How to Start Hot Dog Food Cart Business
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- čas přidán 24. 05. 2023
- Ever wondered how food cart business works? We stopped into Gringo Dogs to get a behind the scenes look at owning and operating a hot dog food cart business! This hot dog stand has done over $5k revenue in one weekend! We talk about licenses, equipment, expenses and some hilarious stories! Check out Gringo Dogs for catering your event!
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In 1992, I was flat broke, without a job. I had some credit left on my Discover card, so I built my own hot dog cart. I got a primo spot in front of the courthouse. Never made a ton, but I paid my bills for a year until I got a job. Sodas were actually my profit item, especially on real hot days.
Get yourself a fucking retail job and call it a day for now. Do not try to go out and make it on your own. Do not try to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to make $100 a day go work for a fucking company that pays you 100 and $200 a day plus benefits plus Social Security, plus pension Dunaj.
If you believe in the slope knows you believe that Jesus walked on water 3500 years ago
@@jamesdiamond5725 Can you prove Jesus didn't walk on water?
@@freebird0147If that’s the only argument you have for Jesus walking on water you aren’t making a very strong case. Can you prove that aliens don’t exist? Does that mean they exist? 😂 Genius.
@@jamesdiamond5725pass the acid
I know the real secret to selling hotdogs and it has nothing to do with the actual hotdog. The secret is to be located halfway between a large public parking lot and a point of interest where those people are walking to and from. This makes the hotdog cart the first and last source of food and drinks for everyone who parked their car in the public parking lot. I've done very detailed satellite research on a dozen successful hotdog carts all over the US, the information that NOBODY talks about in any video. I'm telling you the very active public parking lots are gold.
Location, location, location! Be where the people are.
@@42lookc I'm sure most people get the location wrong, especially people watching these types of videos since the video doesn't mention how they scouted locations. They say things like it's a college town, etc... insinuating any location will work when in reality that won't work.
I landed in a strange country near broke, bought a griddle with all the money i had left & started selling quality burgers from my front garden, 3 months later griddle paid for itself.
I then saved to buy a truck & turned it into a burger truck. Did very well over the following 5 years,
Today i run my own food restaurant, it's very hard work but very rewarding some days. Moral of the story is, follow your hearts desire. Never give up.
cheers
This man has a vast wealth of knowledge in his belt. Yes, luck favored him but it was his fortitude(balls) that earned him his success. I work in SoCentral LA, and have seen people selling tacos/tamales from the street growing to people selling from their front yards. Their entrepreneuralship is admiral. Legal issues aside, for the environment concerned, I admire their spunk. I was friends with a street vender(reseller) that lost her business when the lockdown hit. I make a good income at my job but have always thought about "working the curb". I'm close to "retirement" with a good "plan" but like the "service" aspect of a "cart". I have always had people compliment my culinary skills, especially my grill skills. Seasoning is my gift. Just as he mentioned having his dogs made custom makes me wish I could share my wares.
When he said he got robbed one night I can see that I was in Grand rapids this past fall, I could not believe how many homeless in the area. I was really surprised for it being a colder climate city. Glad he carries and is not alone at night. Great interview btw.
This guy is awesome!!! Answered every question quickly with confidence👏
What a great interview. The cart owner was very knowledgeable and personable.
My dad was a reporter and editor for a newspaper. This was in fact an amazing interview that you don't often see because questions are commonly edited out of most modern day interviews where it looks like the interviewee is constantly talking about whatever between cuts.
I think this is absolutely fantastic! I’ve opened two company’s I built from the ground up! If you can dream it, you can do it. I’m an absolute sucker for a great dog!! Nothin better than a dirty 💧 with kraut, relish and mustard!!! Keep going my friend, blessing and abundance!
What is that ?
Been there, done that in Austin. All I sold were hot dogs and water, made $2K a week working Friday and Saturday night down in the Warehouse District. Easily double that when the Lone Star Roundup was in town. Quarter pound Hebrew Nationals, home made spicy relish, mustard, catchup and water.
Holy crap, 2k a week working 2 nights?? I'm in the wrong business. What were your hours?
@@KingJames1981 I worked 8 to 3. But I was the second late night vendor in Austin and there wasn't really anyplace to eat, I was selling 290 a night on most nights. Being set up in the alley behind Antones helped too.
