{"id":31839,"date":"2021-01-25T09:40:40","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T09:40:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/"},"modified":"2022-07-19T08:57:46","modified_gmt":"2022-07-19T08:57:46","slug":"the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/","title":{"rendered":"The perfect food truck for your catering business"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The heart of any food truck business is the truck itself!&nbsp;The initial purchase of&nbsp;the truck and all the necessary equipment is the most significant cost,&nbsp;which&nbsp;must be made at the very beginning.&nbsp;But how much money do you really need to spend on a food truck to make it the real thing? Should you buy a used vehicle and turn it into a food truck according to your own design and concept?&nbsp;Or should you maybe start off&nbsp;with&nbsp;a used catering trailer? Can you adapt the vehicle into a food truck yourself, or should you use the services of professionals? Or perhaps you could rent a food truck? If you are planning to set up this type of business,&nbsp;you should&nbsp;be able to answer the above questions&nbsp;and take them into account when preparing your business plan.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-8224299f-37e1-43c1-ba17-5769c74cbaf8\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\"\n                    data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\">\n                    <div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column \"><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#0-first-set-up-the-company-then-buy-the-food-truck>First set up the company, then buy the food truck<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#1-start-off-with-the-formalities>Start off with the formalities<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#2-it-all-depends-on-your-budget>It all depends on your budget<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#3-should-you-buy-rent-or-build-it-yourself-that-is-the-question>Should you buy, rent or build it yourself &#8211; that is the question<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#4-make-sure-you-comply-with-the-regulations-regarding-food-hygiene>Make sure you comply with the regulations regarding food hygiene!<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#5-take-advantage-of-every-inch-of-the-interior>Take advantage of every inch of the interior<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#6-what-should-you-consider-when-designing-a-food-truck-kitchen>What should you consider when designing a food truck&nbsp;kitchen<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#7-electricity-or-gas-or-maybe-both>Electricity or gas? Or maybe both?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#8-have-you-thought-about-everything>Have you thought about everything?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#9-bon-voyage-or-not-so-fast>Bon voyage! Or not so fast?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/the-perfect-food-truck-for-your-catering-business\/#10-first-your-menu-then-the-food-truck>First your menu, then the food truck<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-first-set-up-the-company-then-buy-the-food-truck\">First set up the company, then buy the food truck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Which vehicle should you choose to build a food truck?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZC8ymtfLA0M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Before you start planning the details of your food truck business you need to gather together all the necessary documents. The&nbsp;basic formality you will need to fulfil is&nbsp;a street trading license necessary for all food trucks. Remember that you can only operate your future business in places where you have previously obtained consent from the relevant administrative authority.&nbsp;However, a&nbsp;licence is not needed if you&nbsp;plan to&nbsp;operate&nbsp;on private land or at organised events.&nbsp;Many aspiring food truckers believe that a food truck gives them the freedom to operate virtually anywhere. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, this is not entirely true! One option are regular food truck events, also known as food markets. These have the advantage that you can plan ahead and count on a regular source of income to cover your basic costs. Another option is a licence to operate in public areas, for example on a particular street or square. If you want to guarantee yourself a lucrative spot for your food truck in front of a shopping mall,&nbsp;then&nbsp;you will&nbsp;additionally&nbsp;need the written consent of the property owner. There&#8217;s nothing stopping you from simply inquiring about the&nbsp;potential&nbsp;cost of renting space. This could prove to be very profitable in the long run!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-start-off-with-the-formalities\">Start off with the formalities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also get permission if you plan to sell alcoholic beverages, as selling without an alcohol license is strictly forbidden! Getting the necessary licences and permission is therefore very important.&nbsp;You should also get a food hygiene certificate and undertake a risk assessment to ensure that any food safety&nbsp;hazards are eliminated or&nbsp;minimised. This is known as a \u2018HACCP\u2019 control system. In&nbsp;other&nbsp;countries it might also be required to confirm professional qualifications through certificates of apprenticeships, training, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will also need to register&nbsp;your street food business with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), no matter how small your business is.