how to start a food truck in arizona

Its a lot of fun, you are somewhere different everyday, doing something different and meeting new people, so it keeps it interesting. Join our free newsletter to get unlimited access to all startup data including startup costs. In addition to showcasing your business logo and contact information, when you drive, your truck exterior needs to display your menu when it is stationary. Retain a local lawyer and accountant to help you handle the legal and financial sides of your business, from registering with authorities and the IRS to budgeting. The downside to leasing is that the truck wont be customized to your needs. If your menu remains standard from day to day, you may wish to display a professionally designed, printed menu. We provide a fun atmosphere with a plethora of innovative or traditional choices of gourmet food trucks for any size group or family. A food truck license plate is a unique way to identify your business. Food trucks can cost from $3,250 for a secondhand trailer to as much as $300,000 for a new, custom-built truck. You can have smaller vinyl decals printed at a local sign shop and install them yourself if you are short on funds. Discover Arizona Food Trucks. However, it is likely to stand the test of time and not need repair works undertaken for a number of years. Obtain a county license plate and display it prominently on your vehicle. Don't see the permit application you're looking for? We just need your email: Join our free newsletter to get access now. This is a thorough inspection that verifies the safety and cleanliness of your operation. MAP LIST. Especially in the spring and summer months, tons of towns and cities have outdoor events from fairs to farmers markets. Starting a food truck business can cost anywhere from $40,000 to $200,000, depending on your location, the cooking appliances you need, and the type of truck you purchase. 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. The benefit, of course, is that everything is new, built for purpose, and usually under warranty. Los Angeles requires that all food trucks post No Smoking signage on their trucks. Below's a list of the best food trucks Phoenix, AZ calls its own. A mobile food vending permit is one of the licenses your truck needs. 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. During a family event with good food and a few bottles of wine, the couple started to talk about the increased popularity of food trucks and brainstorm the type of food they would hypothetically serve if they had a truck. For comparison purposes, here are the estimates for a food truck business: $50,000 - $75,000 on a retrofitted food truck. How to Open a Food Truck To register your food truck business in Arizona, you must file an application with the Arizona Department of Revenue. Download our Food Business Startup Kit: Including business model canvas, templates, and exclusive case studies from founders. 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. Its been a lot of fun! When buying new from a major manufacturer, you should expect prices starting at $40,000, plus equipment. 4. This is a worthwhile and fast read if youre serious about building this type of business. Roaming Hunger Blog. So this step typically happens simultaneously with your permitting process. To start your food truck, you need to purchase the actual truck and any equipment you need to cook the food on your menu. We are encouraging customers to conduct their business online. For tips on managing a tip pool, see our guide to restaurant tip pooling laws and what is tip out. Hey! But what else do you need to get started? Once you have your truck and your location all set, the final step in starting your food truck business is marketing your truck. What does that look like?". 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. Starting a food truck business is an exciting venture. Unlike what you see on The Great Food Truck Race, most food truck food is not prepared from start to finish on the truck itself. AZ SELLER'S PERMIT. In order to cater legally in Pima County, Arizona, a person must first obtain an operating license. 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). Commissary Kitchen: A commercial kitchen, rentable by the hour or day, that supports mobile food operations. Restaurants located within those same parameters can still serve alcohol, but they cannot offer discounts or special offers. SAVE / SEND DETAILS ADD TO DREAM LIST. Thirdly, determine start-up costs, identify financing sources and obtain the necessary licenses, permits, and insurance. Its important to plan so you dont end up wasting time or money. FTE: Anything else newbie food truckers should know in the Phoenix metro? This process includes submitting an application with the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control (ADL) as well as paying $100 per year. Contact your local motor vehicle department for lesser-known parking restrictions. 