How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
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How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
Prior to beginning to sell food out of your new food truck, you must obtain the necessary licenses. Despite the fact that both food trucks and restaurants serve meals, the licenses and permits required by restaurants and food truck vendors differ in some ways. We'll provide you with a list of the most typical licenses and permits that practically all states want of food trucks. Depending on where you intend to sell your food, we'll also provide you with some examples of permits you might require.
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
How can I launch a mobile kitchen? What permits do I require?
You will also need the permits and licenses that your city and state demand in order to lawfully sell food from a food truck. To be sure you have everything you need, check with your county clerk or the state business office as the titles of licenses sometimes vary. No matter where you live, the following permits and licenses are typically required for a food truck:
1. A food truck chef with a smile and a business license
Vendor license and basic business operation license are other names for a business license. You are free to operate a business in the state and city of your choice. By obtaining the license, you enable the government to identify your company as a legitimate one and to maintain track of it for taxation.
A food truck company license can run from $50 to $500, but the fees and regulations will vary depending on your city. Ensure that you are aware of when and how to renew your license. Make careful to submit an application as soon as you finish your food truck business plan because some communities have a cap on the number of licenses they grant to mobile food vendors and occasionally choose new vendors through a lottery. For information on how to submit an application for a business license, go to the websites of your county clerk or the U.S. Small Business Administration.
2. Employer identification number (EIN) How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
A federal tax ID number called an Employer Identification Number, or EIN, is required to register your firm with the IRS. It also goes by the name "Social Security Number." It enables you to hire staff, establish a credit profile, and open a bank account for your company. When you receive your business license, several states give you this number.
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
You can request a free EIN from the IRS by mail, fax, or through their website. Make sure to apply well in advance of your opening because the procedure can take up to 4 weeks.
3. Driving privileges
You need the same documents to operate a food truck as you do a car: a current state driver's license and registration. A normal driver's license is sufficient in the majority of states. On the other hand, other states will consider your vehicle's size and weight when determining whether you require a commercial driver's license.
A driver's license can cost anywhere between $10 and $100, depending on the state and type of license. To learn more about the requirements and the application process for a driver's license, get in contact with your neighborhood Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
4. A food handling license
People who successfully complete and pass a course on food safety and handling are issued a food handler's licence, sometimes known as a "food handler's license" or a "food manager certificate." Only the manager working the shift is required to obtain the permit in the majority of states. In several states, one or more employees must always have a current permit if food is handled, prepared, cooked, or stored on the premises.
Your clients may rest easy knowing that your food truck's employees are trained to handle food in a hygienic and secure manner thanks to the permit. How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois A health inspector will also be aware that someone on staff has extensive knowledge of food safety if your supervisors are certified.
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
Food handling licenses typically cost less than $50 and are valid for five years. Cities typically demand that the majority, if not all, individuals working on a food truck possess a food handlers certificate and ask that the cards be displayed for public inspection. Visit the ServSafe website to find study materials and a testing location close to you if you want to obtain a food handler's permit.
5. Health Department Permission
The health department's permit, often known as a "food service license," certifies that your vehicle passed its inspection and was issued by them. Your truck will be examined by a health department inspector to determine whether it violates any health regulations.
They will also assess your truck overall and provide notes on what needs to be fixed. They guarantee that the location is tidy, that the food is stored appropriately, and that there are detailed HACCP plans in place. You must display your health rating where customers can see it in most cities.
A health department permit might cost between $50 and $1,000 depending on the city. To request an inspection and arrange a time for it, contact your neighborhood health department by phone or email.
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
Different cities have different licenses and permits for food trucks.
Before starting to sell food, food truck proprietors must obtain the appropriate permits from their respective states and cities. The permits that food trucks require to operate in a certain location are clearly listed in the majority of major cities. However, you might find it more difficult to obtain the information if you work in a small town. You could require some of the following licences and licenses after purchasing a food truck:
1. Chicken tenders, fries, and onion ring trays may be sold with a seller's permission.
In order to purchase goods and supplies at wholesale prices without having to pay sales tax, proprietors of food service businesses in several jurisdictions must get a seller's permit. The tax would be deducted when the item is sold to a consumer in order to prevent the item from being taxed twice. To learn if you require a seller's permit and how to apply for one, visit the state government website in your area.
How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois
2. Certificates of Fire
Your food truck may need to be inspected by the fire department and the health department in some counties. Typically, you won't need to install this unless your truck contains gas lines and culinary equipment. You generally don't require a fire inspection if you solely sell items that need to be kept cold, but you should double-check with your local authorities to be sure. The fire department will inspect the setup and functionality of your cooking equipment. They'll also want to verify sure your automobile has a fire suppression system and inspect your electrical wiring.
3. Permits for Parking
To find out if you require parking permits, you should speak with the county clerk in the region where you intend to sell food. Food trucks may not be allowed on some streets at all or there may be restrictions on when they can be there. To prevent the streets from becoming overly congested and to evenly distribute the trucks, food trucks in some cities only operate on specific days. Your parking permit will specify where and when you can park your truck during work hours. Additionally, it will specify whether you can leave your vehicle parked overnight on the street or whether you must store it in a garage.
4. Commissary Letter of Agreement
Your city may demand that you keep your supplies and prepare your meals in a commissary kitchen before leaving for the day in your food truck. You might also require a commissary letter of agreement if that's the situation. This is a written agreement that you and the commissary's owner have signed that confirms your right to use the facility and the services it offers. In addition to other things, the commissary would provide you with a place to cook, fresh water, a trash-disposal area, and a place to store food.
5. Business operating procedures tally the people who purchase food from a food truck.
Although it's uncommon, some localities demand that food truck proprietors submit a document including their standard operating procedures before they may begin serving the public. This document need to detail your procedures and those of your staff when operating your truck. You'll need detailed instructions on how to clean and sterilize your equipment, prepare each dish, and lock up your truck at night. A copy of these documents may be kept by certain food truck proprietors for use as a training manual.
6. Permit for Special Events
A temporary authorization known as a "special event permit," also known as a "vending permit," enables you to sell food at a specific location during an event. The majority of athletic events, festivals, and concerts have an event planner who can inform you of the types of permits required to serve food on the premises and the duration of such licences. So, if you want to use your food truck to cater a wedding, find out what kind of licence the venue will require from them. How to Start a Food truck in Chicago Illinois