&nbsp;Just like hundreds of thousands of other people in the catering industry, you will need public liability insurance.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will also need&nbsp;employers&nbsp;liability insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All issues related to the design of your food truck should be considered only after acquiring the necessary papers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n              <div id=\"expondo-products-block_5f957990833f1\" class=\"expondo-block expondo-block--products\">\n          <div class=\"expondo-block__inner-container\">\n            <ul class=\"list list--products\">\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-electric-kebab-slicer-3-000-rpm-60-kg-hr-battery-powered-10011402\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10011402_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-electric-kebab-slicer-3-000-rpm-60-kg-hr-battery-powered-10011402\">\n                        Electric Kebab Slicer &#8211; 3,000 rpm &#8211; 60 kg\/hr &#8211; battery powered                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>202.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-commercial-burger-maker-100-mm-10010222\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010222_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-commercial-burger-maker-100-mm-10010222\">\n                        Commercial burger maker &#8211; 100 mm                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-contact-grill-smooth-1-800-w-10010337\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010337_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-contact-grill-smooth-1-800-w-10010337\">\n                        Contact Grill &#8211; smooth &#8211; 1,800 W                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-condiment-dispenser-2-pumps-2-x-2-l-10011449\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10011449_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-condiment-dispenser-2-pumps-2-x-2-l-10011449\">\n                        Condiment Dispenser &#8211; 2 pumps &#8211; 2 x 2 L                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>97.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-it-all-depends-on-your-budget\">It all depends on your budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Used food trucks are available from as little as a few thousand pounds. However, the condition of the vehicle is important. Ask yourself if you really need to make a large investment to start your business. Will the equipment&nbsp;included&nbsp;in a used food truck work in your case? Will a food truck, which was once used for selling&nbsp;fish &amp; chips, fulfil your needs? Define very clearly in advance what cuisine you plan to offer. Installing devices such as deep fryers, grill plates or cooker hoods may be unnecessary if you intend to prepare&nbsp;simple&nbsp;salads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Designing a food truck from scratch and buying all the electrical appliances and devices can be extremely expensive. \u00a33,000, \u00a35,000 or even \u00a310,000 spent on the necessary equipment for your food truck is nothing out of the ordinary. If you have the budget, we would recommend that you buy a new food truck. Depending on the size, equipment and quality, the cost of a well-equipped &#8216;mobile restaurant&#8217; could&nbsp;even exceed&nbsp;\u00a330,000. Then there are always the costs related&nbsp;to branding or even re-painting&nbsp;or decorating&nbsp;your food truck depending on your needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest advantages of new food trucks compared to used ones are undoubtedly: lower fuel consumption, ideal condition of spare parts and the peace of mind that costly sudden repairs will not be needed in the near future, as vehicles purchased&nbsp;straight from the dealer will&nbsp;come with a warranty. In the case of vehicles with a total length of more than seven metres, parking sensors or reversing cameras will make your life much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-should-you-buy-rent-or-build-it-yourself-that-is-the-question\">Should you buy, rent or build it yourself &#8211; that is the question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The same principle applies&nbsp;with food trucks&nbsp;as with building a house: the more you can do yourself, the more money you can save. The help of professionals will then be&nbsp;limited or even unnecessary. However, in order to carry out any work, you should have the&nbsp;appropriate&nbsp;know-how and carefully&nbsp;consider&nbsp;whether the chosen solutions are to be temporary or permanent. Otherwise, you&nbsp;might&nbsp;have to spend more time and money re-doing it to meet your long-term requirements,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;a perfect example of the saying &#8220;buy cheap, buy twice&#8221;. Each day spent repairing or re-doing your food truck means not only lost earnings, but also increased operational costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-make-sure-you-comply-with-the-regulations-regarding-food-hygiene\">Make sure you comply with the regulations regarding food hygiene!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember: if you design your food truck yourself, it will be even more important to make sure all&nbsp;the&nbsp;regulations are met! If you do,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;decide to look for the help of professional, you should&nbsp;be able to&nbsp;find companies specialised in converting vehicles into food trucks in most major cities. In both cases, the costs you will need to incur depend on the size of the vehicle and the equipment you will need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest advantage of renting or leasing a food truck is that you don&#8217;t have to invest large amounts of money&nbsp;up front. It also saves time compared to creating everything from scratch! After the season, you can simply return the food truck to its owner. However, when renting a vehicle, you will not be able to adapt or change any of the equipment&nbsp;without prior consent, redesign the food truck in any way, or change the name or logo.