Food trucks are growing in popularity in the UK. They can be an incredibly lucrative business in times when people prefer quick food, on the go. Whilst you don’t need experience, you do need to understand what license you need to run a food truck.
Despite being a smaller business than restaurants and cafes, food truck owners are still bound by the same food regulations as other catering industries.
Whether you attend events with your truck or set up on a pitch, you have the same responsibilities. You must ensure all food served is fit for consumption. You are also responsible for making your food truck a safe working environment for you and any staff.
Our guide looks at what license you need to get for a food truck, as well as other legal requirements to set up your mobile food or drinks business.
Licensing & Certifications for Food Trucks
No experience is needed to start a food truck business. However, you are required to ensure you have researched the law and know what licenses and certificates you need to show compliance.
You also need to make sure your business is registered properly, and all safety checks and equipment is in place.
Food Hygiene Certificates
The most effective way to show you are in compliance with all UK food safety laws is to get a food hygiene certificate.
There are 3 levels you can choose and you will be looking to undertake one that is relevant to catering. The level you require will depend on who is taking the course. As the business owner, you will need to enrol in the Level 3 course which is for those managing food businesses.
For any staff hired, you can look at Level 1 or 2, based on their responsibilities in the food truck.
Register Your Business with Your Local Authority
It’s essential to register your food truck with your local authority. This is one of the first things you should be doing when you set your catering business up.
This is a fairly simple process that can be done online but you must do this before legally being able to sell any food. The process normally takes approximately 28 days and you cannot start trading until this has been completed.
The registration itself is free and you will be inspected sometime after you have started out. You can expect an EHO visit within 6 months of opening.
Register your business on the UK Gov food business registration page.
Create a HACCP Plan
This can seem like a complex step in the process of starting a catering business. But it is quite straightforward and there are HACCP courses that can assist you.
HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point. Creating a plan allows you to evaluate how all your food supplies are stored.
It will also involve you creating a floor plan of your food truck space so that all storage areas can be marked.
Without a HACCP plan in place, you will automatically fail your HSE inspection so it’s not a step you can afford to omit.
Buy Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance needs to be renewed every year. However, it has the potential to save you much more in the long run.
For an annual cost of £100 – £150 It will help protect your business from customer and client accidents and will also provide cover for damages.
Some insurances have been customised for food truck businesses so it’s well worth paying particular attention to these.
Conduct Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are an important aspect of any food business, which have the responsibility of serving food safely.
Risk assessments should be written before you open and reviewed regularly in case anything needs changing. New assessments can be created as issues arise and they should all be kept in a safe place, accessible to employees.
A few examples of risk assessments required by food trucks include:
- How to keep the serving area safe at all times for customers.
- Identify any potential hazards between your truck and the path your customers will use.
- List all the potential accidents that could occur for both employees and customers.
- Explain how food is stored correctly.
- Identify hygiene protocols and how equipment is cleaned and stored.
- List safety features that will minimise the risk of food poisoning.
- Seasonal risk assessments may be required, for example in icy conditions.
- Conduct a fire risk assessment and ensure you have the right fire extinguishers in your vehicle. NCASS has comprehensive free advice on fire safety laws for mobile caterers.
Further Reading
- Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher Use Guide – these fire extinguishers are used on oil fires. Also known as Class F fires. If you plan on frying food in your food truck, it’s vital to install this type of extinguisher.
- Dry Powder Fire Extinguisher Use Guide – If your mobile food business uses gas burners, you’ll need this type of extinguisher. Fires involving flammable gas are known as Class C fires.
Get PAT Testing Done on Electrical & Gas Appliances
If your food truck uses electrical cookers then you are required to have an electrician carry out PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) every year.
For those with gas appliances, it is essential that LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas) testing is done each year. This will be something HSE checks when they come out to inspect so make sure you have the paperwork to hand.
Apply for a Street Food Vendor License from your Local Council
A street food license is a must. You can’t just turn up anywhere you wish and start trading.
Apply for a license through your local authority, the cost of this varies depending on your location.
Food vendors can only apply to trade on certain streets as not all roads are permitted for mobile catering operatioins.
You can obtain a list of licensed streets and can then put in your application for the street(s) you wish to sell from. Contact your local council’s licensing department for advice.
To Start Up A Food Truck Business You Should Also:
- Know the niche you want to sell in and research it thoroughly. Are there are already 6 burger vans in the area? Then you may wish to consider another food or indeed move the truck to another location.
- Draw up a business plan when you have decided which foods you will sell. A business plan will help if you need financial assistance and it will also help you visualise your end goal.
- Decide if you will lease or buy your vehicle outright. It’s important to buy one that is appropriate and big enough for the staff you will be hiring. You don’t want to get 6 months down the line and decide you need to upgrade.
- Consider your brand, logo, and advertising carefully and get word of mouth out there as soon as you have registered. Those early days rely on people knowing about you and where to find you.
- Be realistic and understand most businesses make a loss in their first year. Outgoings will be high, with profits considerably lower. Make sure you have the funds to get you through at least the first year with little or no income.
Further Reading
- Our guide on selling food from home has great information on setting up a catering business in your home kitchen. This could be a stepping stone to a food truck business, or you might wish to do some food preparation in your home kitchen.
- If you think the business of cooking food on the go is not for you, what about finding out how to set up a coffee van business? There can be great profit margins in this industry.
FAQ
You can put your burger van on private land as long as you have permission from the land owner and you’ve also got the relevant street trader’s license. Without both of these in place, it is illegal to park on privately owned land.
