Should I buy a coffee trailer business or start one?

Both routes end with you serving coffee from a trailer. The difference is what you start with on the first morning. A going business hands you a trailer that already works and a calendar that already exists. Starting from scratch hands you a blank trailer and a lot of decisions. Neither is better in general. It depends on your money, your time and what you are good at.

What buying gives you

A going business can come with a trailer fitted for power and water, equipment you can see working, regular pitches, event bookings, supplier terms and a name that customers already know. You also get records to read. The cost is that you are paying for all of that up front, and you inherit whatever is worn or badly done. Read what to check first.

What starting gives you

Starting lets you choose the trailer, the layout, the machine and the menu, and nothing is carried over that you did not pick. The trade is time and uncertainty. You have to find and book pitches, win a place at events, build a following, and learn what works. Plan for slow early months, and for fitting out taking longer than you hope.

Questions to settle before you choose

• How much of the existing calendar is in the owner’s name and would continue with you?
• Do you have the skills to fit out, repair and maintain the equipment yourself?
• How long can you go without a regular income while a new business finds its customers?
• Would a fixed spot suit you better? Compare an existing kiosk with starting one.

Getting costs and rules checked

This page gives no cost figures on purpose. Get quotes for any build, and ask a seller for records for any purchase. Your accountant can compare the two against your savings, and your lawyer can tell you which permits and agreements apply where you plan to trade and whether they would carry over in a purchase.