How To Start A Food Truck Business

Food truck owner speaking with two customers sitting at picnic table in front of food truck.

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Course Overview

This course was designed for entrepreneurs considering starting a food truck or mobile food business in Michigan. Each module walks through the process of developing a business plan based on SCORE’s business plan template, developing a menu, selecting a food truck, trailer, or cart, writing a marketing plan and identifying your target customers and competitors as well as Michigan’s Mobile Unit and STFU licensing processes.

This is a free, self-paced course developed by Michigan State University (MSU) Extension and the MSU Product Center in partnership with the Grand Rapids Food Truck Association, GROW, Prep Space and the Kent County Health Department. To earn a certificate of completion, participants must earn a 100% score on all nine quizzes (each quiz can be taken up to three times).

This course will take approximately four to ten hours to complete. The end result will be a completed business plan and the knowledge to initiate the licensing process for a mobile food business in Michigan. If you wish to have an MSU Product Center Innovation Counselor and/or Grand Rapids Food Truck Association member review your business plan, that is an option. More information can be found in the course materials.

Course Format

Self-paced Course

Price

Free

Register (follow the three steps below)

STEP #1: Create your Michigan State University Guest Account by selecting the Create Your MSU Guest Account button below. (For detailed instructions visit the following web page: Instructions: Creating Your Guest Account.) Once you have created your guest account, close your browser and return back to this page.

Create Your MSU Guest Account

STEP #2: Click on the button below to login to the registration system with your Guest Account (your email) and Password. Upon registration you will receive an email with instruction on how to login to the course.

Register For The How to Start a Food Truck Business Course

STEP #3: Once you are registered you may login to the course.

Login To The Course

More Information

For more information, please contact Kendra Wills at willsk@msu.edu.

Technical Assistance

If you have any technical problems, please contact the Michigan State University IT Service Desk from 7am-12am Monday through Friday and 10am-12am on Saturday/Sunday, any day that the University is open.

  • Phone: (517) 432-6200
  • Phone (toll free): 1 (844) 678-6200
  • Email Web Form

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my username/NETID?

Your username (or NET ID) is the email address you used to create your account during registration (you use the same email address/password for registering and for taking the course).

What URL do I go to for logging into the course?

Go to: https://d2l.msu.edu/. You will see the Michigan State University at the top of the page. Login with the email address and password you set during the registration process.

I received a “not authenticated” response when trying to login – what do I do?

A “not authenticated” message is typically an issue with a password not being entered correctly.

I forgot my password – where can I reset it?

If you need to reset your password at any time go to https://auth.msu.edu/ and select the option for "Need help Signing in."

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