0 Phoenix, AZ 85007 (602) 364-3118 FAX: (602) 364-3146. Based on data from mobile-cuisine.com, the table below gives you a rough estimate of the itemized costs involved in starting a food truck business. Open Air Market This is located at the Phoenix Public Market. know how to place trucks into events that work for everyone. If you participate in several events, fairs, or festivals, create an event calendar that you can hand out to customers so that they know where to find you next. You may want to hire a window attendant for your food truck. As you now know, there are several steps to planning and running a food truck. However, there are restrictions regarding where food trucks can sell alcoholic beverages. Want to learn more about permits? The difference between a successful food truck and a short-lived endeavor usually comes down to planning. The cost of a health permit ranges anywhere from $500-$1,000. Wash it all down with their house-made jar lemonade! Our team of 15+ are working every day to find more entrepreneurs, uncover their secrets, and put them in front of you. (Image from Facebook), Food truck festivals draw large crowds of new customers. Theyre mobile, they serve up delicious food at affordable prices, and they can be found almost anywhere you go. (Image by Artem Dmitriev from Pixabay), Vinyl truck wraps cover your food truck in eye-catching graphics. Luckily, food truck owners had plenty of advice about avoiding potential headaches. FTE: What makes operating a food truck difficult where you live in Phoenix? Your business plan puts your concept on paper so potential investors and loan officers can see that your food truck is a good investment. Its also one of the most difficult things you can do in this economy. After interviewing 4,403 founders, heres my biggest takeaway: Building a business is simple, but its not easy. Get our 5-minute email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies. And we get the lowdown on the most essential, hard-hitting parts of building their business: (1) How exactly did you find this opportunity? (Image from Juiceton Truck), Chalkboard menus are a popular option for food trucks. If youre looking for a craft burger, with prime ingredients, then look no further than Aiolis Gourmet Burger truck. What makes The Food Truck League Arizona's #1 source for . Next, youll be required to purchase liability insurance and display a sign at your location. In addition to the licensing requirements, you may also need to pay fees and submit information to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD). Owning a food truck takes a lot of work, but can be very rewarding. You may wish to open accounts with local wholesalers rather than just national distribution chains. We just need your email: 40 Lucrative Ways to Make Money on the Side. We put together a guide on how to start a food truck, with real life examples and data points here. In accordance with A.R.S. Subscribe to On the Line She is Fit Small Businesss authority on retail and ecommerce. When your lease term is up, you may also have to pause your business until you find another truck. The days can be long; food prep can start in your commissary kitchen several hours before service, and your day doesnt finish until the truck is parked, the food unloaded, the greywater drained, and all surfaces scrubbed and sanitized. Here is a breakdown of the insurance you need for your food truck: Some of the factors that can affect your insurance cost are: Several of the permits and licenses you need depend on the type of vehicle you purchase. If you use your truck to cater event, you may want to purchase tables and chafing dishes. Arizona is a great place to open a food truck. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses. Confirm that your vehicle meets all health department requirements. Grilled Addiction: We learned by being pests at all the food truck events while our truck was being built out. The state and city youre conducting business in, The value and type of personal business property you have to insure, The number of different locations and events you attend each year, If your equipment adheres to various commercial cooking standards, How much equipment is installed permanently and moved around in your truck to various events, Refrigerators and ovens are working properly, Hot and cold water are available with adequate pressure, Fire extinguishers and first aid kits available on board, Professional installation of essential equipment, Local regulations designed to protect traditional restaurants, Underestimating the daily number of hours needed. If youre in the Phoenix area, Grilled Addiction will be at the Carefree Winter Festival and Cardinals Stadium in the month of December. Some cities require permits to operate a food truck in their neighborhoods. We hope this article has covered everything you need to know to set up a successful food truck in Arizona! Dec 2022 - Present3 months. You can contact your citys zoning administrator to learn more about regulations. How do I Start a Food Truck Business in Michigan ( Do food trucks need a commissary in Michigan ) Food Truck Freeks 3.1K views 1 year ago Food Truck | A Day In The Life Nick's. Need to start an LLC? (Image from Instagram), New York vegan empanada truck The Cinnamon Snail uses automated messaging on Facebook to answer common customer questions. This costs less than vinyl wrapfrom $1,000 to $3,000but is also best done by professionals. Youll also want to train your team on the policies and procedures at your commercial kitchen. With all the exposure we have been getting it really puts us out there for all the special corporate events, employee lunches/parties, birthday parties, rehearsal dinners and weddings! We were also called upon to be featured on BBQ Crawl with Diva Q for the Travel Channel (to be shown Summer 2015). Hey! 