Anyone have experience selling food on streets?

[Army of GOD]

Background:

For the past two years, I've worked at a local amusement park called the Great Escape, which is actually a member of Six Flags, but it's for little kids. But it's so shitty, I made 10 cents above minimum wage last year, so this year I'll probably make 20 cents above it (that's like $7.50 an hour). I'm so sick of that shit, and one thing I know about myself is that I hate taking orders from other people...I'm too proud for that shit.

So, essentially, I concocted the idea of selling hot dogs as a street vendor, kind of like those at large cities (more specifically the ones in NYC, because that's the only large city I've been to other than Tokyo). My hometown is a huge tourist spot (Lake George, NY...look it up if you have to), so I figure this isn't a bad idea. I've never seen a street vendor before though, so that either means permits are impossible to get or there'll be absolutely no competition.


Anyway, does anyone have any experience with something like this? Because I don't even know how serious I am about this yet...

[Army of GOD]

Oh, and an idea I had for the name would be "Dick's Wieners" (my first name is Richard, derp)

[muy_thaiguy]

Look into the whole licsense thing first, then go from there, because it may vary from place to place.

[Army of GOD]

Look into the whole licsense thing first, then go from there, because it may vary from place to place.

Yea. We (my friend and I) were actually thinking about going to the Saratoga racetrack, but I'd bet they have different vending laws than Lake George.

[Nola_Lifer]

Saratoga is a cool little town. I didn't realize you were from Upstate NY. Good luck with the hot dog stand. I think the most important thing is to have options and no limitations. Sell more than just hot dogs. Include water, cokes, chips, etc. You may have more to carry but you will have more options for people to spend money.

[Army of GOD]

Saratoga is a cool little town. I didn't realize you were from Upstate NY. Good luck with the hot dog stand. I think the most important thing is to have options and no limitations. Sell more than just hot dogs. Include water, cokes, chips, etc. You may have more to carry but you will have more options for people to spend money.

Well, yea, I figured drinks are a must. I guess we could test chips, but I don't think we'll necessarily sell enough to make a large profit with them (for me it's usually 2 hot dogs and a Gatorade [always Fruit Punch], chips are for the 'rich' people).

[HapSmo19]

You're looking at a nice chunk o' change out of pocket before you ever see a dime.

[Army of GOD]

You're looking at a nice chunk o' change out of pocket before you ever see a dime.

I know this. Gotta spend money to make money, mothefucker.

[HapSmo19]

You're looking at a nice chunk o' change out of pocket before you ever see a dime.

I know this. Gotta spend money to make money, mothefucker.

Yeah. My guess is you'll find that $7.50/hr pretty alluring after about 3 months and $7,000 of debt, bitch

[Army of GOD]

You're looking at a nice chunk o' change out of pocket before you ever see a dime.

I know this. Gotta spend money to make money, mothefucker.

Yeah. My guess is you'll find that $7.50/hr pretty alluring after about 3 months and $7,000 of debt, bitch

7000 dollars in debt? I'm starting a hot dog stand, not a space program.

[ajdform_]

ask owenshooter he sells foodstamps on the street

[HapSmo19]

[KoolBak]

First off, I don't see your problem with authority helping your career in the public sales arena. You're gonna have to kiss alot more ass selling to individuals all day long than you do having a boss....trust me. I have been self employed for over 15 years and my biz includes doing shows / public booths, etc.

If you want to do the real thing, you will need a commercial cart; here is a sample of used prices http://usedvending.com/hot-dog-beverage ... ord=&cat=Q ....looks like you could get one for 3 grand. Expect inventory initially to be around $200 or more.

You dont need to file biz papers as you can simply be a sole proprietor using your own name in the biz name; more risk as you personally are on the line but a hell of a lot easier and cheaper (free) to start. You will need state and local licensing (hundreds of dollars) and approval by someone that manages food quality control (FDA?)....more money. You will be REQUIRED to have commercial insurance; here is the bitch. Assuming you are young, there is no way you will qualify as a new biz with no assets or history in a high risk market. You will need a parent / etc to cosign for you. Commercial policies are expensive (thousands)......

Thats about all I can think of - paps was right on the start up expense.......

What nasty name you gonna call me for trying to help?

[pimpdave]

You should just sell weed, dude-bro!

[KoolBak]

[PLAYER57832]

Look into the whole licsense thing first, then go from there, because it may vary from place to place.

Also look into zoning, health regulations, etc. Some or all of that may be part of the licensing, but not always.

The race track likely has vending agreements, so that is unlikely to work as well.

If you want to do it, and regulations or fees are too high, think of other options to start... farmer's markets often allow some home-made goods as well as grown produce.

Another option is to think of various direct marketing organizations. They can have a bad name, but there are a few decent companies out there. Investment is low, the plan is in place and often you get name recognition/free advertising, too boot! BUT.. be careful. You want one with good training/support and a good product, sales plan. Finding the right company is key and takes some work to find.

[HapSmo19]

AOG,

You should thank KB for wasting that much time on you...

