Starting a food truck is more than just building out a trailer and firing up the grill. Success in this industry comes from smart planning, legal compliance, and designing an operation that works before your first customer ever places an order.
At St. Croix Trailers, we don’t just build custom trailers—we help build mobile businesses that last. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to launch your food truck across Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Midwest.
🧭 Phase 1: Build a Solid Business Plan
Every winning food truck starts with a detailed blueprint. Your business plan should answer:
- What kind of food will you serve?
- Who is your target customer?
- What cities or regions will you serve?
- What’s your initial budget and revenue goal?
Download a free food truck business plan template from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to get started.
🧾 Phase 2: Legal Requirements & Permits
1. Business Structure & EIN
- Register your LLC or Corporation with your state.
- Get an EIN from the IRS for taxes and payroll.
2. Health Licensing
- Minnesota: Contact the MDH or local health department.
- Wisconsin: Go through DATCP and local municipalities.
- You will need:
- A Plan Review
- A Mobile Food Unit License
- A Commissary Agreement
3. Sales Tax Permit
Apply with your state’s Department of Revenue to collect sales tax. In MN, use form ST19.
🧼 Phase 3: Secure a Commissary Kitchen
A licensed commissary kitchen is legally required in every Midwest state. You cannot prep food from home.
Your commissary is where you’ll:
- Prep food
- Sanitize equipment
- Dump grey water
- Refill freshwater tanks
- Park your trailer overnight
👉 Read our full Commissary Guide
🔧 Phase 4: Design a Custom Trailer (That Fits Your Menu)
This is where most new owners mess up: buying a cookie-cutter trailer that doesn’t match their menu or workflow.
At St. Croix Trailers, we tailor every trailer to your exact needs:
- Type of cuisine
- Prep style (onsite vs commissary-heavy)
- Local regulations
- Equipment layout and weight distribution
- Power source: generator, shore power, battery or hybrid
We help you avoid expensive retrofits and build once—the right way.
👉 Build your custom trailer now
⚡ Phase 5: Power, Plumbing & Ventilation
Power Options:
- 50A or 100A generator
- Shore power plug
- Inverter + solar (optional)
Plumbing:
- Must include NSF 3-compartment sink + hand wash sink
- Grey + fresh tanks (per state volume requirement)
- Water heater (usually 4–6 gallon electric or propane)
Ventilation:
- Commercial hood required for grills, fryers, ranges
- Most counties require a UL 300 Ansul Fire Suppression System
💰 Phase 6: Funding Your Food Truck
Typical Startup Costs:
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Custom Trailer | $40,000–$85,000+ |
| Equipment | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Licensing & Permits | $1,500–$3,500 |
| Commissary Rent | $300–$1,200/month |
| Branding/Wrap | $2,000–$5,000 |
| POS System | $1,000+ |
Ways to Fund:
- SBA microloan
- Equipment lease (for trailer or gear)
- Personal savings or home equity
- Business partners/investors
- Local food incubators or grants (check with your city)
📍 Phase 7: Choose Your First Service Locations
Start with:
- Local breweries
- Farmers markets
- City-sanctioned food truck lots
- Events and fairs
- Business districts with lunchtime foot traffic
Use social media + Google My Business to post your schedule and generate momentum.
📣 Phase 8: Marketing & Launch
- Build a website (or use our included web tools)
- List on platforms like StreetFoodFinder, Roaming Hunger, and Yelp
- Get a branded wrap with your logo, hours, and website
- Collect emails + phone numbers for text promos
📸 Post behind-the-scenes content during your buildout. People love watching your truck come to life.
🎯 Phase 9: Operations & Optimization
Once you’re rolling, it’s about:
- Managing food cost %
- Tracking sales (POS + QuickBooks integration)
- Optimizing prep workflow
- Minimizing downtime
- Listening to customer feedback
We offer a full after-sale support guide and equipment service referrals to keep your operation smooth.
✅ Summary Checklist
✅ Business Plan
✅ EIN + LLC
✅ Mobile Food License
✅ Commissary Agreement
✅ Trailer Quote & Equipment
✅ Sales Tax ID
✅ Power/Plumbing Plan
✅ Branding & Web Presence
✅ Service Strategy
✅ Launch Plan
🛠 Ready to Start?
Let’s build your dream food trailer together. We’ll help with layout, compliance, power, plumbing, and fire safety—all engineered to pass inspection the first time.
👉 Get your custom trailer quote now
or
📞 Call us: (651) 300-9730
📍 Visit: 15625 95th St N, Stillwater, MN
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