Food Truck Business Valuation
Food Truck Business Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for Truck Owners
We built one platform that tracks your food truck business's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most Food Truck Owners Have No Idea What Their Business is Actually Worth
Current Food Truck Valuation Multiples (2026)
Food Truck values are strong due to increased buyer demand from individual buyers and restaurant groups. Here's what companies sell for:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives Food Truck Business Value
Revenue and earnings are the two most influential factors in your food truck business's valuation. But not all companies are valued equally. Here are the factors that move your number up—or down:
Event Bookings
15+ Events/Month
Regular location schedule and commissary partnerships provide consistent revenue. Predictable locations and events are more valuable than random daily hunting for spots.
Street-only = unpredictable
Brand Following
5K+ Social
Multiple trucks or scalable concept shows growth potential. Single truck operations have a ceiling—buyers want concepts that can add trucks and locations.
No following = hard to sell
Truck Condition
Recent Build/Reno
Catering and event revenue supplements daily operations. Catering can be more profitable than daily routes—trucks with strong catering books have diversified revenue.
Old truck = immediate costs
Menu Profitability
30%+ Margins
Strong social media following and brand recognition drive customer finding. Unlike restaurants, customers must find you—social media presence is essential for food truck success.
High food cost = margin problems
Permits & Licenses
All Current
Newer truck with lower maintenance needs reduces buyer risk. Truck condition directly impacts reliability and near-term capital needs—old trucks create constant problems.
Permit problems = deal breakers
Operations
Staff Can Run
Documented recipes and processes enable new operators. If only you can make the food correctly, the business can't transfer—documented systems are essential.
Owner-operated = limited value
How to Value a Food Truck Business
The U.S. food truck industry includes over 35,000 mobile food businesses generating approximately $2 billion in annual revenue. Food trucks range from single-vehicle operations to multi-truck fleets with brick-and-mortar commissary kitchens.
Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is the standard valuation method. Food truck businesses typically sell for 1.0x to 2.5x SDE. Operations at the higher end have a strong social media following, multiple revenue streams (events, festivals, catering, regular routes), and a recognizable brand that drives repeat customers.
Asset-based valuations are also common for food trucks, with the truck and equipment often representing 40-60% of the total value. A well-equipped food truck is typically worth $50,000 to $150,000 depending on age, condition, and kitchen buildout. Revenue multiples, when used, range from 0.20x to 0.40x annual revenue.
The unique valuation consideration for food trucks is the permit portfolio and route/event access. In many cities, food truck permits are limited and difficult to obtain — a valid permit in a desirable market is a valuable asset. Established relationships with event organizers, corporate campus locations, brewery partnerships, and regular route spots represent the intangible infrastructure that generates revenue. A food truck with a locked-in weekly rotation at profitable locations is worth significantly more than a truck with the same equipment but no established spots.
The food truck industry continues to grow as consumer demand for diverse, convenient food options increases. Multi-truck operators and food truck-to-restaurant conversions represent the most common growth and exit paths. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do food truck businesses sell for?
Most food truck businesses sell for 1.0x – 2.0x SDE or 0.2x – 0.4x annual revenue. However, the range is wide. Companies with strong event bookings can command significantly higher multiples. YourExitValue tracks exactly where you fall on each value driver.
How does event bookings affect my company's value?
Event Bookings is one of the biggest value drivers for food truck businesses. Individual buyers and restaurant groups specifically look for companies with strong performance here. Improving this metric can significantly increase your multiple.
How long before selling should I start tracking my food truck business value?
Ideally 1 to 5 years before your target exit. This gives you time to improve your event bookings, reduce owner dependence, strengthen your team, and document growth trends buyers pay premium prices for.
Who buys food truck businesses?
Common buyers include individual buyers and restaurant groups, as well as individual buyers looking to own a business and strategic acquirers. Each buyer type values different aspects. YourExitValue helps you understand what each looks for.
What valuation method is used for food truck businesses?
Most food truck businesses are valued using SDE (Seller's Discretionary Earnings) multiples for smaller companies under $1M in earnings, and EBITDA multiples for larger companies. Revenue multiples (0.2x – 0.4x) are sometimes used as quick reference.
What's the fastest way to increase my food truck business value?
The fastest improvements typically come from: 1) Improving your event bookings to hit the target, 2) Reducing owner dependence, 3) Documenting your systems and processes, and 4) Cleaning up financials. Most owners add 20-40% in 12-24 months.