Anyway, storytime;

An old boss of mine decided he was going sell hot dogs on the side and pulled out all the stops in hopes of striking gold at a local celebration/extravaganza where there would literally be thousands of hot dog loving people per hour filing past his stand. He bought the $8,000 dollar cart/trailer(looking at it, I had no idea what made it worth eight-grand but anyway...), stocked her up with all the dogs and sausages he'd need to keep em flying out all day long. He got the insurance, the license, the permits and at the end of the day, he sold a grand total of zero(000,000,000) hot dogs/sausages. He was actually having trouble giving them away when the shit started winding down. That was day 1 of a three day event he bought a permit for. He didn't bother with day 2 & 3. He sold the thing at a loss not long after.

Not trying to discourage you or say that there aren't places where hot dogs won't do well but he forgot the most important rule of hot dog vending; HAVE TITS.

[PLAYER57832]

AOG,

You should thank KB for wasting that much time on you...

Anyway, storytime;

An old boss of mine decided he was going sell hot dogs on the side and pulled out all the stops in hopes of striking gold at a local celebration/extravaganza where there would literally be thousands of hot dog loving people per hour filing past his stand. He bought the $8,000 dollar cart/trailer(looking at it, I had no idea what made it worth eight-grand but anyway...), stocked her up with all the dogs and sausages he'd need to keep em flying out all day long. He got the insurance, the license, the permits and at the end of the day, he sold a grand total of zero(000,000,000) hot dogs/sausages. He was actually having trouble giving them away when the shit started winding down. That was day 1 of a three day event he bought a permit for. He didn't bother with day 2 & 3. He sold the thing at a loss not long after.

Not trying to discourage you or say that there aren't places where hot dogs won't do well but he forgot the most important rule of hot dog vending; HAVE TITS.

LOL... not in my neighborhood. Even when I went to NY city and Toronto, seemed that most of the street venders I saw were largley male, older and not precisely "model" material. There were a few exceptions, but not many that I saw.

A better plan is to have something unique and that people want, then sell it more cheaply than available elsewhere. Dried up old hotdogs are no longer such popular items. Sausages might be (if good) or various types of "ethnic" foods. People will pay more for something they cannot make themselves or get everyday... even if it otherwise might be disgusting (like fried pickles.. not that that is great street food).

[HapSmo19]

Sausages might be (if good) or various types of "ethnic" foods. People will pay more for something they cannot make themselves...

Well, he is a Polack so I guess he thought he could boil meat better than anyone else.

[pimpdave]

If you're slinging at a fair or something, Hapsmo's right.

If you're setting up on a corner in a city, word of mouth will be what makes or breaks you. That's why you'd have to go into debt before you could turn a profit. But you won't turn a profit quickly enough to make it a viable summer job.

[PLAYER57832]

You dont need to file biz papers as you can simply be a sole proprietor using your own name in the biz name; more risk as you personally are on the line but a hell of a lot easier and cheaper (free) to start :

In PA, at least, you don't need to pay for a fictitious business name. And, if you use your own name as part of the fee, then you get some various discounts as well.

Those rules vary by state, though.

One thing popular around here is to buy trinkets on ebay and then hawk them at parades and such. On good days, people can make over $1000, but there are only a few such parades around. Also, the big cities usually have those things already licensed out. Its mostly a small town deal and for fairly "local" people (100-200 mile radius.. more starts to be unpractical).

[Army of GOD]

First off, I don't see your problem with authority helping your career in the public sales arena. You're gonna have to kiss alot more ass selling to individuals all day long than you do having a boss....trust me. I have been self employed for over 15 years and my biz includes doing shows / public booths, etc.

If you want to do the real thing, you will need a commercial cart; here is a sample of used prices http://usedvending.com/hot-dog-beverage ... ord=&cat=Q ....looks like you could get one for 3 grand. Expect inventory initially to be around $200 or more.

You dont need to file biz papers as you can simply be a sole proprietor using your own name in the biz name; more risk as you personally are on the line but a hell of a lot easier and cheaper (free) to start. You will need state and local licensing (hundreds of dollars) and approval by someone that manages food quality control (FDA?)....more money. You will be REQUIRED to have commercial insurance; here is the bitch. Assuming you are young, there is no way you will qualify as a new biz with no assets or history in a high risk market. You will need a parent / etc to cosign for you. Commercial policies are expensive (thousands)......

Thats about all I can think of - paps was right on the start up expense.......

What nasty name you gonna call me for trying to help?

Am I missing something about this cart? http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... IcBEPMCMAA#

And I'm not trying to start a career, I'm just looking for something to do for a summer. The difference between your post and paps post was that yours was actually informational.

[pimpdave]

Could you get by during the school year if you don't earn as much selling hot dogs as you would making 7.50/hr for three months?

[Army of GOD]

I could try selling kielbasa (I has Polish grandma)

[HapSmo19]

Am I missing something about this cart? http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... IcBEPMCMAA#

I think so. When you're selling food to the public there are certain sanitary requirements that that piece of shit doesn't meet.

Good luck.

Edit: I found another listing for it that says it's commercially rated but.....yeah.

Good luck

Edit2: You'll make more by putting on some shitty clothes and standing on the corner with a cardboard sign(zero overhead - hows that for information?).