Michael Evegens is a student of mine from Acworth, GA and he asked me if I could help him with hot dog carts in the Peach State.
The main thing you’ll need in Georgia is a cover over your cooking area. You can make on out of plexiglass pretty easily. Just make a box that fits over your cooking area and add a couple of hinged doors so you can access your pans.
I hope that helps,
– Steve
I own/operate a hot dog cart in the Savannah area..
Derek, I’m in school and doing a business plan for a pretend hot dog cart for my marketing class. I’ve been reading up on the stumbling blocks, regulations, commissary etc. How do you operate under such restrictions? If you could email me before Saturday when I have to name my business for class on Saturday. I may have to pick an easier project if this is prohibitive by the regulations.
All businesses are becoming more regulated every day. That is just the political climate we live in. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. There is always a way if you work patiently with the right people.
Derek,
I’d really like to talk to you if you don’t mind.
Please give me a call at (888) DOG-BIZ1
Thanks!
-Steve
Hello,
I’m in a rural town in Ga and have plans to open a brick and mortar hot dog biz rather than cart. I have a perfect spot, but need help on getting started and what equipment to buy.
Is this covered in your course Steve?
thanks
Hi Cheryl,
Sorry, my course only covers mobile hot dog vending (carts). Starting a brick and mortar
hot dog biz is much more expensive and complicated.
A good strategy is to start out with a cart, prove that there is a market, and then if
you absolutely have your heart set on opening a restaurant, go for it.
Hope this helps!
-Steve
seems like Georgia is a very hard place to be in the cart biz. i need some help from owners of carts in georgia please. what the state requires?
The main thing that GA requires is an enclosed serving area. The code makes it sound like the whole cart needs to be enclosed but that’s just how it’s written. If you enclose the steam table area with a plexiglass box with doors in the front for access, you should be able to get the cart passed.
Check first to be sure but that’s what folks are doing and it’s been working.
-Steve
The carts in South Carolina or at least here in Columbia, SC have to be enclosed also. What a expense to put you through.
I am running into the same problems. Commissary is giving me a hard time, then I found a guy who owns a nathan’s hot dog shop but they say that I have to own the commissary …
looking for help too in Georgia setup my hotdog cart
A commissary is nothing more than a commercial kitchen in a bar, restaurant, VFW hall, etc. You can get around owning the commissary by working as a sub contractor for an actual commissary owner, such as a catering company. Give the owner free advertising on your cart, menus, tow vehicle, etc. in exchange for a commissary agreement.
-Steve
Thanks of the inforn I still looking for a commissary to working as a sub contractor in the atlanta ,Ga . if you have any addition inforn
thank you
Looking to network with local atlanta ,Ga area operate a hot dog cart email at info@metroonevending.com
Darryl
Any hot dog operated in gerogia ? email me .
Im working on a movie in Savannah and need a hot dog cart for a street scene. The older the cart the better. The movie is set in the Bowery area of NY in 1973. Also potentialy a pretzel cart/stand.
Hi.
Did you find your hot dog cart? No date on the post…I may be really late! I have an older model cart.
Diana
404-839-6322
Not all Georgia areas are the same. The state only regulates that carts be covered if over 25sqft if it is a “open cart” you can not serve any prepared food the cart can only serve heat and serve “Hot Dogs,Brats,etc. Your local Health Dept will have the ultimate say, so take a schematic of the cart there BEFORE YOU BUY THE CART. Check not only your local Health Dept but your City and county Codes. Here in my County regulation is terrible. 1. Commissary must be owned by you “Georgia State Law” 2. You can only serv 10 days in one spot and cannot return back to that spot for 90 days. you can not be 250 ft from any other vender or 100 ft from any restraunt. 3. cart are not allowed in Industrial areas 4. push carts can only be used in down town”cart may not be towable” yes you have to trailer the cart back and forth And all above rules still apply. 5. no grills,griddles or any cooking devices “only heat and serv”
6. cart must have handwash sink, water heat source, self contained water storage and grey water tanks and pressurized water.
