Am I crazy?

A little background: My buddy and I each go to very well respected undergrad universities (which is neither here nor there, just providing perspective). We have both done very well in school and each are on track for promising non-business professional careers. We've known each other since high school and have always had a bit of an entrepreneurial spirit: selling t-shirts, etc. We've always half joked that we would one day launch a business together.

Well, a few weeks ago we were talking and we realized that all we talk about is food, especially the food we make. I said we should open a restaurant and we just kind of started looking in to it. Starting a full scale restaurant right out of college is pretty unrealistic, but lately I've starred looking into food trucks. I'm starting to think it may not be such a wild idea.

Our concept would be an upscale burger truck using only fresh and local ingredients. The town we live in has absolutely no food trucks. It also is full of chain and fast food restaurants. However it also has a decent population (300k), a good bar scene, and a very large university (35k students). The truck would mainly cater towards the lunch student/business crowd and the late night crowd. We have done minimal research on regulations, costs, locations, etc so we have a rough idea of what it takes.

Obviously, there are a lot of hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is financing. But we're seriously considering taking a year off from the "real world" after undergrad and trying to make this work. Neither of us are wealthy or come from very wealthy families so we would have to start really small or come up with creative ways to make some money. But we're still very young and will always have jobs, grad school, etc in our back pocket. My thinking is we take a year to get this off the ground, and if it doesn't work after that, so be it. I just don't want to start a regular 9-5 job and get stuck knowing this is what I want to do.

So my question is, am I crazy for wanting to do this? I realize we're young and inexperienced but that may just work to our advantage. Your thoughts would be great. Thanks!

Hey, people told Bill Gates and Steve Jobs they were crazy to. THis could be a great adventure with the right product, a lot of enthusiasm, and know how. Take a  look at the Skillet in Seattle, there are others, but these guys do it right...............Welcome to Roadfood, it doesn't take any money to talk about it, learn from the people in here, get the ups and downs of the business..............The Best......... pnwc
Skillet Street Food

bgrdrdr

So my question is, am I crazy for wanting to do this? I realize we're young and inexperienced but that may just work to our advantage. Your thoughts would be great. Thanks!

 
Henry David Thoreau had something to say about this question... 



Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away

 
and...
 

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation

 
You're not going to be an accountant by chance? If so, I recommend the food truck. This from a guy who's been there and done that.
 
 

Get investors, to speed things up - if you can get them in you know you may succeed.

I kind of wished I went into the pizza business rather than spending my career doing underwriting.

You need to list where you're located so we have a better idea of how to help you. We may know someone in your area who can help you or recommend places you can go to get help. For example, you mentioned you're in a College town. If you're near New Brunswick NJ, go talk to the "Grease Truck" owners near Rutgers University.
http://mobile-cuisine.com/vendrtv/the-grease-trucks-rutgers-university-new-brunswick-nj/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z80aqqbG3c
Buying a franchise might be an option;
http://www.mobilefoodfranchises.com/
A source for info:
http://www.mobilefoodnews.com/
If you're planning on locating close to the University, expect STRONG OPPOSITION from Brick & Mortar places who make their living off of the University traffic. Plan for Attorney Fees and Legal Costs. The Chains have deep pockets and will try to block you. Be sure to do 100% "Due Diligence" BEFORE spending a Dime on a truck!

You're talking about doing upscale Burgers.
What about doing Upscale or unusual Sliders?
Easier for the customers to handle a Slider than it is to hold a loaded burger.
Here's 21 Slider Recipes;
http://www.stilettosetsports.com/21-super-slider-mini-burger-recipes-for-football-parties/
Set up close to the Football Stadium and sell to Tailgaters!

There are many sources about those who took a shot and became wildly successful.   Unfortunately there are not as many from those (the vast majority) who failed. Some suggestions from someone who has experience starting a small business that eventually failed.
 
A. The real cost to get started is always double what you thought it would be, even after you have doubled what you thought it would be.
 
B. There is at least twice as much unglamourous, tedious, boring, frustrating and unfun work (like accounting, unreliable suppliers, indecipherable regulations, unrealistic cistomers) as there is the work you are looking forward to (like preparing and providing a quality product to happy customers).
 
C. There will  never be a better time to take a chance on this type of adventure than where you are now. 
 
D. Depending on the type of career you have trained for it may be more important to get at least started on a career path.  Some professions (engineering is one) are MUCH harder to find entry positions  if you don't find one right out of school.  Others, not so much.
 
E. Even if you fail you will have had an extremely useful experience that will serve the rest of your career and be a help on most any resume.  It can also be personally fulfilling on many levels in spite of lack of financial success.
 
F.  Many will advise to make a career of what you love to do and work will not feel like work.  Not many warn that making your pleasure into a job CAN make what you enjoy into work.
 
G.  In a practical sense, get some experience.  Search for an existing food truck owner who is willing to provide an internship.  Even if you have to work for free the education that you'll get in one day will be worth more than anyone here could ever supply.
 
ed

Think about getting a job at a burger joint; part time, weekend,??.  even for a month or two is better than no experience.      It will give you a chance to learn what else goes on behind the counter & in the kitchen besides 'cooking'.    ... You will need this knowledge to plan & start up your food business.       .... Although some other Chefs or restaurant owners will say you need 5 years or more experience before operating your own business.     ... Anyway ... the determination of an owner/operator to succeed!!!!!