Helping Deeʻs Poi Mochi rebuild after the Lahaina wildfires

At the heart of our concession trailer community, every mobile kitchen weaves a unique story of ambition, resilience, and unity. At Quality Trailers, we felt a profound connection to Dee Rodrigues’s plight when the Lahaina wildfires engulfed her beloved Dee’s Poi Mochi, erasing not just a business but a vital piece of Hawaiian heritage and community joy. This disaster reminded us of the vulnerabilities we all share in this industry and galvanized our commitment to stand on one of our own during her time of need.

Joining forces with Cook Solutions Group, we’re determined to help Dee rebuild her dream, signaling a beacon of hope for all concession trailer business owners facing adversity. Our collaboration embodies more than assistance; it’s a testament to our collective spirit of perseverance and solidarity. By supporting Dee, we reinforce our shared resilience and are ready to face any challenges together. Learn more by clicking here.

Navigating the World of Food Trailer Financing: A Friendly Guide

Navigating the World of Food Trailer Financing: A Friendly Guide

How To Finance Your Food Trailer Dream

Welcome to the Quality Trailers Inc. blog! Today, we’re diving into an exciting topic for all your aspiring food entrepreneurs: financing your very own food trailer. It’s a journey filled with potential and promise, and we’re here to guide you through it with a blend of expertise and friendliness. So, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s get started!

The Joy of Starting a Food Trailer Business

At Quality Trailers Inc., nestled in the heart of Portland, we’re not just experts in building trailers; we’re passionate about supporting your dreams of running a food service business. With two decades under our belt in the trailer industry, we’ve seen firsthand the joy and success our clients experience through their ventures. And now, it’s your turn!

Making Financing Accessible and Understandable

We know that diving into the financial side of things can be daunting. That’s where we come in. Our goal is to demystify the process of financing a food trailer and make it accessible, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting.

  • Exploring Your Financing Options – There are several paths to securing financing for your food trailer, and we’re here to walk you through each one. Traditional routes like banks or resources like the Small Business Administration (SBA) are great options. But did you know there are also private financing options available? These can be particularly useful if you’re just starting out or facing credit challenges.
  • A Tailored Approach to Financing – Every food trailer dream is unique, and so are our financing solutions. Whether you’re looking to finance just the trailer or the equipment inside, we’ve got options that can help you start generating income quickly. And don’t worry about the process being overwhelming; we aim to make it as seamless as possible.

The Business Side of Food Trailers

Let’s talk about the potential of a food trailer business. Industry stats are encouraging, with monthly earnings ranging from $20,000 to $45,000. Imagine what you could do with that kind of revenue! Of course, it’s important to factor in costs like food supplies, fuel, maintenance, and insurance. But with careful planning, the financial outlook can be very promising.

Qualifying for Financing: Not as Hard as You Think

Many factors can influence your ability to secure financing, like your credit history and industry experience. But don’t let this intimidate you. Even if you’re new to the scene or have an average credit score, there are options out there for you.

Your Partners in Food Trailer Success

At Quality Trailers Inc., we see ourselves as more than just trailer builders; we’re your partners in this exciting entrepreneurial journey. Our years of experience and network of trusted lenders are at your disposal, making the financing process simpler and more straightforward.

Reach Out to Us!

Do you have questions or need more information about starting your food trailer business? We’re here to help! Our friendly team is available on weekdays to chat over the phone or in person. We’re excited to be a part of your journey and can’t wait to see where it takes you.

Remember, embarking on a food trailer business is an adventure, and like any great adventure, it’s always more enjoyable with a reliable guide by your side. Let’s make your food service dreams a reality together!

