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Food and drinkFull timeA truck, kitchen fit-out and permits

Start a food truck business

To start a food truck business, decide on a short menu you can cook fast in a small space, check the health permits, vehicle rules and parking rules where you will trade, and find a truck that fits that menu. Then post where you will be each week so regulars can find you.

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At a glance

You start with
A truck, kitchen fit-out and permits
Time
Full time
Where you work
Markets, events, office parks and spots the city allows
Who pays
Lunch crowds, event visitors and regulars who follow your schedule
Check first
Health permits, a commissary kitchen if required, vehicle and parking rules

How to start a food truck business

  1. 1

    Write a menu of five things

    Dishes you can cook quickly in a small space, from ingredients that keep. Short menus mean shorter lines.

  2. 2

    Get the permits before the truck

    Cities differ on health permits, commissary kitchens and where trucks may park. Check before you buy anything.

  3. 3

    Find two or three regular spots

    A weekday lunch spot and a weekend market give you a base and regulars.

  4. 4

    Publish the week’s schedule

    People follow trucks they like. Post each day’s spot and hours in one place.

  5. 5

    Take pre-orders for busy hours

    Orders placed ahead for pick-up shorten the line at lunch.

The app that runs it

Menu, this week’s spots and pick-up pre-orders. Fabricate builds it from the words below; change any of them first.

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Questions about starting a food truck business

What permits does a food truck need?
Usually a business licence, a health permit and vehicle permits, and some cities require a commissary kitchen. The list depends on your city and county, so ask the local health department first.
Where can a food truck park?
Each city sets its own rules, and many popular spots are on private land with the owner’s permission. Markets and events are common first spots.

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