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you really want to convert your vehicle into a food truck yourself, keep in mind that a smaller vehicle will be&nbsp;sufficient for a&nbsp;simple catering offer. If you go for a wider choice of menu items, requiring more or bulkier equipment,&nbsp;then you had better go for&nbsp;a larger vehicle with a solid chassis. Vehicle models such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Citroen Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master or Volkswagen Bulli are particularly suitable.&nbsp;Unless you really want to&nbsp;stand out from the competition at food truck festivals or other large events, in which case what about an American school bus or retro-style vehicle?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"ub_image_slider swiper-container wp-block-ub-image-slider\" id=\"ub_image_slider_07f18379-be20-4d52-a1e8-cb5113181e93\" data-swiper-data='{\"spaceBetween\":20,\"slidesPerView\":1,\"loop\":true,\"pagination\":{\"el\": null , \"type\": \"bullets\", \"clickable\":true}\n            ,\"navigation\": {\"nextEl\": \".swiper-button-next\", \"prevEl\": \".swiper-button-prev\"}, \"keyboard\": { \"enabled\": true },\n            \"effect\": \"slide\",\"autoplay\":{\"delay\": 3000},\"simulateTouch\":false}'><div class=\"swiper-wrapper\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/10011917-1_600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-74-5-x-40-cm-smooth-2-x-3-100-w-natural-gas-20-mbar-10011917\">Gas Griddle &#8211; 74.5 x 40 cm &#8211; smooth &#8211; 2 x 3,100 W &#8211; Natural gas &#8211; 20 mbar<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-74-5-x-40-cm-smooth-2-x-3-100-w-natural-gas-20-mbar-10011917#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/10011918-1_600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-60-x-40-cm-smooth-ribbed-2-x-3-100-w-natural-gas-20-mbar-10011918\">Gas Griddle &#8211; 60 x 40 cm &#8211; smooth\/ribbed &#8211; 2 x 3,100 W &#8211; natural gas &#8211; 20 mbar<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-60-x-40-cm-smooth-ribbed-2-x-3-100-w-natural-gas-20-mbar-10011918#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"swiper-slide\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/10011694-1_600x600.jpg\" alt=\"\"><figcaption class=\"ub_image_slider_image_caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-35-x-40-cm-smooth-3-100-w-natural-gas-0-02-bar-10011694\">Gas Griddle &#8211; 35 x 40 cm &#8211; smooth &#8211; 3,100 W &#8211; natural gas &#8211; 0.02 bar<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/royal-catering-gas-griddle-35-x-40-cm-smooth-3-100-w-natural-gas-0-02-bar-10011694#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><\/a><\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n       <div class=\"swiper-button-prev\"><\/div> <div class=\"swiper-button-next\"><\/div>\n        <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Food trucks styled as &#8220;Made in the USA&#8221; are popular for this reason. Many importers of such types of vehicles import them with the intention of offering them as a base for a food truck. However, this type of American&nbsp;vehicles, especially ones&nbsp;from the good old times, may not be the most economical option if this aspect is important for you. In addition, finding spare parts might not be that easy. If your food truck spends too much time at the garage the maintenance costs&nbsp;could&nbsp;kill your business. Most European food trucks,&nbsp;on the other hand,&nbsp;will be equipped with economical diesel engines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-take-advantage-of-every-inch-of-the-interior\">Take advantage of every inch of the interior<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kitchens in food trucks are much smaller than restaurant kitchens, and&nbsp;tend to get&nbsp;pretty crowded&nbsp;if you work&nbsp;together with two or three employees in just a few square metres, so you will need to&nbsp;make the most of every inch inside the food truck&#8217;s kitchen. Forget about large&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/sink-cabinets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">tabletop<\/a>&nbsp;sinks,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/commercial-cooker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">cookers<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/countertop-fridges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">&nbsp;cooling tops<\/a>, or large and convenient storage space. Due to the limited options, cupboards should be equipped with sliding doors. The rear wall of the food truck is a good place for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/wall-cupboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">&nbsp;kitchen wall cupboards<\/a>&nbsp;fitted with a work top.&nbsp;In addition, not only must everything be firmly fitted so that it does not tip over&nbsp;on&nbsp;corners, but also resistant to vibrations on long journeys.