Author: Steve

This business has been sold.

I helped this gentleman get started in the hot dog biz several years ago. Paul “Chappy” Chapman has been featured several times in the Hot Dog Profits newsletter.

Chappy is not only one of my most successful students, he is also the nicest guy you could ever hope to meet. I’m fortunate to have gotten to know him over the phone and through emails, and I’m glad to call him my friend.

If you want to step into a running, profitable hot dog vending business in Stockton CA, this is it.

Paul is even willing to come to work with you for a while and train you!

Don’t wait – opportunities like this one don’t come around every day.

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Price: $5000 OBO Location:  CA  Phone:    Email: 

Very successful OPERATING hot dog vending business for sale in one of the most profitable locations in Stockton CA. Includes California code compliant cart, daily location to set up at, and all equipment.

Everything you need to maintain a daily location and successfully take on flea markets and special events.  The San Joaquin County Health Permit, and the Stockton Business License are current.

Owner is willing to train purchaser.

Call Paul at SOLD for more information.

Click on the photos below for a larger version…

Steve,

Thank you for your hot dog cart design plans and all the tips you provide every day. We did a few external modifications to the design, but at its heart is an E-Z Built cart. Attached are a couple of pictures.

Thank you,
Rich Keith, Deepwater Dogs

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Wow, nice job Rich! I love the diamond plate.

I also really like the shape of the raised counter top. Very nice!

Let’s hear it for Rich and his metal E-Z Built in the comments.

-Steve

Click the pic for a larger version…

Here’s a feel good story for you.

We publish a set of plans to build a kids hot dog cart as part of our Premium online training package. It’s called the Hot Dog Cart Jr.

These cute little carts don’t have a firebox but they do have a built in cooler that will keep hot dogs warm for quite a while. Just heat up some dogs in your kitchen, roll them in foil, and put them in the cooler.

Your young’n can hit the street and sling dogs to their friends. It’s really fun!

Victor is a Premium member and he just built a Hot Dog Cart Jr. for his granddaughter. It turned out great!

Let’s hear it for Victor in the comments!

-Steve

Hi Steve, I had a question I thought you might be able to help me with.

In your experience if you had multiple carts and hired employees to run them do you know what the profit percent would be factoring in the food cost, hourly pay for the employee and misc. expenses?

I figured the net profit margin would be around 50% but I haven’t started my business yet and wanted to ask you first.

Thanks!

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I don’t know your exact numbers so it’s hard to say.

What makes it even more difficult is that you can’t accurately compute your net profit margin unless you pay your employee as a percentage of sales.

If you pay them hourly, then the profit margin depends heavily on how many dogs they sell per hour which can be all over the place.

The biggest cause of failure in situations like this is not acting until you get everything worked out on paper. It’s called “analysis paralysis”.

Instead of sitting around crunching numbers, just get out there and try it for a month. If it works, keep going.

If not, tweak things like employee compensation, hours worked, etc. until you hit the numbers you want. For example, if your employee is selling hot dogs from 10 to 3 and 80% of the sales come between 11 and 1, cutting out those three low productivity hours will skyrocket your net profit margin.

Good luck!

-Steve

Mike Quarles used his Hot Dog Profits Premium training to fast track his success in the hot dog biz! This is an inspirational read…

Steve,

Why didn’t you tell me about this business 20 years ago?

As you know, I’ve been leasing a couple of spaces in a downtown parking lot for the past two years, only moments from the downtown historical area.  

I loved street vending!

Then, I was approached about moving into that area’s historic “City Market Building”.

Greater foot traffic, heart of all downtown activities on weekends, and actually closer for the majority of my “super” regular customers that come by at least once a week.

Soooo…. I never would have thought when I was planning my hotdog adventures, that a simple little cart would lead to where I am today. A little business idea can morph into anything you allow it to be, or what you want it to become.

I just wanted to be happy, doing my own little thing 4 or 5 days a week, with a little hotdog cart, and BOOM – it morphed to a brick and mortar setting inside one of the most historic and recognized structures in the area.

Inside might not be for everyone, wasn’t what I was planning, but everyone should realize that little hotdog cart can do whatever you allow it to achieve (yes, I’m talking about the cart, not our kids here – haha – although my cart is like a kid, the difference is the cart will make you $$$, our kids take $$$ )

Thanks again Steve,

Mike Quarles
“der Frankfurter Cart”
“der Frankfurter Bistro”

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The sky is the limit when you own your own business. It can truly become whatever you want it to.

Great job Mike. We all wish you continued success!

-Steve

P.S. Let’s hear it for Mike in the comments…

 

Why this didn’t catch on is beyond me…

Price: $3,900
Location: Northern Virginia (Manassas, VA)
Contact Person: R.P.
Contact Email: helior0505@gmail.com

This is a great mobile unit that includes everything you would want and need! Not just for hotdogs – you can also cook items on the large, brand new grill! This mobile unit has been very well taken care of and is ready for you to start your business!! Sparkling clean and ready to go make you money!

Major items include:

• Hand-washing sink with a 5-gallon water capacity
• Additional 3-compartment sink
• Propane water heating
• Two-pan cooking table (uses propane)
• Additional larger cooking pan with new burner (uses propane)
• Brand new grill installed (uses propane)
• Redone chassis (foundation underneath)
• Plenty of storage compartments
• Replaced back axle
• New front wheels on mobile unit
• Includes 2″ (in.) hitch and ball measuring 1 & 7/8 (in.)
• New wheel on the hitch
• Lots of custom stainless steel work done to make it efficient and up to standards
• Includes framework for canopy over entire unit and comes with the canopy (not an umbrella)!

Cash Only. Sold AS IS. Serious buyers only!

Buyer must make their own arrangements for tow and transportation. Seller will NOT ship or deliver. Pick-up location: Manassas, Virginia

Mobile unit has successfully met Georgia State Health Department requirements so far. Buyer responsible for meeting requirements in their location of business.

Price: $3,900
Location: Northern Virginia (Manassas, VA)
Contact Person: R.P.
Contact Email: helior0505@gmail.com

I just got these photos of Rob’s home made hot dog cart. Very unique!

Rob writes…

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Steve.. I followed your video series and it was invaluable. I do not know how I would have completed this without you. I altered the plan and redesigned it and I finished the cart yesterday.  I look forward to your review.

Next is passing the food service test … easy peezy… getting licensed. I will reach out soon for the free website through your program. I did secure the email shadydawgmi.com. My cart does meet the requirements for my county that I received from their vendor dept people.

Sincerely,
Rob Noble
Shady Dawg of MI.

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Wow, Rob – great job!

This is the first slanted roof E-Z Built that I have seen. I like it!

Looks like your health department requires a four sink set up. Perfect.

I also really like the recesses in the cart body around the fenders.

Well done sir, well done!

-Steve

P.S. Let’s hear it for Rob in the comments!

Click the photo for a larger version…