7. you must have at your base of operation a desiginated line for dumping grey water. it must tie in to city sewage or your septic “if using septic your system must have been installed after 1990 or have to be inspected to ensure its up to code.”this you pay for if you want you lic”
8. cart hours of operation can only be between “can remeber start ime as i never go out before 9:00 am but i think it is 7:00am – 7:00pm so your off at 7:00 every night.
I dont have time to keep going but again CHECK YOUr HEALTH DEPT AND LOCAL CITY,COUNTY ORDINANCES.
Great points Chris, but like you say it’s really up to the inspector as to whether they enforce the code to the “T” or not. Many inspectors realize that some of the codes are ridiculous and they are willing to work with you on it.
My point is, if you are new to hot dog vending don’t get scared off by the rules. Talk to your health inspector first (politely) and ask what you would need to do to pass his inspection. You may be pleasantly surprised by his answer.
I have an older hot dog cart. I don’t know how old your post is, but let me know!
Steve I am finally nearly complete with my Hot Dog Cart. I just have to finish my plumbing for my 3 sinks and fire it up. Then I need to take my cart to the inspectors to final approval. I am excited whereas I started working on my cart in Dec. 2012. I work on my cart after work and on my day off, whereas I don’t have the luxury of a garage. But, I have had time to research and make sure that I am ready to roll when the weather change here in Ga. I am searching for a commissary now so that it won’t be a factor.
Way to go Greg! Send me some pics when you finish your E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart!
Hi! I have a brick and mortar hot dog business and would like to expand with a cart. (backwards I know) When you says you need to cover your cooking area/steamers, is that completely enclosed? Does anyone have pictures of carts that have passed inspection? I’m located in Suwanee, GA. If anyone is selling a cart that has passed inspection and is in good condition, I would be interested in purchasing.
Hi Eva,
This is a silly requirement for sure but a lot of GA hot doggers report that they had to comply with it. Fortunately it’s not hard to do.
Build a plexiglass box over the cooking area. Put hinged doors in the back to access the cooking area.
Hello,
I am very interested in starting up a hot dog cart in the Alpharetta Ga, & Johns Creek Ga area, I would like any information I can receive, or at least a contact with someone already established, or interested in expanding. also interested in
Hello Steve,
Well, please don’t le me bring you or any one else down, I’m a Christian and not a quitter, ok at here’s my saga / story.
I divorced my cheating husband in 2011 in Florida and came back to my home town in MD my 45 birthday . I went to PA to celebrate my birthday and the 4th of July with my then best friend. When I suffered a stroke July 3,2012 and spent the next 4 years in various nursing homes from York PA to Pittsburgh Pa. When I woke up one day in April 2015and said I’m gonna go to Ga and start my life a new, I was told good luck. So I hopped a plane on May 2,2015 and said, I’m off to Ga. and so here I am. I have applied for many jobs, but no one wants to hire a handicapped person. So , I have been reviewing the hot dog cart business no one wants to hire me , so I will hire myself. now the struggle begins , how to finance a hot dog cart with no credit, I live on 733.00 per month from social security income , trust me its very hard but I’m not going to quit , I’m going to keep fighting until I’m able to get me a hot dog cart .And Illl proudly tell everyone that I’ve ever applied with to have a dawg on me cuz I’m a fighter , a Christian and I don’t quite. So Steve can you help me to find a hotdog cart that I can lease for a little while or a place that will finance me ?? Thanks Dee
Hi Dee, I love your attitude! I think that with your story you would have no problems raising $3000 in a Kickstarter or Gofundme campaign. That would be enough to get you started with a decent used cart.
Gm, one of the hardest things I find is the commissary in Savannah, it is very
hard to fine. Very little support in this area of kitchen support and storage supply. This is what makes the hotdogs business for me questionable I’am Willing to do the work and purchase a cart, just getting pass this situation please let me know ,Thanks !
I emailed you my commissary strategy. It should help you.
Steve,
I am very grateful to have found this chat. Like many people on here the commissary is kicking my butt. I’m a retired Marine in Kingsland, Ga very excited to start a hotdog cart in my area. I have seen you mention a strategy and am very interested. Please help. Thank you
I’ll email it to you Allan. Thank you for your service in the Marine Corp! You guys are heroes.