Candle / Bath & Body vs Food Truck, startup cost comparison, StartupLenz

Candle / Bath & Body

Cosmetic and home fragrance products with raw materials, compliance, and DTC costs

Gross$2,244

Net profit$-1,503

Margin-67.0%

Orders/mo60

Materials$630 28%

Packaging$144 6%

Labor$1,540 69%

Etsy fees$103 5%

Shipping$230 10%

Fixed costs$1,100 49%

launch · 1–3$-1,362

traction · 4–8$-1,503

scale · 9–12$-1,645

Losing money. Likely fixes: cut wholesale share, raise price, or reduce material cost per unit.

Higher net

Mobile food service with permit, commissary, ingredient, and event costs

Gross$21,120

Net profit$6,784

Margin32.1%

Orders/mo1,760

Food COGS$5,069 24%

Beverage COGS$1,056 5%

Labor$4,752 23%

Fuel$660 3%

Fixed costs$2,250 11%

Card fees$549 3%

launch · 1–3$1,006

traction · 4–8$6,784

scale · 9–12$12,057

Solid margins for a food truck. Reinvest in route expansion or a second truck.