One of the things to consider before buying and setting up a food cart business is to acquire pertinent permits and licenses from the local government. Some states have more lenient regulations for running a cart business while some like California observe stricter laws to protect both the food vendor and the buyer.
The cost of these permits and licenses vary, depending on what the state or city requires. But generally, they are under $100. And the permits that an aspirant food cart vendor should obtain are the following:
* Business permit
At the early stage of a cart business, you are required to register with your local government. You will be asked about the details of your business as follows:
* The kind and type of food are you going to sell
* The type of food cart are you going to use
* The name of the business
* The area where you are going to operate
* The details on your tax payment
It is a must for you to provide your city government all this information before they can give you the license to operate. More so, they might still have other procedures for you to follow but that depends on the city you are going to put up your cart.
The cost of this license ranges from $60 to $400. This will depend upon which city you will run your business in. If you intend to establish your cart in a big and busy city like New York, expect that the license will cost you more than in a lesser populated city. Regardless, keep in mind that without the City Business License, it is impossible for you to carry on your business.
* Health permit
Before you can apply for a local health permit from your City Health Department, you must complete the necessary food safety training first. And during your application, the health authorities might also ask about the specifications of your cart like the manufacturer, built and make, schematic and special features, if any.
It is also possible that their food inspectors would physically inspect the cart. This is very important because they want to make sure that your cart meets all their health code requirements. Moreover, your cart may still be subjected to future physical inspection and surprise visits even after you start your food stand business.
So, you are advised to make sure that you are operating legally. Practice the safety food handling and procedures at all times. You don’t want to be caught red handed, so better adhere to the strict guidelines and regulations of your local health department.
* Special police permit
If you intend to set up your vending cart business in a public place, you must obtain a permit to operate from your local police department. However, if you are eying for a privately owned property, you have to get permission or authorization from the owner.
Police permit is only given to those individuals who would want to set up their food stand on public areas such as the following:
* amusement parks
* beaches
* playgrounds
* fair or carnival grounds
* bus and train stations
On the other hand, privately owned properties are also great locations in setting up the food cart, and the best places to put up your food cart are in the following:
* big retail stores
* big factories
* business complexes
* car wash stations
* downtown street corner
* parking lots near other businesses
* truck stops or service stations
Herbal medicine is the use of leaves, barks, roots and flowers of plants for the treatment or prevention of ailments or the promotion of good health. Like China, the Philippines is another country long known for using herbal medicines long before its popularity in the west. In recent years, medical researchers, organizations, pharmaceutical companies and government health agencies took a serious look at folkloric herbal medicines often used by Filipinos in rural areas.
Research and studies by the academe, industries and government confirm the effectively of certain herbs in the treatment of diseases. Many of these herbs also proved to have health benefits in addition to their curative value. The Philippine Department of Health, after thorough evaluation and years of clinical trials have endorsed 10 herbal plants as alternative medicines for various diseases ranging from asthma, hypertension to diabetes.
The 10 herbs endorsed by the Philippine Department of Health are:
1. Akapulko for fungal infections.
2. Ampalaya for diabetes.
3. Bawang for hypertension.
4. Bayabas as antiseptic.
5. Lagundi for asthma
6. Niyog-niyogan for intestinal infestation
7. Sambong as a diuretic
8. Tsaang Gubat for intestinal motility
9. Ulasimang Bato for gout
10. Yerba Buena as analgesic
Caution however is advised to those who wish to try herbal medicines. A lot of research is still to be done and standards of dosage have to be established. Many of the commercially available herbal medicines are listed as supplements and have not passed the stringent standards required by the Bureau of Food and Drug Administration. Some herbal medicines also react to prescription & nonprescription drugs. Always consult your doctor before taking any herbal medicine.
In 1953 the Department of Health, Education and Welfare became a cabinet level department in the United States. In 1979 the Department of Education Organization Act split HEW into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS is responsible for the health, safety and well-being of residents of the United States. This mandate also extends internationally for cross-border health and safety issues.
HHS administers over 300 programs with a budget of over $737 billion. HHS mission includes a wide range of human issues, including substance abuse, Medicare and Medicaid, childrens health, health disparities, disease prevention and health promotion. It is the largest grant-making department within the Federal Government.
In 1979 the Department of Health and Human Services established the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to develop and implement outreach to the small business community. The Office performs its mission through small business fairs, procurement conferences, trade group seminars, conventions and forums.
The Office of Small Business Development, also called OSDBU, is host to Vendor Outreach Sessions that happen twice monthly. The purpose of these sessions is to introduce and educate vendors on the small business program and to provide them information so that they can effectively market their products and services to HHS.
The Department of Health and Human Services is the only executive agency where Small Business Specialists report to the OSDBU Director. These Small Business Specialists are located within the eleven agencies of HHS.
Every day, these Specialists work with Contracting and Program Office staff, so as to determine the best acquisition strategy; they also work to make their approach unified so that when vendors deal with Health And Human Services, this unity will benefit them.
Currently, HHS does not provide grants or loans to help small businesses get going, but it is in fact the largest organization to make grants within the federal government. It has over 300 grant programs today, and it handles mission-specific topics, which are in turn delegated among the various HHS operating agencies. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance profiles all Federal grant programs; these provide financial assistance and include HHS programs. In addition, specific points of contact for obtaining applications or additional information are also provided.
Vendors who are interested in doing business with Health And Human Services do not have to have any special certification, but instead, the Small Business Administration provides certification to firms under the Business Development Program, the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program, and the Small Disadvantaged Business Program. Businesses that are Women-Owned, Veteran Owned, Service Disabled Veteran Owned, or Small Businesses are generally managed with self-certification. Self-certification is not challenged unless or until an interested party or competitor provides protest to it. In addition, an HHS Contracting Officer may request that the SBA provide a size determination.