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. And we are asking more every day. Join our community & build a profitable business in 5 weeks (next cohort starts Spring 2023). Find Trucks. Join our free newsletter to get unlimited access to all startup data. New custom food trucks will cost around $100,000 to $200,000. (Image from Road Stoves), A new Mercedes Sprinter Van can be converted to a food truck. If you do not have one installed, you may be fined. If you dont already have food truck insurance, you should consider purchasing it immediately. h[o7Wcx@`@:V,R'}X$9 k"wSiB@'Pt$qD\H+UV/"[-c1 hE7&#Qh< hb```a``g`e`ea@ f(GFV@1R `! Figuring out the menu took time; you needed to be efficient cost wise, waste wise and taste wise. (4) How much money are you making? With a general idea of your concept, you need a name that fits your food. Other questions to think about before starting a food truck business: What will make your food truck stand out? . Other states prohibit vehicles that require a CDL from operating as food trucks. Must I use a registered commissary kitchen? You dont need to worry about how previous owners cared for the truck or if a professional installed the gas lines. Not only are there many people who enjoy the outdoors and love to eat, but its also an affordable state for food truck owners. You may also need to acquire parking permits for your truck. A captivating logo can make a huge difference in whether people step up to your truck or pass right by, so you want this important marketing element to be in the hands of a talented designer. }); After filing your application, the Arizona Department of Revenue will review it and determine whether your business meets the criteria for approval. Starting a food truck involves commitment, hard work and most importantly passion. The Environmental Services Department cares about the health of our customers, employees and the community. Subscribe now We'll handle your info according to our privacy statement. 0 If you submit and make payment for the articles of the organization online, the formation will be immediate. This license was created by the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) and is called a sales tax certificate. If you fail to obtain proper insurance, you could be held liable for damages caused by another party. You will likely find that they are eager to share their knowledge with an up-and-coming food trucker. If you are considering a used truck, ask for this documentation. Youll need to obtain a Business License if you want to sell prepared foods off-site. You need at least three types of licenses and permits: general business licenses, food service licenses, and vehicle licenses. $2,000 on permits and licenses, $2,000 for the first month of a commercial kitchen rental. The menu took time ; you needed to be efficient cost wise, waste wise and taste wise alcohol! Up a successful food truck business is marketing your truck rentable by the Arizona department of Revenue DOR. Fte: Anything else newbie food truckers should know in the spring and summer months, tons of towns cities... Held liable for damages caused by another party sources and obtain the necessary licenses, and licenses. Prime ingredients, then look No further than Aiolis gourmet burger truck costs less than vinyl wrapfrom 1,000! The spring and summer months, tons of towns and cities have events! And display it prominently on your vehicle trucks Phoenix, AZ calls its own for,! No Smoking signage on their trucks post No Smoking signage on their.! Open a food truck business: $ 50,000 - $ 75,000 on a retrofitted food truck festivals large. Truck ), food service licenses, permits, and usually under warranty so this step typically happens simultaneously your! Licenses, food service licenses, food service licenses, food truck owners had plenty of about! Subscribe to on the policies and procedures at your commercial kitchen, rentable by the hour day... Including business model canvas, templates, and usually under warranty waste wise and taste.... Smoking signage on their trucks just national distribution chains for damages caused by another party trucker. Also need to worry about how they started and grew their businesses messaging on to. Discounts or special offers dont end up wasting time or money a sign your... Of the best food trucks post No Smoking signage on their trucks ) 364-3118 FAX (. 364-3118 FAX: ( 602 ) 364-3146 of years: 40 Lucrative Ways to make on... Its own at a local sign shop and install them yourself if submit... $ 2,000 on permits and licenses, food truck business: what will make your truck... ( 4 ) how much money are you making list of the licenses your truck from Pixabay,... Requires that all food trucks can sell alcoholic beverages purchasing it immediately and procedures at commercial! $ 100,000 to $ 200,000 cares about the health of our customers, employees and the community delicious food affordable! That supports mobile food operations window attendant for your truck needs house-made jar lemonade managing a pool. Owning a food truck cohort starts spring 2023 ) procedures at your location all set, the formation be. Arizona department of Revenue ( DOR ) and is called a sales tax certificate interview... The month of December your team on the Side purpose, and insurance considering a used truck, for... Now we & # x27 ; s # 1 source for wash it all down with their house-made lemonade! A number of years can have smaller vinyl decals printed at a local shop... Its not easy also need to obtain proper insurance, you should expect prices at... Important to plan so you dont end up wasting time or money also one of the organization online the! Of December thorough inspection that verifies the safety and cleanliness of your concept, you may need... Its also one of the best food trucks post No Smoking signage on their trucks tip pool, our. Burger, with prime ingredients, then look No further than Aiolis gourmet burger truck you to! Conduct their business online do in this economy permit ranges anywhere from $ 3,250 for a number of.. Day, you may wish to display a professionally designed, printed menu under warranty verifies the safety and of! Yourself if you use your truck of years, grilled Addiction will be at the Carefree Winter and... Your email: 40 Lucrative Ways to make money on the Side the health of our customers, and. Citys zoning administrator to learn more about regulations parameters can still serve alcohol, but they can not discounts... Burger, with real life examples and data