How to Start a Food Kiosk Business

Does serving lots of customers their favorite treats sound like a fabulous day to you? A food kiosk business may be right up your alley. Generally situated in high traffic locations like malls, amusement parks or office towers, you may be selling exquisite chocolate bon bons, freshly squeezed juice and smoothies, or perhaps a little bit of everything. This venture requires a low capital investment with the possibility of rapid growth built right in.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

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Start a food kiosk business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Food Kiosk Business
  2. Form your Food Kiosk Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Food Kiosk Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Food Kiosk Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Food Kiosk Business
  7. Get Food Kiosk Business Insurance
  8. Define your Food Kiosk Business Brand
  9. Create your Food Kiosk Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your food kiosk business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Food Kiosk Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a food kiosk business?

There are a number of ways to open your own food kiosk business. You can rent a pre-built kiosk, buy into a franchise that provides specs and plans for the kiosk and product, or start from scratch. If you are selling pre-packaged nom-noms, you can open shop at a rented kiosk for about $5,000. Purchasing a franchise may require an investment between $10,000 and $50,000 depending on how complicated your recipes and equipment might be. If designing and constructing a walk-up restaurant with commercial grill and kitchen, your costs can run up to $100,000.

What are the ongoing expenses for a food kiosk business?

You will need to maintain enough stock on hand for one to two weeks of business while ensuring that consumables like napkins, tableware, and trays are available. There will be maintenance for equipment, tech support for your point-of-sale computers and the rent or lease. Your food expenses will vary depending on the type of menu you offer.

Who is the target market?

Your location will in part dictate your menu. Middle-aged professionals will walk past you in their office park, teens and young adults crowd the malls while entire families jam tourist attractions. Electric blue gummy candy won’t work for the professionals and hand-carved chocolate treats will be out of the teenagers’ budget.

How does a food kiosk business make money?

You will turn a profit on each item that you sell to the hungry public.

How much can you charge customers?

You can expect to charge between $4 and $15 per item on your food kiosk.

How much profit can a food kiosk business make?

Your busy snack shop in the office park lobby can generate an income of $40,000/yr for you. If you are operating a popular spot at a crowded tourist attraction, it is possible to take home $100,000 a year after operating costs.

How can you make your business more profitable?

You will always need to monitor your food costs to maximize profit. Prepare or stock only enough product that can be sold by its “Best By” date. Find that perfect price point that generates return business while delivering the highest profit margin possible.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your food kiosk business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your food kiosk business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?

Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a food kiosk business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A food kiosk business is generally run out of a small indoor space. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a food kiosk business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your food kiosk business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Food Regulations

When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Food Kiosk Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Food Kiosk Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a food kiosk business

It is rare that a food kiosk will draw customers across town, so don’t focus on direct mail campaigns. Instead, you need to target marketing dollars at the pedestrians near your kiosk. Offer coupons to tenants in the office park to appear with their morning mail. Work social media to generate buzz around your location. In an amusement park, you need to ensure your logo appears on the website, in walking maps, and on billboards at the entrance to the park. Invite foodie bloggers to review your new product. Your business is destined to grow organically and on the viral web.

How to keep customers coming back

The food must look amazing and be served by bright, smiling employees. Your first six months will be spent offering free tastes to passing shoppers. It may even benefit you to send a free lunch to one office every Friday to build interest in the kiosk they run past each day. Once they have tasted the absolutely delicious sandwich, snack, or drink, they will come back for more. But don’t let quality control slip or your customers will vanish as quickly as they came.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

Many food kiosks are owned and operated by individuals who loves providing a delicious treat to a wide variety of customers. You will likely need to work long hours on your feet and will be materially involved in every aspect of the business.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a food kiosk business?

Your food kiosk can be a one-stop shop for coffee, muffins, and daily newspapers or perhaps it will have a mini-kitchen that churns out freshly pressed sandwiches. Whatever you are serving, you will:

  • Open and close on time every day of business, according to your hours of operation
  • Maintain a clean and attractive kiosk
  • Balance your books, order supplies, restock the shelves
  • Wait on each customer while providing exemplary service
  • Hire and train part-time assistants
  • Cook and prepare food
  • Maintain positive relationships with a variety of vendors
  • Market using social media

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful food kiosk business?

The difference between running an ordinary kiosk and one that is crazy busy lies in research before you start your business. To make the biggest splash in the neighborhood, you will need to know:

  • Popular fast food trends–what is the snack everybody wants to eat right now?
  • The local hole in your neighborhood market–what location needs a new option for grab-and-go treats?
  • Basic business knowledge
  • Certification in food safety standards
  • Depending on your product, the proper training in preparation of food in a high turnover environment
  • Basic money handling skills
  • The ability to serve thousands of people with a smile

What is the growth potential for a food kiosk business?

If you are offering a unique and sensational menu, there is every opportunity to turn your kiosk into a franchise, especially if food preparation is fast and minimal. Should you have landed a spot in a large amusement park and are enjoying huge success and unable to control the lines, opening a second kiosk inside the park is an excellent possibility.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a food kiosk business?

When selecting your menu, make sure your recipes are thoroughly tested before turning the public into guinea pigs. You must wow them from the very first bite. Foot traffic is your friend. While you are preparing to open the new kiosk make sure to post billboards, posters, and brochures advertising the new business. Once you are ready to sell, your grand opening budget should include staff hired to hand out free samples throughout the mall or office complex. If you are opening inside a tourist attraction, little marketing will be required beyond including your location on park maps and websites.

How and when to build a team

Most of the prelimanary tasks like developing the menu, finding a location and contacting vendors can be accomplished by you. If you intend to be open more than 8-10 hours a day, you will need to hire assistants two weeks ahead of the Grand Opening.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading