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From selling candy on Philly streets to running Houston's most buzzworthy food truck, Dawon Matthews' story proves that your past doesn't define your future. Despite facing jail time and countless job rejections after earning his master's degree, Dawon refused to let his background hold him back.
Today, his late-night soul food truck pulls in an incredible $22,000 weekly, with just 8 months in business. What's even more impressive? He started this food truck business with only $10,000 and zero culinary experience. Through smart financing and strategic marketing, Dawon transformed his food truck into Houston's go-to spot for late-night comfort food.
But the food truck is just one chapter in his success story. Before diving into the food industry, Dawon built and sold both a 7-figure cleaning company and a 6-figure junk removal business. Now, with 17 properties in his portfolio and his food truck running smoothly on just 10 hours of his time per week, Dawon's showing others how to break free from their circumstances.
In this episode, Dawon reveals his exact blueprint for starting a profitable food truck with minimal capital, shares his unconventional marketing approach that had customers lining up on day one, and explains how he automated his business to run virtually hands-free.
Resources:
🍓 Learn more about Smart Drinks Food Truck –
🎓 Access our no-fuss Business Blueprint TODAY –
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📕 FREE access to ‘137 most profitable businesses’ –
🎙️ Follow the UpFlip Podcast –
📩 Join the UpFlip Newsletter –
👉 Follow Dawon’s biz –
Timestamps:
00:00 – Start
00:55 – Soul food for the night owls
01:31 – Time to stock up!
02:54 – There is NO plan B
03:29 – Inside the commissary kitchen
04:10 – Startup costs breakdown
05:07 – $2,600 on day one?!
06:12 – Revenue
06:46 – Attracting customers like a pro
07:32 – 3 months of chaos
08:23 – Fan blitz
10:25 – Systems for consistency
11:08 – Anybody can get started
11:40 – Replicable success
12:27 – Trailer vs. Truck
12:53 – Maintenance cost
13:44 – Mouthwatering crowd faves
14:40 – Pricing strategy
15:53 – Clever marketing
17:03 – Moment of truth!
17:50 – Rent
18:26 – Finding the best spot
19:06 – Growing without support
20:15 – “Money is for convenience”
20:35 – Leadership style
22:04 – Why chefs make the best leaders
23:02 – 4-day work week
23:56 – Let’s get started with $100
24:47 – Customer is always right
25:21 – The secret’s in the recipe book
26:09 – Rookie mistakes to avoid
27:16 – The ideal employee
28:01 – Plans for the future
29:02 – Strategically insane and delusional
29:48 – Outro
#foodtruck #foodtrucks #foodtruckbusiness
Get access to our Business Blueprint TODAY – https://links.upflip.com/the-business-startup-and-growth-blueprint-yt
Nice
Yeah bro I’m proud of you I saw you come from nothing literally. For all the people hating and thinking he lying yall need to stop. I know him personally
Well he said he is humble, but he bought a Bentley 😂
@jasonbourne1596 Just cos he bought a Bentley doesn’t mean his not humble.
A lot of people get humble and modest mixed up these days.
@@MA07SUDWell just read the definition of humble. See if it fits for someone who would buy a Bentley.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@jasonbourne1596 A person can be humble & enjoy the fruits of their labor! 😁
There are so many gems in this video. I’m a proud of this guy and his team for bringing the vision full circle. This motivated me to get out of the ideation process. Awesome video by upflip
You lightly touched on the commissary. Thank you for that. All of these food truck videos NEVER talk about the commissary when that is the hardest thing to do. If you can’t find one, which is extremely hard, then you can’t even do the food truck. Why are there NO videos on a commissary ????????
cos there are costco and sams club and restaurant warehouse clubs. not everybody has military status. so they turn to the civilian alternatives.
@@moonman3030a commissary is where food is prepped, he wasn’t referring to a military commissary.
@@JessicaAhwash-h9n oh that makes a lot more sense 😅my dads friend was telling me about that, the prep kitchens and such.
In some cities we don’t need a commissary when we have a commercial fridge, 3 bay sink with a 4th hand-wash sink and stove on trailer. Also need 5 gallons of fresh water and a 7 gallon grey water receptacle.
You can use a church kitchen with their permission 😊
This man has very good business instincts even tho he had no background in the business he chose a menu based on a convenient supply chain and the client experience.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
He chose a menu based on a PAID CONSULTANT… which he clearly states he paid for lmao don’t comment if you don’t understand basic business economics.. maybe comment with a question or asking a question not something that makes you look like an idiot for saying… 😂
@@kevinle9159relax
his menu is a scam, do u see those prices on the entrees lmao… putting gourmet restaurant prices on food truck quality
Congrats to that brave guy! Looks like he really deserves it!🍀
Appreciate your kind words! Hope you learned something new from today’s episode!
Yes he does !
Just at at that food truck a few weeks ago while visiting houston. This video is amazing and very helpful bc im looking to get a food truck and start my concept
As someone who has went from a Tent to a trailer to a to go spot. Don’t forget what got you to the dance.
Keep your food truck running and let the brick and mortar ADD not stop
Wise words! Thanks for watching!
