>>21982862
>Side Gig
slinging dogs is a full time investment or you won't make any profit at all.
the permit alone constitutes this fact.

>>21982873
Most likely I will make this full time if it works well. I am financially sound, thats why I said gig.

>>21982899
you can charge a good amount for the dogs too.

>>21982862
You’ll likely be robbed and killed by

>>21982982
-by who?! Did they get you?

>>21982862
So when I was in college, all the first year business students had to run a small business on campus in the spring. One group bought a hot dog cart, and they would set up next to the one sidewalk leading from town (i.e. where the bars are) to the dormitories on campus between the hours of 10pm and 3am on the weekends. They made a killing, so I'd say location and hours are key for that sort of venture

>>21982899
If you make it a full time endeavor, have a scheduled and set-in-stone route. I knew a guy who did vending machines, and while not the same there are similarities. Say you have a schedule like:
>M Tu W Th F - 12:00pm to 2pm / 4pm to 8pm
>Sa Sun - 11am to 4pm, for example
don't EVER miss a day, especially in the first month starting out. You'll make the majority of all sales from regulars in high foot traffic areas. Once you get a regular clientele, pay attention to what sells on what days in what locations and lean into that/cut underperforming items (vending machine guy tip based on restocks). You'll also get to know your regulars eventually, and this can lead to networking opportunities like catering parties, church group events, etc. occasionally (though maybe not if you stick to just strictly dogs) also,
>>21982978
price point is a strategy you have to consider based on what areas you select to set up in (btw, it helps to have a buddy with a physical business, he might let ya set up shop outside his spot for free). Use your discretion, but I personally would keep the standard dog rate solidly under what's normal for the market in your area, then have some custom order dogs unique to your cart you sell at a premium ranging from a mid to hefty upsell; when given the option a lot of first time buyers will get a basic and a "premium".

>>21983069
this guy businesses

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>>21982982
Awe shit its Candleja

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>>21983069
OP here, you sir are a gentleman and a scholar. I appreciate all of what you have written.

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>>21983106
well I did come from /biz/ so
>>21983118
happy to help! keep us posted if you decide to give it a go, and for sure share the menu if your plan comes to fruition.

>>21983118
>>21983169
I am contemplating doing something similar but in my case it will be burritos. I'm trying to come up with a solution to how to keep them warm. They will be wrapped in foil

>>21982862
>Chicago Dog
>Polish Sausage
>Bratwurst & Kraut (Fall)
>Sriracha Mayo Dog (Summer)
>Brown Mustard

Have a non-standard option for variety in rotation. Good buns make the difference. See if you can source from a good bakery.

>>21983069
>the standard dog rate

A small friendly dog as a mascot never hurts either.

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Bumping for trad hot dog cart vendor appreciation. The "gourmet food truck" fad was a so cringe, so I hope real lunchwagons can come back.

>>21982862
I have a good idea for a hot dog food truck but I need investors

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>>21983584
>my idea

>>21983069
>know your regulars
Nobody wants the hotdog guy tracking their movements. People here made jokes about being recognized somewhere so they stop going but we were just ahead of the curve and that anti-social quality is even more of a norm.

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>>21982862

>>21982862
Have you thought of a name yet (of course don’t share it if so)? Also have you decided whether or not to refer to your customers as “my friend”?

Maybe you can meld both together and call your stand “My Friend Hotdogs”

>>21984038
My name is Frank and I was thinking of calling it " Frank's Frank's" or "Franks2"

>>21984290
It is supposed to be the squared math symbol, not a number two. So basically, Franks Squared

>>21984290
How about "Beyond Bun and Dog with Jonathan Franks"?

>>21982862
I'd honestly do something other than hotdogs.
Check out the Korean pop up food stands. It'll make you stand out and you can charge a larger premium.

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>>21984038
gaston's glizzies

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>>21986399
mandatory

they wrote a book about a feller just like you who ran a hot dog cart
you should read it to get ideas - A Confederacy of Dunces

Fuck dogs. Do chicago beef sandwich with dip and gardiniera and a bag of chips with a soda. Make nothing else.

>>21984290
Franks is the Wurst

>>21986609
>Fuck dogs
You do that enough in your private so that's why want focus on a beef business instead?

Why are all the threads all cringe "joke" posts now are kids out of school or something?

>>21983613
Eh, there's a healthy middle for me. It needs to be genuine. There's some restaurants I like going to frequently but I only ever want to be a "regular" if they pick up on the vibe I like. For me, that's a quiet table in the back by a corner so I can enjoy my meal in peace. Preferably minimal staff interaction.

And that's not me doing the "40 year old virgin with a ponytail who eats alone loser" thing, sometimes I just want to have some food that isn't what's at the house without playing the "friends with the waiter" game. If I pull up and the guy who assigns tables goes
>"Oh I got the same thing for you in the back"
and then leaves me the fuck alone, I will definitely be back. If it's like
>"Anoooooon! How have you been. Welcome back! Follow me!"
and they keep coming to check on me, or the worst which is having a waiter just standing around looking at you waiting to be beckoned over, I'm never fucking coming back.

Point being, people will come back to the hotdog cart if the hotdog guy gets them. AND the food has to be good. Which is hard to do right. You sound like a "give me my dog and stfu" type.

>>21986406
Thanks man, I'll check it out

>>21982990
It was candleja

>>21984290
Just call it Frank's

>>21984290
>Frank's Frank's
That second one shouldn't have an apostrophe but otherwise noice pun

>>21984290
>Frankenstein's Franks
>set up electrical wires so you can flip a giant cartoon style switch and shoot visible currents through dogs for people to see
>doesn't have to actually cook them but look like it is

>>21982862
Do you even know how many dogs and more you'd have to make this endeavor worthwhile after the all the costs?
What are the number of sales per day have you arrived at and does your location support this?

A buddy of mine ran a veggie dog cart that was pretty popular. He was active in the music scene and people went nuts for it at shows, but unfortunately he had a brick and mortar location that got killed during the covid scare.

>>21987510
>hot dog rollers
>it's a Tesla plasma globe

>>21987044
Nothing wrong with it as long as you treat the dogs right.

>>21987510
How about Frank'n'Stein? One hotdog and one mug of beer, $10.