Opening a food truck business - Page 2

That I agree with Orlandocook.

Does anyone live in Chicago, IL and has interest in a Food Truck Business.

Hi there, I wnat to thank you sooo much for all your info on Food Trucks!!  Since I live in St augustine Fla your info cut right to the chase. I own an art/gift gallery that leases space to local artits and I  want to add a cafe to the rear of the store so we can be a Art, Eat and Internet hot spot that brings in more customers on those hot, hot days. I have worked in the restaurants all my life and bartended for 35 yrs so I'm no stranger to the biz but in this tiny town like any city they want you to jump through so many hoops that I thought instead of spending money upgrading the building I'm renting that I could invest in a food truck that I can pull in the back and also use for events.Thanks again and I will keep you posted on my progress and next time you are in St Augustine please come by and say Hi.  www.artlandofsaintaugustine.com  Jem Stone

Crepe Lady,

In the state of FL exactly where do we go to find out the laws pertaining to a food truck or production of foods for retail sale in a fair/market/food truck setting?  I've so far read that you can NOT make foods at home for sale on a food truck so your comment is giving me some hope.  Can you tell me where to go to get the definitive answer on what types of licensing etc is needed?  Thanks so much!

Hi Crepe Lady

Thanks for the info. I live in Florida and looking into getting into the business. Didn't know you could get approval to use your private kitchen as for commercial food prep station. Is that a local rule or part of the Florida Administrative Code?

Thanks!

Hi Guys I was looking for information about my certain question on google and ran into this page for post by the way. I'm Art, well enough about that what I was wondering is if I go to a local bar and post up there with my home BBQ grill and start selling, burgers, baked potatoes, maybe a whole ham then serve it in slices along with mashed potatoes, BUT I don't not charge for the food I just have a tip jar could I be shut down? I'm doing this more as a hobby lets say I just have some food Ideas and would like to see if I go set up around 12AM and just start cooking till 2AM when all the bars close here in Los Angeles County could I get in any trouble, fined, told to go home? I'll probably be a 100 feet from the bar I'm sure the aroma will attract the local bar patrons... any info or somewhere where I could be directed would be a lot of help thanks,

Art 

Hello,

I am looking to buy a mobile kitchen and live in Florida. My father and I will be a team and I hope to have this up in running with in the next month. I would love speaking with the CrepLady you seem to have a lot of knowledge especially in the state of Fl where I live. Help! lol Thank you

I doubt you will get a response, crepelady made one post here, six months ago.

Go speak to your health dept, FIRST, before you buy anything. You need to know what the requirements are in YOUR AREA, that can come only from YOUR local health dept.

The salesman at one of the trailer manufacturers will sell you anything, regardless of weather it will pass hd inspection. He may tell you it will, and it might, but why gamble on costly changes?

What are you going to sell? How much food experience do and your father have have?

Do you know what type of equipment you need? How it needs to be laid out for an efficient work flow? Do you need a 3' grill or a 6'? do you need fryers? how many? Do you need an oven, steam table?

How much refrigeration and where should it be placed?

Do you have a commissary? Where are you going to get your supplies?

What type of insurance do you need, where are you going to get it, how much will it cost?

There are a lot of things to consider before buying the first trailer you see for sale.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/fs/mobile_guide.pdf

Here ya go!

I must say, this Forum is priceless! The information everyone has shared is very valuable for one starting off!

 I have cooking since I was able to hold a spoona nd help mom out, but professionally about 16 years. I am finally in a point to start up and the Food Truck is obviously the way to go. Where to begin?!! OMG,a literal road map you all have put together right here!
 Just about tuned in with what I would like in a truck and the market is looking so much better for them.
Tomorrow finds me at the County Clerks office to start the plan of action!!!

Peace and Grease!!!

I was looking forward to reading more of Crepe Lady's comments on her food truck business. Too bad she only posted once and then split. I never heard that you can legally serve food to the public if you dont have a commercial kitchen that is inspected. Many people bend the rules, and it makes fallout more difficult for the rest of us. I want to start a food truck business with my sister. She lives in texas, the san antonio area. they are having their struggles with this phenomena, Chicago wants you to make all the food in a commercial kitchen, New York isnt issuing any additional licenses right now. All we want is to cook food and make people happy.

so how is your food truck adventure coming along? I would like to hear how things are ...my sister lives in Texas and we want to do the same.

thanks for the response.

Hello foodies, I live in new new Orleans and food trucks haven't caught on much. Does any one know how youngbuck made out.  I am considering line up my ducks to open a food truck, I am infiantcy stages.  Thoughts?

I'm in the chicagoland area and I'm currently doing research about starting a food truck business.  Is there anyone else within the chicagoland area with experience in operating a food truck or interested in owning/operating one.

Baba's Kitchen...do you have an email where you can be reached?\

My boyfriend and I are also planning on opening a food truck in FL. As far as everyones questions surrounding "can you cook from home"? The answer is no. Here is the supporting info: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/fs/FAQGen.html But realistically, Im sure you can find a space to rent at night or early morning to prep food. Maybe even ask a local church if you can rent out their kitchen during the week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by melissasullivan 

My boyfriend and I are also planning on opening a food truck in FL. As far as everyones questions surrounding "can you cook from home"? The answer is no. Here is the supporting info: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/fs/FAQGen.html But realistically, Im sure you can find a space to rent at night or early morning to prep food. Maybe even ask a local church if you can rent out their kitchen during the week.

