Concession License

Hi everyone,
I am working on getting a new concession trailer.  I have been going to all kinds of state fairs, country fairs, fetivals, arts and crafts, flee markets and have not been discouraged yet.  I have received alot of info from different concessionaires.  However, I keep getting different comments  on which I should get first license, with license w/ tax number or HD permit and from whom do I get it.  Others say that I don't need one, some say I just need an HD cert.   I will be calling my local HD to find out, if I can ever reach him.  I want to do this part time after I retire and only a couple of week ends a month of maybe only 1 week end.  I  am working on a new 18 to 20 ft trailer with diamond plate flooring and polished aluminum sides and ceiling.  I want to do frying and cooking mainly.  I have been cooking for over 30 yrs  and enjoy it.  Will be retiring in the spring.   I already have locations who will take me.  
 
Which comes first LICENSE OR HD PERMIT.  Appreciate any info from the masters out there.
 
Thanks 
 
Ray 

welcome and I would talk to acct. or lawyer first. What kind of entity are you proposing. Licensing can be done on the internet takes minutes, both state and Fed.  Then call local HD for appt. for inspection.
Don't know your area but my local county had to trek to Court house myself.

welcome; For us we had to get licensed through the state then we were able to get the h/d to have an inspection for the permit. then the city where I live / and trailer is parked we had to also get a license from the city to sell at that spot, whiche was to register for fictious name, supply all tax # documents, h/d permit, state license , and then a written permission letter from the land owner where the trailer is parked. this whole thing with the city only took 2 day's after I got them all the required info, the state took about 2-3 months though.

Procedures are different everywhere you go no doubt. The first hurdle I had to clear was with the plumbing inspector. The Health Dept. would not even look at the trailer until I had a sticker from the plumbing inspector. I bought the trailer in Florida, and knew before I went to look at it that the plumbing set-up would not pass inspection in Kentucky. Basically had to gut the plumbing, have a Master Plumber submit a plan to the inspector, get the plan approved & have the Master Plumber do the work. Materials & labor ran about $1000 and the only thing left that was original is the water heater and the sinks. Sure is a nice set-up though:-)
 
After that, the Health Dept. inspection was a breeze...wasn't much to talk about there as all my equipment was NSF certified. I personally would not spend a nickle on a business license until I knew my rig would pass inspection.
 
One other comment...I have aluminum diamond plate flooring in my rig and it is the one thing I would change if I were building one. IMO, it is difficult to clean. Have fun & good luck!

I hear that KY is very strict and at the state fair the HD inspected daily.   I appreciate all the info.  I will check the HD first
 
Ray

Some states like Georgia which has extremely tough rules on mobile food vending are not requiring any kind of HD approval for events / festivals sponsored by non profit organizations and government entities. We mainly do festivals and do not have HD approval. We do have a business license. I know a lot of the food vendors we have met often cross over the boarders into surrounding states.