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our online shop you will find a wide range of high-quality&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/catering-equipment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">catering products<\/a>. Visit us at and choose from a variety&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/kebab-machine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">of kebab machines<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/deep-fat-fryer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">electric fryers,&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/roller-grill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">roller hot dog grills<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/pizza-ovens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">, pizza ovens<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/crepe-makers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">crepe makers<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/refrigeration-equipment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">refrigerators<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/stainless-steel-furniture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">stainless steel furniture<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-what-should-you-consider-when-designing-a-food-truck-kitchen\">What should you consider when designing a food truck&nbsp;kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a large refrigerator, you should make sure you have at least two sinks with warm water. Ideally, the entire interior should consist of food-safe surfaces, preferably stainless steel. Invest in containers to differentiate wastewater from fresh water, and you should also consider purchasing an additional drinking water container. The floor should be made of an easily washable and durable material, such as PVC, while wall cladding and insulation components should also be installed in accordance with industry recommendations. A splash guard made of clear glass&nbsp;will also be necessary, to&nbsp;protect customers from sizzling electrical appliances. Needless to say, all food should be kept separate from things like cleaning products, dirty&nbsp;dish&nbsp;cloths or work clothes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-electricity-or-gas-or-maybe-both\">Electricity or gas? Or maybe both?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice of electricity or gas is also important. While many restaurateurs prefer to cook with gas, they still need electricity to run refrigerators, freezers and electrical appliances. So why not go for a fuel or&nbsp;gas powered&nbsp;generator that provides enough electricity&nbsp;for you other appliances? A practical solution is to connect the generator to the vehicle&#8217;s fuel tank, letting&nbsp;you keep everything cool and fresh during transport.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-have-you-thought-about-everything\">Have you thought about everything?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine&nbsp;a situation where&nbsp;after months of detailed planning your food truck is virtually ready to go, but you are still unable to use it due to not fulfilling a few basic requirements. This&nbsp;could be for several reasons. Food truck owners often remember not to exceed the maximum load capacity at the design stage, but forget about the weight of the food, including full water tanks, and the weight of staff.&nbsp;This&nbsp;way the permitted values&nbsp;can easily be exceeded, which&nbsp;will require you to &#8220;slim down&#8221; your food truck later on, and equipment that is necessary to prepare or store food will need to be removed. To prevent this from happening, control the TOTAL weight of your vehicle from the very beginning of the design stage. Under no circumstances should you hit the road without all the necessary documents. Otherwise, you risk&nbsp;some pretty hefty&nbsp;fines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many first-timers disregard the aspect of the height of the interior of the vehicle when choosing their food truck. Keep in mind that both you and your colleagues will work here for many hours a day. Can you imagine a food truck in which you will not be able to straighten up and will suffer from constant back pain after work? For this reason, the height of the ceiling in the workplace is of great importance. The floor should also be covered in a non-slip material, and ventilation and automatic circuit breakers&nbsp;should&nbsp;meet&nbsp;applicable&nbsp;standards. Only after taking into account the above aspects&nbsp;should&nbsp;you get down to designing the details.&nbsp;For this reason, many people choose the easier but more expensive approach of using companies specialising in standard interior design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n              <div id=\"expondo-products-block_5f957a9483402\" class=\"expondo-block expondo-block--products\">\n          <div class=\"expondo-block__inner-container\">\n            <ul class=\"list list--products\">\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hotdog-grill-9-rollers-warming-drawers-stainless-steel-10010468\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010468_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hotdog-grill-9-rollers-warming-drawers-stainless-steel-10010468\">\n                        Hotdog Grill &#8211; 9 rollers &#8211; Warming drawers &#8211; Stainless steel                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>244.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hot-dog-machine-incl-toasting-rods-10010161\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010161_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hot-dog-machine-incl-toasting-rods-10010161\">\n                        Hot Dog Machine &#8211; incl. toasting rods                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>209.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-condiment-dispenser-2-pumps-2-x-2-l-10011449\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10011449_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-condiment-dispenser-2-pumps-2-x-2-l-10011449\">\n                        Condiment Dispenser &#8211; 2 pumps &#8211; 2 x 2 L                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>97.