Get your street food business started in time for summer

As a nation, we are big foodies. Whether it’s TV shows like MasterChef or the Great British Bake Off, or whether it’s queuing up to try the new healthy juice bar in town– everyone wants good food and they want it now. Street food is not only a huge hit amongst customers looking for a more fun and convenient way of dining, but it is also a great way for budding chefs to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

This week we’re exploring street food business and how our #XFSuccess entrepreneurs have launched their own scrumptious startups.

3 Benefits of having a street food business:

1. Lower start-up costs: Unlike with fixed premises, your startup costs will be lower as you’re less likely to have high initial deposits, fixed ongoing rents, long lease terms and the estate agent and solicitor fees associated with leases.
2. Gauge demand: If you are unsure about giving up the day job and going full time from the outset, a part-time street food business will enable you to gauge demand for your particular cuisine or chosen location and refine these details before making the increased time commitment.
3. Flexibility of location: If a particular market isn’t getting the custom you want then you’re free to move to another. Similarly, you can make the most of the high passing trades at seasonal festivals, shows and events without worrying about who will take care of the restaurant

Meet some of our entrepreneurial chefs

For many chefs, the desire to set up their own business comes from a motivation to share their culinary skills with the rest of the world. This isn’t just a business, it’s your passion.

As said by Gourmet Lasagne specialist chef & entrepreneur Luca Ferri, ‘Lasagnes on the Road’:

As a child, I always wanted to be a cook.   Since when I used to spend my afternoons watching my grandmother Margherita do her magic and my childhood dreams were filled with the smells and colours of her delicious and heart-warmingly comforting culinary creations that’s what I wanted to be.

Jamie Savage set up ‘Savage Mussels’in Macclesfield after gaining experience serving as a Chef in the Royal Navy:

‘I joined the Royal Navy as a Chef as I wanted to test my ability to cook in an environment I wasn’t used to and gain experience from some of my superior chefs. I didn’t fancy furthering my career as a Petty Officer, being constrained to an office. I continued to grow my skills with a few Head Chef roles in the interim years, but I’d had the idea of a pop-up restaurant in mind since the Navy. I wanted to showcase my own work, getting the praise myself rather than my bosses’.

As well as an opportunity to showcase your cuisine, street food businesses usually also have a creative flair, offering the public something unique and exciting. This is certainly the case for business partners Thomas Trinder and & Malcom Moore who set up Burnout BBQ, serving BBQ food from a 1950’s Ford pickup truck with some very cool branding to go with it – the ultimate in summer dining!

How do I get started?

Street food businesses are relatively straight-forward to set up, however, there are certain rules and requirements to comply with regarding health and safety and licencing etc. Once you have thought of your great foodie business idea then our Business Advisers will guide you through the rest to ensure you have everything you need to make your street food business soar. If you have already begun trading but have been trading less than 24 months ago we are still able to help.

We offer low-interest government-backed start-up funding to help you with your initial costs as well as access to workshops and networking to help you brush up on the essentials of running a business. We also offer 12-months ongoing mentoring to ensure you have all the support you need to make your start-up a success. Our programmes are fully funded by our partners so we don’t charge you for our support. If your start-up is ready to cook up a food storm, then contact us today and one of our team will call you back.