How to Sell Concession Food
Concession food is a staple at every stadium, fair and amusement park. The variety of food is endless, from hot dogs and hamburgers to cotton candy and funnel cakes. There's only one rule that applies when it comes to concession food -- it needs to be able to be eaten on the move. Becoming a successful food concessionaire requires having a good product, planning your sales, knowledge of all rules and regulations around selling the food, and finding a good location.
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Instructions
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Design your menu. Create a menu of food that is tasty, can be made at a reasonable expense and will set you apart from other vendors. Test your menu on friends and family members to come up with items that you can sell for a profit,
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Conduct research on similar concession businesses. Visit concession stands at various venues and locations to see how they are run, what their pricing structure is, and types of products that sell well. Talk to other concessionaires, if possible.
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Decide what kind of food concession (such as stationary, trailer, truck or cart) business you are going to run. Write down goals that you hope to achieve with the business, such as making a profit or developing a franchise. Plan the steps that are necessary to achieve these goals, along with a time frame to achieve those goals in. Determine what the operating costs will be for this business. Obtain financing through a financial institution or private sources, if necessary.
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Find out all laws and regulations around running a food concession business in your area. Research what licenses and permits are needed. Check with your local government office for this information. Find out what steps need to be taken, including setting up payroll and tax deductions, for any workers that you need to hire. Apply for all necessary permits. Consider setting up a limited liability company to give you some protection against litigation. Obtain any certifications needed; for example, you may be required to have a food handler's license or ServSafe sanitation certification
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Check local directory listings for concession services or attend local auctions for items you need to build your stand. Search through classified advertising in local publications and online for new and used stands. Contact a local contractor if you have developed designs of your own and have him fabricate the stand for you.
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Find a good location, if you are setting up a mobile stand. Select an area that is in a high foot-traffic area that does not have a lot of similar competition. Set up the concession stand with all the equipment needed to make and serve your food, such as microwaves, deep fryers, refrigerators and cash registers.
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Hire any necessary labor. For larger operations, you may need help with making the food items or selling from the stand. Advertise in local publications or job websites. Check resumes and conduct interviews to find the best workers for your concession business.
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Price your menu. Determine your food costs, labor costs (including yourself) and overhead costs, such as stand rental and utilities. Decide how much profit you can get by with and price your menu items accordingly.
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Get the word out. For mobile operations, print up fliers that tout your menu and offer discounts or coupons to first-time customers. Create sandwich boards to set up near your stand to draw in customers. Arrange for someone to walk in the area around your stand to promote your business.
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References
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution"; How to Start a Food Concession Business; Amy Lindgren; February 1, 2011
- U.S. Small Business Administration; How to Start a Food Concession Business: An Entrepreneurs Checklist - Part 1; Caron Beesley; 2010
- U.S. Small Business Administration; How to Start a Food Concession Business: An Entrepreneurs Checklist - Part 2; Caron Beesley; 2010
- FitDay: 5 Best Food Choices at a Concession Stand
Resources
- Photo Credit Jason Florio/Digital Vision/Getty Images
