Food Truck Profit Calculator
Enter your event numbers and see your real profit, margin percentage, food cost ratio, and whether the event is worth rebooking.
Enter your actual numbers from a recent event to see your real profit.
How to Calculate Food Truck Profit
1. Enter Revenue
Your total sales from the event: cash, card, tips, everything.
2. Add Your Costs
Food cost, labor, booth fee, gas, propane, supplies, and card processing fees.
3. See Your Real Profit
Profit, margin, food cost percentage, and a verdict on whether to rebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good profit margin for a food truck?
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A good food truck profit margin is 30-45% per event. Above 45% is excellent, a sign you're running a tight operation. Between 15-30% is thin but workable if volume is high. Below 15% means the event may not be worth your time.
What should my food cost percentage be?
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Target 28-32% of revenue. If you're above 35%, check your portion sizes, supplier prices, and menu item pricing. Track food cost per item, because your best seller might have your worst margin.
How do I know if an event is worth rebooking?
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Look at profit margin, not revenue. A $2,400 event at 7% margin ($180 profit) is worse than a $1,200 event at 50% margin ($600 profit). Track every event and compare. That's what PitStop does for you automatically.
What costs should I include?
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All of them: food cost (ingredients), labor (staff wages + tips paid out), booth/vendor fee, gas to get there, propane for cooking, supplies (containers, napkins, utensils), and card processing fees (typically 2.6-3.5%).
Haven't started yet?
What it costs to start a food truck.
Truck, equipment, permits, insurance, and the cash reserve most first-year trucks wish they had. Line-by-line, with a startup cost calculator built in.
Before you buy the truck
Most people opening a truck line these up alongside the permits. Each takes a few minutes and gets you closer to opening day.
Finance your truck or equipment
Trucks run $30k to $175k. Compare equipment and working-capital options, with a soft check to start.
See financing optionsAffiliate partner. PitStop may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works
Get food truck insurance
General liability is what most events require, often around $25 to $50 a month. Get a quote in a few minutes.
Get a quoteAffiliate partner. PitStop may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works
Some of these are affiliate partners, so PitStop may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list options we would point a real operator to. How this works.