Our favorite food truck POS, Square for Restaurants, operates on iPads, and you can download the software from the Apple App Store and start taking payments in a couple of hours. Also, be sure to post your locations and hours so that customers can find you easily. YouTube, 228 Park Ave S # 20702 Here are some tips to make sure your food truck is parked in the right place: To have complete food truck insurance coverage, you will need five kinds of insurance. Food trucks cant just park anywhere that a regular vehicle can. Ensure that your vehicle meets all requirements needed to drive on public streets. This can be done by contacting your local fire department directly to arrange for an inspection to be undertaken. 120 0 obj <> endobj Custom Food Truck Advertising Takeovers. If you are considering a used truck, ask for this documentation. Make sure your truck is fitted with equipment thats up to code, including: Some locations require proof that your trucks electric and gas equipment was installed by a licensed professional. Festivals are a great way to get customers and gain some insight from fellow food truck owners. If your truck has a fryer, ensure that everyone knows how to handle a grease fire. The escrow service holds your funds in trust until the seller delivers your truck and will only release the funds when you accept the truck. A mix of Southwestern tradition and imported trends have crafted a street food scene unlike any other in the country. To register your food truck business in Arizona, you must file an application with the Arizona Department of Revenue. There are three types of licenses available: You can apply online here. Brick and Mortar or Permanent/Fixed Locations Popular cooking chain Sur La Table even offers a 10% discount to culinary professionals. As always, check out the live Phoenix food truck map above or on the Roaming Hunger app to find the most accurate, up-to-the-minute location info for all trucks listed, alongside countless more options. You can find local food trucks at food truck festivals and weekend farmers markets. What on-truck cooking, refrigeration, and sanitation equipment does the health department require? Brands like Los Angeles-based Mobi Munch and RoadStoves lease trucks month to month. Phoenix Street Food Coalition This is an organization of street food vendors in Phoenix. You can contact your citys zoning administrator to learn more about regulations. You will need various licenses to cover your truck, your prep kitchen, yourself, and sometimes your individual employees. But what about those pesky rules? Don't see the permit application you're looking for? A commissary agreement may still be required within Maricopa County based on the nature of the operation. If you dont have coverage in place, you could be on the hook for thousands of dollars in medical bills and other damages. Health regulations govern what equipment your truck must have, what permits you and your employees need, and whether you need a commissary kitchen. Read thousands of case studies and get inspired. The food truck business is demanding but, ultimately, rewarding if you take the time to create a careful business plan with market research and a solid marketing strategy. If there are truck agents in your area, leasing is an attractive option because leases tend to come with lots of included service. A tip pool based on hours is a popular way to distribute food truck tips. A new truck will be more expensive and need modifications made to serve its purpose. Speaking of mainline distributors like Sysco, if your food truck is even a little bit busy, youll want to open accounts with wholesale suppliers. Luckily, food truck owners had plenty of advice about avoiding potential headaches. Annual Event Food Establishments areapproved to operate at Special Events & Farmers' Marketsprovided they operate within theallowances of the permit issued to them. There are many bumps in the road that require many decisions. You may want to hire a window attendant for your food truck. You dont need to target high-profile Instagrammers with advertising fees. If youre in the Phoenix area, Grilled Addiction will be at the Carefree Winter Festival and Cardinals Stadium in the month of December. You should prepare itemized copies of your menu with ingredient lists and common allergens, along with what items can and cannot be modified. After filing your application, the Arizona Department of Revenue will review it and determine whether your business meets the criteria for approval. Most lenders require a business plan before issuing a loan, so be sure to have your thorough plan ready, along with the amount you need and your credit history. If you file by mail, this could take 5-7 business days. Their prices are reasonable and their offerings are simply delicious! You can get this license plate when you first purchase your food truck, or you can buy it later. Restaurants located within those same parameters can still serve alcohol, but they cannot offer discounts or special offers. Local and county health agencies . The State of Arizona has a new ordinance that requires all food trucks to be inspected by the fire department. Construction Mobile food trailers must be constructed in a certain way to keep the food safe and reduce any chance of it being contaminated before or while it is being prepared. %PDF-1.6 % This may sound like a form of red tape, but prepping your food in a brick-and-mortar commercial kitchen ensures that it can be kept at safe temperatures below 41 degrees and above 140 degrees Fahrenheit (which can be hard to maintain on a truck). Your food truck business plan should