Starting a Hot Dog Stand Business - Equipment and Supplies

To get set up with a new hot dog stand you will be looking at approximately 00 to 00 for the stand, cooking equipment, coolers and other food handling equipment. For around ,000 you can buy a customized trailer in which you can operate your business.

For those on a budget it makes sense to look at purchasing used equipment. Used equipment can typically be acquired for around half the price of new equipment and sometimes much less.

Leasing is also a great option as you will be paying regular payments over time as you earn money instead of having to come up with the lump sum that is needed if you were to buy equipment. This enables you to preserve your capital for business growth. If you lease, you will also have an easy exit option if you decide that you want to discontinue your business at some point in time.

Some people choose to build their own hot dog stand and it is possible to buy plans that explain how to go about this online. This approach usually requires a significant outlay to purchase a kit set or the necessary parts. It can be done for well under a thousand dollars but may not be worth it if you are not technically minded.

Putting hot dogs and food ingredients aside for a minute, lets consider some of the equipment and supplies that a hot dog vending stand will require.

A Stand or Cart

Your first requirement is a quality stand or cart. These usually have two wheels on one end and two legs on the other for mobility and stability. Stands are usually made up of mostly stainless steel components and they should be easy to take apart and clean.

A good stand should be able to be towed around by a vehicle. It will also have a sink for washing and cleaning, a water tank and a waste water tank.

Hot dog stands are generally powered by propane or LPG tanks although in some cases they are run on diesel. If you are doing a good daily trade then you may also have to have a spare tank available. Hot dog stands are usually required to have a fire extinguisher on hand.

There are stands with umbrellas, stands with portable awnings and stands with no overhead protection at all. Unless you will be operating indoors you should probably choose a stand with some sort of protection from the weather.

Food Storage and Preparation Equipment

Your cart will need a steamer and a broiler or grill for cooking hot dogs and warming or toasting buns.

If you plan to set up in a heavily trafficked area you'll need lots of storage space or a convenient area to keep extra buns, hot dogs and other things you might run out of.

You will need condiment dispensers that can hold large volumes of sauces and you may also need a display rack for condiments if you are encouraging customers to add their own.

You may consider buying an extra cooler if you will be selling large volumes of beverages. Most hot dog carts have coolers built in but they are often not large enough to cater to demand on a hot day.

Other food preparation equipment that you may need will include knives, a cutting board for slicing buns and spoons for adding certain toppings.

Display Cases and Racks

People are often more likely to purchase food when they see it displayed. You may consider displaying beverages, coleslaws or salads in a refrigerated display case. Other product items like chips can be hung from racks so that everyone can easily see the selection of brands that you offer.

Other Supplies and Considerations

Other supplies that you will need to purchase on a regular basis aside from food include food handling gear such as gloves, cleaning equipment, soap and napkins or foil bags for serving hot dogs to customers.

You will need a safe place to put the money that you take in each day. A cash register is only really practical for larger trailers. Most stands or carts get by with a money box. Make sure that you use a box that can be locked and for security purposes it is ideal if the box can be chained to your stand in some way.