Here’s an email from a really nice guy who’s starting out right, plus a special discount offer at the end of the article.

Hi Steve,

I have finally completed my E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart. Right now I have a spot on the riverfront in Westbrook ME. I have only been out a couple of times, made some money and enjoyed it very much.

I am still working full time and hope to make the transition to hot dog guy in the spring.

As for the cart, the name is Mtn. Man Hotdogs. I am an avid hiker and have been called the mtn man for a long time so the name was a no brainer. My mom painted the picture of Mt Katahdin (Maine’s highest peak) and my dad was the master mind behind the construction of the cart.

I want to thank you for the video. It was easy to follow and well done. Also thanks for potentially having my own way to make money without depending on corporate America.

Thanks again and have a great day!

Dennis Mondville

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Nice job Dennis!

A lot of people ask me about running a part time hot dog cart vs full time hot dog vending. Here’s what I tell them:

You don’t have to quit your day job – at least not right off the bat. You simply don’t need to work full time in order to enjoy great success in the hot dog business. There are a ton of opportunities that don’t involve a weekly lunchtime fixed location.

You can sling dogs on weekends at fairs, festivals, craft shows, store openings, gas stations, laundrymats, liquor stores, car dealerships, motorcycle shows, car washes, etc, etc, etc.

The list is literally endless.

Have  a good spot in mind? Be a weekend warrior. You can  make a lot of cash with a fixed location on weekends only. It can be even better because folks are out and about shopping, running errands, taking the kids to sports, etc.

My “King Weenie Hot Dogs” did a great business on Saturdays thanks to the local soccer Moms.

Weekend and evening party gigs. I love catering parties because they are quick in-and-out profit generators, plus they are just a lot of fun.

If you want to learn the top secret trick for doubling your catering gig profits without doing any extra work at all, check out page 57 of Carts of Cash.

Be a bar dogger. Selling hot dogs at night outside of bars and clubs is hugely profitable! There is a gentleman in the next town north of me with a hot dog cart outside of the local night spot and he’s absolutely crushing it!

I’m a big fan of no pressure jobs and part time hot dog vending is about as no pressure as it gets. It’s a great way to supplement your income and get those extras in life that you know you deserve but always seemed just out of reach.

What would you do with an extra thousand dollars or more a month? Get a new luxury car, sports car, muscle car, or SUV? Pay of some bills? Get that hot tub or big screen TV? School tuition? What is that one thing you’ve always wanted but could never afford… until now?

You can make the move to full time dog slinger if you want to – but only when you feel ready and confident. Many hot dog vendors stay part time because they really like their day job, and that’s cool too.

Again, no pressure is the word of the day.

Special Offer: As a matter of fact if you put the words no pressure into the coupon code box (you’ll see the box during checkout) I’ll give you a 5% discount on any of our three main products:

Hot Dog Biz 101 – The #1 Hot Dog Cart Start Up Guide

E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart – Building Your Own Hot Dog Cart With Hardware Store Materials

Cash Tracker – Custom Hot Dog Cart Bookkeeping Software

But you might miss out… I like to reward action takers so don’t dilly-dally. There are a limited number of coupon codes and when they’re gone, they’re gone – I expect in a day or two, maybe less.

After you grab your discount, come on back and let Dennis know what a great job he and his Mom and Dad did on their E-Z Built cart.

Comments for Dennis and his family  people!

-Steve

click the pics for a larger version

Hi Steve,

I’m finished with my E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart and have been slingin’ for 3 weeks. Awesome!

My husband made mine 6 feet long, so I’d have more working space. He made me do ALL of the plumbing by myself to make sure I could fix it on the spot! Hope you like it?

I’ve already been booked through December 11th by one group here in San Antonio,TX.

My husband got me the larger George Foreman grill for my bacon wrapped dogs and an AWESOME location on S. Flores and Military Drive.

It’s people like you that brings out our inner desire to grow as entrepreneurs.  I definitely learned a lot…

Thanks for all of your support.,

Lucette A.K.A. Big Momma

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Great job Lucette!

I’m really impressed with what you have done, especially the part about doing the plumbing yourself so you can fix it if you need to. The plumbing is E-Z (just like the rest of the cart) but your husband is a smart guy for suggesting that.

Looks like he’s going over the checklist with you in the pics below

I’m also proud of you for being booked so far in advance right out of the gate. That’s awesome!

Welcome to our world Lucette! Congrats in the comments people!

-Steve

I LOVE emails like this one from a reader who’s KILLIN’ it!…

Hello Steve,

Well after ordering your E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart plans, we are up and running.  Here are a few pics and I promise to send you a T-shirt.

