Food truck startup checklist Ireland (2026)
This is a printable single-page checklist for new Irish food truck operators — every step, every cert, every piece of equipment, in the order you actually need them. Tick through it as you go. Total realistic startup window: 10–16 weeks from first phone call with your EHO to first weekend trading. Each item links to the deeper guide where applicable.
Weeks 1–2 · Pre-business research
Phone your local Environmental Health Officer (EHO) — get their contact details from your Local Authority website. Visit 3–4 trading food trucks in your county — most operators will spend 15 minutes telling you what they wish they'd known. Decide your menu (5–8 items max for year 1). Decide your trailer type (food trailer, coffee trailer, horsebox conversion, Piaggio Ape, full Mercedes Sprinter build). Decide your business structure (sole trader vs limited company — see /guides/food-trailer-finance-ireland for the trade-offs).
Weeks 3–4 · Legal registration
Register the business: sole trader with Revenue (free), or limited company with the CRO (€50, cro.ie). Pick a clear name. Open a business bank account (AIB, BOI, PTSB, Revolut Business, N26 Business). Apply for an Irish tax registration number (TR1 form). Sign up for ROS (Revenue Online Service). Talk to an accountant — most charge €600–€1,200/year for sole-trader food trucks and the cost pays for itself in the first VAT return.
Weeks 4–8 · Trailer + equipment
Buy or commission the trailer (browse /listings or /sell-your-food-trailer-ireland for live Irish-supplier prices). Spec the kitchen layout to match your menu — wrong layout costs more to fix than to plan. Order the espresso machine / fryer / griddle / refrigeration. Arrange RGI gas installation + cert (€200–€500). Arrange a Safe Electric / RECI electrician for the electrical sign-off. Order branded packaging + napkins + cups (this lead-times 4–6 weeks).
Week 6 · FSAI + Local Authority registration
Submit the FSP01 form to your Local Authority at least 28 days before you plan to open (free, mandatory). Apply for any casual trading licence your council requires (€100–€500/year per location). Apply to your chosen festival vendor lists for the upcoming season (autumn application window for following summer). Complete HACCP Level 2 food safety certificate for yourself + any staff (~€80 per person, available online).
Week 7 · Insurance
Get quotes from at least 3 Irish brokers (O'Driscoll O'Neil, Aviva trade, Allianz trade, Cornmarket). Required: public liability €6.5M+, product liability, employers' liability (if hiring), motor cover for the trailer in transit, equipment cover for the espresso machine + fryers + refrigeration. Annual premium: €600–€2,500. Have certificates of insurance ready before the first EHO inspection.
Week 8 · First EHO inspection
The EHO will visit on a date you agree with them. They'll want to see: hot water at the wash basin (min 38°C), separate hand-wash basin from food-prep sink, food-grade water tank + plumbing, refrigeration logging documentation, written HACCP plan (1-page laminated wall sheet is fine), gas cert, pest-prevention measures. Have all paperwork present at the inspection — without it most inspectors require a re-visit.
Weeks 8–10 · Soft launch
Pick a low-stakes opening: a quiet farmers market, a small village festival, a 50-person private corporate gig. Trade for 2–3 days. Adjust everything: queue management, prep timing, supplier reorder cycles, waste handling, hand-washing rhythm. Most Irish operators iterate the menu by 20%+ in the first month.
Week 10+ · Scale + book the bigger pitches
Once the rhythm is dialled, apply for bigger weekly markets (Smithfield Saturday, Honest2Goodness Glasnevin, Marlay Park, Cork English Market events) and festival vendor spots (Bloom in May, Body & Soul in June, Forbidden Fruit + Indiependence in July, Electric Picnic in September). Festival applications typically open 6–9 months before the event.
Printable equipment checklist (year-1 essentials)
☐ Trailer / van / horsebox conversion · ☐ RGI gas cert · ☐ Safe Electric / RECI electrical sign-off · ☐ Hot water + hand-wash basin · ☐ Two food-grade water tanks (fresh + grey) · ☐ HACCP Level 2 cert (every staff member) · ☐ Refrigeration with logging · ☐ Generator (3.5kVA+) or LiFePO4 + solar · ☐ Branded packaging + napkins + cups · ☐ Card terminal (SumUp / Square / Revolut / Stripe Terminal) · ☐ Pest-prevention plan · ☐ FSAI registration (FSP01 submitted) · ☐ Council casual-trading licence (if applicable) · ☐ Public liability €6.5M+ insurance.
Printable paperwork checklist (year-1 essentials)
☐ CRO registration (limited company) OR Revenue TR1 (sole trader) · ☐ Business bank account · ☐ FSAI FSP01 confirmation letter · ☐ EHO first-inspection report · ☐ HACCP food safety written plan · ☐ Daily temperature log book · ☐ RGI gas certificate · ☐ RECI/Safe Electric certificate · ☐ Public liability insurance certificate · ☐ Allergen menu chart (FSAI mandatory) · ☐ Equipment service records · ☐ Council casual-trading licence (if applicable) · ☐ Festival vendor application receipts. Keep these on the trailer — EHO checks at inspection.
Related on Food Trailers Marketplace
Browse Irish suppliers
Find verified Irish suppliers across all 32 counties. Free to browse, contact direct via WhatsApp, email or phone. No commissions, no fees.