@@UmmCarl
Damn that’s a good idea. A food cart outside all those up and coming comedy clubs!
amazing, can i get in contact with you i would like to ask you how, i’m planning to move there with my uncle and start my business
I'm thinking of starting my own hot dog business. I am a Network Engineer by trade but was laid of the beginning of May and haven't had any luck finding another job since then. I realized that even if I got another job making over 100k a year it wouldn't even come close to that this guy is making. Even if you're only getting 50 people a day but each of them spend an average of 15 dollars per person, that's $750 a day, 15k a month, 180k a year. That's more than I've ever made at any IT job, plus I would be my own boss, not have to worry about being laid off again, work when I want to. If I needed more money for something, I would just put in more hours. If I got sick I would have more than enough money in the bank to cover all my bills until I got better. If I want to only work in the spring/summer and take winters off I could do that. I would be able to tax deduct a bunch of work related expenses and if I play my cards right, I would retire in about 10 years. Wish me luck and I will reciprocate that to anyone else thinking of starting this sort of business.
Nobody is spending $15 a person for a dollar dog and a drink.
My man your living in a Dream 🌎 WORLD. Wake up and smell something that makes you get a dose of reality. YOUR DELUSIONAL.
@@hhazelhoff1363 Most people order more than one hotdog, plus chips and a soda.
@@KingJames1981 you didnt even account for profit, dont go into this business. lol stick with it
Doesn't sound like you are accounting for any of the expenses. Better cut that 180K in half by the time you take out the food costs, license fees, taxes, etc. And if you want to make the big money, you better be out there when it's 95 degrees in July and -5 in Jan with no heat or A/C. Have fun!
This video was extremely helpful! Big thanks to everyone who helped make it. 😊
Wild you need a license. The community does vastly better at veting people than the state.
A great attitude, a quality dog, and a good location can bring in great money. Get to know the customers.
Crap attitude. He bought all the carts and sold them out of state so no one else could have them.
Smart move @@le_th_
"It's fun to see people fuck around and find out" hahahaha, incredible interview.
This has always been one of my retirement job idea and I love hot dogs. Thank you for the video
Thanks for the insight! Now you got me thinking! Hope all continues to go well!
This was a great in-depth video. Thank you for this excellent content
Dudes a savage bought all the carts and sent them out of state
Exactly, total savage. I wouldn't eat a hot dog from him if he gave it to me. I'd give it to a homeless person, though. I wouldn't let it go to waste.
@@le_th_lol
@@le_th_ Somebody needs to open a hot dog/sausage/pizza/burrito/french fries/etc... cart sales lot in Grand Rapids. That'd give a business hog like him fits.
Thank you. This has been my autie stepson's dream for years. Your video with this entrepreneur is VERY informative. ❤
Great inspiration. Thank you!
Excellent video and I was thrilled to learn it took place here in beautiful Michigan!
What a great video, he knew how to monetize and market his business before he started, alot of people at his age are fearful and unwilling to cast social outreach because they feel they cant comprehend todays technology advances
Great video! Best advice from the entrepreneur was to start now... don't wait for the perfect opportunity or to figure it all out. You will slve problems and learn with actual experience.
Remember, there's always money in the banana stand
Awsome video!!!
Awesome video!
Great video and great information
Thinking about doing this thanks for the info
My wife lives in Wakefield, MA and at the north side parking lot of Lake Quannapowitt there is a hot dog stand there. He does dogs and a few other items. Great food and he told me he makes a decent amount during the warm months to not really get bit by winter
Your wife lives there? You don't? Does she need a date?
Wow good to know, in the 80's I lived in Wakefield, Loved it. Moved back to the North Shore. I'll have to come out and see the stand. Glad to know this. God Bless.
What a nice guy ,smart to
Thank for the tips on running a food vendor
Good for you.
Man, I really enjoyed this interview... I've always been curious about the logistics' of running a hotdog stand! I mean you know for the most part, what's entailed. The thing is you can be sure there's several things that you have not thought about that are vital to running a successful venture. It sounds like after COVID he was blessed to get an opportunity to get a decent location and has been off to the races ever since. How can one contact you in regard to business?
I had an opportunity to start this kind of business but our government was standing in the way of me succeeding in this due to the events I would go to. A number of"jobs" have been overlooked because of the government. This needs to change. Being charged for crime is stopping growth in America. Crash of economy happened behind this kind of thing
Awesome Video and great business
Lol this guy is so cool. What a bad ass wading into the digital realm and using his business to leverage NFTs very real eventual use-cases for all. At his age it's certainly not common. Ah, background in computers. He gets it!
This is really cool
Good info. I think the thing I've always wondered about is waste. If it takes 10 minutes to cook a hot dog in a pot of near-boiling water, how do you make sure you have enough ready, but not so much that you end up throwing them out? Street customers aren't going to wait for you to make them on demand. Or do they? And from one Michigander to another (Grand Rapids food license on the cart) - good luck with your growth plans! 👍
10 min? Dogs are already cooked. 2 min in boiling water and it's ready. The 1/4 lb. might take a bit longer but no way 10 min.
