hot dog vendors-location-help

[thecartman]

I bought myself a new hot dog cart a few months ago. I thought I had researched the income part of the business. I am still being told there is pretty good money in it. What am I doing wrong? I am located in a fairly busy area near Crystal River , Fl. which is north of Tampa on the Gulf coast. I have plans to move to N. Ft. Myers,Fl. as it is a much larger area.

I've been told you can make hundreds of dollars a day but so far I'm lucky to make hundreds a month.

Please help

Jerry-

[Muledog]

Two words: HOME DEPOT

[KKoher]

Is there good traffic where you are located? Location is everything. You may be able to stay in the area you live in, but relocate you stand to an area with more traffic. Also, inquire at the Tampa mall...do they already have a hot dog stand? If they allow one, you might get more traffic there...and shoppers are always looking for a quick, cheap, and easy snack.

[mbrand2222]

Find a way to make it "unique" to all other hot dogs. Maybe offer toppings that no one else would have or even think of. I know hot dogs are usually salty so maybe you could appeal to the people who love sweet and salty by having something sweet to put on it. Try to think of the many taste combinations that you have and then come up with really unique choices to satisfy those tastes. That's kind of what they did when they started to sell fried Twinky's and everything on a stick at the state fair. Just some thoughts. Best wishes!

[andrewrichardgale]

have you tryed going outside bars where everyones drunk and making bad choices with there money, and suddenly your average hotdog turns into the worlds greatest hotdog?

[BiGWiLL]

chili dogs

[breatheeasy17]

I am not a selling but I am a consumer. market yourself (don't just stand there with the cart). also try organic hotdogs if you live in a health conscious area. they are healthy and not bad. make sure people know you sell them too.

[pboychuk]

have you tryed going outside bars where everyones drunk and making bad choices with there money, and suddenly your average hotdog turns into the worlds greatest hotdog?

ya foreals I live in a college town and downtown there are like 2 million carts feeding on drunk spoiled college kids.

[DaleUK]

Yeh location is everything! Are they any or many other vendors nearby? If there's another hot dog vendor nearby, you're best bet is to move away!

Do many people actually know that your cart exists? Most stalls around here tend to place a small sign advertisement or two a few yards away, you may want to try that.

Depending on where you are and who you're aiming at, if it was me, I would try and make my cart stand out. Give yourself a visual identity...

[1entrepreneur]

I think train stations, or airports are good locations. But you need to make sure you're not too close to other food vendors.

Do you need some sort of license to operate? I know where I live, the hotdog vendor has to pay a license of $25 thousand a year.

What about training in hygene and food standards? Do you need to know any of that stuff?