Starting a mobile food vending business can be an attractive way to earn a living or make extra money while making your own schedule. A mobile food vending business serves foods and beverages, typically from a portable cart, at fairs, private events, parks and festivals. If you plan to start a mobile food vending business in Florida, you will need to obtain a food service license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or DBPR.
Fees
The Florida DBPR requires a $50 fee with an application for a new mobile food service unit or a change of ownership on an existing unit. The annual license fee for a mobile food service unit, including a hot dog cart, is $347. A six-month license is available for $178.50. If you only plan to serve food for a specific event, Florida offers a temporary food vendor license that costs $91 for events lasting less than four days, and $105 for events lasting between four and 30 days. You must also pay a $10 fee annually to fund Florida's Hospitality Education Program.
Application
All businesses planning to engage in food vending from a mobile unit in Florida must complete the Application for Public Food Service Establishment License, available on the DBPR website. The application includes ownership and location information, as well as the vehicle identification number and serial number of the mobile service unit. Mail the application, along with the fees, to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants at the address listed in the application instructions.
Plan Review and Inspection
If you are constructing or remodeling a food service unit, or if the food service unit has not been used in business for one year, you must apply for a plan review by completing the Mobile Food Dispensing Vehicle Plan Review Application and Commissary Notification forms found on the DBPR website. You must mail these forms to the department with a fee of $150. Your plan must also include scaled drawings of the food service unit. Your mobile food service cart must also pass a health inspection before you can begin operations.
Other Requirements
Business owners proposing to commence food service operations in Florida must obtain a federal Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. You can instantly obtain an EIN on the IRS website. You must also obtain a sales tax license from the Florida Department of Revenue.
Tags: service unit, food service unit, food service, food service, mobile food