Updated October 2026 · 6 minute read
A minimum guarantee is what stops a slow event from costing you money. This guide is for truck owners: what minimums trucks ask for in 2026, how the guarantee works at private and public events, how to work out your own number, and what to put in the agreement.
- Private catering: most minimums run $800–$1,500, higher for bigger guest counts.1
- Public events (guests pay): typical sales minimums are $500 for a savory truck and $250 for a dessert truck; the organizer covers any shortfall.2
- Deposit: usually 25%–50% up front, balance before or at the event.1
- Your own number: fixed cost of the event plus the profit you want, divided by (1 − food cost %).
How a minimum guarantee works
There are two kinds of event, and the guarantee works differently in each.
| Private catering | Public or vend event | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays for the food | The host | Each guest buys their own |
| What the minimum means | The host pays at least this amount, however many guests eat | If your sales fall short, the organizer pays you the difference |
| Typical setup | Minimum for a set guest count and service window, then a price per extra guest | Sales minimum, sometimes alongside a vendor fee or a share of sales to the organizer |
| Your main risk | Guest count grows after you quote | Low turnout, bad weather, too many trucks |
At public events some organizers take a fixed fee, often about 10% of projected revenue, or a percentage of sales, and may owe a business guarantee if sales come in low.3 If an organizer wants a fee and will not guarantee anything, all the risk is yours.
Typical minimums in 2026
| Private event size | Typical minimum spend |
|---|---|
| Under 75 guests | $800–$1,200 |
| 75 to 150 guests | $1,200–$2,000 |
| 150 to 300 guests | $2,000–$4,000 |
| 300+ guests | $4,000 and up, or more than one truck |
Source: Best Food Trucks, How much does it cost to hire a food truck (June 2026).1
Minimums also depend on the food. Profitable Venture lists rental minimums of about $900–$1,200 for taco trucks, $1,000–$1,300 for burger, pizza and BBQ trucks, $1,200–$1,500 for lobster trucks and $400–$800 for ice cream trucks.3 At public events, Roaming Hunger gives $500 savory and $250 dessert as typical,2 and some venues set their own: Cal Poly Humboldt’s campus guidelines say a $1,000 minimum is typical.4
For context on the other side of the minimum, Best Food Trucks’ bookings averaged $28.88 per person, with weddings at $31.12, corporate events at $30.17 and birthday parties at $38.17.1
Work out your own minimum
Market ranges tell you what clients expect. Your own minimum has to cover what it costs you to roll out. Use this formula:
Fixed event cost is everything you pay whether you sell 20 meals or 200: staff hours, fuel and propane, commissary and prep time, permits and parking.
Worked example, using example assumptions (replace them with your own numbers):
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Staff: 3 people × 5 hours (setup, 2-hour service, pack-down) × $20 | $300 |
| Fuel, propane and generator | $60 |
| Commissary and prep | $40 |
| Fixed event cost | $400 |
| Profit you want from the day | $400 |
| Food and packaging cost | 30% of sales |
| Minimum = ($400 + $400) ÷ 0.70 | $1,143, round to $1,150 |
If you would earn more vending at your usual spot that day, add that lost profit to the fixed cost; a Saturday is worth more than a Tuesday. That is why some trucks charge more for weekends: Kogi in Los Angeles has listed party minimums of $1,250 for standard hours and $1,500 for Saturday service, plus a 15% service charge.3
For public events, check the guarantee against your sales speed. Profitable Venture says trucks aim for about 40–60 sales an hour.3 If the organizer expects 300 guests across 4 trucks over 3 hours, that is about 75 guests per truck, far below what you can serve, so ask for a guarantee.
How to quote it
Most trucks quote a minimum that covers a set number of guests, then a per-guest price above that. Best Food Trucks gives the example of a $1,500 minimum for up to 60 guests plus $25 for each extra guest.1 Spell out what the minimum includes:
- Guest count covered and the price per extra guest.
- Service window. Two hours is a common standard; charge for longer or late-night service.3
- Travel radius, with a travel charge beyond it.1
- Service charge and tax, shown as separate lines.
- Extra food. Trucks often bring spare food for unexpected guests; agree the rate for extra meals served at the host’s request.2
What to put in the agreement
- The guarantee amount and whether it is a minimum spend (private) or a sales guarantee (public).
- Who pays the shortfall and when, for example within 7 days of the event.
- Deposit: 25%–50% to hold the date, balance before or at the event.1 Roaming Hunger only treats a truck as booked once the deposit is paid and agreements are signed.2
- Cancellation: deposit kept for late cancellations; set the cut-off date.
- Weather and turnout: state that the guarantee still applies if the event goes ahead.
- Other trucks: at public events, ask how many trucks and whether any serve the same food.
- Fees: any vendor fee or share of sales, and whether it comes off before or after the guarantee.
See which events actually make you money
The Food Truck Business Tracker has an event profit calculator, sales by location and event, menu costing and monthly profit, so you know your real minimum before you quote. Excel and Google Sheets.
Questions
What is a food truck minimum guarantee?
It is the least a truck will earn from an event, agreed in writing before the date. At a private catering the client pays at least the minimum even if fewer guests eat. At a public event where guests pay for their own food, the organizer pays the difference if the truck’s sales come in under the guarantee.
How much is a typical food truck minimum for a private event?
Best Food Trucks puts most private catering minimums at $800 to $1,500 in 2026, rising with guest count: about $800 to $1,200 under 75 guests and $1,200 to $2,000 for 75 to 150 guests. Dessert and ice cream trucks usually set lower minimums.
What minimum should a truck ask for at a public event?
Roaming Hunger says typical sales minimums at public events are $500 for a savory truck and $250 for a dessert truck. Some venues set their own; Cal Poly Humboldt’s event guidelines say a $1,000 minimum is typical for a guarantee on campus.
How much deposit should a food truck take?
Best Food Trucks says deposits are usually 25% to 50% of the total, with the balance due before or at the event, and deposits are typically non-refundable for late cancellations. Take the deposit before you confirm the date.
Should I charge per guest or a flat minimum?
Most trucks quote both: a minimum that covers a set number of guests and service hours, then a per-guest price above that. For example, a $1,500 minimum for up to 60 guests plus $25 for each extra guest. The client pays whichever is higher.
Related guides
Sources
- Best Food Trucks: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Food Truck, June 2026
- Roaming Hunger: Catering FAQs, accessed October 2026
- Profitable Venture: How Much Do Food Trucks Charge for an Event or Wedding, updated March 2026
- Cal Poly Humboldt: Campus Food Trucks and Concessions Guidelines (PDF)
Tahir Abbas
Founder of Softotech Solutions. Tahir builds Excel and Google Sheets tools for small service businesses, including the free calculators on this site. Figures in this guide come from the sources listed above; the worked example uses labelled example assumptions.