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The ability to travel comes at a cost. A truck will cost roughly $40,000 refurbished or $100,000 or more to retrofit a new one. In addition, specific licenses and permits are required for each municipality the travels to, and can cost around $1,000 to $1,500 for each locality.

Some form of a mobile vendor permit and license is required for every person who wants to use public streets, sidewalks or public places to conduct any type of business. And if you plan on operating food truck, you’ll also need to pass inspection from the Heath Department.

While operating a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront costs much more than a mobile business, operating costs can still be steep. Daily mileage will vary based on where you have to drive to, whether it is local street corner, private place, or home visit. In addition to paying for gas, there are expenses for frequent vehicle maintenance, cleaning, insurance, employee salaries, and inventory.

It’s hard to market a business that only appears in customers’ neighborhoods every once in a while. That means you will need to rely heavily on the Internet: Facebook, Twitter, etc. A big help will be to use a handy scheduling app that includes calendar invites and e-mail reminders for busy professionals. It’s difficult to find a good, profitable route, so do your homework. Size up the area in terms of foot and vehicle traffic, and neighboring stores. Also, other mobile vendors can be very territorial, so, keep that in mind during your stakeout.

Do not to expect a profit too quickly. You should plan that your business won’t make money for the first three years. Figure out how you’ll pay your personal expenses. Save some start-up capital for your mobile business. Also, check out business organizations such as SCORE for help and mentoring.

Additional reporting by Jennifer Streaks