With food trucks I've learned that rules, regulations, construction costs may be bigger factors.
In most cases if you attach 50 grand worth of stuff to a building and can't pay your rent one month you may be legally required to leave most of your equipment with the landlord, and could be required to pay for additional construction.
Many landlords require certain insurances you can bypass with your truck. The public can't sue the building owner for things.
Inspections are also easier to handle with smaller places to tidy up, and everyone in your restaurant can see an inspector coming before they get inside.
Also if you get a bad inspection or bad reviews, just put a new wrap on your truck and it's not like a bad reputation for a specific building is set in.
Which is some excellent insight on why wages are not the driving cost, but real estate is. There are some insurance costs that get carried with a food truck, but I think the simpler direct ownership structure minimizes them.
In most cases if you attach 50 grand worth of stuff to a building and can't pay your rent one month you may be legally required to leave most of your equipment with the landlord, and could be required to pay for additional construction.
Many landlords require certain insurances you can bypass with your truck. The public can't sue the building owner for things.
Inspections are also easier to handle with smaller places to tidy up, and everyone in your restaurant can see an inspector coming before they get inside.
Also if you get a bad inspection or bad reviews, just put a new wrap on your truck and it's not like a bad reputation for a specific building is set in.