![]() ![]() ![]() Still, you want to make sure that you’re passing any health inspection with flying colors. As you can see, the cheap cart you’re able to find for sale on Craigslist might not be the great deal it is advertised as if you can’t use it.Īs a hot dog vendor, your health requirements will often be lower than someone that wanted to start a burger stand, where they would need to actually cook meat. Typically, you will be able to find this information by contacting the city hall and asking about their requirements for food vendors. The last thing you want to do is spend a couple thousand dollars on a cart that you won’t ever be able to use because it doesn’t meet health requirements, like no available hot / cold water source. Investing in the Right Cart – Before you invest in a hot dog cart, you need to understand the local health requirements to vend legally in your city. When evaluating the hot dog business, there are multiple costs you need to keep in mind that are dependent on the rules and health codes where you live. Variable Factors that Determine Startup Cost It’s important to build in a bit of a buffer with your expected monthly costs of operation. Expenses come up that you didn’t realize would be important. Hot dogs are accidentally dropped to the curb. As a business owner, you should be able to reduce cost overtime as you begin to understand how much food you’ll need to purchase for each event. For example, one way to cut costs would be to reduce food waste. The ideal cost is something that you will need to tweak and work toward within your business. Ideal Cost – This is the amount you would expect to invest in a perfect world.The paper cost is outlined in the spreadsheet below. Paper Cost – This is what you expect to pay to start and operate a hot dog business.One point that Gladfelter makes during the discussion is extremely insightful. Of course, once you thaw those out you’ll need to use them in the next week or two to ensure the best taste and quality possible for customers. According to the website, you can preserve hot dogs in the freezer safely for 1 – 2 years. One other big advantage to this specific type of business versus other mobile food models is that you don’t have much in terms of food waste. ![]() If you’re interested in paying for a more consistent location Street Eats by Best Vendors is a great place to start the search no matter where you live in the United States. However, paying for a location is an option, especially if you would like to be in a consistent location. Although Matt Gladfelter who is featured in the interview rarely needs to pay to vend at locations. Like all businesses, you need to pay the IRS.Īnother variable item not factored into the spreadsheet above is the cost of vending at certain locations. One other thing you’ll need to remember when it comes to monthly expenses is that you’ll have to pay taxes on all revenue generated through the food cart. If this is higher, it probably means you’re traveling to a lot of events and making a profit. If you have to buy more hot dog buns, sausages, and other supplies, it means you’re probably selling more hot dogs too! Ditto for the gas and propane costs. Some additional thoughts about recurring monthly expenses… I wouldn’t consider a higher monthly expense to be a bad thing with this business model. Note: If you would like to copy and paste this into a spreadsheet to enter your own information, you can find the template here: Cost Spreadsheet. If you rent a space for storage or food prep, there might be utility costs involved. Might just mean you’re selling lots of hot dogs each month.Ĭan remove insurance in winter if you don’t plan to operate.Īt the time of writing, propane is cheap and you can refill a standard size tank for around $20. Best to be prepared for the unexpected.ĭepends on food cost and frequency of operation. Or if you plan to operate the cart yourself there is no cost here.īad things happen sometimes. This will vary greatly depending on gas prices and how far you plan to travel to vend. Initial costs for marketing materials like flyers, business cards, or online ads.Ĭosts for professional signage on your cart and branding materials. If you don’t have space at home, you might need to rent a kitchen or storage space for prepping and storing supplies. Smallwares: Tongs, Spatulas, Spoons, etc. Plan for some unexpected expenses here and put it into the budget. A Facebook page can serve as a simple alternative.Ĭan also use an iPad and an app for credit transactions. Varies a lot depending on where you operate. This will include Hot Dogs, Buns, and any Condiments. A larger hot dog trailer that a couple employees can cook in will cost more. Ways to Save Money Starting a Hot Dog CartĪ hot dog cart will typically cost a few thousand dollars.Variable Factors that Determine Startup Cost.
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