Yep, to do it legit, which IMO is the only thing people can do to get some of the bad stigma attached to 'roach coaches' isnt easy in Fla.. And I'll look for it, but I think I read something about churches not working as a kitchen, but I cant remember why.   Have a friend in Fla and we are looking for somewhere 'truck friendly' in the SE part of the US :) Anywhere from NC to FL would work.   But read up on state laws first, then start looking local and it's a pain to do it right.   

I am looking to start a concession business in florida. does any one know how and where i can find grants. am a single mother of two. I have looked and searched online but no luck. any information e-mail me at cns1012@gmail.com

Young Buck,

I admire you for your courage. I too am interested in opening a food truck. I live in San Diego and am in the research phase of things. Let me know if you find out anything. Thanks to your post, I was able to get some valuable information. 

Crepe Lady,

I am in Jacksonville and am looking into opening a truck in the near future.

Any insider insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Feel free to email me @ ggumbatz@yahoo.com

HI, I know this is a really silly question.. but how would you know what is the best size griddle or toaster ? From what I have read, the first thing you should do is contact your local health department and ask what the requirements are etc.. Then from there, locate a truck/trailer per their requirements? I know these are stupid questions, I just had to ask. Thanks, me

...

First, go to your cities business licensing department and ask if they permit food trucks.

then to go to your local health department and ask about ,mobile food vehicle requirements and what requirements

does a person working on the truck need. They usually require a short course about handling food.

Talk to other food truck owners and fair vendors.

The best way to start is plan a small menu and test it out at small events.

First let me say I am not an expert but we are opening the third unit in Tampa Florida, it will be a custom made trailer which rivals any upscale brick and mortar.

To answer a few questions

First of all your commissary needs to be commercial and licensed, also check to see if they are in good standings with the inspectors. Forget cooking at home, if you get caught they will write you up and be of public record.

Be careful where you look at setting up, some areas here are not truck friendly, Tampa is food truck friendly and Saint Petersburg is not at all.

Never let anyone con you into paying to park unless it is at one of the markets that charge a small fee, keep up with the food truck roundups that are mostly free or very low cost.

Make sure your truck will support the menu, so many purchase a boiler plate floor plan and they are tough to work with. Looks good on paper but when you are confined to the insides you may regret letting someone that knows nothing about flow sell you a truck or trailer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dburg30 

Yep, to do it legit, which IMO is the only thing people can do to get some of the bad stigma attached to 'roach coaches' isnt easy in Fla.. And I'll look for it, but I think I read something about churches not working as a kitchen, but I cant remember why.   Have a friend in Fla and we are looking for somewhere 'truck friendly' in the SE part of the US :) Anywhere from NC to FL would work.   But read up on state laws first, then start looking local and it's a pain to do it right.   

Church kitchens are blacklisted since Florida changed inspection rules, grey area now and are not legal.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dburg30 

Yep, to do it legit, which IMO is the only thing people can do to get some of the bad stigma attached to 'roach coaches' isnt easy in Fla.. And I'll look for it, but I think I read something about churches not working as a kitchen, but I cant remember why.   Have a friend in Fla and we are looking for somewhere 'truck friendly' in the SE part of the US :) Anywhere from NC to FL would work.   But read up on state laws first, then start looking local and it's a pain to do it right.   

Church kitchens are blacklisted since Florida changed inspection rules, grey area now and are not legal.

Here is a link to the Florida regs.

http://www.freshfromflorida.com/fs/mobile_guide.pdf

I am doing research on the food truck / mobile concession biz in Orlando FL. I see them around all the time.  I would like to find a location near the local colleges UC,  Full sail if at all possible.  Does anyone know of any regs that would keep me from being in the area of a school?  

Also, can anyone tell me what they would consider absolutely necessary to have in your truck that the average mobile concession stand start up owner would not think to purchase?    

fell free to email me @ mrhaynes78@yahoo.com.... Thanks in advance.

 where do i go to have info about food truck regulations for new york city, and people that can build a ktchen in a truck.

Good day all, I have an idea, while it may not be totally on the up & up it still may be doable and please don't take this as an admission or suggestion to do something unethical,(private residence may not be used as a commissary  I am sure plenty of people do it, but, when you get someone sick or worse! you will pay the price.).  Can't a person pay a willing reastauranteaur a nominal yearly fee to use a local esthablishment to act as a commissary while physically doing something else;ie preparing food somewhere else?  The downside is paying the price!

I too am looking into the possibilities or opening and running a mobile food truck concession in Louisiana, specifically in St. Charles and John the Baptist Parishes.  Might anyone here know of someone I can contact for suggestions and guidance as to which state, parish or Federal Gov. agencies that I need to contact to start this ball a'roaling?

My second question is: Does anyone here have any experience with on-line or generic type business plan proposals?

TIA, LeeB.

lburgau@aol.com