Michael Wood writes:
Steve,
I have a small comment to make. I am doing an event next week for the Relay for Life. I have informed the people that are running the event that I am going to give them 50% of everything I sell at the event. I have already talked to my tax lady but I have not received a reply back from her about a deduction. ( I’m really not worried about that because the same people that are helping with the event own the bank that I set up at weekly, plus they are just nice people).
My comment is: Do other Hotdoggers do these types of events. I know that everyone is out there working to make money but I think we should give back when we can. I think it would be nice to here from the others about how they give a little back to help others.
Michael S. Wood
Duggs Doggs
What say you dear readers? Tell us in the comments!
-Steve
Mike,
Doing Events for Charity are a great way to get your name out there. If you give 50% of your net and cover your costs, the amount you give will come back to you over again in new business. Depending on the tax bracket you are in, lets say 15%, a $100 donation will actually cost you $85.
If you are in the 33% bracket that same $100 will actually only cost you 65%. After giving the cash donation you can write off your costs, including your wages as Promotion or Advertising.
Be at your best for this is your time to shine. Have plenty of Business cards and Signage. Schmooz, and network yourself. Give out percentage Coupons, 5-10% so that you can Track how your Donated time and money benefited your business.–Giving til it Hurts is really not that Painfull–Good Luck and Thank You for your Generous Donation.
Whether they are or not doesn’t matter you’re setting a great example! My hat is off to you.
It is always good to give…I will be dona
I will be donating some profits to the local S.P.C.A. The seniors will also get a “Seniors discount”, and I also do a Toy run for the local Biker group
I offered to do a Relay For Life in our community and offered what I considered a fair donation per sale. Both parents had cancer and I do donate, but 50% of your proceeds$$$$$$With cost of product, permits,insurance, I think they should ask for 50% of your profit. I’m into this as a business, on top of that they are operating 24 hours and you would need hired help. And I’m not raising my prices to get my margin back. They need to rethink this.
Michael – Here is an idea or two.
I am involved with Special Olympics of Indiana – I plan on putting out a tip jar and donating a percentage to Special Olympics through our local chapter then announcing each month how much was was donated
Also I have done an event for a local charity at cost of supplies and write off the cost of supplies.
I agree with you; we need to give back to our communities that support us – daily.
I donate my tips to the Fisher House Foundation that supports wounded Vets and their families. I have that written on my tip jar, and people are always very kind and giving about it. Fisher House is a very upstanding organization, and they send you documentation at the end of the year as to how much you have donated for tax purposes.
I just started a new program this year where I will be working more closely with area nonprofits. They set fundraiser dates at my cart and I design a flyer for them to pass out. I give them a choice for me to set up at my normal location or somewhere they decide. When someone brings in a flyer I donate 10% of the sale to them or if they go over $1000 in total sales I donate 15% back to them. It’s an easy fundraiser for them. I do all the work on site but they do all the leg work passing out the flyers that really get the word out to people that might not know about my cart.
Plain and simply … It’s nice to be nice and if the only reward you reap from your act of kindness is the self satisfaction of knowing that you contributed to a good cause … well, so be it. My hat’s off to Duggs Dogs.
I love the idea of giving back to our communities! I also appreciate all the ideas from your comments. I’m in the process of building my EZ Built Cart and am REALLY excited to get HippieDogs off the ground (provided I pass inspection). Good luck to you and to all the other Doggers!
Hi..
Thats great I’m doing a 100% percent to my daughter Brownies.
I hope of landing some more sites.
We had sites that we where promised to but did not get..
My first job is a store opening in April.
Right now I have 5000.00 in this with paper work & cart.
And have not ssold anything yet..
I know everything takes time
David
It is always good to help someone else. We do some fall and spring festivals for local schools. They ask us to come and serve food because they have so much other things going on. We always donate at least 10% of gross proceeds. 10% gives them some money and still lets you make some profit. And yes, it does give you public relations that you cannot get in advertising.
We have done 2 events where we donated a part of the net one was a vetinam vets motor cycle convention the other was a humane center fund raiser. Sold hot dogs for 2.50 50% is 1.25 leaving 1.25 cost of dog bun condiments about .60 leaving .65 profit sold 200 dogs made 130.00 plus great community realations what could be better. The organations were really grateful for our work.
Jim & Kay
THE GREAT AMERICAN DAWG WAGON
Fundraisers are a great way to give back. I have worked with church groups, the Lions Club, and local schools to help raise funds for their causes. I agree with Roger. It’s not about us as business people, it’s about contributing to our community. Besides, they contribute to us one dog at a time.
Great way to get your name out and feel good at the same time . 50% is fare. All Tips from my hot dog stand goes to buying feed for local horse folks that aren’t doing so well in the recession. Some tips are bigger when they find this out especially rodeos.
It is a good and noble thing to do. Always check with your “bean-counter” to see what is the best way to donate anything. A lot of it depends on how your business is structured. Sometimes giving an amount personally and leaving the business out of it is the best way. At other times, it might be best to have the business donate directly. A lot of it has to do with whether or not you are “profitable” in the eyes of the I.R.S.
I wish you continued success and generosity!
