HOTDOG CART BUSINESS HELP!!!!

My wife and I had a hot dog stand that we enjoyed operating, and made pretty good money at. The Pinal County (AZ) Health Department worked very well with us, even though they had doubts at first about our decision to use wood and charcoal as fuel, instead of gas or electricity. They approved my initial plans for our trailer, stating it was obvious I had put a great deal of thought into it. They wanted, at first, to know why we didn't just buy a commercial cart. I explained that the only carts we had seen all would only offer boiled dogs, which my wife and I both detest, and as it turned out, so did our customers. When we completed construction, the cart was inspected by the Dept., and passed with flying colors. We mesquite smoked our dogs and sausages, and at first, it was the novelty of our menu that attracted people, along with the smell of mesquite smoke; but it was the flavor that brought them back again and again. The name we sued was Allen's Prairie Cookin' and our menu had Prairie Dogs (regular hot dogs), Coyotes (smoked sausage,) Devil Dogs (hot smoked sausage,) Cattle Dog (all-beef hot dog,) Javelina (brat,) and Armadillo (bacon-wrapped dog.) We also had Nachos, and chili and sauerkraut toppings available, with a full list of condiments and additives, such as sliced jalapenos. We miss our little business, and still run into people to this day who ask when we are coming back. We would like to find a way to open in a fixed location, feeling as we do that people will eat enough of our dogs to keep us in business. Best of luck to all.

There is a company that makes dozens of different superb quality stainless steel dog carts and food carts and ship them everywhere on mainland USA for free.

They are near us in California so we went to see how they are made which was amazing, they actually have a model called the North carolina and another called the Carolina on their web sites.

http://www.hotdogscart.com/northcarolina.htm
http://www.hotdogscart.com/carolina.htm

We bought one of their Idaho Models in 2002 and a smaller one called the Phoenix modelin 2003. They custom make them to order once your health department approve the Diagrams. We bought ours for huge events, swap meets and corporate parties as they grill,steam and boil over 1000 hot dogs per hour.

They offer lots of free information on rules and regulations and how to set up.http://www.hotdogscart.com/Tipsforsuccess.htm

By the time we had read all of the free information, video's, pictures and diagrams my partner and I felt like hot dog carts experts.

I wished we had found them before we bought our first cart from another firm on the East Coast six years ago, the health department just laughed at it and sent us away with a list of 11 needed, and expensive modifications before they would look at it again. We did'nt let them look at it again, we took a total loss and virtually gave it away at the very swap meet we were supposed to be selling hot dogs at.

After that major embarassment We went to [url]www.vendingcartsinc.com [/url] and they coached us through the diagram plan approval process which took 3 days so we had plan approval before we even ordered the cart.

Check with your Health dept first as a lot of carts don't pass the health department inspection. Find out their main requirements take guidance from the real experts and then you can choose what cart best fits your use.

If you buy a pre owned model make sure it has passed the Health Inspection in YOUR county before as it will be grandfathered in under older and less stringent regulations.

Good luck

HOW DO I POST A PICTURE?????????????
i see no link to do that ....it shouldn't be thais hard,,,,since i see others have posted

quote:

Originally posted by Starlord

My wife and I had a hot dog stand that we enjoyed operating, and made pretty good money at. The Pinal County (AZ) Health Department worked very well with us, even though they had doubts at first about our decision to use wood and charcoal as fuel, instead of gas or electricity. They approved my initial plans for our trailer, stating it was obvious I had put a great deal of thought into it. They wanted, at first, to know why we didn't just buy a commercial cart. I explained that the only carts we had seen all would only offer boiled dogs, which my wife and I both detest, and as it turned out, so did our customers. When we completed construction, the cart was inspected by the Dept., and passed with flying colors. We mesquite smoked our dogs and sausages, and at first, it was the novelty of our menu that attracted people, along with the smell of mesquite smoke; but it was the flavor that brought them back again and again. The name we sued was Allen's Prairie Cookin' and our menu had Prairie Dogs (regular hot dogs), Coyotes (smoked sausage,) Devil Dogs (hot smoked sausage,) Cattle Dog (all-beef hot dog,) Javelina (brat,) and Armadillo (bacon-wrapped dog.) We also had Nachos, and chili and sauerkraut toppings available, with a full list of condiments and additives, such as sliced jalapenos. We miss our little business, and still run into people to this day who ask when we are coming back. We would like to find a way to open in a fixed location, feeling as we do that people will eat enough of our dogs to keep us in business. Best of luck to all.