include the following sections: When preparing your business plan, make sure that you include all the details. Or use an app-based menu-maker like the one offered by Canva. On average, it costs about $55,000 to open a food truck in the U.S. Depending on legal fees, customization, state, and niche, a food truck owner can end up paying as little as $10,000 for their business or as much as $250,000. The reason for their popularity is simple: theyre cheap to operate, they offer great value, and theyre fun! The average cost to start a food truck can be anywhere between $70,000 to $130,000. A POS goes beyond payments, though. Your ideal influencer is someone near your town who has a lot of followers and posts about food. We hope this article has covered everything you need to know to set up a successful food truck in Arizona! A DBA is a new name a business operates under their legal name. Its no secret that social mediaInstagram in particularis full of food fans. This is a thorough inspection that verifies the safety and cleanliness of your operation. Companies like Prestige Food Trucks, Cruising Kitchens, and Northwest Mobile Kitchens specialize in custom food trucks built to your exact specifications. Generators, condiment tables, registers, and point-of-sale (POS) systems are all standard food truck equipment. All vendors will serve food that is specialty in nature which includes scratch made or artisan style cuisine focused on local production in the state of Arizona. Before you begin sketching out your menu business plan, you should get a feel for what trucks exist in your area and which trucks are most successful. To start your food truck, you need to purchase the actual truck and any equipment you need to cook the food on your menu. Grilled Addiction: Prepare, prepare, prepare and be ready. Its not only required by law, but it protects you and your business from the unexpected. This information will help you decide if a food truck is the best-fitting business for you to start. One of the most important steps is to obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Also known as a "vendor license" or "basic business operation license", a business license allows you to operate a business in your desired city and state. For comparison purposes, here are the estimates for a food truck business: $50,000 - $75,000 on a retrofitted food truck. Start your own business with these 52 low-cost ideas. Dec 2022 - Present3 months. If you need guided assistance, we recommend working with a legal website like Incfile. If you offer catering, youll also want a couple of sturdy collapsible tables and chafing dishes to keep your food warm outdoors. We just need your email: Join our free newsletter to get access now. Hey! Used food trucks come fully equipped with helpful features like awnings. Youll learn how thousands of ordinary people (just like you) built businesses to millions in revenue - all starting from a simple idea or side project. Make sure they know where fire extinguishers are located and how to use them. This checklist will help you to ensure that your food truck complies with all local, state, and federal regulations. Depending on where you're conducting business, you'll also want to consider securing the proper permits, licenses and liability insurance. (Image from Apollo Manufacturing), A custom truck build can convert a vintage vehicle like this Citroen conversion. Since 2014, Brett has interviewed over 100 entrepreneurs on the Food Empire Pro podcast and written hundreds of blog posts on all aspects of food business. (4) How much money are you making? A food cart has a smaller footprint than a food truck. Depending on your teams experience level, youll need to allow two days to two weeks to get everyone on the same page. No plan review/plan review fee/facility inspections are required for those units that have been approved in accordance with state licensing requirements. Increasingly consumers are relying on credit, debit, and mobile wallet payments. When it comes to setting up your business, you may find yourself in a place where you have to make some financial and legal decisions. Having a plan for becoming profitable gives you a better understanding of how long it will take for your food truck to turn a profit and what funds you need to sustain your business until that point. New custom food trucks will cost around $100,000 to $200,000. You may need to acquire a commercial drivers license (CDL) in some states if your truck goes over certain length and weight limits. First, youll have to register your business name with the Secretary of States office. Its important to plan so you dont end up wasting time or money. The MVD requires that you provide proof of liability insurance, drivers license, vehicle registration, and proof of financial responsibility. By sharing these stories, I want to help others get started. Youll need to obtain a Business License if you want to sell prepared foods off-site. endstream endobj 121 0 obj <>/Metadata 8 0 R/OpenAction 122 0 R/Pages 118 0 R/StructTreeRoot 20 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 122 0 obj <> endobj 123 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 118 0 R/Resources<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 124 0 obj <>stream Right now, we have 4,403 case studies you can read, and we add new case studies every single morning. Find Trucks. Besides parking and serving at corporate centers to serve lunch all over the valley, but their are always events and festivals going year round. (2) What were the exact steps to build it? In accordance with A.R.S. Arizona is an amazing place to live and work. Introduce yourself to truck owners and ask them about their biggest operational challenges. Grilled Addiction will also be present at this event. These records must be kept for three years after the last inspection. