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.
Please comment at the end!
-Steve
Great article, Steve. I had an event yesterday that was just horrible! I was told that I was to be the only hot dog/nacho vendor at the event, and based on that, I paid a premium for the spot. Guess who set up right next to me?? Thats right, Mister Shake, in a big diesel truck that he had to run to keep his machines running, and he was selling nachos! Bad enough that there was a diesel truck spewing fumes all over the other vendors for 7 hours, but this guy is selling what I paid a premium to vend! If that wasn’t bad enough, my water tank line popped loose and we couldn’t get it back on and the Health Dept Inspector was headed to our booth for our inspection, which required running water!! (We were out of our county) We managed to get past that but, whew, what a day. And on top of it, we didn’t make much money.
Your article was very timely for me and it made me cry. (in a good way)
I am going to write “Screw the RED LIGHTS” on my cart where I can see it.
Thanks, Steve, I really need that!
Wanda “Screw the red lights” Swan, Dixie Kitchen.
Steve, you are right on. I’d be more concern if someone wasn’t a little nervous starting out with their hot dog business. But, the rewards will be multiplied several times. Will you have bad days? You bet you will but stay the course. After you have a real good day, you’ll say to yourself, “What was I so nervous about?” I’m living proof that if I can do it, ANYONE can do it.
Wanda “Screw the red lights” Swan – I love it!
Self employment (and life) is full of highs and lows. That’s what makes it interesting.
I would shrivel up and die if I had to live life under florescent lights with a “boss” telling me when I can come and go.
Been there, done that, got the $17 Christmas bonus…after taxes…seriously.
-Steve
I did it! I purchased my FIRST cart last Friday. I pick it up this weekend! I can’t wait to get started and yes, I’m a little nervous. This is my first venture into the food business. I want to thank you Steve for your blog without it I don’t know if I would have taken the plunge!
come on people , your talking about investing roughly $1000.00 for your future . if you can’t pull the trigger on that maybe you should stay in that cubicle for the next 25 years
I am one of those people that wants to do everything “by the book” and I live in Connecticut that has a regulation (and fee) for everything. At the same time I love the freedom that I see in a hot dog cart. I am taking the QFO test in October and will buy my cart in the Spring. I think it is time to say “Screw The Red Lights!”
Great article Steve … for a long time my wife and I talked about having a food concession at fairs and festivals … and for a long time, all we did was talk about and read books about different types of business. Well, this year we stopped procrastinating and made the big leap. We decided to keep it as a weekend business only and stick with 1 or 2 day special events at first with an eye toward the future when, with more experiences, do the bigger festivals. It has been a great experience and we love it … we are fortunate to have come up with a formula that gets our foot in the door of most events that we pursue (including some that said they were no longer taking applications).
For those sitting on the fence … yes, be afraid, it is scary … but do your homework and move forward … with proper planning you can succeed … plus, you will find that it’s not really all that difficult. I can say that a lot of my inspiration did come from Steve’s series of books which were honest, straight forward and loaded with the “right” information …
Lastly, for those just starting out and looking to get into the “bigger” events, you really need to “glitz” up your presentation and present a package to the promoter that will make their mouth water. A unique name, a unique product (is a hotdog really just a hotdog?), an eye catching booth display and an appealing website all helps. Space at events is usually limited and believe it or not, some promoters do actually limit the number of vendors that sell a particular product … so, if you are one of 10 offering the same product you need to do something that will make you stand out from the rest … it works!
In response to Michael.. it’s just a wee bit more than 1000 dollars invested in your future. You are also failing to take into account that a lot of the poeople with reservations are barely eeking by on what they are pulling in as it is. To invest money which many of us don’t have to spare on a risky venture is more than a scary proposition. There are many people that are living literally paycheck to paycheck and one false move means going into collections on big money items such as a house or car. Don’t be so flippant about peoples concerns.
Dale,
Listen up…
Close your eyes, take a deep cleansing breath…let it out s-l-o-w-l-y, now go to your happy place. When I count to three I will snap my fingers. When you hear me snap my fingers you will immediately get out your credit card, go online and purchase “Carts of Cash”. When it arrives you will read it from cover to cover.
You will then build or buy a hot dog cart. When you hear me snap my fingers again you’ll wake up and you will already be a successful hot dog vendor. If after all of that you are still scared, just drop Steve a note, because he is the greatest “Rocket Surgeon” in the business.
“Screw The Red Lights?” Like I always say “what lights”? “Sorry, I was going too fast to see the lights”
Dale if you don’t do this now, right now, you may never do it. And that would be way worse than any fear or discomfort you are presently feeling.
Good Luck Dale. Only you can take the first step.
