How to Start a Hot Dog Cart Business

If you are looking to start a business that doesn't require too much overhead, you may want to consider opening a hot dog cart business. This type of business allows you to be outside, interacting with people on a daily basis. You also don't have to be a great cook, since a hot dog cart only has a few items on the menu.

Things You'll Need

• Start-up money Health Inspection Business license Hot dog cart Supplies

Instructions

1. Buy a hot dog cart. This is obvious, but you may not think of looking for a used one first. Scroll through your local newspaper to see if you can find any for sale. If not, check eBay. Believe it or not, eBay sells new and used hot dog carts. Buying a hot dog cart is going to be your biggest expense. Plan on spending between $1,000 and $4,000 for a cart.

2. Get a city business license. You will need this for the town you plan on doing business in. It isn't hard to get, so contact your local government to find out the requirements.

3. Get a health inspection. You cannot operate any type of food business without a health inspection. Make sure your cart is kept clean and free of clutter. Keep everything in its place.

4. Purchase your foods and create a menu. Keep your menu small. You will need hot dogs, hot dog buns, condiments, various chips, various sodas, ice creams (if you have a freezer), chili, nachos, and cheese. Make up a menu that you can laminate and attach to the cart so that customers can easily see how much money each item is.

5. Find ideal locations to take your cart. You are going to be serving lunch and dinner to people who are in a hurry to eat and get back to what they were doing. This means you want to place your cart in a high foot-traffic area.

6. Keep an eye out for fairs, carnivals, parades, and special events where people may want to buy a quick meal. A weekend at one of these events can bring in between $1,000 and $3,000.

7. Keep accurate records of your sales and expenses for the week and set aside money for your taxes. You will be considered self-employed, which means you will need to send in your taxes quarterly. You will also have to collect sales tax and send that in.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy a freezer and refrigerator to store your food supplies. This can be kept at your home, and you can remove the supplies as you need them.

• Make sure you get permits, if your city requires it. A permit may be needed for each location you plan on taking your hot dog cart.

Resources

• eBay Hot Dog Carts