Truck-stop calculator

How the truck-stop calculator works

Most mobile businesses don't come unstuck on the price of the truck. They come unstuck on everything around it: the fit-out that ran over, the generator nobody budgeted for, the rego and duty at handover, and a first month of trading that's slower than the plan. Part 1 of the calculator adds all of that up so the funding conversation starts with the real number.

Your funding need is the total project cost less your cash contribution and any trade-in or gear you already own. Your stake is the share of the project you're covering yourself. It matters because it changes how a lender sees the deal: a meaningful stake shows commitment and leaves room if the vehicle is worth less than you paid for it on day one.

Why there's no interest rate box

Finance for a food truck, coffee van or courier van is priced on the business in front of the lender — the amount, the security, the trading history and the term. Any rate we put in a calculator would be wrong for most visitors, so we don't ask for one. If you've been quoted a total cost of finance, type it in and the calculator spreads it across the term. If you haven't, you'll see the principal-only repayment, which is the absolute floor: the real figure will be higher once finance costs are added.

Testing the week, not just the year

Annual profit can look healthy while individual weeks don't cover the bills. The cash-flow table takes a normal week — trading days, average takings, stock as a share of sales and your running costs — and shows what's left after the repayment. The quiet-week column cuts takings by the percentage you choose, because every mobile trader has rain-outs, cancelled events and slow Tuesdays. If the quiet week goes negative, you'll need a buffer or a smaller loan. As a rough guide, a surplus that covers the repayment one and a half times or more on a normal week gives you breathing space; anything close to one is tight.

Using the event-season planner

Part 2 is for festival, market and event traders whose money moves in lumps. Enter the events you're considering, when each site fee is due and what you'll spend on stock and prep. The planner runs twelve months from your chosen start, adds your regular takings, takes out fixed costs and draws your bank balance month by month. The lowest point is the number to watch: it's roughly the working-capital headroom you'd need to get through the season without missing a bill.

Run it twice: once with the takings you expect, and once with a bad-weather version where the biggest event underperforms. If the second version dips below zero, that's the conversation to have before the fees are due, not after. Our guide to whether a festival is worth the fee helps you test each event on its own, and the event-season cash flow page covers the funding options that suit lumpy income.

From numbers to options

Unsecured, cash-flow and line-of-credit options for trading businesses typically run from $5,000 to $500,000, sized on turnover and bank statements. If you own residential or commercial property, property-secured business loans run from $20,000 to $5,000,000. Which one suits depends on your trading history and what you're funding. Bring your calculator numbers to a 60-second enquiry — there's no credit check to ask, your details aren't passed around a crowd of lenders, and a real person will call to talk it through. Please fill the form in accurately; it's the fastest way to be matched properly the first time.

Truck-stop calculator FAQs

Is the truck-stop calculator an offer of finance?

No. It's a planning tool to help you add up a project and test the cash flow. A lending specialist confirms what's actually possible once they understand your business, your security and your history.

Why doesn't the calculator ask for an interest rate?

Because business loans for mobile traders are priced on the individual situation, a made-up rate would give you a made-up answer. If you've been quoted a total cost of finance, enter it and the calculator spreads it over your term. If not, it shows the principal-only repayment as a floor.

What should I include in the project cost?

Everything it takes to start trading: the vehicle or trailer, the fit-out, machines and generators, signage or a wrap, registration and duty, insurance paid upfront, permits and some opening stock. Leaving costs out is the most common reason people come up short.

What's a good stake to put into a food truck or van?

There's no single answer. A bigger contribution from cash, a trade-in or property equity generally widens the options and lowers the amount you need to borrow. Brand-new businesses with no trading history usually need more of their own stake than established traders.

How accurate is the event-season planner?

It's only as good as the numbers you put in. Use last season's takings if you have them, be honest about fees and stock, and run a bad-weather version too. The goal is to spot the month your cash dips before it happens.

Can I get funding for the dip the planner shows?

Possibly. Trading businesses can look at unsecured, cash-flow and line-of-credit options, typically from $5,000 to $500,000 sized on turnover and bank statements. Owners with property can look at property-secured options from $20,000. A specialist will talk through what suits your season.