Steve, thanks for the article. It’s a good to re-address fears.
@Jason. That is a very fitting response. THANK YOU!!! This is not a cry-baby story but I STILL dont’ have my cart. Iam having to buy it piece by piece (because I will be using Steve’s plans) as we can afford it. As it is, we have to juggle to keep the bills paid. EVERY DAY I dream of having my cart. Am I scared? You bet but I can’t wait to be able to work thru the 1st day jitters. I know once the bugs are worked out, it will only get better.
To those paralyzed, follow your dreams!
Also keep in mind that this is a business that you can start “on the side”. You don’t have to quit your day job! Just do something four days a month.
Birthday parties, catering, store openings, fairs, festivals, a permanent Saturday gig, whatever.
What would you do with an extra $1000 cash every month?
-Steve
OK … the question becomes … SHOULD I? or SHOULDN’T I? … like I said in my earlier post … do your homework!
Do you have a good solid business plan? … this is your roadmap to potential success. It’s a living document that changes with every aspect of your progress …
Do you have a good location (location, location, location) … you can work your tail off preping for a lot of events and go home very disappointed …
I’ve seen too many hotdog carts for sale due to “health reason” (mama says if I don’t get rid of it she will kill me) … that’s generally because someone jumped in without knowing fully what they were getting into.
Great bits of information being shared here and most are spot on. As Steve pointed out, being a little scared is a natural reaction. And it can be healthy as well.
If you want to be realistic, we are talking about approximately $3,000.00 to kick off in style. This is cart, inventory, maybe a canopy and some working capital. I’m coming in higher than what others tell you and if you can do it for less, great.
If you are thinking about this type of business you probably have thought about a restaurant. Where can you get into the food service business with a $3K investment? What business can you start and at least earn your investment back the first year working part time?
Try just doing lunch on weekends and tryout a few spots. People come to my cart in this small town the first time because they have never been to one before, or for nostalgic purposes. One time and I have them hooked.
Now I’m not Jack, I’m the hot dog guy that sees just green lights.
to all
I think having the jitters if you will is a good thing it just helps you double check every thing your doing . it does get easier after awhile. But you will have bad days & you will have a lot more great days . so I always say, KEEP ON KEEPING ON
mike
Good article Steve. I retired (disabled) a yr and a half ago….bought your book…also bought a cart..should deliver this week (hopefully)…I cant wait to get out there and start! Like W. Clement Stone said “If you have nothing to lose
by trying and everthing to gain if successful, by all means try”. He is 100% right. Like you say if you work for someone else, in order to make a profit they have to pay you less money than what you generate for them. Work for yourself and keep mnore of the cash. Thanks for a great course!!
Started this year (April, 2010) – I’m living my dream – Everyday is so different – some days you will worry – then others you will sling just as fast as you can and smile.
I am smiling more than worring, just four months into my new adventure.
Do not kid yourself – it is alot of work but it is MY work!!!!!
Already negotiating a second location for Dogs on the Run within the park for next season.
My point: I could not agree more with Roger and Steve DO YOUR HOMEWORK and DO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOUR SMALL FAILURES, besides it would be boring if everything went smooth all the time.
FYI: Just started accepting Debit/Credit Cards sales went up 13% last week alone.
Have Fun!
With Steves Book and this website you have all the help you need. If you can boil water you can sell hot dogs.
My biggest problem was the Texas H.D. wanting me to have refridgeration…no ice chest. The choice was a freezer or fridge plus power. With prayer and research I found this website http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23350
and purchased a 86 QT (120CAN) portable chest fridge/freezer 120vac/12vdc. It can be set from 50 deg. to -8 deg. How cool is that (joke).
My total cart and certificates will be about $2500. HOWEVER, With that first sale I believe it all becomes tax deductable. Am I right???
Reading motivational books help a lot, such as Zig Ziglar’s “Over The Top” or “The Power of Positive Thinking” that you can download for free here.
http://www.guideposts.org/norman-vincent-peale
A Quote from the book:
So to overcome your obstacles and live the “I don’t believe in defeat” philosophy,
cultivate a positive-idea pattern. What we do with obstacles is directly determined by
our mental attitude. Most of our obstacles are mental in character.
“Ah,” you may object, “mine are not mental, mine are real.” Perhaps so, but your attitude
toward them is mental. What you think about your obstacles largely determines what
you do about them. Form the mental attitude that you cannot remove an obstacle and you
will not remove it.
But when your mind becomes convinced that you can do something
about difficulties, astonishing results will begin to happen. All of a sudden you discover
that you have the power you would never acknowledge.
We only go thru life once, so live it to the fullest.
J.D.