Well, I owned and operated seperate italian restaurants in California and Oregon..We owned our locations..After considering all the fixed costs and headakes..At my age i thought a hot dog cart was the best bet..I wanted a head turner and a real smeller..So we incorperated a smoker grill on our first unit..It sure made peoples head turn..Also made lots of moola..health dept could not complain..Smoker was professionally made with nsf tags..Now have 3 of them..
Take a look at car washes where they do the complete thingy, people sitting and waiting..

To give you an idea, at the front of the trailer was our cooker/smoker, a Brinkmann Smok'n'Pit. At the rear of the trailer was a cabinet I built that had our menu board and taillights on the rear, and contained a 35 gal water tank, the handwashing sink, a 6 gal water heater, a 12V pump, and the plumbing needed for the water system. We had a faucet that gave us the whole range from cold to hot water for the handwashing sink, and we had a 22 gal gray water tank that hung below the floor of the trailer. We had cabinets and coolers on the sides that held hot dogs, sausages, buns, etc, and on top of one of the cabinets was a steam table for the saurkraut, nacho sauce, and had a compartment that held about a half dozen buns. The 110V that we needed was supplied mostly by a generator in the pickup, or some sites allowed us to plug into their power. The only things we need the 110 for was the water heater and the steam table. The Health Department was impressed by our ingenuity, and once even took photos to post in their office to show other mobile vendors what was possible.

I have a 325 (made by CMS) used only 3 months with LOTS of extras that I'm looking to sell if anyone wants one in perfect condition.

Hot dogs? You gotta be kidding me. Nobody eats those things anymore. Thing of the past. It's over for hot dogs in this land. History.

Naw, just kidding. I got started a few weeks ago and I'm enjoying myself. It's such a refreshing change from my regular job. I scored a California Cart for cheap. It had never been used. I then lucked out with a location. It's not a huge producer, but it's a steady one. Now I don't have to do private security anymore which is good because standing around looking intense while your rich client gets drunk enough to fall on the floor is just not what it's cracked up to be. I don't care how good the money is. There been times I wanted to beat the guy up myself and give him his money back. I'd spank the kids for less. And for another thing, you meet some really nice people working in security but there are also a lot of total creeps. I mean jumped up, well paid low lives. People that like to hurt people. Not family folks. Yeah, all in all, I'd have to say that selling folks a quailty product for a fair price beats beating people up any day. Yeah, go with the hot dogs. Everybody loves those things.

Hey guys, to get your used cart it's CRAIG'S LIST. CRAIG'S LIST. REPEAT, YOUR USED CART IN ON CRAIG'S LIST. Oh yeah and if you are near Arizona, my friend Pete is selling his rig. He's at 602-569-2911.

All you people asking how much money we make and wondering why nobody wants to tell you can be summed up in one short acronym: IRS. Although there is a growing movement of scholars who challenge both the IRS and income tax in general. Briefly, these arguments come down to 4 things:

1. The 16th ammendment was never properly ratified, but even if it was,
2. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the 16th ammendment gave the government "no new powers of taxation".
3. No government official has to date been able to show anyone a law, a statute or an executive order stating that we must pay income tax. The closest they can come is "our enforcement division has badges and guns, therefore our actions are lawful". Interesting, no? See notes below.
4. Income taxation is unconstitutional because it represents a direct, unapportioned tax where the Constitution clearly stipulates that such must be apportioned uniformely among the states.
5. Only "US persons", meaning coporate persons or corporations as we say today, are taxable according to profit under US law. Monies derived from labor are not profit, but part of an exchange of value. Of course, those W-2 and 1040 forms tell you that by signing, you agree that you are a "US person" by law, and guess what you just did? Every wonder why they call it a "voluntary" return? Because you just volunteered.

