Moving a Catering Business from Phoenix to Chicago, Possible Hurdles?
I am graduating in May and got a good job offer in Rosemont that I have accepted. I am looking at areas to live around but that is a work in progress still, ideally by the blue line so I can journey into the city on weekends. My girlfriend has a successful catering business in Phoenix, she customizes dessert carts and will attend baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, etc. There are lots of neighborhoods in the area (Scottsdale, East Mesa etc) that have a large backyards and host events. She is consistently booked on weekends until summer hits because in Arizona it is too hot to be outdoors.
I want her to join me, she is unsure about restarting her client base and the idea of a new city is intimidating. Some questions we have:
1.) How are the suburbs around Chicago? Is this type of work a realistic idea in the city?
2.) We would have 3 vehicles and she is in the process of restoring a food trailer, what would be a realistic solution to vehicle storage? (3 vehicles, 1 trailer)
3.) Food truck owners of Chicago, how difficult is it to get licensing and get up and going?
4.) She does not want to live in the city, any nice residential areas that we can look at around Rosemont?
We have a lot of time to think and are planning on making a trip down in mid December, I really want to find solutions for her, any insight would be extremely helpful.
Budget for rent 1600 max for now, ideally 1300-1400.
EDIT: I didn’t explain my budget, this is just for myself when I move, gf would move a year after and I will have time to save up and get expenses in order. My budget when she comes will be around 2,000.