Thanks for reading our blog post! Stay tuned for more insights and tips from Quality Trailers Inc. Whether you’re ready to jump right in or still weighing your options, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let’s cook up some success together! 🚚🍔🌟

 

How to Open a Food Cart in Portland

Our good friends at Multnomah County Environmental Health wrote up the following article for you, our readers, eaters and potential food cart owners. A big thanks to them for putting this together. Whether they serve tacos, sandwiches, chicken, donuts or soup, all of the unique food carts in Portland started the same way; a creative idea, hard work and a health 

department license. At Multnomah County Environmental Health we help operators understand the Food Sanitation Rules and protect the safety of Food cart employees and customers alike. Now, it is no mistake that the Oregon Food Sanitation Rules are often referred to as the food code. This long document can be complex and a bit convoluted at best. That is what we are here for, to crack the code. To help you navigate your way through the rules so you can open a creative and safe business. As many of you know, opening a food cart, or mobile food unit, is a process and for those toying with the idea of opening one, we wanted to provide a distilled version of that process, a nitty-gritty quick look. So here you have it… Not all food carts are created equal 

There are four classes of food carts, each have varying levels of what can be sold, cooked, prepared, created etc, onboard. Check out the classes and think about which one will best fit the needs of your operation.

  • Class I units are allowed to sell pre-packaged foods and non-potentially hazardous beverages. An example of a Class I unit could be a unit with pre-wrapped hot dogs or a mobile food unit with pre-wrapped sandwiches.
  • Class II carts can sell anything allowed in a Class I plus they can have a hot or cold holding display for unpackaged foods. No cooking or assembly can be done onboard. An example would be a unit that sells chips, soda and hot food items held in warmers made at an approved commissary.
  • Class III can sell anything allowed in a Class I or II, plus assembly and cooking is allowed onboard. The one exception is that no animal products (meat) can be cooked from a raw state onboard. An example would be unit that sells burritos or bento where any meat is precooked at an approved commissary and then assembled per order.
  • Class IV has no menu restrictions; you are a restaurant on wheels.

There are some other important features that all food carts share regardless of class. The application packet explains these features in more detail. Some of these common traits are:

  • All food carts must be “mobile”, meaning they need to be on wheels at all times and ready to move in case of an emergency.
  • All food carts that have unpackaged foods must have a way to wash hands.
  • All food carts need to have a base of operation, often referred to as a commissary, (or warehouse if you only serve packaged foods). There is an exception, you do not need a commissary if:
    • The food cart has all of the equipment on board to ensure foods can be kept out of the temperature danger zone (41°F – 140°F).
    • You can adequately wash your hands with warm water.
    • You can do all warewashing with hot water onboard and have a way to store them.
    • The food cart contains both freshwater and wastewater.
    • You can dispose wastewater via an approved sewage system.

Building or Buying? 

Whether you plan to build a food cart from scratch, renovate an existing one, or take one over that has been inactive, you need go through the plan-review process. The plan review process is important because it helps determine if you will have the capacity to hold enough water, if you can support all of the equipment necessary for your kitchen and which class of unit is best for your business. The plan review specialist will look over blueprints and your menu with you to help you ensure that the food cart will meet your needs and be in compliance with code. Check out the application for all the details on the plan review process. Be sure to plan ample time for this process. We get a lot of plan reviews so a response may take up to ten business days. In a hurry? We offer rush or expedited plan reviews for an additional fee. Time to open! Once your plan review is approved you can start building or renovating the unit. When construction is done and you are ready to open, complete a mobile food unit license application and submit to Multnomah County Environmental Health Department. An Environmental Health Specialist will then do a pre-opening inspection to help you with any last minute adjustments and then you are good to go! After that you will get a visit from an Environmental Health Specialist twice a year. Explore our resources page for more information about food safety and what to expect during an inspection. One important thing to note is that there may be other agencies you will be required to obtain approvals from. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Planning (zoning)
  • Building codes (structural, electrical, plumbing, prefabricated structures)
  • Fire Marshal
  • City or county authorities

Review the City of Portland Bureau of Developmental Services website for additional information or call them at (503) 823-7300. Interested in learning more about opening a food cart? Review the Mobile Unit Operator’s Guide or call our office at (503) 988-3400. **** Useful Resources **** Multnomah County Environmental Health – 503 988 3400 Mobile Unit Rules Food Handler’s Website   dieselboi (2011, June 2). How To Open a Food Cart in Portland [Blog comment]. Retrieved from http://www.foodcartsportland.com/2011/06/02/how-to-open-a-food-cart-in-portland/