You boil them at one temperature then hold them at a lower temperature in a separate pan
Boom , that’s your man ,
Techno Nerd
Good people, wish you much success. Hot dogs is a winner to have for dinner.
I really like the enjoyment he gets out of watching people get laid out cold in front of him 😂
You have a good guy working for you🎉❤
yeah he's stoned out of his mind and doesn't care about only making minimum wage LOL
@@johndoe-ek6vlctfu 😮I make far more than minimum wage my friend
Thanks man.
@@johndoe-ek6vl And I live in Michigan bro everyone smokes weed
F around and Find Out...... I respect that!
Registered and all set IPL rewards platform makes it so much more exciting, thanks 4ra for this cool twist!
i see that he has the ketchup, mustard and many products to add to your hot dog is that included in the price? like you buy a hot dog and you can add whatever u want to it after you have paid?
Fascinating
This was very interesting
Great video, thanks for the motivation and advice.
Thanks for the tips im gonna save some money and then buy my hot dog stand then its go time!
Roger Bobby and Tyler love you !
Do you know about Florida and the difference between what you have on here. Thanks
What make and model cart are you using?
love what this man is doing but i remember the coney island days bru if you know you know
Tedious work
To be honest, its all about location to make money and where there are the masses that does help too.
Bobby's flower cart !
Real frog doggers know that even though it might make it a bit cold the secret ingredient is cold slaw and make sure its piled high lol let the kids eat what they want
GringoDogs is the coolest name ever 🤣
I have been in Costa Rica since 1981 married Tica 1983 use to sell Coney Islan Dogs at Conchal
I used to have a stand outside a Home Depot. It made really good money, but standing there every day got so boring, just a super super boring grind. And when you hire people you just don’t make the same amount of money. They bring there own buns and dogs to the job and rip you off.
That sucks. How much were you making a day?
@@KingJames1981 that cart could average about $400 a day net profit. In about 6 hours operating. In the summer you could do better by setting tons of cold drinks. Sell cold water for $1 a bottle. Some days I would sell 120 bottles. But again, you need to set up the cart, and break it down every day. And man the the operation. It gets really old after a while. But if you worked it seven days a week you could clear about $10.000 a month. I was in Florida so we had no weather/ winter issues. It’s all about location location, location, location.. and putting in in the time. I was also under a large roofed overhang, with plenty of shade, and protection from the rain. That’s is important. Weather is something to consider if your out in a open parking lot
@@hhazelhoff1363Who did you speak to at Home Depot to get permission for that?
I might try to do this.
@@EnderPearlRs yes, you need to negotiate a lease. If you can get a spot inside by the checkout that’s best. Having the climate control takes a lot of the guesswork out of it.
Put a camera on it
I find it humorous they took the time to put a mic on him, yet didnt bother to tell him he has flour all over his shirt
He's working man. Real world stuff.
I find you humorous for pointing that out.
That's bird poop.
Signing up was a bit slow but once in it’s all smooth with IPL Rewards at 4rab
This guy gave me an Uber ride yesterday👀 Cool guy. Played tailback for MSU.
What? Wow, he must love working, Imagine he makes more than enough off his hot dog business to not have to work.
@@KingJames1981 oh his stand sunk because you can't make shit selling hotdogs.
Remember 10+ years ago the owner of the Hotdog snack/ cart at Home Depot's across the country
I know a lot of guys like this guy. Successful businessman but a real prick.
Geeze, I started a sound and lighting company for less than 20 grand. Not large scale but big enough for small street festivals and small to big clubs. Sound and lights. Of course that would have been impossible 30 years ago but with new tech and the digital consoles it's pretty low cost to get your feet wet and make money . I did not count the truck though in my investment because I already had it but it was still under 20 even if I figured in the cost of the truck.
How do you have continuous business? Wouldn’t it be a one time thing at a club?
How much would you get for something like that for a job
@@bigzachful You book a lot of jobs with bands. I'm also a musician that played the club scene for years so I know a lot of musicians. some times you book through the club. Normally it's through the bands. They call you and ask you to do sound for them for the dates provided. If you can't be there then you need an employee. Depending on the act pay would be from 200 bucks for a small local club which I only do for friends and 500. Local bands that do not own their own equipment which most do not are lucky to make 100 each per night in a big club. the sound company makes more money than the band altogether most of the time. You don't need a lot of lights for clubs, It is not continuous unless you are in bigger markets. A lot of it depends on location also. The smaller places and most of the roadhouses of the past are gone now. DUI laws and loss of traffic killed them. People don't want to go out anymore unless they have safety numbers. Covid really hurt of course. I also work in a theatre so for me the sound thing is a side hustle.