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hot-dog-steamer-2000-w-10010423\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010423_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-hot-dog-steamer-2000-w-10010423\">\n                        Hot Dog Steamer &#8211; 2000 W                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>289.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-bon-voyage-or-not-so-fast\">Bon voyage! Or not so fast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ok, now you&#8217;re ready to go! Congratulations! Your food truck is finally ready. But what next? Have you got all the official permits and certificates,&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;the&nbsp;right driving licence? With a standard driving&nbsp;licence&nbsp;you can drive cars with trailers or vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. However, if your vehicle is heavier than 3.5 tonnes,&nbsp;but lighter than 7.5 tonnes, a category C1 driving licence will be required. Bear in mind that holders of a category C1 driving licence will need to renew their licence every five years.&nbsp;So&nbsp;this is another aspect that should be considered.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order for your &#8220;mobile restaurant&#8221; to reach its target customers, make sure you have all the permits to run this type of business.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Refrain from buying an&nbsp;\u201cAmerican school bus\u201d&nbsp;food truck if it will be too large for the spot you plan to&nbsp;sell from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-first-your-menu-then-the-food-truck\">First your menu, then the food truck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bottom line is that the more your food truck stands out, the more likely potential customers will notice it. Originality is key. Thanks to your own design and a unique brand, your food truck can really be one of a kind.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;food truck should reflect your catering offer, so&nbsp;hungry guests should be able to tell from afar what kind of cuisine you have on offer. Your logo and name should therefore be clearly visible, and if&nbsp;you manage to attract customers with a large picture of a laughing sausage, then your flagship products should not be kebab or popcorn.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although&nbsp;from your perspective it&nbsp;might make&nbsp;a huge difference whether you bought, rented or built your own food truck, your customers won&#8217;t really care. An attractive looking food truck with tasty food is vital if you want to sell in a popular location. Remember, however, that&nbsp;the&nbsp;best advertisement will always be the quality of your catering offer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you stick to the above tips, then all that&#8217;s left is to buy&nbsp;the necessary&nbsp;ingredients and get down to business. Good Luck!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The well-known and experienced chef Micha\u0142&nbsp;Or\u0142owski&nbsp;gives invaluable tips on buying or equipping a food truck on our&nbsp;expondo&nbsp;YouTube channel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSsvMLVtMBTySDnW1jwazFw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Chef&#8217;s Gear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n              <div id=\"expondo-products-block_5f957cf783407\" class=\"expondo-block expondo-block--products\">\n          <div class=\"expondo-block__inner-container\">\n            <ul class=\"list list--products\">\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-waffle-maker-1300-watts-round-10010317\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010317_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-waffle-maker-1300-watts-round-10010317\">\n                        Waffle Maker &#8211; 1300 Watts &#8211; Round                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>119.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-slush-machine-6-litres-10011027\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10011027_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-slush-machine-6-litres-10011027\">\n                        Slush Machine &#8211; 6 Litres                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-waffle-iron-1-550-w-stick-corn-dog-10010318\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010318_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-waffle-iron-1-550-w-stick-corn-dog-10010318\">\n                        Waffle Iron &#8211; 1,550 W &#8211; stick &#8211; corn dog                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/royal-catering-tower-rotisserie-4-in-1-1-500-w-21-l-10010881\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10010881_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/royal-catering-tower-rotisserie-4-in-1-1-500-w-21-l-10010881\">\n                        Tower Rotisserie &#8211; 4-in-1 &#8211; 1.500 W &#8211; 21 L                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The heart of any food truck business is the truck itself!&nbsp;The initial purchase of&nbsp;the truck and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":31840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","ub_ctt_via":"","rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3038],"tags":[],"promotion":[],"class_list":["post-31839","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy-en-ie"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/foodtruck-nowy.