Ya it’s scary. Starting anything new is. But for myself I knew I couldn’t work for anyone else anymore and for that matter in this economy keep a good job. It takes alot of hard work but it’s more than worth it. I’ve had some bad days but I’ve had days where I had people lined up ten deep. It’s like any business it takes time to ramp up. It can be done depending on your situation for fairly cheap depending on your circumstances. Steve can show anyone how this is done. Take a chance on life and don’t be tied to someone else dictating to when u can take a vacation, go to the bathroom etc. If life is a dog eat it up!
jason , don’t mean to be flippant or disrespectful in any way, all i’m saying is you can’t sit there forever, by the time you make a decision you’ll be an old man saying “gee i shoulda done something ” cindy , you are a perfect example , you have made the choice to move forward , i absolutely love what your doing . little by little as you can afford it , good luck !! if anybody out there is looking for a guarantee in business , you won’t find it , it doesn’t exist. but i will say this , with all the info that steve puts out , it’s about as close as you can get to a guarantee
Yeah, starting a new business of your own is scary, and if anyone should have been scared, it was me. Unemployed for nearly 2 years, benefits running out, no health insurance and..WHAT? TAKE OUT A LOAN TO START A BUSINESS??????? AM I CRAZY?
Best thing I ever did. I’m still learning, but doing as well and I’d hoped. I live in CT too and if anyone can get a place and the licenses to do it here and make a go of it, anyone can! My total investment including all insurances, permits, education in food service, a brand new cart with extras and my first batch of inventory was under $7000 and I’ve made that back already just since April.
I say go for it, hang out here, get everything Steve has to help you and you can’t lose. I hear people say every day; “You don’t lose money on a hot dog cart.”
1st steve I love the screw the red lights, I say screw them all, Cindy I ahd problems to, it was not easy for me, I lost everything I owned, I ended up selling and auctioning off what I did not need in order to get my cart going, now I am making carts, I am working my cart and I make money every day, even thou my wife calls me a POLL DANCER, get it, all the singles
I had Steve’s advise for a better part of a year. I still go to him when I am in a pinch. The only red lights are the ones you allow to stop you. most are just bumps in the road. There is a desire to do it or not do it. The only thing that can hold us down is ourselves. Doubt and fear are excuses to do nothing. If you already know that you are on a dead end course with your current situation what is there to stop you? (I did this on a shoestring budget) Desire trumps fear every time, if you are serious about it.
Steve- Motivation is a great intimidator….so is being laid off, as I was last week. So instead of moping, and after weeks of research and procrastination, my new BIG DOG is being delivered tomorrow- and I took the QFO test this afternoon- Yes, Connecticut has their hand out at every stop, but so what-between the health dept, towns, registration, it will be all worth it! I hope to be selling within a week- will keep you posted
Rob “The Doggie Daddy”
Dale, find yourself a nice corner downtown, the courthouse is a great lunch spot. Get that corner locked it and then get your cart out there.
If you go out everyday you can for lunch I can promise you that your business will take off.
Build it and they will come…..
Have a lucky one!
As Zig Ziglar said…FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real.
Buddy-
just my 2 cents, for those who are afraid to start up, try doing a small local fest, most will charge you about 50 bucks and all you would really need is a grill, tent and a table, then you will really know for sure if this business is for you, this is how I got started and I knew this was for me and my father in law who was also interested in getting started, immediately knew this was not for him, hey different strokes for different folks. Some people can sit in a cubicle all day and not mind, me on the other hand I would have to plead insanity. All I’m saying if you are not sure, just dont sit around and regret it later, just go for it on a smaller scale. Try craigslist.org, there are always bargains on hot dog carts out there. Also crazedlist.org will give you access to whatever your searching all over the country.