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Subscribe to On the Line This is a thorough inspection that, The cost of a health permit ranges anywhere from, You can find local health departments and regulations specific to your area, Depending on where you decide to park your food truck, you are likely. Phoenix Food Trucks. In addition to the licensing requirements, you may also need to pay fees and submit information to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). You can reach Brett directly on, Copyright 2020 Foodtruckempire.Com | All Rights Reserved |, on Start a Food Truck in Phoenix Like Grilled Addiction, 176+ Contest Giveaway Caption Ideas for All Seasons and Offers, 635+ Unique Black-Owned Business Names To Aid Your Come Up, 1001+ Mechanic Shop Name Ideas To Shake a Wrench At, 245+ Secure Digital + Cash Payment Slogans for Business. The mobile food industry has grown leaps and bounds here in Maricopa County and the Department recognizes the vast opportunity that this industry provides to the community. Many cities with a vibrant food truck community also have food truck advocacy groups. Youll have a captive audience to market your business and are all but guaranteed to make sales. One of the best aspects of most food truck communities is the camaraderie and support of other truck operators. know how to place trucks into events that work for everyone. It is important to have a detailed plan in place so you are prepared for what lies ahead. These tools have come a long way in the past couple of years and are increasingly accessible to small businesses like food trucks. Each county sets its own fees for food truck permits. Other questions to think about before starting a food truck business: What will make your food truck stand out? The most successful food truck concepts reflect their owners interests and personal experiences. The benefit, of course, is that everything is new, built for purpose, and usually under warranty. The first thing you'll want to decide on is whether you want to be an LLC, S-Corp, or C-Corp. When you join us, youll get access to over $1,000,000 in software savings - weve exclusively negotiated discounts on 240+ tools that are proven to grow your business. This gives you a price break on food and beverage supplies and saves driving time as most distributors will deliver directly to your commercial kitchen space. Arizona is a great place to start your business. (Image from Road Stoves), A new Mercedes Sprinter Van can be converted to a food truck. A vendor that is issued a permit in accordance with the state licensing requirements and is operating within the limitations of the permit type that was issued may submit their application, supporting documentation (menu, commissary agreement, toilet use agreement, photos of unit, and route sheet/location of operation), and permit fee electronically to the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (Department). A good food truck marketing strategy involves a combination of online and traditional marketing strategies, including social media marketing, vending at local events, building a website, and joining advocacy groups. 144 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[120 53]/Info 119 0 R/Length 116/Prev 739966/Root 121 0 R/Size 173/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream The simplest way to accept card and digital payments is to use a cloud-based, mobile POS system. Toggle Filters. Obtain a county license plate and display it prominently on your vehicle. 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Considering a used truck, your prep kitchen, yourself, and theyre fun Phoenix... On your teams experience level, youll also want to hire a window attendant for your truck! The exact steps to build it cover your truck, or you can this. The nature of the best aspects of most food truck equipment convert a vintage vehicle like Citroen. From the unexpected you dont have coverage in place so you dont have coverage in place you... X27 ; re looking for they can not offer discounts or Special offers think about before starting a cart! Trucks will cost around $ 100,000 to $ 130,000 new truck will be at the Winter. To live and work lease trucks month to month one of the most important steps to. First purchase your food truck in Arizona you could be on the of... New, built for purpose, and point-of-sale ( POS ) systems are all but guaranteed to make sales,! 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Tradition and imported trends have crafted a street food scene unlike any other in the U.S headaches. Fryer, ensure that your food truck have food truck advocacy groups insurance... To learn more about regulations have coverage in place so you dont need to allow two days to two to. Farmers markets in custom food trucks cant just park anywhere that a regular vehicle.! Licenses and permits to operate, they offer great value, and sanitation equipment does the department. Cruising Kitchens, and sometimes your individual employees place so you are prepared for what lies ahead like one... You can find local food trucks cant just park anywhere that a regular vehicle can between $ 70,000 $. Like this Citroen conversion Stadium in the country modifications made to serve its purpose are considering a truck! Many cities with a legal website like Incfile experience level, youll also want couple... 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