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Peter Kiefer","author_link":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/author\/peter-kiefer\/"},"reading_time":"9","author_thumbnail":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ff77ad528c92847da192287f12249c0b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","excerpt_full":"\n<p><strong>The heart of any food truck business is the truck itself!&nbsp;The initial purchase of&nbsp;the truck and all the necessary equipment is the most significant cost,&nbsp;which&nbsp;must be made at the very beginning.&nbsp;But how much money do you really need to spend on a food truck to make it the real thing? Should you buy a used vehicle and turn it into a food truck according to your own design and concept?&nbsp;Or should you maybe start off&nbsp;with&nbsp;a used catering trailer? Can you adapt the vehicle into a food truck yourself, or should you use the services of professionals? Or perhaps you could rent a food truck? If you are planning to set up this type of business,&nbsp;you should&nbsp;be able to answer the above questions&nbsp;and take them into account when preparing your business plan.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"0-first-set-up-the-company-then-buy-the-food-truck\">First set up the company, then buy the food truck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, this is not entirely true! One option are regular food truck events, also known as food markets. These have the advantage that you can plan ahead and count on a regular source of income to cover your basic costs. Another option is a licence to operate in public areas, for example on a particular street or square. If you want to guarantee yourself a lucrative spot for your food truck in front of a shopping mall,&nbsp;then&nbsp;you will&nbsp;additionally&nbsp;need the written consent of the property owner. There's nothing stopping you from simply inquiring about the&nbsp;potential&nbsp;cost of renting space. This could prove to be very profitable in the long run!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"1-start-off-with-the-formalities\">Start off with the formalities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also get permission if you plan to sell alcoholic beverages, as selling without an alcohol license is strictly forbidden! Getting the necessary licences and permission is therefore very important.&nbsp;You should also get a food hygiene certificate and undertake a risk assessment to ensure that any food safety&nbsp;hazards are eliminated or&nbsp;minimised. This is known as a \u2018HACCP\u2019 control system. In&nbsp;other&nbsp;countries it might also be required to confirm professional qualifications through certificates of apprenticeships, training, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You will also need to register&nbsp;your street food business with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), no matter how small your business is.&nbsp;Just like hundreds of thousands of other people in the catering industry, you will need public liability insurance.&nbsp;&nbsp;You will also need&nbsp;employers&nbsp;liability insurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All issues related to the design of your food truck should be considered only after acquiring the necessary papers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"2-it-all-depends-on-your-budget\">It all depends on your budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Used food trucks are available from as little as a few thousand pounds. However, the condition of the vehicle is important. Ask yourself if you really need to make a large investment to start your business. Will the equipment&nbsp;included&nbsp;in a used food truck work in your case? Will a food truck, which was once used for selling&nbsp;fish &amp; chips, fulfil your needs? Define very clearly in advance what cuisine you plan to offer. Installing devices such as deep fryers, grill plates or cooker hoods may be unnecessary if you intend to prepare&nbsp;simple&nbsp;salads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Designing a food truck from scratch and buying all the electrical appliances and devices can be extremely expensive. \u00a33,000, \u00a35,000 or even \u00a310,000 spent on the necessary equipment for your food truck is nothing out of the ordinary. If you have the budget, we would recommend that you buy a new food truck. Depending on the size, equipment and quality, the cost of a well-equipped 'mobile restaurant' could&nbsp;even exceed&nbsp;\u00a330,000. Then there are always the costs related&nbsp;to branding or even re-painting&nbsp;or decorating&nbsp;your food truck depending on your needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest advantages of new food trucks compared to used ones are undoubtedly: lower fuel consumption, ideal condition of spare parts and the peace of mind that costly sudden repairs will not be needed in the near future, as vehicles purchased&nbsp;straight from the dealer will&nbsp;come with a warranty. In the case of vehicles with a total length of more than seven metres, parking sensors or reversing cameras will make your life much easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"3-should-you-buy-rent-or-build-it-yourself-that-is-the-question\">Should you buy, rent or build it yourself - that is the question<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The same principle applies&nbsp;with food trucks&nbsp;as with building a house: the more you can do yourself, the more money you can save. The help of professionals will then be&nbsp;limited or even unnecessary. However, in order to carry out any work, you should have the&nbsp;appropriate&nbsp;know-how and carefully&nbsp;consider&nbsp;whether the chosen solutions are to be temporary or permanent. Otherwise, you&nbsp;might&nbsp;have to spend more time and money re-doing it to meet your long-term requirements,&nbsp;which is&nbsp;a perfect example of the saying \"buy cheap, buy twice\". Each day spent repairing or re-doing your food truck means not only lost earnings, but also increased operational costs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"4-make-sure-you-comply-with-the-regulations-regarding-food-hygiene\">Make sure you comply with the regulations regarding food hygiene!