The vast majority of towns in the United States are quite friendly to mobile food vending. But every once in a while we encounter a bit of resistance. Hey, it wouldn’t be a real business without some red tape. 😉 Here’s how to cut through it.

Hot Dog Cart News reader Kim G. writes…

Dear Steve:

On Monday night, my city commission will meet to discuss potential street food laws, including whether to ban street vendors all together. Sounds to me that some of the permanent restaurant owners resent us coming in with low over head and making a buck.

I would like to attend the meeting and be able to give some supporting evidence as to the benefits that street vendors bring to the community and local economy.

Could you direct me to any noteworthy studies or reports to this claim?

Thank you,
Kim

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Hey Kim,

Unreasonable fear. Permanent location restaurants sometimes get freaked out when they see a food cart on the street in their town. They think that we are “unfair competition” because our overhead is so low. In reality that argument doesn’t hold water. Overhead is irrelevant to the customer. They don’t know or care what our overhead is. All they care about is that the food is good and the price is fair.

Comparable prices. A professional food cart operator sells their products at comparable (or even higher) price points than the sit down restaurant. The playing field is actually quite level.

Besides, when did it become acceptable for one business to ask city council to ban another business just because the other business is more profitable? I’m sorry but what a load of horse crap. Sounds like cry baby tactics at the least, socialism at the worst. I don’t like either one and I’ll vote against any city council member that goes along with it.

Growth opportunities for all. Portland Oregon rejuvenated their downtown as a result of embracing food carts. The public loves it and the carts are a huge draw, bringing people to the downtown who wouldn’t be there otherwise.

The local brick and mortar restaurants benefited as much as anyone. More people coming to any geographical area always equates to more sales for all of the establishments within that area.

How to get the restaurants to side with you. If you meet resistance from the restaurants, here is a great response. Tell them that the brick and mortar restaurants in Portland have started using food carts to expand their business and spread the word about their sit down establishment with great success. Food carts have allowed these restaurants to have a branded presence that reaches areas far beyond the block they live on. Tell them that if the city bans food carts then this opportunity will be closed to them as well.

This approach shows them that restaurants can directly benefit from utilizing food carts of their own. It also shows them that you are not afraid of them competing with you on the street which fosters a “work together” atmosphere where both you and the restaurants win.

That’s the winning pitch. Let me know how it goes!

-Steve

Important Note: There is so much mis-information flying around about what is and what isn’t allowed in any given state, county, city, etc. One of the most important pieces of advice that I can offer is DON’T listen to anyone but your local health inspector. Most of them recognize that their job is to make sure that food businesses don’t make anyone sick. That’s it. They are severely overworked and don’t have the time or inclination to enforce the more ridiculous parts of the food code that don’t even have an effect on actual food safety.

I can’t tell you how many newbie customers of mine originally wrote me telling me that so and so was not allowed in their county, or that their town isn’t “hot dog cart friendly.” Three weeks later they tell me that they are up and running. It happens ALL THE TIME.

Nothing else matters except what YOUR inspector says, and many times what he or she says doesn’t follow your local food code to the letter.

I’ve started and run many businesses in many different industries and it’s always the same. There are always a group of losers that will delight in telling you that what you want to do is impossible. Nothing is impossible.

Talk to your inspector. Only your inspector. If you listen to everyone else, you’ll be tempted to quit before you even get started and you’ll miss out on the funnest business in the world.