HEY FOLKS–this is my 3 cents worth–been reading the comments of all these wonderful folks that write in–here is what i know from 14 years vending food–GO FOR IT–i started with $75.00 bought a popup camper,built it into a vending trailer to sell hot dogs–popcorn–sno-balls–now i own a 18ft concession trailer that i use at fairs and festivals–not just that i have a very busy shop building hot dog carts–and concession trailers for the vending public–PLEASE DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND i am not bragging i am just making a statement and trying to easy some of the folks mind that is maybe scared to take the big step–i look at this business that everyone must eat everyday–so get your b##t in gear and do it–why do you want to work for someone else and let them get the profits–why not you getting the C.A.S.H.–folks again i am not bragging i am only trying to show you that it can be done–BUT YOU NEED TO START –SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FER–
hello steve, i have been reading ur site for a few weeks now and yes fear, i currently have a food concession we do part time to make extra money and really love doing it , and been doing it for 3 years now , and have had some successes and some failures , ouch the bad spots really hurt , i visted the hotdog cart idea about 7 or 8 yrs ago and backed away from it because of fear , since then i have not gotten a single pay raise at work in 8 yrs, insurance goes up every year and the cost of living goes up , but my paycheck doesnt , so i started revisting the idea sometime back,
i know i have the know how , i already do food concessions at festivals and events part time , its just getting out there and doing it, i keep thinking ot myself, self, u only have 2 house payments left, the kids are old enuf to help and now is the time to do it ,
so i have a extra trailer sitting in my back yard that would be perfect to build one on , its a 4x 8 and yea its a big cart , but think of the possibilites, 4 sinks , bread boxes, steam table and a flat grill to grill onions and peppers , make it side service with a nice counter on the other side with condiments and a cooler for drinks, here is the best part, i have everything i need to do it , materials, steam pans, coolers,propane tanks, burners, and my brother works a sheet metal shop who could make a steam table at cost , its just getting out there and doing it, thanks for the article
Anyone looking for D/C powered refrigeration for their cart – check out this web site
TruckFridge.com or call 502-863-4536
This might help those with fear.My wife and i were over the road truck drivers,owned our on truck and one day just got sick of never doing good enough for someone,We started checking into concession trailers couldn’t afford those,so we checked into hot dog carts.As months went on we got Steve’s book,then purchased our cart,we knew nothing but what we read and we went for the gusto,Jumped into high water without even swimming trunks on,Was it a bit of fear at first?yes! but we decided it’s now or never.As it went on (mind you we live in south Arkansas where there is No!major city) The businesses here would not let us set up in front because all or most of them leased the buildings,needless to say we got a spot in a closed down gas station,started setting up there,things were going ok but the thing next was no foot traffic.Whether than getting discouraged and giving up we started taking one of our days off to do nothing but advertise,wrote on a blank piece of paper our location,our menu,and the days we set up,went and got copies (and had to pay for those) began putting them on just about every car window we came in contact with.Then we printed out a menu and went and passed them to every business we could..Well rough as you can see! but we now have a very good name and about 90% of our customers are repeats.We are doing fine with it and well pleased that we did jump out pass that fear with no regrets whatsoever.Not too bad for a couple of high school dropouts right?It’s when we question what it is we want to do too many times is when we never accomplish our goals in life..Thanks Steve for your awesome book..
In response to “Having a Bad day. It happens.
I have been a Vendor ( not Hot Dogs) for 15 years at State Fairs, Boat Shows, RV Shows etc. I built my company up to 32 Independant Dealers at one point but have purposely started closing it down to only me now that I am getting older and sorta retired for the second time. I am now getting into the Hot Dog Biz as I know with total certainty on how successful it can be.
I’m an ol’ Chicago Boy who summers in Chicago and winters in Florida with my current biz. I know how to find locations, deal with the license people. (I used to build restaurants [Starbucks etc] for a living in another lifetime so it seems)
The whole point here is to get out there, give it a go. Seems like there a whole bunch of people like Steve willing to help you along.
If doing a Fair or venue of this type, you need to ask questions: How many other Vendors sell Hot Dogs? Where are they in relation to me? Who will be next to me? What are the hours?
You get the idea. I have in the past gone to a Fair etc I wanted to sell at and walked the grounds in preparation for the next year.
To keep things simple, just do a “roadside” location. Read all the stories from Steve. You’ll get lots of ideas and help.
Good luck and Prosperity to all of you entrepreneurs out there!
Best,
Ken
PS DON’T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAMS AND HOPE FOR YOUR FUTURE.
Those are some really good comments. I know I’m scared but after reading articles and viewing these carts and menus, I think I’ll be ok when I do start. What’s wrong with fear? I work in a prison and get scared daily!!
Have been out of town for awhile, so I just logged on. I have been vending for 7+ yeras.
It was scary at first, as is, any new adventure. I decided that I would do everything by the book, but there was no BOOK! (before Steve’s)
I enrolled in the Certified Food Managers course thru the health Dept. Therefore, whenever the Sanitarians came to inspect, they already knew I wanted to do everything correctly. After the first inspection it was a piece of cake. Give yourself ample time to set up. Running late or cutting yourself short, will cause you stress. That’s not how you want to start your day.
Realize, that you are going to have good and not so good venues. The most important thing is to keep an accurate log. (Trust me you will not remember everything from one year to the next). Don’t be self defeating, if you think you can do it, you can! 2nd ,on the side of my cart I have attached a “clear” pocket, in which to display my business license.( Have had local patrolmen ask to see it.) I also display the inspection copy below it. Good luck!