Steve, My wife and I are getting ready to kick off our hot dog empire. The E-Z Built cart is built and ready to go. We’re getting ready for the inspection and permit process and the wife had a few questions.
1. When serving premium toppings such as chili, bacon, and cheese do you up charge for these or are they added into the price? We’re struggling with were to start our pricing…$2.50 for a dog with mustard onion relish or $3.00?
2. Location. We live in a small village. Not really a lot of foot traffic. but a lot of car traffic with some good visible spots such as a boat ramp by the lake and a corner spot at a busy intersection. Can this work as far as building a good solid repeat business?
Will send pics of cart soon ..
Thanks
Jim and Doreen Ryan
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Hi Jim,
Good for you! The start up process is really exciting, isn’t it? It gets your blood pumping to think that soon… you will be your own boss!
I don’t charge extra for any condiments. I think it makes you look more high-end if all condiments are included. I charge $3 for an 8 to 1 hot dog. You can have anything on it that you want.
Consider developing four or five “signature” hot dogs and give them names. For example my “Randle Dog” comes with chili, celery salt, French’s crispy onions, and mustard. It’s what Randle ordered almost every day. I tried one and it was fantastic so I named it after him and put it on my menu. That’s it at the top of this article.
As far as locations go, spots with a lot of car traffic can be good but they must have three things in order to work:
1. Great visibility – drivers must be able to see your cart or signs several hundred feet away. They need a few seconds to make the decision to stop. If they drive past you they probably won’t turn around.
2. Easy on and off access in both directions. If it’s a pain to get in or out of the parking lot, they wont’ stop. Stop signs or traffic signals help a lot.
3. A large area with plenty of parking.
If you have these three things you will do fine. Keep in mind it takes a while to get known and to build up your “regulars”. I can’t wait to see some pics of your cart.
Good luck!
-Steve
I agree w/you Steve
New York Mama’s Favorite Big Daddy
Chicago The Big ______ Sassy
Detroit Junkyard Dog Say Poland
Make it easy for yourself too!
Have your one slot for condients already mixed onions and sweet relish
I hand dice all my onions yself…..very tiny and sweet
Love the names of your signature dogs Joe!
We charge $3.00 for a great tasting dog with anything you want on it.
You don’t have to do a lot of math with separate items.
And some customers are pleasantly surprised not to be charged extra for condiments.
If I were to offer bacon, or Mac n cheese I would add .50 cents for that.
May the wind be in yer sales matey.
1St Mate Jim.
Take the boat ramp if the town let’s you. Have plenty of signage and try to stay close to the road. You’ll catch more than fishermen!
Robin knows what she’s talking about. She sets up by a lake and does very well.
Aye lassy !!
Take the ramp & prepare to be boarded !!
Walk the plank right over to yer cart.
Have a great season.
Arrrrrr
1St Mate Jim.
LOL.
My wife and I sell two size Dawgs, 8:1 for $3 and a 5:1 for $4, keep it simple and don’t mess with the small change. We don’t want our customers to think we are nickel and diming them. No matter what toppings or no toppings; no one bats an eye at our pricing. We have names for our premium Dawgs and also offer a build your own. Also have a tip jar set out. A lot of people will just put their loose dollars in the tip jar. As for a location, we started out setting up in the evenings on a street with several bars and clubs. After a few weeks a sports bar owner convinced us to set up outside his business and it was a win, win for both of us. Good luck with your new adventure; my wife and I are having a BLAST.
Good for you Kent!
Congratulations and much success, I’m so excited for you! Being your own boss is da bomb and once you get rolling, it can be so satisfying. Steve is right, you don’t want to nickle and dime your customers by charging for condiments but I would create specialty dogs and charge a premium price for each. I have so many different types of hot dogs with all kinds of toppings and I charge 4 bucks each. I also have a board with a list of free toppings so that there’s no misunderstanding as to what they can add on their dog for free. Good luck and have fun!
Great advice Esteban!
Dear Jim and Doreen Ryan,
If you want to build your business fast here is what I did.
Every day on the way to my location and on the way back home I would stop at a different house or business and asked them to come and try my hot dogs.
That ads up to 730 sales calls a year if you are open 7 days a week, not all will come immediately, you will be surprised at how many do come.
The first month I made 6 to 10 calls a day to get started. Try it, it works!
Good Luck!
Clifford
Right on Clifford. Nothing like a face to face invite!
Try a meal $5.00 or $6.00 for a hot dog, drink and chips
We have a special, 2 classic dogs, chips, soda for 6.00. It is our “leader”. Classic means basic, but we still offer onions, tomatoes, jalepeno, sauerkraut or cheese. They are pleasantly suprised at the choices. We offer several types of mustards, relish, peppers and even sirachi ketchup. However, this is the lead item. They can upgrade to chili, polish, fire, or Chicago (loaded) for 2.00 more. Same goes for Mac and cheese. Bacon, avacado is an uograde. Single prices are 3.00 for dog, 4.00 for polish, chili or chicago. I also offer a daily special dog with chips soda for 6. My signature creation and customer favorite is a maple bacon BBQ dog. Pretzel bun, Maple baked beans, crisp bacon, onion, hickory BBQ sauce, deli mustard, a drizzle of real maple syrup. These dogs are loaded. So far the pricing has worked well for us. Many times they start with the special, then upgrade to a couple of different dogs.
Maple syrup! Awesome. I’d love to try one of those!
I love your pricing! I think it’s understandable and fair. I will use your method for my gourmet cart starting in May 2016. Thanks
Welcome to Freedom and Independence! There’s nothing like being your own boss. I’ve been ‘slinging’ going on four years now. I retired early from the fine dining restaurant business. I love selling hot dogs much , much better! I sell only all-beef 5/1. My Chicago Style dog is $3. I have some other “gourmet” dogs that go for $4 each. I don’t quibble about condiments and I have lots of repeat customers. Much Success to you and enjoy working for yourself!
Thanks Papa!
I charge .50 for (hot)condiments , no charge for cold case ndiments..
I do have quite a few cold and people love it!!!
My cart is almost done. The permit and licensure phase starts this week. I will be located in a premium spot. Fire Dept. headquarters, juvenile court buildings, law offices transportation center and two sitting parks. My question is….I’m thinking about offering a delivery service to these different places,,.,do you all think it’s a good idea and how much would you charge, if anything, for delivery?
Hi Mark,
Don’t offer delivery the first week. Get the kinks out of your systems first. Ask your customers if they would take advantage of a delivery service if you were to offer it. See how much interest there is. Then decide. Delivering does cost you money so you should at least have a minimum order amount before you will deliver. Good luck!
Hey guys, what does 4 to 1 and 8 to 1 mean?
Four hot dogs to a pound (quarter pounders), eight hot dogs to a pound (one-eighth pound hot dogs).
I charge 2.50 a hot dog than i have meal deal 1 dog 1 chip an soda 4.25 than 2 dogs 1 chip an soda 6.25 an a 2 2 2 for 8 dollars all toppings are free on all.Works good for me