything that’s required of them to build their business past a certain point. That’s why it’s perfectly okay to let go of your food truck and either sell the business itself or discontinue it and sell the truck to someone who’s looking for one.

The food truck industry just isn’t for them

Some people are able to turn what they love and enjoy into a way to earn money. Sadly, that’s not always the case, no matter how much anyone would want it to be. If this is your reason for leaving the industry, don’t fret. It’s perfectly valid, and it doesn’t cancel whatever reasons you had for thinking of starting a food truck business in the first place.

The truth is, even if you enjoy making food and experimenting in the kitchen, doing it every day and under the pressure of making a profit can be draining. Or perhaps you did like the challenge of coming up with a menu that no other food truck in your area had, and now that you’ve done it, your thoughts and energies are drifting away from the business. Maybe you do have a good mind for business, but one that’s in a completely different industry. 

Whatever your circumstances, something led you to decide or to realize that running a food truck just wasn’t a good fit for you.

Running a food truck is no longer fun

Believe it or not, food truck owners can and do experience burnout, just like anyone would in any other industry. This reason could also be connected to the first one, with an owner realizing running a food truck isn’t for them because of how quickly they stopped having fun. Even if you have a passion for the food industry and a good business plan, there could just be something about a mobile food business that sucks the fun out of your everyday efforts.

Bottom Line

So remember, just as with the above reason, if you find that being the owner of a food truck is no longer enjoyable, it’s an entirely legitimate reason to leave the industry.

Before you go ahead and plan for selling the food truck, though, you’ll want to be sure that you’re ready to sell it. Once you put a price tag on it, find a buyer, and sign the sales documents, you can’t redo everything. 

Check out this article to find out When is the Right Time to Sell Your Food Truck.

No matter how successful the business was, if you can’t imagine yourself not running it, you may have just hit a slump that’s making you feel it’s time to seek success elsewhere. Of course, if you can see yourself doing something other than planning your next promotional campaign for the food truck, then selling it may be the best thing you can do at this point. 

Whatever your reasons may be for wanting to sell your truck, remember that you don’t have to justify your decision to anyone. You know yourself best, after all. 

Not sure where to go to start selling your food truck? Visit UsedVending.com for more information.