We also have a website  -  www.HappyHippieHotDogs.com Check it out.

Craig Norman

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Thanks for the pics Craig. Awesome job!

This is exactly what I’m talking about when I say, “Don’t just sell a hot dog, sell an EXPERIENCE!”

An entertaining, exciting experience is something that can separate you from all the other choices available to your customers. It draws people to you, generates tremendous word of mouth, and makes you highly memorable. Repeat customers rock!

It also frees you from having to compete on price, which is without a doubt the most miserable way to run your business.

Happy Hippie Hot Dogs definitely has it’s U.S.P down cold. In case you’re new around here, U.S.P. stands for Unique Selling Proposition. Here are a couple of articles to refresh your memory:

USP Part One – Japadogs

USP Part Two

Let’s hear it for Craig in the comments, and spend some time thinking about your U.S.P.

YEAH, baby! Groovy!

-Steve

click the pics below for a larger version

This just in from Rich:

Hello Steve,

I purchased your E-Z Built video almost a year ago.  Every thing  is going great.  I have built two of your carts and they are out working every day.

I am getting ready to start doing Festivals and thought maybe I needed a grill.  I was wondering if you knew of a grill that would fit comfortably on the cart that I have built.  Propane.

I Hope you and your family are doing well during these times, starting this hot dog business has been a real life saver and we are going to take it up a notch this year so wish me luck.  Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,
Richard Sacco

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First off, I want to congratulate Rich on having not one, but two E-Z Built Hot Dog Carts out on the street making money. That’s awesome!!!

One of the many advantages of building your own cart is the ability to modify it whenever you need to. You can add a new piece of equipment at the drop of a hot dog hat.

Mounting a grill on the E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart is…E-Z! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) Seriously, there’s not much involved and it shouldn’t take you more than an hour.

How to mount a grill on your hot dog cart:

1. Get a table top style gas grill from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Try to get one with a flat bottom as it will be easier to mount. See the photo at the top of this article.

2. While you’re there, pick up two heavy duty shelf brackets (the triangular kind).

3. Mount the brackets to the side of your cart through the frame members, not just the skin, using 2 1/2″ long bolts with washers and nuts.

4. Mount the grill to the brackets with machine screws, washers, and nuts. You’ll have to remove the legs and drill four holes in the bottom of the grill.

5. Most table top gas grills are designed to use the one pound “throwaway” propane cylinders.

These are the small cylinders commonly used for camping applications and they are a bit expensive. If you want to keep things as simple as possible, go ahead and use the one lb cylinders but be sure to unscrew it and stow it safely before towing your cart on the road.

6. If you want to get a bit fancier you can use an adapter hose that will connect the “throwaway” fitting on the stove to a 20 pound propane tank which will obviously last a lot longer.

These hoses are available at WalMart.

Super fancy-schmancy users may want to detach the black plastic nut and screw this hose into a tee fitting on your existing gas plumbing so everything can run off of one tank. As you may recall, I show you how to make a gas tee in the E-Z Built Videos.

That’s all there is to it – With a half hour of work you could be grillin’ and chillin’ like this happy guy…

Grilling tips:

Grilling will dry out your hot dogs in a hurry, so grill them for a few minutes to put the char marks on them, then put them in the steamer where they will keep much longer. When a customer orders a hot dog you can toss it on the grill again for a few seconds (just for show) then serve it up sizzling.

Keep a small stainless or cast iron pan (never teflon) on the grill for cooking onions and/or peppers. The smell of grilled onions wafting through the air will bring customers in from blocks away. This is REALLY effective.

As always, check with the county mounties to be sure all this delicious grilling complies with the health codes in your location.

Now take a moment to congratulate Rich on his rockin’ hot dog business in the comments. He deserves it!

-Steve

P.S. If you want to build your own hot dog cart and start making money like Rich and so many others have, you can find out more over at www.BuildAHotDogCart.com

Steve,

I have been in the aviation industry for the last 21 years and had climbed the so called corporate ladder to Executive Vice President of Sales.

I bought my cart back in March of 2010 after reading your book Carts of Cash and listening to the audio disk several times. I bought it with the intentions of doing weekend festivals and fairs.

The current economy has hurt the aviation industry pretty hard so I started to think about changing careers from the aviation side to selling hot dogs.

Then my wife was robbed at her bridal shop on a Friday. Monday morning I turned in my resignation to my boss and told her why I was making this decision. She asked if we could talk about it and we did.

So now I sell hot dogs during the day from 10 to 3 in front of my wife’s bridal shop which happens to be located on a very busy intersection. Then I go into my office and work from 3:30 to 6:30.

