Food Truck vs Print-on-Demand, startup cost comparison, StartupLenz

Food Truck

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.

Apparel, posters, accessories — POD providers fulfill, you design and market.

Gross$2,586

Net profit$604

Margin23.3%

Orders/mo60

POD product cost$1,008 39%

POD shipping$330 13%

Refunds$66 3%

Platform fees$75 3%

Ad spend$400 15%

Fixed costs$169 7%

launch · 1–3$17

traction · 4–8$604

scale · 9–12$1,307

Healthy POD margins. Watch for AOV creep and price-tested upsells to push higher.