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember: if you design your food truck yourself, it will be even more important to make sure all&nbsp;the&nbsp;regulations are met! If you do,&nbsp;however,&nbsp;decide to look for the help of professional, you should&nbsp;be able to&nbsp;find companies specialised in converting vehicles into food trucks in most major cities. In both cases, the costs you will need to incur depend on the size of the vehicle and the equipment you will need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The biggest advantage of renting or leasing a food truck is that you don't have to invest large amounts of money&nbsp;up front. It also saves time compared to creating everything from scratch! After the season, you can simply return the food truck to its owner. However, when renting a vehicle, you will not be able to adapt or change any of the equipment&nbsp;without prior consent, redesign the food truck in any way, or change the name or logo.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you really want to convert your vehicle into a food truck yourself, keep in mind that a smaller vehicle will be&nbsp;sufficient for a&nbsp;simple catering offer. If you go for a wider choice of menu items, requiring more or bulkier equipment,&nbsp;then you had better go for&nbsp;a larger vehicle with a solid chassis. Vehicle models such as the Mercedes Sprinter, Fiat Ducato, Citroen Jumper, Peugeot Boxer, Renault Master or Volkswagen Bulli are particularly suitable.&nbsp;Unless you really want to&nbsp;stand out from the competition at food truck festivals or other large events, in which case what about an American school bus or retro-style vehicle?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"5-take-advantage-of-every-inch-of-the-interior\">Take advantage of every inch of the interior<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Kitchens in food trucks are much smaller than restaurant kitchens, and&nbsp;tend to get&nbsp;pretty crowded&nbsp;if you work&nbsp;together with two or three employees in just a few square metres, so you will need to&nbsp;make the most of every inch inside the food truck's kitchen. Forget about large&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/sink-cabinets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">tabletop<\/a>&nbsp;sinks,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/commercial-cooker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cookers<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/countertop-fridges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;cooling tops<\/a>, or large and convenient storage space. Due to the limited options, cupboards should be equipped with sliding doors. The rear wall of the food truck is a good place for<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/wall-cupboards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;kitchen wall cupboards<\/a>&nbsp;fitted with a work top.&nbsp;In addition, not only must everything be firmly fitted so that it does not tip over&nbsp;on&nbsp;corners, but also resistant to vibrations on long journeys.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In our online shop you will find a wide range of high-quality&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/catering-equipment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">catering products<\/a>. Visit us at and choose from a variety&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/kebab-machine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">of kebab machines<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/deep-fat-fryer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">electric fryers,&nbsp;<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/roller-grill\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">roller hot dog grills<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/pizza-ovens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">, pizza ovens<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/crepe-makers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">crepe makers<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/refrigeration-equipment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">refrigerators<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/stainless-steel-furniture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stainless steel furniture<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"6-what-should-you-consider-when-designing-a-food-truck-kitchen\">What should you consider when designing a food truck&nbsp;kitchen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a large refrigerator, you should make sure you have at least two sinks with warm water. Ideally, the entire interior should consist of food-safe surfaces, preferably stainless steel. Invest in containers to differentiate wastewater from fresh water, and you should also consider purchasing an additional drinking water container. The floor should be made of an easily washable and durable material, such as PVC, while wall cladding and insulation components should also be installed in accordance with industry recommendations. A splash guard made of clear glass&nbsp;will also be necessary, to&nbsp;protect customers from sizzling electrical appliances. Needless to say, all food should be kept separate from things like cleaning products, dirty&nbsp;dish&nbsp;cloths or work clothes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"7-electricity-or-gas-or-maybe-both\">Electricity or gas? Or maybe both?