I am having the time of my life selling hot dogs and meeting great people.

Now I get to be close to my wife and kids during the week (not just the weekends) and make a pretty good living while slinging dogs.

I’m having a blast in NC.

Robert Kamsch

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Way to go Robert. I admire a man who goes to bat for his family. Having a blast while doing it is icing on the cake!

-Steve

As Hot Dog Cart News continues to gain popularity I’ve been receiving more and more success stories from readers. I love it, keep ‘em coming!

But lately I’ve noticed another trend. I’ve been getting more emails like this one:

Steve,

I see all these people having success selling hot dogs and I really want to try it myself but I’m scared. I know it’s a great business but I can’t make myself take the leap. Can you tell me anything that will help. I’m paralyzed!

Thanks,
Dale

To all the Dales out there, I want you to read an article I wrote back in January ‘09. It explains the psychology that’s holding you back and shows you how to smash your fear and move forward.

Click Here.

Please comment at the end!

-Steve

That’s Gary in the middle. He made $2500 with his eyes closed…

Steve,

Thought you might like this. Hot Dog Willie’s first event, Island Aid in Grand Isle Louisiana, $2500.00 in about 6 hours!

O.K. here’s the deal. I’m a real estate broker in the New Orleans area. I own 3 real estate companies. We are always thinking of new ways to make a profit since hurricane Katrina has killed the business.

One day, my wife says, hot dogs.

We are not the type of people to “test the waters”. If we’re going to do something, we’re going to jump right in. We ordered the cart and decided to name it “Hot Dog Willie’s”. Willie is my 180 lb. Great Dane.

The pics attached are from the beginning of Island Aid in Grand Isle, a benefit concert for fishermen affected by B.P.

Island Aid had about 10,000 attendees, we profited $2500.00 in about 6 hours. I apologize for not sending more pictures, we got so busy, we didn’t have time to take any.

We have other events lined up with estimates of 60,000, 90,000 and 150,000 in the next two months.

Hot Dogs. Who would have guessed that?

Gary Lee
Owner, Hot Dog Willie’s

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Gary is living proof that you don’t have to quit your day job to get started in the hot dog biz. You can just work a couple of days a month if that’s all you have time for.

Would an extra $2500 a month change your life? Let me know in the comments…

-Steve

Click the pics for a larger version…

Hi Steve,

Its been awhile since I have sent you any thing, I thought I would let you know I am still in business season #2 and getting busier all the time.

Here are a couple pictures I thought you might enjoy.

One is my 1969 supply truck that I refinished this last winter. WOW it sure is nicer than dragging supply’s in & out of my pickup truck. Also what a great conversation piece. When I am set up at the local car show it draws in the customers.

I found the old truck setting out in the weeds in a small town not far from here. My wife about crapped when I pulled in the driveway!

My dad and I went to work on it in January & pulled it out of my garage the end March just in time for hot dog season.

Oh yea my wife loves it now.

The other pic, is just me set up at my Friday location the local court house lawn from 11am to 2pm.

Well I gotta go and keep on slinging dogs.

BUTLER’S HOT DOGS

Mike

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I love old cars and trucks almost as much as I love hot dogs. I’m diggin it’ Mike!

Congrats on the growth of your business my friend!

-Steve

click the pics for a larger version

Before…

After…

In honor of National Hot Dog Day (and in honor of gimmicky publicity stunts), the midtown east ice cream parlor Serendipity III  introduced a fancy new menu item today: the “Haute Dog.” These are the same people who brought us the $25,000 sundae and the budget-priced $1,000 sundae, resulting in a hilarious Stephen Colbert segment, during which he ordered the sundae and wondered, “If I gave you another thousand dollars, could I make someone poor watch me eat it?”

According to the press release, “Every year Americans consume on average 60 hot dogs a year. Hot dogs have become synonymous with summertime fun and Serendipity plans to dish a designer version of this iconic American food.” Ain’t that America. But as Serendipity’s owner puts it, here “the ‘haute dog’ is total glamour.” And it now holds the record for the most expensive hot dog in the world.

This version is 12 inches long and pure beef. It’s grilled in white truffle oil, placed in a salted pretzel bread bun toasted with white truffle butter, topped with medallions of duck foie gras with black truffles with side condiments of black truffle Dijon mustard, caramelized Vidalia onions and heirloom tomato Ketchup. All that can be yours for just $69, but you have to place your order 24 hours in advance to allow time for the “special ingredients” to be flown in fresh. Since we’re talking about hot dogs here, we’re not going to bother asking about those “special ingredients.”

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Like I always say, “Don’t ever compete on price. Offer an experience.”

-Steve

original article at Gothamist