So...um I want to start a food cart?

So I was wondering if you had anytime...you could tell me how to start a food cart?



Sure no problem was my answer for the first six month's as I too had to figure out a lot of shit to get this thing rolling. Nowadays, with the ever growing influx of food carts and a quickly growing national following I've had to put the kibosh on how much information I disclose. It's not that I don't want to help, but when it becomes almost an everyday occurrence that people are quizzing you on your equipment, costs, resources...where did ya get this and that, can I take a peak at your business plan? It's gotta stop somewhere. Fuck no! You cannot look at my business plan or scan the insides of my kitchen gallows to copy everything that took me so long to piece together. What you can do is start by researching what type of cart you wish to operate, the competition, best locations and foot traffic and what it's truly like to own and work and out of a metal box that's smaller than your freakin bedroom! DO THE WORK!



Let me start by asking you if you have a family, children, social life, manicured fingernails, any restaurant experience because if you don't...you may be fucked. If you're tired of your cushy job overlooking the waterfront and just want your hands in the dirt...go and do some fucking gardening. Do you really want to deal with nasty grey water that smells like barf, or clogging pumps that are about to explode your holding tanks, pruned and hang nailed fingers from washing so many dishes (and yes you are a glorified dishwasher), the rain that can crush your daily sales in half, something is always breaking, flooding, burning...clunk clank crappity crap on ya! Can you deal? If you can...then proceed to the next paragraph. Otherwise, thank your lucky stars that you have a 9-5 job with bennies, a plump bank account and even a fairly good dental plan.



I probably sound like a bit of a jerk, but I just want to be really honest. I've also spent the last two years hustling my ass to make this dream work and part of the process is learning the steps to get it up and running. It has been one of the hardest things that I have ever done and it has tested me on so many personal and professional levels it could make your head spin. With that being said, it has also been one of the proudest things that I have accomplished and I am truly humbled by the everyday experiences and beautiful and inspiring people I have met along this journey. I have been fortunate to be able to follow my dream and have the support and love to make it happen. Not only the true blue close friends and family in my life, but the everyday customers that have stuck by me and supported me since the inception of my little cart. I truly love and thank you all!



It's fantastic to watch people step up to my cart with a big smile and even though we generally have a quick exchange it's something that makes an imprint on me and perhaps a little imprint on you. I love the clean plates that you return to me, and your chocolaty mustaches that sometimes I don't tell you that you have (he hee) and the warm smiles and contentment that gleam from your face! I love it! I love it! I love it!



This is why I stick around and stand on my feet for 12 plus hours and deal with barfy smelling grey water, 20 trips to Winco, Cash N' Carry, Restaurant Depot, Ghetto Safeway, oven burns that lay tracks on my arms, dry and cracked gnarly fingers, bumps and bruises, smelling like sickeningly sweet chocolate, all my clothes are either bleach or butter stained, carpal tunnel in both my wrists, tennis elbow, haven't had a proper hair cut in five months, circles under my eyes, haven't had a proper lay in four month's because I have no time to date...shall I continue? Even with this long list it has all been worth it and I commend anyone who has a dream to start something of their very own and has the balls to actually bring it to fruition. YOU are inspiring!



If you still wish to start a food cart you should go here: foodcartsportland.com You can also talk to the Multnomah Health Department about requirements for your specific needs.

There is tons of helpful info and insight into the depths of owning and operating a metal box with stuff that makes stuff in it. Take a deep breath, grow a pair and get started. Don't what if it...just do the research, have a plan and make it fucking happen:)



A friend told me this once and I still say this to myself on a regular basis. " Jump first and build your wings on the way down." Now go get started...



xoxoxo!!