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The choice of electricity or gas is also important. While many restaurateurs prefer to cook with gas, they still need electricity to run refrigerators, freezers and electrical appliances. So why not go for a fuel or&nbsp;gas powered&nbsp;generator that provides enough electricity&nbsp;for you other appliances? A practical solution is to connect the generator to the vehicle's fuel tank, letting&nbsp;you keep everything cool and fresh during transport.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"8-have-you-thought-about-everything\">Have you thought about everything?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine&nbsp;a situation where&nbsp;after months of detailed planning your food truck is virtually ready to go, but you are still unable to use it due to not fulfilling a few basic requirements. This&nbsp;could be for several reasons. Food truck owners often remember not to exceed the maximum load capacity at the design stage, but forget about the weight of the food, including full water tanks, and the weight of staff.&nbsp;This&nbsp;way the permitted values&nbsp;can easily be exceeded, which&nbsp;will require you to \"slim down\" your food truck later on, and equipment that is necessary to prepare or store food will need to be removed. To prevent this from happening, control the TOTAL weight of your vehicle from the very beginning of the design stage. Under no circumstances should you hit the road without all the necessary documents. Otherwise, you risk&nbsp;some pretty hefty&nbsp;fines.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many first-timers disregard the aspect of the height of the interior of the vehicle when choosing their food truck. Keep in mind that both you and your colleagues will work here for many hours a day. Can you imagine a food truck in which you will not be able to straighten up and will suffer from constant back pain after work? For this reason, the height of the ceiling in the workplace is of great importance. The floor should also be covered in a non-slip material, and ventilation and automatic circuit breakers&nbsp;should&nbsp;meet&nbsp;applicable&nbsp;standards. Only after taking into account the above aspects&nbsp;should&nbsp;you get down to designing the details.&nbsp;For this reason, many people choose the easier but more expensive approach of using companies specialising in standard interior design.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"9-bon-voyage-or-not-so-fast\">Bon voyage! Or not so fast?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ok, now you're ready to go! Congratulations! Your food truck is finally ready. But what next? Have you got all the official permits and certificates,&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;the&nbsp;right driving licence? With a standard driving&nbsp;licence&nbsp;you can drive cars with trailers or vehicles with a MAM not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. However, if your vehicle is heavier than 3.5 tonnes,&nbsp;but lighter than 7.5 tonnes, a category C1 driving licence will be required. Bear in mind that holders of a category C1 driving licence will need to renew their licence every five years.&nbsp;So&nbsp;this is another aspect that should be considered.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order for your \"mobile restaurant\" to reach its target customers, make sure you have all the permits to run this type of business.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Refrain from buying an&nbsp;\u201cAmerican school bus\u201d&nbsp;food truck if it will be too large for the spot you plan to&nbsp;sell from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"10-first-your-menu-then-the-food-truck\">First your menu, then the food truck<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The bottom line is that the more your food truck stands out, the more likely potential customers will notice it. Originality is key. Thanks to your own design and a unique brand, your food truck can really be one of a kind.&nbsp;Your&nbsp;food truck should reflect your catering offer, so&nbsp;hungry guests should be able to tell from afar what kind of cuisine you have on offer. Your logo and name should therefore be clearly visible, and if&nbsp;you manage to attract customers with a large picture of a laughing sausage, then your flagship products should not be kebab or popcorn.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although&nbsp;from your perspective it&nbsp;might make&nbsp;a huge difference whether you bought, rented or built your own food truck, your customers won't really care. An attractive looking food truck with tasty food is vital if you want to sell in a popular location. Remember, however, that&nbsp;the&nbsp;best advertisement will always be the quality of your catering offer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you stick to the above tips, then all that's left is to buy&nbsp;the necessary&nbsp;ingredients and get down to business. Good Luck!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The well-known and experienced chef Micha\u0142&nbsp;Or\u0142owski&nbsp;gives invaluable tips on buying or equipping a food truck on our&nbsp;expondo&nbsp;YouTube channel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCSsvMLVtMBTySDnW1jwazFw\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Chef's Gear<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31839"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31839\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35238,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31839\/revisions\/35238"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31839"},{"taxonomy":"promotion","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/promotion?post=31839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}