Mobile Food
Mobile Food Business
Food Truck, trailer, or cart
Plan
Create a food truck, food cart, or food trailer concept: Mobile food businesses stand out by their unique concept. The most successful businesses choose concepts that are either very niche, a unique take on a common cuisine, or something completely new–but they all ultimately ride on delicious food.
Costs: The cost of the truck itself varies depending on the truck’s size, age, and any updates or alterations that might be needed to adhere to requirements.
Buying a truck and cooking essentials account for a major portion of your startup costs. To reduce your startup costs, you could rent a vehicle to test the waters. You could also consider buying a trailer. While it’s less mobile, it’s a less expensive way to start.
Create a menu: Since you don’t have a ton of space for food prep, your menu should feature just a few key items that can be prepared in tight quarters. You also want to ensure your items can either be prepped in advance or cooked quickly, since customers will be standing and waiting outside of your truck while you cook.
Professional kitchen rental space: Food trucks must be associated with a commissary kitchen. This is a licensed commercial kitchen where you can prepare and store food. You will need to provide a commissary agreement that outlines your relationship with the kitchen.
Visit the Plan section for developing a business plan and searching for financing
Launch
Permits
To run a food truck, you need to get the necessary licenses and permits. These include health permits, parking permits, and any other business permits. You’ll need to adhere to food-handling regulations and park in designated areas.
Start at Riverside County for Mobile Food Facility permitting. Then go to each city for their specific requirements such as designated zones where food trucks are allowed to operate and obtain zoning and parking permits and inspections.
Winchester–see Riverside County
Invest in the right technology: To ensure a successful and seamless transaction for customers, invest in a secure payment system that is both fast and reliable. To prepare for rush hours, you want your payments processor to take customer payments quickly so you can maximize sales. Many food truck owners seek additional technology to aid in reporting and operations. Square’s POS system has inventory management and reporting capabilities that can help you run and grow your business.
Grow
Attract customers: You want to make sure you have a crowd wherever and whenever you park your truck. Start with a truck design that captures attention on the street and speaks to your concept. Research the best locations to park your vehicle based on the time and day. Encourage customers to promote your food on social media platforms.
Consider launching your mobile food business at local festivals and events. Here are some local organizations that plan vendor fairs throughout the year: