{"id":2217,"date":"2021-07-16T08:00:48","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T13:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/?p=2217"},"modified":"2021-07-21T00:10:54","modified_gmt":"2021-07-21T05:10:54","slug":"set-up-food-truck-catering-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/set-up-food-truck-catering-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Up a Food Truck Catering Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the past 5 years, the catering business has seen steady growth. Most companies hosting events such as holiday parties, investors\u2019 celebrations, product launches, etc. have become their major customers. Unfortunately, the year 2020 has been a challenge due to the lockdowns and social distancing measures enforced by the government.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But this year, the food catering industry is back on track, with a rebound plan. Some food entrepreneurs are now on the move again to start a food catering business to follow the track of these <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/best-catering-food-trucks-america\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">successful mobile caterers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The venture only needs a little investment, has low operation costs, and can be set up in unlimited market locations. If you are one of the many people who want to start a profitable front, here are the steps on how to set up a food truck catering business.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"border: 3px solid; padding: 10px; width: 100%; border-radius: 25px; border-color: #F4A70F; color: #007bff;\">\n<strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"color: #007bff;\">What&#8217;s Inside<\/p>\n<p><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup1\"> Carry Out a Market Research for Your Food Truck Scene<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup2\"> Choose a Concept for Your Catering Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup3\"> Create a Food Truck Catering Business Plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup4\"> Get Funding for Your Mobile Catering Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup5\"> Get Licenses and Permits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"#howtosetup6\"> Purchase the Food Truck, Equipment, and Supplies<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup1\"><strong>Carry Out a Market Research for Your Food Truck Scene<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step to set up a catering business is to carry out market research for your niche. This is to make sure that your idea will stand out and sustain itself in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by doing market research about food catering in your city. Find out what are the existing concepts relevant to the business that are available in your locality. Then, find out the demographics of your potential customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The key is to determine that there is a demand or need for food catering in the area you are targeting. You may also need to research spaces where your food truck can park and sell. Determine which of these spaces are most visible to customer traffic to plot a tentative location for your food truck.<\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup2\"><strong>Choose a Concept for Your Catering Business<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second step is to choose a solid concept. This can enhance the marketability of your food offerings. Try focusing on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/food-truck-menu-ideas-new-owners\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">menu ideas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you are interested in or passionate about. It may be an all-day breakfast, brunch foods, comfort foods, finger foods, savory sandwiches, seafood specials, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important that your food offering is versatile to all types of customers. They should be flexible enough as dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb, or vegan. After choosing your concept, estimate how you will price the items and packages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Afterward, you can select the name and logo for your food truck business. It should be attention-grabbing, descriptive, memorable, and unique. A well-thought concept, name, and logo can make a major impact on your potential customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/taglines-slogans-food-truck-business\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">catchy taglines and slogan ideas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> might help as well!<\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup3\"><strong>Create a Food Truck Catering Business Plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After establishing the concept of your food business, it is time to start with your business plan. A business plan is an outline of how you will achieve your business goals. It is the document you will present to potential funding investors to prove the financial worth of your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sections of a food truck business plan must include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Company Description, which includes your business name, manpower needed, target customers, target locations, and payment terms.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Executive Summary to establish your food truck identity. It lays out your food offering, goals, and visions. It also differentiates your food truck business from the rest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Goals, which include how much capital you need, where you will source your funding, how you will pay them, and how you project your business to earn and grow.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"uv-lst\" data-category=\"20\" data-count=\"6\" data-type=\"new\"> <\/div>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup4\"><strong>Get Funding for Your Mobile Catering Business<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next step is to get funding. Even if you haven\u2019t saved an ample amount of money to start the business, you may need some kind of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/first-look-food-truck-financing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">financing assistance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are several ways to obtain funding for your business. They can come from the following sources:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business Credit Card<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Community Sponsors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Crowdfunding\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equipment Loans\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financing Programs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Personal Investors (such as family and friends)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rollover of Business Startup (ROBS) from a retirement account<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Small Business Administration Microloans<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may also choose to apply for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/qualify-commercial-truck-financing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">commercial truck financing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to buy your food truck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Or skip the loans and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visit UsedVending<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to get better deals. We have the largest selection of used mobile food trucks and kitchens. It\u2019s easy to find a unit that just fits your budget!<\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup5\"><strong>Get Licenses and Permits<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The basic licenses and permits needed for a food truck catering business vary from state to state. So, it is important to check with the local government unit in your area about the required paperwork. Among the basic requirements for a food truck business are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Business License to operate your business. A food truck needs to get a business license for every state where it operates.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employer Identification Number (EIN), a unique business ownership code for tax reporting with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This can be obtained for free online and does not expire.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Food Handler Permit complies with a state\u2019s food safety policy. Every food truck staff needs to pass this certification for proper food handling and preparation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fire Certificate issued by the local fire department to prevent the risk of fire and promote sanitation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health Permit from the local health department serving as an assurance that the food you are serving is cooked and prepared safely.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seller\u2019s Permit is the sales tax permit that allows your food truck to sell goods and services. For local government control, it summarizes the collection, payment, and reporting of sales taxes.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vehicle License is the updated registration certificate of the food truck itself. It should always be available and handy at the time of operations. Your food truck driver also needs to secure a commercial driver\u2019s license (CDL).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zoning and Parking Permit from the local motor vehicle department. Zoning and parking restrictions apply to commercial and non-commercial properties. They also vary from state to state.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information about the types of licenses you need when starting a food truck, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/food-truck-licenses-permits\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">read this article<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"howtosetup6\"><strong>Purchase the Food Truck, Equipment, and Supplies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final step is purchasing the trailer or the food truck itself. Finding the right truck for your mobile business can be very challenging.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/new-vs-used-food-trucks\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help you decide whether you should buy a new or used truck.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, most food truck operators spend around $70,000 to $250,000 to buy and customize a food truck. The price of a new food truck ranges from $100,000 to $175,000,\u00a0while the price of a used food truck ranges from $50,000 to $100,000. A pro-tip when buying a food truck for your catering business is to consider a reputable dealer nearby. This gives you the convenience of less travel cost and time during maintenance and repairs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, when it comes to supplies and equipment, it would generally depend on your overall concept and menu.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following articles may help you:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/buying-food-truck-cooking-equipment\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4 Things to Consider When Buying a Cooking Equipment<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/food-truck-refrigerator-cooler\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Choose the Perfect Food Truck Refrigerator and Cooler<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/best-food-suppliers-mobile-kitchen\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Find the Best Food Suppliers for Your Mobile Kitchen?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/space-saving-kitchen-food-truck\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 Brilliant Space Saving Kitchen Ideas for Your Food Truck<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/guide-food-packaging\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Guide to Food Packaging: The Dos and Don&#8217;ts<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you need help setting up your food truck venture? Give us a call at <\/span><b>(601) 749-8424<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the past 5 years, the catering business has seen steady growth. Most companies hosting events such as holiday parties, investors\u2019 celebrations, product launches, etc. have become their major customers. Unfortunately, the year 2020 has been a challenge due to the lockdowns and social distancing measures enforced by the government.\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":191,"featured_media":2221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[20,688,689,687,690,691],"class_list":["post-2217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-trucks","tag-food-truck-business","tag-food-truck-catering","tag-food-truck-catering-business","tag-food-truck-setup","tag-how-to-setup-food-truck-business","tag-how-to-setup-food-truck-catering-business"],"modified_by":"Titus Asher","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2245,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217\/revisions\/2245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usedvending.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}