Looking to start a mobile food business but don’t know if you need a licence?
In this article we’ll focus on whether you need a licence for a mobile food truck, the things to do or consider when starting your own food-based business and how we at Food Agent can help make the process simple.
So Do You Need a Licence to Start a Mobile Food Business?
Yes, every food business (even one that is mobile or in a food truck/van) requires a licence to operate according to Queensland laws and regulations.
If you are operating on council owned property, you may also need to look into obtaining a roadside vending permit.
Things to Consider When Setting Up a Mobile Food Business
Just as with any other hospitality or food based business, there are many things you need to take into consideration when setting the groundwork and getting started. Here we’ll go through some of the most important.
The Type of Business
To be classed as a “mobile food business” and be approved for this licence, you need to meet certain structural requirements, one of the biggest confusions we get is that to be approved, you need to be able to stand inside of the mobile food vehicle. You can not obtain a mobile food business licence for a trailer that you stand outside of and prepare the food.
The only exception for this, is mobile food businesses such as pie/smoko vans or ice cream vans that sell pre-packaged food ( where no food handling of unpackaged food is conducted on the trailer). Otherwise there are also water carriers that will be classed as a mobile food business.
Examples of mobile food businesses can include:
– ice cream vans
– food trucks (where food is prepared and served on site)
– water carriers
** Equipment hire isn’t something we generally see with mobile food businesses. If you want to talk about equipment, you can say something along the lines of “the equipment fitted within your mobile food business needs to be suitable for the food you intend to prepare, and needs to be installed in accordance with the food act.
Vehicle
Your vehicle is another major consideration and will be determined by the type of business you choose to run. For instance, you may choose to have a food trailer instead of a food van. Mobile food vehicles need to meet certain structural compliance to be approved.
There is an extensive checklist that council use when they come to inspect – at Food Agent Australia we review your vehicle either before you purchase it, or before your council inspection, to ensure it meets compliance, and if not we let you know what needs to be done for you to achieve approval.
Food Safety & Training
As the owner of a mobile food business, you need to ensure everyone is trained sufficiently in food safety and handling procedures before you begin serving food (in any capacity) to the public.
Safe food handling
Food safety handling is something that is integral to any type of food based business. This is something Food Safety Australia can assist you with.
How to Make the Process Easy
When it comes to implementing the licences or policies and procedures your food business follows – even those surrounding food safety – you want to be certain it’s done correctly and professionally. That’s the best way you can achieve approval and operate your business the way you want to.
Our team members are some of the most qualified food safety and hospitality professionals in the industry. It’s why we’re one of the leading providers of food business services in Australia.
Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction is second to none; we want to help you succeed.
To get started with your mobile food business, get in touch with the experts at Food Agent Australia.
