Getting the agreement. For free.
Hey Slingers, both current and future!
Of all the emails that I get, two questions seem to come up the most.
1. How do I get a commissary?
2. How do I get a location?
Over the years I bet I have sent out the following answer to several hundred individuals, but I don’t believe I have ever shared it in an article. Well, today’s the day! And I have good news.
This Hot Dog Profits Technique will get both commissaries and locations RENT FREE.
A commissary is nothing more than a health department approved kitchen. All you need is a letter to show the inspector that says the facility agrees to let you use their kitchen.
Here’s how to get that commissary letter, or permission to set up on that piece of property that you’ve had your eye on.
If you approach a local business and just ask to set up there, or if you can use their kitchen as a commissary, what’s in it for them? Not much. Even if you offer to pay them rent, the tiny additional income doesn’t make it worth it.
The whole key is to remember everyone’s favorite radio station, wii fm (what’s in it for me?)
What does every business want? MORE CUSTOMERS!!!
What do they have to do to get more customers?
They have to advertise and that’s expensive!
You just have to think about it a little differently – from their perspective. What’s in it for them?
Don’t even talk about rent, talk about how you happen to have advertising space available on your cart and promotional materials…
On the fliers you distribute, on the rear window of your tow vehicle, and on the menus that your customers will post on bulletin boards in their break rooms at work – all over town!
Tell them that thousands of people each month will see it and ask them how much that kind of exposure would cost them in traditional advertising? Thousands.
And you’ll do all this for them FOR FREE in exchange for letting you set up there or for giving you a commissary letter.
That’s the winning pitch.
If you’re tired of trying to figure all this stuff out on your own, consider joining my premium membership club. You’ll get instant online access to all the mobile food vending books, videos, audio recordings, and other training materials that we have ever produced. It’s a truly HUGE repository of mobile food knowledge.
You can look it over here:
http://HotDogProfitsPremium.com
It’s a small investment in your future that will save you thousands of dollars and months of trial and error.
Let me know how else I can help you!
Steve
P.S. I’d love to hear from you all you slingers.If you have any location /commissary tips or strategies to add please share them in the comments below!
Everyone talks about Lowes, Home Depot and Wallmart. Who on earth do you contact at the corporation form permission? I must live in a dead zone. Every one of these store’s for a 40 mile radius told me it wasn’t corporate policy to let anyone be a vendor. is it just my area, lazy store manager or does other people get the same line? Suggestions gladly accepted
Hi Forrest,
Many Home Depot and Lowes locations use a concession management company called Street Eats. You may need to contact them.
I am thinking along the same lines. I read that one of your slingers uses a dvd player or digital picture frame to show their product on their cart. I am putting a presentation together to show my commissary. My dogs and his amazing pizza. I think he has the best in town which is important to me because I want to be associated with the best.
I love it John. A video pitch is a great idea!
I have two commersaries, just pick a restaurant you want for a commersary and eat there every chance you get, get acquainted with the owner and then ask them if they wouldn’t mind being your commesary and don’t forget to tell them just what it entails. Also at the end of my season, I have never had them ask me for money but,I always flip them some for dealing with me . Good luck!
Just Starting out, where do I get the commissary letter from
Any health department approved kitchen facility. See hotdogprofitspremium.com for anwswers to all your questions.
Steve, lowesfoodtruckprogram.com is the new avenue. They have taken control of the food vendors at their stores. Good Eats is out. They do charge a SET fee and it’s worth every penny. From what I have learned is the individual store manager has the final say. The guy in charge of this is icredible to work with.
Great info Lori. Thanks!