Vallejo, Ca Sacs Hot Dogs been around 40yrs or more
Hot Dogs Are Only a "Street cart" item? You're planning On opening a Novel Hot Dog serving restaurant? Ever heard of "Portillo's Bud? Ever heard of a city called "Chicago"? They have Hot Dog "Stands" Or Restaurants Big & Small EVERYWHERE. EVERYWHERE.
Well, there could be 1 tiny place that has franchised hotdogs called Wienerschnitzel. They only have over 300 location 🤣
There is/was a gourmet hot dog hole-in-the-wall in Eastown part of Grand Rapids called Yesterdog with maybe a half dozen tables that has been there for decades & had the best variety of different hot dogs. Used to be open til late at night to capture the late bar crowd & there was always a line.
@@clawhammer8421 Why did they close?
There are a few franchises out there. However, rental properties isn't cost effective for just a one item business and usually not in proper settings to establish higher sales volume.
Last year was tough with withdrawals but now back for the IPL Lottery with 4ra
I’ll take two slaw chili cheese please and yes I’m from North Carolina. Ha ha ha.
Slaw dogs are the best. I do them for myself at the cart. Our customers are not as well versed in the hotdog flavors
Takes alot to run a food vendor business
05:27 This guy using the Bill Gates Monopoly Playbook step by step 😂
I didn’t even catch that first time 😂thats comedy … mafia hotdog ish
5:39 Great guy who buys a cart and sells them out of state so others in his area can't get one.
Are the wieners that you sell are custom made with natural casing or just the cheap ones found with the majority of vendors?
Hot dog stands are never seen and misssed in the NW
America is a place to build your dreams! Not get handouts! Amen brother this is amazing
I hear you but don't see 6 figures if you're in rural areas. It's all about location location and location
So dude looks old enough to remember Der Wienerschnitzel, there used to be a hot dog fast food joint.
My man knows his numbers, I like it
Or you can say “no habla engles” and you don’t need any license or permits. I live in California and we have people selling tamales and tacos on street corners and front yards and the common theme is “no hablo”.
How do you deal with illegal vendors operating in your vicinity?
Love my hot dogs with meat chili. Love a good cart. Life is really beautiful with a hot dog and a soda.
Nice name 🤣🐐
Awesome! Where can I buy or lease a dog cart like that?
There is 3 hot dog restaurants in my area lol
High foot traffic area that permits it.
Where is this? Maybe put more info on the people you interview, in the description.
We always link either their instagram, facebook or website in the description
@@6FigureRevenue yeah… but so what?? Put not their Virtual address But their LITERAL/Physical one…I can’t EAT a hotdog 🌭 in the Metaverse…..
Grand Rapids Michigan
I miss the days in Chicago . great buisness minded .
I run a meat loaf cart. Its doing great
2:17 - Stop the cap . . .I know Costco hot dogs when I see them.
There's one in every crowd.
Come see them for yourself brother. Handmade no bs
My hometown
My hat off to you my man, so in my one horse town that's a no go.But wait the town sold the horse, for what?
How about doing away with your styrofoam containers and start using a more green alternative like bamboo containers, or recycled cardboard containers. They are readily available everywhere, and have come down in price substantially, not to mention by using these, it's a good selling point for your business.
no
Because Styron is half the price
Your mom is recycled
These 2 guys took no for an answer, now they're on a street corner selling spicy hit dogs & wearing funny hats
All cap 😂😂😂
Where do you get the hot dogs if you don’t make your own
The grocery store
guy never heard of Nathan's, Wienerschitzel, Sonic, Dog Haus, etc.
Papaya King is legendary in NYC
None around me
G&L is local to GRR.
This guy 100 and 10 percent knows what G&L is and would also know that they have not blown up over an entire century of operation because the local market is not a big consumer of hot dogs.
His cart has location and low operating costs as its advantages. The second you set up a restaurant, you lose at least one of those advantages, if not both.
The location his cart is in would be considered extremely prime real estate in Grand Rapids. Either very close to the most expensive, or the absolute most expensive real estate within 100 miles (Lake Michigan beachfront excluded). He could not mark up the price on his hot dogs enough to pay the increased overhead for having a restaurant anywhere near where his cart is.
There is a reason G&L does not have a location in that area, and they have been around more than long enough to run the numbers and understand the reality of the local market.
Portillos
Went to SC …
The ending explanation 😂 f around and find out keyboard warriors
😂