Food trucks are an odd type of business. Sometimes they’re permanent fixtures, sometimes they’re seasonal—and they regularly take advantage of the “truck” aspect to do business in multiple locations.
With this unique type of business model, one could reasonably assume that food trucks cannot be listed on Google My Business (GMB). But it’s time to think again: whether your food truck remains at a fixed location or travels between events, it qualifies for a GMB listing.
Food trucks in permanent places
If you run a food truck tied to a specific address, you can obtain your GMB listing just as any other restaurant would. But in order to display an address and list yourself as a storefront, you will need:
- Permission to represent the location (e.g. a lease agreement with the owner of the land on which the truck is parked)
- Permanent signage at the location, even when the truck is not there
Food trucks that get around
Food trucks can be listed as Service Area Businesses because they effectively travel to their customers’ locations to deliver goods. In this case, the address remains hidden from Google users. Instead, the truck’s listing would be tied to the areas served rather than the actual vehicle itself.
Whether or not you plan to display an address, you will still need to go through Google’s address verification process, which ensures that nobody other than the location owner or tenant uses the information—such as the address or phone number—to list their business.
If you operate multiple stationary food trucks, each one will require a unique address. Service area food truck businesses, on the other hand, cannot have overlapping service areas, so all trucks will be covered by a one branded listing with a single combined service area.
Don’t have a mailbox at the location of your food truck business? Request a PIN instead. This PIN will be verified through the phone number you provide, but can take up to 14 days to arrive. Once processed, the Google team will reach out to you to complete the verification of your food truck business.
Categorizing your business
Once your food truck listing is live, proper categorization will help you more effectively target those searching for your kind of cuisine. A stationary food truck should be categorized the same as any restaurant, such as “Greek Restaurant” or “Vegetarian Restaurant”. After all, as a stationary vendor, your food is your most powerful selling point rather than your mobility.
For service area food trucks, categorizing as either “Caterer” or “Mobile Caterer” is the way to go. If you offer indoor catering in addition to your food truck(s), choose “Caterer”; if you’re solely a food truck business, “Mobile Caterer” will best describe your business and attract the most relevant traffic to your listings.
Let’s serve up some great results
Whether you run a single independent food truck or own an entire fleet, it’s smart to take advantage of GMB and focus on your local online presence. Stationary truck owners get much greater visibility into the foot traffic generated by users searching for restaurants nearby, while roaming trucks can boost their visibility to anyone booking food trucks for festivals, weddings, and other lucrative events.
Want to get more from Google? Not sure how to create business listings that will drive growth for your food trucks, restaurants, or diners? We’re ready to help—and, as always, it all starts with a friendly chat. Let’s talk.
