Service Minimum

Service minimums exist because rolling a fully-staffed food truck has a fixed cost (crew, fuel, prep, equipment) regardless of guest count. For very small events that would otherwise fall below break-even, the caterer applies a minimum to keep the booking worthwhile. Typical 2026 minimums in the Philadelphia / New Jersey market: $1,500–$2,000 for food truck operation, $1,200–$1,500 for pop-up stations, $300–$500 for drop-off. If your headcount is small, ask about drop-off — it often has no minimum and serves the same guests for less.