Food trucks and mobile vendors
Bookkeeping for food trucks
A food truck is a restaurant and a vehicle at the same time, selling in a different place most days. The books need to show which events and spots are worth going back to.
Matthew Coleman, QuickBooks ProAdvisor, accounting and finance degree. Cranford, NJ. Start with a free health check of your books. You get a quote after we review your books, before any work starts.
Why the books get messy
Sales come through a card reader, cash and sometimes event organizers who pay later, minus a fee. Food cost moves with every menu change. Commissary rent, generator fuel, propane, permits for each town and the truck's loan and repairs all hit at different times.
What we track
Sales by event or location, so you can compare them. Food and packaging cost as a share of sales. Commissary, fuel and propane. Permits and event fees. The truck and equipment as assets, with loan payments split into principal and interest.
Sales tax
Prepared food is generally subject to New Jersey sales tax, and events in other states have their own rules. Confirm with the NJ Division of Taxation or your CPA; we'll keep the collected tax apart from your sales.
Know your numbers by stop
After a season of tagged sales and costs, you can see which events cover their fee and which don't, before you book them again.
Related
- Recipe costing and menu pricing workbook
- Restaurant daily sales sheet
- Bookkeeping health check
- What bookkeeping costs in New Jersey
- Bookkeeping home
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency, lender or your professional. Updated October 2026.
FAQ
Common questions
Can you track sales by event?
Yes, by tagging each day's sales to the event or location.
How should I record the truck?
As equipment, with the loan recorded separately. Your CPA decides depreciation for tax.
Do you handle sales tax returns?
Sales tax tracking and a filing calendar are available as an add-on; we keep the collected tax separate either way.