# Food truck step 1: each truck as a location

> Add every truck, cart or stall as its own business location with receipts and invoice numbers, plus a commissary location for stock, and switch on the modules.

Source: https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-1-trucks-as-locations/  
Last updated: 2026-10-30  
Product: SmartPOS Hub (https://smartposhub.com)

Each vehicle is a **business location** in SmartPOS Hub. That one decision gives every truck its own stock, receipts, invoice numbers, cash register and reports.

> **How to turn it on**
> 1. **Plan:** Offline POS depends on your plan; a module that isn't included shows Not in your plan with See plans.
> 2. **Switch:** Settings › Business Settings › Modules: Offline POS, Modifiers (and Kitchen if you use a kitchen screen), then Update Settings
> 3. **Permission:** Admins have every permission. Truck staff need the sell permissions and access to their truck's location.
> - **Mobile app:** SmartPOS Business app: sell, offline selling, cash register

## Before you start

- Business name, currency, time zone and tax rates are set ([Business settings](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/business-settings/)).

## Add the trucks

1. Open **Settings › Invoice Settings** and add an invoice scheme per truck with its own prefix (T1-, T2-).
2. Open **Settings › Business Locations** and click **Add**.
3. Name the location after the truck ("Truck #1 – East Cesar Chavez"), enter the home address, and pick its invoice scheme and receipt layout.
4. Repeat for every truck, and add a **Commissary** location if you keep stock in a store room.
5. Open **Settings** on each truck location to choose its payment methods and **POS featured products**.

![Business locations list with Truck 1 and Truck 2, each with its own location ID, address and invoice scheme](https://docs.smartposhub.com/_astro/food-truck-trucks-as-locations.BpoM8Ns-.png) (web app page: `/business-location`)
*Two trucks, two locations, each with its own invoice numbering.*

## Switch on the modules

1. Open **Settings › Business Settings** and click the **Modules** tab.
2. Turn on **Offline POS** and **Modifiers**. Add **Kitchen** only if a cook works from a screen.
3. Click **Update Settings**.

## Add the crew

Create a **Cashier** role (or use the prebuilt one) and add each crew member as a user with access to their truck only ([Users and roles](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/users-and-roles/)). Roles are edited under **User Management › Roles**.

## Tips and mistakes to avoid

- Don't share one login between trucks; you lose the per-truck cash count.
- If trucks swap crews, give a user access to both trucks and let them pick the location on the POS.

## Next step

  - [Step 2: A short, fast menu](https://docs.smartposhub.com/business-types/food-truck/step-2-limited-menu/)
  - [Add multiple locations](https://docs.smartposhub.com/start/locations/)

## Frequently asked questions

### Why make each truck a location?

So each truck has its own stock, cash register, invoice numbers and sales report. You can compare trucks and still see the business total.

### My truck parks in different spots. Which address do I use?

Use the truck's home lot or commissary as the address. The location is the truck, not the street corner.

### Do I need a commissary location?

Only if you keep stock (cans, bottles, packaging, ingredients) in a store room and load trucks from it. Then trucks are refilled with stock transfers.

### Can staff be limited to one truck?

Yes. When you add a user, give access to their truck's location only. They then sell and see stock only there.

### What should the invoice prefix be?

Something that tells the trucks apart on receipts, such as T1- and T2-. Set it on the invoice scheme of each location.