My plan

How to Start a Food Truck Business in Washington

A food truck costs less than a restaurant but carries most of the same food-safety rules plus vehicle, commissary and location rules. Arizona is unusual in having a state law that limits how cities and counties can regulate mobile food vendors.

Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Sources linked inline

Washington requirements for this business

  • Food trucks and trailers must be inspected by L&I to receive an L&I insignia; the inspection-only route lists a $55.10 insignia payment, while units needing plans pay additional filing fees. [source]
  • L&I does not regulate push carts and delivery trucks; L&I also advises checking with local building departments wherever you plan to operate. [source]
  • The Department of Health says businesses selling food directly to customers should contact their local health department. [source]
  • Washington food workers handling unpackaged food need a food worker card, which costs $10; workers may work up to 14 days before getting it if the employer provides food safety training. [source]

Statewide steps for every Washington business — forming an LLC or registering a business name with the Washington Secretary of State — are on our state licensing directory.

FirstBizGuide is not a government agency: any license or registration fees are paid directly to the agency named in each source. These are the Washington facts we have verified so far, not a complete list. City and county rules vary — check with your local government before opening.

Startup costs

We haven't found a reliable published cost range for this business, so we don't show one. Costs vary widely by market, equipment and whether you buy new or used. Plug your own quotes into the worksheet:

Open a food truck cost worksheet →

SBA 7(a) loans in this industry

Mobile Food Services (NAICS 722330): 742 loans approved in FY2024–FY2026. Median loan $50,000; middle half $25,000–$94,950.

Loan size is not startup cost — these loans also fund acquisitions, real estate and working capital. Full breakdown and caveats →

How much competition is there?

Census industry: Mobile Food Services (NAICS 722330)

In Washington: 411 employer establishments (2023) and 5,013 businesses without employees (2024). Nationwide: 12,487 employer establishments (2023) and 406,608 businesses without employees (2024).

The count of businesses without employees is for the broader Census group “Special Food Services” (NAICS 7223), so it includes related businesses, not only this one.

See counts for your county → Counts aren't a measure of saturation — see the caveats on the tool page.

Equipment and supplies

  • Truck or trailer built to health code
  • Cooking line, refrigeration and handwashing sink
  • Generator or shore power
  • Fire extinguishers and hood suppression (if cooking with grease)
  • Fresh and gray water tanks
  • POS that works offline

Licenses and registration

  • Health department license or permit for the mobile unit, usually with plan review before you build.
  • A commissary agreement — most health departments require a licensed base for supplies, cleaning and water.
  • Food handler or manager certification.
  • City or county vendor licenses, fire inspection and parking/zoning rules.
  • Sales tax registration.
  • Get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS if you will hire employees or form an LLC or corporation. Beware of sites that charge for this. [source]
  • Register an LLC or corporation with your state's business registration office (sole proprietors usually register a trade name/DBA instead). [source]

Insurance to consider

  • Commercial auto (personal auto excludes business use)
  • General liability
  • Product liability
  • Workers' compensation once you hire
  • Equipment coverage

Get quotes from several carriers or an independent agent; coverage needs depend on your contracts, state and staff.

Financing options

  • SBA 7(a) loans — the SBA's main guaranteed loan program, made through participating lenders. [source]
  • SBA Microloans — smaller loans delivered through nonprofit intermediary lenders. [source]
  • SBA Lender Match — a free tool that connects you with interested SBA lenders. [source]
  • Free counseling from your local SBDC or SCORE chapter can help you build the business plan lenders ask for. [source]

Estimate payments with the loan calculator, then check runway with the cash flow projection.

Ongoing operating expenses

  • Food cost
  • Fuel and propane
  • Commissary rent
  • Labor
  • Event fees
  • Repairs
  • Card fees

Use the break-even calculator to see how many jobs or sales cover them, and the employee cost calculator for staffing.

Common mistakes

  • Buying a truck before health plan review
  • Underestimating commissary and event fees
  • Too large a menu for a small line
  • No plan for slow seasons and weather

Finding customers

  • Consistent weekly locations
  • Office parks, breweries and events
  • Social media with daily location
  • Catering private events

Startup checklist

Ticks are saved on this device and appear on My plan.

Compare with other businesses

Sources