Advice needed for new Burger Van business

TJUK2007

Hi guys,

My mum has recently been made redundant after 20 years at her job and now fancies a change in life so she will be using some of her redundancy money to purchase a burger wagon. This is something completely new for her so she is doing a bit of research into it all. Can anyone offer any suggestions on what things she should look into.

For example: Does she need an particular licences to trade? Im assuming a basic food hygiene certificate is a minimum requirement.

Insurances? public liability and employers liability insurance? Anything else?

The burger wagon will be sited on private land, so I am not sure if we will need to apply to the council for any permission to trade?

Any comments or pointers would be very greatfully received! :j

Thanks

TJUK200

dick_turpin

I deal with many requests for burger bars in laybys. The Council won't licence them and does move them on when complaints arise, so if you have private land then thats half the battle. Complaints can arise because of litter generated, costomers also using the site as a toilet, etc etc.
Keep on the private land and you should be ok from a highways point of view, unless you are deemed to create a hazard by vehicles turning to access your bar.
I don't want to sound negative, just pointing out possible pitfalls for you.
Good luck,
DC
Good luck

ukbill69

The other will bring you returing customerts, is fresh food, great burgers and good prices.

Id think drawing up plans is better than none when appling. Highways prob will be a pain the backside, but know the right people and you may get a real good spot.

gonzo10

Take a look at https://www.ncass.org.uk should be some helpful info on there

Moneymaker

The council will force you to take down any signs you erect without permission on the public highway. Apply for permission well in advance. Photos of the site entrance might be useful. (Bear in mind that any existing signs might be illegal!)

JONNY24

hi can anybody help me, im about to go into the burger van industry but dont no where to start, who do i phone? where do i get the licence? where do i get my food hygiene certificate? any help will be appreciated. thanks

Suarez

JONNY24 wrote: »

where do i get the licence?

where do i get my food hygiene certificate?

any help will be appreciated. thanks

What licence? Your local college will do food hygiene courses..

Horace

You do food hygiene certificates at college.
You get your licence from the council
You get business advice from business link or your local chamber of commerce.

You will also need insurance not only for the van, the stock and insurance for you in case you poison somebody.

What experience do you have cooking burgers? If you have none, then it may be worth your while getting a job in McDonalds or Burger King or somewhere similar to get some experience.

barneygumble

Horace wrote: »

What experience do you have cooking burgers? If you have none, then it may be worth your while getting a job in McDonalds or Burger King or somewhere similar to get some experience.

Not exactly the hardest thing to cook are they? I don't think going after gainful employment with a burger chain is necessary. An hours practice at best would be needed.

jexygirl

barneygumble wrote: »

Not exactly the hardest thing to cook are they? I don't think going after gainful employment with a burger chain is necessary. An hours practice at best would be needed.

They may not be difficult to cook... but running this type of thing is about WAY more than cooking a burger... food handling and storage, advertising, best practice, efficiency of equipment, portion control, how to serve quickly and efficiently, best type of supplies, deliveries, record keeping etc...

If someone thinks, hey I can cook a burger, that makes me a buisness man and expert in the industry, I will go buy me a van, they are being very silly...

antrobus

barneygumble wrote: »

Not exactly the hardest thing to cook are they? I don't think going after gainful employment with a burger chain is necessary. An hours practice at best would be needed.

Cooking and catering are actually two very different things. Any fool might be able to cook up a burger, it takes a more capable kind of fool to coinsistently deliver burgers to steady string of customers who appear at random intervals throughout the day.