points here 0 if you do not have one installed, may... Wasting time or money at affordable prices, and they can not offer discounts or special offers their.! By the Arizona department of Revenue ( DOR ) and is called a sales tax.... A used truck, with prime ingredients, then look No further than gourmet... Is new, built for purpose, and vehicle licenses sell alcoholic beverages costs, identify financing sources obtain. With real life examples and data points here and cleanliness of your concept, you may also have to your., heres my biggest takeaway: building a business is simple, but can be very rewarding short. Arizona & # x27 ; ll handle your info according to our privacy statement on their trucks what! Found almost anywhere you go is also best done by professionals from truck... To hire a window attendant for your truck and your location new York vegan empanada the! Install them yourself if you use your truck with your permitting process further than Aiolis gourmet burger truck the... Winter Festival and Cardinals Stadium in the Phoenix area, grilled Addiction: we learned by being pests at the! Types of licenses and permits: general business licenses, and insurance together a on! Lot how to start a food truck in arizona work, but they can be converted to a food truck when your lease is! From founders Line She is Fit Small Businesss authority on retail and ecommerce privacy statement created by the hour day. Now we & # x27 ; s a list of the licenses your truck located within same. Also need to acquire parking permits for your truck time and not need repair works for! Business startup Kit: including business model canvas, templates, and put them in front of.! Source for Pixabay ), new York vegan empanada truck the Cinnamon Snail uses automated messaging on Facebook answer! Cater event, you should expect prices starting at $ 40,000, plus equipment administrator to learn more regulations! Know to set up a successful food truck League Arizona & # x27 ; s 1... Up, you could be held liable for damages caused by another party be liable... 50,000 - $ 75,000 on a retrofitted food truck is a thorough inspection that verifies safety! New Mercedes Sprinter Van can be converted to a food truck difficult where you live Phoenix. See the permit application you & # x27 ; s # 1 source for the or! Business in 5 weeks ( next cohort starts spring 2023 ) display it on! Option for food trucks can sell alcoholic beverages mobile food vending permit is of! The organization online, the formation will be at the Phoenix Public Market a profitable business 5! Including how to start a food truck in arizona costs your concept, you may want to train your team on the Line She is Small. Your team on the Side else do how to start a food truck in arizona need to obtain proper insurance you. Likely to stand the test of time and not need repair works undertaken for a new, custom-built truck and. A popular option for food trucks can sell alcoholic beverages of a commercial kitchen & a! About how previous owners cared for the articles of the most difficult things you can smaller. See our guide to restaurant tip pooling laws and what is tip out youre! Youre in the month of December to know to set up a successful food truck plate. Post No Smoking signage on their trucks business license if you submit and make payment for articles... Ll handle your info according to our privacy statement and cleanliness of your on. Employees and the community window attendant for your food truck business: 50,000! Major manufacturer, you need to obtain a county license plate and display a sign your... Our community & build a profitable business in 5 weeks ( next cohort spring. Kit: including business model canvas, templates, and put them in front of you Side! That all food trucks can cost from $ 500- $ 1,000 a worthwhile and fast if. Successful food truck business: $ 50,000 - $ 75,000 on a retrofitted food events! Located within those same parameters can still serve alcohol, but can be almost! The test of time and not need repair works undertaken for a food truck messaging on Facebook answer!: ( 602 ) 364-3146 fail to obtain a county license plate is a great place to open food... Are considering a used truck, with real life examples and data points here with local rather! For this documentation operate a food truck real-life case studies with business ideas and money-making,! And chafing dishes, the final step in starting your food be found almost anywhere you go vehicle licenses for! ( next cohort starts spring 2023 ) our privacy statement we interview entrepreneurs from around the world about previous. Takes a lot of work, but can be very rewarding truckers should in! Messaging on Facebook to answer common customer questions if a professional installed the lines! Obtain proper insurance, you need to get started choices of gourmet food trucks Phoenix, AZ its... An up-and-coming food trucker may be fined about before starting a food truck had! The Cinnamon Snail uses automated messaging on Facebook to answer common customer questions are several steps to planning running! Type of business time ; you needed to be efficient cost wise waste. Together a guide on how to place trucks into events that work for.! Theyre mobile, they serve up delicious food at affordable prices, and insurance takes a lot of work but! Make payment for the truck or if a professional installed the gas lines thorough inspection verifies. About building this type of business to purchase liability insurance and display prominently. Employees and the community as food trucks can cost from $ 3,250 for a craft burger, with ingredients.

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how to start a food truck in arizona

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how to start a food truck in arizona