Chuck
It all way good to give back to the community it come back to you in some way bigger. (- .-)
We volunteered to do an event “Ride For The Cure”at a ranch where we board our horses. One of the trainers there is a cancer survivor 3x! We chose not to sell, but serve them free of cost, so the monies could be given directly to the American Cancer Society. We took the tax deduction as payment instead. We probably did a few less than 50 dogs as the ranch supplied the burgers. It was early for us (our first year) and the cost was a hit in the pocket book, but the cause we felt was more important. Free advertisement-priceless
Once a month I give 50% of my net to the Elks National Foundation. Vets get a 20% discount everyday. It all comes back 10 fold.
You should look at this situation in 2 ways; first, doing any high volume event is good for marketing your business to the public. A Relay For Life event is perfect since they usually last over 24 hours in most cities. The other thing to consider is that you are using the event for marketing your business, so YES you can get a deduction on your taxes if you have proof that you used the event as a means of marketing your business. Make sure that you get a receipt for the amount of money you give to the event. This is the number that should be deducted on your taxes.
On a personal note though – I enjoy the money way too much to give it away! It is for a good cause though… my wife would make me give them at least 50% too, so go for it!
Mike Croeny
Duggs doggs, sounds good to me!!
I always give away hot dogs to people downtown who are broke and hungry. I ask them if they are hungry…I usually get “yes but I have no money”. They get a hot dog. One day a well dressed older ladly said she had rushed out of her house without eating and was happy that I was selling hot dogs. I gave her a dog as she realized she had rushed out without her wallet. I told her to have the hot dog and not to worry about it, that I give away hot dogs all the time to people.
Later that day she stopped by in her shiny new Lexus and put $100. in my apron. Told me to keep doing what I am doing. And I am. SPCA function coming up soon. Can’t wait.
Lucky
Thanks for everyones comments, it made me feel great to here that other “hotdogers” have the same ideas that I have. In 55 years I have learned one thing, you can’t take it with you so enjoy it while you can. I had a great time at the event, gave them a little money for their cause, got my name out in the community and got a tax deduction.
Being a retired “US Army Vet” with two combat tours, I think I will get me a tip jar and also give that money to Fisher House. That was a great idea Main Jack, thank you.
As long as I can enjoy selling my doggs and have fun at this I will continue.
Michael S. Wood
Duggs Doggs
duggsdoggs@yahoo.com
ps THANKS STEVE
Good on you Duggs Doggs. Keep shinin’!!
Michael,
Thank you for supporting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life!!!! I worked for ACS for the last 6 years before I was laid off due to the economy. I then started my new hot dog venture in the community and am participating in the Relay For Life’s in Brevard County to give back. It is one of the best organizations that truly makes a difference. Thanks for doing your part to donate!!! If anything you will know at the end of the day you made a difference in a cancer patients life and that my friend is something truly admirable. Best wishes on your ventures.
Warmly,
Darlene
Duggs Doggs…
You being a two-time, combat tour vet; I want to say “THANK YOU” for what you did…my family and I sleep at night because of what you’ve done.
Keep up the great work and best of luck to you and your business.
Buddy-
I donate 15% of everything I sell to the Aurora Fossil Museum, this gives me a spot to setup on the week ends when there is a large crowd of visitors. I have also done a Chamber of Commerce function where I gave 50% this helped get people in the community to try my hot dogs so helps me in the long run. I have also setup at the local college at night and donated 15% off the top back to them, again presented me a location that no one else worked. Good luck.
were to go and get a hot dog car we are in memphis tn will drive up to 500 miles for the right cart and price thanks tony
Tony,
Ben’s Carts is just on the other side of Tennessee from you. Give him a call.
-Steve
Yep, the Big dog with the grill is what i use, from Ben’s Carts. I have enjoyed it beyond understanding. Ask as many questions about the cart as you can, knowledge is a great thing.
Michael
We are involved in this large and very worth while arena. As a firefighter our donations are oriented towards fire loss and burn victoms. The giving has always gone bothe ways…people dont forget
Mitch
Hi
I have been watching the board for a few weeks now.I have got alot of useful info from here.
I am not set up yet just waiting on paperwork/red tape. Mabe someone can help me .Where do u get all the funny hotdog logos?
Hey Wacky,
Try istockphoto.com
Hey thanks I’m Trish
Hey everyone, our cart arrived here in Alaska!!!!!! All paper work is done and the location finalized today. Salvation Army Store approved our location, minimal rent and donation. 3 days a week and Special sale days, at this point. Also one of the Tire stores for stud change out. So as soon as the SNOW is almost gone we will be fired up and ready.
Steve, thanks for all that you have done and the info you have shared, it has been amazingly easy to get this started. Everything you advised we have done and it has been so easy with the paper work and the health department and they are NOW our new best friends and they are excited about our cart. They love it!
We’ll keep ya’ll posted, we’re doing Buffalo Dogs too! Yumm’o!
I do a Big event in the Detroit area every August.
I partner with The Optomist Club. (Charitable group thats supports Children) This is a huge event for one day. 2-3 million people. I give the club 35% net. (after product and inspection permit are purchased.) In return, they do not have to pay for a location (being charitable) which is @ 1500.00 and they supply me with 2 volunteers every 2 hours to work. This is about a fifteen hour day. Does Relay for Life charge you a sponsor fee?
Not only do I do events with Foster kids programs or the United Way programs but it never fail there’s always a kid or two that just stands there and looks well you know he has to eat also so he does at
Bayoudawgs DogHouse
I love it!