How much other useless information can I pump you with? Chicago knows everything you need to know and he'll tell you. Start simple is what he told me so that's what I did. The food handler's exams are easy, don't sweat those. The one thing is make sure your cart will pass your state/county inspections. You can find the drawings for most of the popular carts online, so see if you can run one over to the inspection folks and ask them if it looks like it will pass before you buy your cart. And I'd forget about Ebay for carts. You absolutely HAVE to see the thing and see it burn before you buy. The smaller squeeze-bottles with the small tips are the secret to good presentation and presentation is SO TOTALLY COOL. Sell "art dogs". You will quickly develop the short-term memory necessary so the customer only has to tell you how they want their ONCE. Customer service is the best part of this thing for you and the customer. But Chicago will tell you to make it snappy. Get your customer his or her dog and get the next person served rapid-fire.

I herebye trademark the term "range dogs". Trademarks are free to anyone selling dogs on a range. Anyone else has to pay us money to use the term "range dogs". Only genuine range dogs are guaranteed to improve accuracy and give the kids something to munch on. Only all-beef, premium Hoffy Franks are appropriately marketed as "range dogs", but depending on availability, any q. Along with range dogs, it is essential to have range mustard (also trademarked) which is any mustard you happen to have on the range. Accordingly, it's appropriate to have range catsup, range relish, range jalapenos and range-chopped onion which is pretty much like any commisary derived chopped onion if and when you serve on a range.

Oh yeah, I forgot the note below. What was the note below anyway? I forgot. Something to do with the Constitution. Oh yeah, badges and guns being the "authority necessary to enact the law". Well, I have a badge, it's a private security badge. And I have a gun. Several actually. Does this empower me under law to collect my own taxes from the people? I'm not exactly sure what I would tax you for, I'm willing to share what oxygen is available and as to water to drink, why, we can share that too. Heck, if you are a dollar short at my stand, don't sweat it, get me back next time. I don't want anybody walking away hungry from OzDogs. And you are alredy getting taxed on everything else I can think of. The state done beat me to it. All the fat is gone from this chop.

But I guess as far as the law is concerned I get to tax you. So what should it be? Or is having to read what I write taxing enough?

Tell you what, we'll call it even. How about that? Or how about I tax you for talking to me? That's the ticket. Anyone who replies to me get taxed. Now what shall I tax you? I know what. I shall tax thee a spoonfull of cottage cheese. Or, you may honor my tax by....um....allowing the kid to dye their hair some stupid color. That will satisfy my requirements of taxation.

Now should this prove too odious to your sensibilities, I will furnish an alternative. 10 pushups and 10 situps a day. Anything less and I'm short-changing both of us. Do you people know what you look like in bathing suits?

Hi there,
Another great option is [edit]. They have even started working on a complete business guide designed to help the new cart owner deal with health department officials and get financing. Check it out at

Has anyone tried the L.A. DOG?

they are really good!!!!

I would like to just come on here and say that, Mark Reitman, who offers Hot Dog University, is the BEST!!!!!!!

Mark, is such a generous, honest man. He genuinely wants you to succeed. NOTE: Be wary of the different websites that say they will teach you the business.

I have been looking at starting a restaurant. He has helped me tremendously.

There just are not many people in the world like him left anymore.

Anyone, thinking about starting a cart/stand etc. I wholeheartedly recommend attending his school. It will be well worth your time and money, which he doesn't charge alot. You'll get hands on experience and the knowledge to equip you from making all the start up mistakes.

Way to go Mark!

quote:

Originally posted by UncleVic

Jeezzz.. PhatPhil... No need to scream at us!

Something just occurred to me that should have some time ago.
My Daddy can barely see. He uses caps lock so he can see what he's typing. Does it have to mean screaming or can we at least occasionally make an exception when it's quite obvious the poster wasn't meaning to be disrespectful to the board?
Just asking... .