Let’s go D Rock! Proud of you bro! Went to school with Dawon lived a few blocks over ! He was always a hustler and has been showing people how to be an entrepreneur for years !
He is smart and blessed
Not smart for tell his oppressors the amount he’s bringing in.
yeah i had catering trucks early 80’s … was making $2500/day everything paid, 2 yrs paid off 1mil in truck loans, retired ’89, hawai’i!
Working on getting my first truck together now. Nice to retire after a short time!
Wow, what an inspiration 🤩
But you can’t cook
Awesomeness🎉🎉🎉
Congrats man, you made it AND got out the game. You win
I see a lot of people in the comments saying that they will start a food truck, easy money.. Consider that this is a labor-intensive business, you need to manage/pay people well, and provide top rated food to make this kind of money. You can’t be like every other food truck, you must be type-A in most things that you do.
Thank you for sharing such valuable insights!
Good food, good soul you’ll be just fine.
You actually don’t have to be different. Because if that’s 100% true then you wouldn’t have so many franchises that basically does the same kind of food. Like pizza places, burger joints lists goes on.
Clearly he has good staff.
My neighbor started and food truck and has loved every minute of it.
Thank you for sharing that! That’s great!
It’s a great business to be in!
Start posting videos soul bro
Crazy. So happy for him. I can’t believe I wasn’t subbed to your channel, definitely did ASAP.
Thanks for subscribing! We’re so glad you found us!
Im gonna get me my truck and focus on my goals. Man tired of watching and not making no moves. Being encouraged is important.
If you are interested in a food trailer, I manufacture them in different sizes and designs. I manufacture them in Mexico but I ship to all of the USA. You can send D’M
Yes, focus on you and go after your dreams.
Very interested @@rosofoodtrailers
@@rosofoodtrailers what’s your email I’m interested in purchasing a food trailer
When you asked him how much it took to get started and you stopped at $1,000 for the trailer you all kinda forgot to mention the other $20k for kitchen buildout and equipment, initial inventory, local licenses fees and inspections, logo design and printing fees for menu layout and production, and the cost of the trailer wrap.
As someone who serves this industry too many people think it’s easy money.
The reality is that it requires working holidays, weekends, evenings, and it’s double the grind of a brick and mortar restaurant.
Not saying it’s impossible. The hustlers with good product survive. And respect to them because they deserve it. But you better be doing it because you love it. Seen a lot of people with stars in their eyes and no plan go bust.
It start with hardwork later the people and the system will make for him.. Build a system and reputation..It will work for you😊
Your correct. I also started my food stand. My food cart cost me $3200.00 with shipping brand new, supplies to start ran me roughly $600, Licensing and permits $600, advertising and logos $300 etc. plus gas and fuel, event fees. This guy is making $22,000 gross, after everything, he nets probably $10,000 especially if he has to pay insurance, liability, wages for employees, monthly taxes, a commissary if it’s not made on his truck and he also has maintenance on the truck such as oil changes, tires plus factor in his cost for his time to work there plus rent for the building and etc. I guarantee he is not working just 10 hours a week especially if he has events and festivals. His numbers are way off. He must not be factoring in the hours it takes to prepare the food, cleaning the truck and equipment, driving to and from location. I call B.S. on this story.
I’ll check it for this guy… Listen, you don’t have to “love” something to do it. I’m an entrepreneur — I love the hustle. I study systems and I work them.
If you’re questioning whether these numbers are false or not real, then you’re missing the point. Don’t just look at the numbers — pay attention to the system that’s in place. Pay attention to the BUSINESS CREDIT that was used to fund this business. I simply did what Americans have been doing for years: I used the banks to fund my business, paid the banks back, and walked away with a free asset!
You can learn this on YouTube. And yes, it IS easy money — IF YOU HAVE THE SYSTEM. Don’t get discouraged because someone put in hours of studying and building systems. The truth is, most people don’t study. Too many believe everything has to be hard work. The hardest thing about some people is the head on their shoulders.
Pay attention to systems. Saying it’s impossible is like saying only one owner can run one McDonald’s. That’s ridiculous. Keep listening to people with that mindset and watch how “successful” you become…
@@dawonmatthews4406So you’re saying this business is no problem at all – as long as the bank gives you money.
That makes sense. Everything’s easy if you can get a bank to give you money. Otherwise you gotta hustle. And hustling sucks unless you love what you’re doing.
So yeah the numbers are false and you reinforced the original comment.
@@LargeMammal_75I just showed you the numbers hater ..
I did $89 my first day little over 5 yrs ago. I was like ok day 1 down. His concept is smart late night soul food and if he the only option its a captive audience plus not being open daily makes people eager.
Respect that!
His idea is very good. Because late night dates for soul food is a win.
Tired of Chinese food.
“Entrepreneurship is jumping out of a plane and making a parachute on the way down.” That sums up the philosophy and mindset of any successful entrepreneur
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
He’s literally giving you the blueprint! Step by step 💯
No gatekeeping here!
This grandmother is so proud of you Sir. You just went in and took a chance and WON!! Nice! Continue success. God greatly bless you all.