From UpFlip.
Download the CFO’s Guide to AI and Machine Learning for FREE at https://NetSuite.com/UpFlip
After nearly two decades selling cars and running a successful van conversion business, Charles Levinson and his wife Martha saw an opportunity that would change the food service landscape forever—America’s first-ever mobile smoothie business. They didn’t just start a food truck business; they pioneered an entirely new way to serve customers.
What started as a single-van operation has blossomed into a thriving food truck business with franchises across Texas and Florida. The most impressive part? Their corporate van, run single-handedly by Martha, generated $246K in revenue last year with a net profit of $177K. Their franchise owners are seeing similar success, with even part-time operators pulling in $150K annually.
In this episode, Charles reveals how he turned a mobile smoothie concept into a growing food truck empire, why maintaining consistency drives success, and how their streamlined business model allows franchise owners to generate income from day one.
For anyone dreaming of owning a food truck or looking to transform their existing business into a scalable operation, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom from someone who’s mastered the art of mobile food service.
Resources:
👉 Start your own Smart Drinks franchise – https://franchise.upflip.com/smart-drinks/
🎓 FREE Business Startup Course – https://links.upflip.com/4j2aKtR
🎓Take our FREE Business Discovery Assessment – https://links.upflip.com/4ipzImQ
🎓Launch your business in 10-days guaranteed – https://links.upflip.com/4kMOtls
🎓 Start or scale your business with the UpFlip Academy – https://links.upflip.com/4bIGHov
📕 FREE access to ‘137 most profitable businesses’ – https://links.upflip.com/4bSKKi8
📕 FREE access to ‘8 franchises you wish you knew about earlier’ – https://links.upflip.com/4j2dw2f
🎙️ Follow the UpFlip Podcast – https://links.upflip.com/4kGy2qD
📩 Join the UpFlip Newsletter – https://links.upflip.com/4iMwVUF
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:42 – Fresh and healthy… on the go?!
01:08 – Scale of business
01:39 – Defining daily routes
01:53 – Exhausting all avenues (strategically!)
02:37 – 3-hour revenue
03:08 – America’s FIRST mobile smoothie bar
04:30 – “A scared man never wins!”
05:10 – Rookie numbers
05:55 – Startup costs
07:01 – Self-funded since day 1
07:25 – Securing capital
09:43 – Good credit = Better advantages
10:53 – Best-sellers
11:13 – 100% kid-approved
12:06 – Revenue and margins
12:47 – Fan blitz
13:41 – Only the best, no less!
14:23 – Overhead costs
14:50 – Business bible
15:51 – Advice to newbies
16:05 – Incentives and discounts
16:30 – Phone app
17:02 – Stellar customer service
17:49 – The ideal smoothie van
18:45 – Secret to (effective) branding
19:12 – Regrets and lessons learned
19:45 – Always one foot forward
20:18 – A big misconception
21:05 – Perfection through consistency
21:37 – Plug-in, clean, repeat
22:33 – Dream big, start NOW!
22:56 – Outro
#foodtruck #foodtrucks #foodtruckbusiness
