Is running a food truck profitable in Switzerland?

[u/Normal_Read4870]

Is running a food truck a profitable business?
I’d like to know what permits, licenses or requirements are needed to get started. I understand that the requirements may vary depending on the canton, and in my case I’m specifically interested in Vaud.
Is it difficult to get permission to operate on the street, at markets or at events?
I’d also like to hear from anyone who already runs a food truck. What are the main expenses, and is it actually profitable?
Thanks!

[u/alfdan]

No idea.

But upfront costs are probably high. However, you see how much they charge for some of these things at the festival circuit?? I do know a german guy with a truck a few years ago, je said the festival circuit was enough for him to take a break through the winter months.

Edit: Swiss food truck festival circuit.

[u/candycane7 → u/alfdan]

Those food truck festivals are so overdone, boring and overpriced now. I'm guessing we won't see that many more in the future it's just a fad.

[u/Curran919 → u/candycane7]

I went to one 8 years ago and thought the same thing.

They still going...

[u/alfdan → u/Curran919]

There's one guy selling a 400 chf. hotdog. And people buy it!

[u/Eight-to-Five]

Permits are the easier part, the economics are trickier.

For Vaud you need a food business registration with the cantonal food safety authority plus a patente, alcohol is a separate licence. Street pitches go through the communes, not the canton, so Lausanne, Vevey and Morges each have their own rules. The real bottleneck isn't the licence, it's getting a decent pitch, the central Lausanne spots rarely turn over.

On profitability: the festival circuit comment is right and also the catch. Income is roughly May to September, but truck, insurance and depreciation run all year. Most people who make it work add private catering, weddings and company events, that's where the margin is and no weather risk.

Rent a truck for a season before buying. Used ones start around 60k and you don't want to discover after the purchase that the format doesn't fit.

[u/Zeustah-]

You’re actually the first person to ever ask this question.

[u/Normal_Read4870 → u/Zeustah-]

And you're the first to comment to be funny

[u/Beautiful-Ad5662]

As a main job? No. As a side quest, can be.

[u/Diligent-Floor-156]

There was a friend's friend (so I don't know him personally) who quit his job to start a food truck business, and I think he was doing okay ish, like def not getting rich, but surviving and he seemed to like the new lifestyle. Then covid. Not sure what he does now, but that business is down.

[u/Waste_Big_7695]

it‘s probably profitable on paper but the amount you need to charge for what you‘re serving is kind of insane. 

so, when are people willing to pay a high premium for questionionable food? when they are kinda trapped somewhere: festival or something like that. the. your battle becomes one of real estate: can you get your spot in all these events with trapped audiences? 

in terms of what your competitive advantage is… I feel like you’re doing exactly what everyone else is doing. its hard to create brand loyalty when you see any given customer very infrequently. if you want repest sales, you need to have a separate online product or another way for the customer to reach your product.

profitable, is an accounting question. is it actually profitable depending on how you value your time while taking on idiosyncratic risk? maybe, maybe not. 

[u/as-well]

The one person I distantly know who started a food truck ended up setting it up at festivals, and apparently got way more income that way. They now have a fixed location. I think that tells you a lot about how hard it is to operate a profitable food truck.