Food Truck Break-Even Calculator
Plug in vendor fee, food cost percentage, labor, and travel — get the exact paid-order count you need to clear the day. Standalone tool is on its way; the same figure is already shown in the event profit calculator.
In the meantime, run your numbers in the full event profit calculator — every figure here is shown there too.
Open the event profit calculator →FAQ
What does break-even mean for a food truck at an event?
Break-even is the number of paid orders required to fully cover fixed and variable costs for that event — vendor fee, food cost, labor, fuel, and travel. Every order beyond break-even is profit.
How do I calculate break-even orders?
Break-even orders = fixed cost ÷ (average ticket × contribution margin). Contribution margin is 1 − food cost %. So a $450 vendor fee, $14 ticket, 28% food cost → 45 orders to cover the fee alone, plus more to cover labor and travel.
Should labor count as fixed or variable cost?
For a single event with a set service window, labor is effectively fixed — you pay the same whether you do 100 or 200 orders. Treat it as fixed for break-even purposes.
Is break-even the same as profit goal?
No. Break-even covers cost but earns zero. Set a profit goal above break-even — most operators target 25–35% margin once break-even is cleared.
What ruins break-even on event day?
Throughput limits (the truck can't physically push enough orders/hour), unexpected slow hours (weather, programming), under-staffing forcing closes, and surprise fees like power or generator rental.