Steve Ead is up and running! He writes:
Hello Steve,
My E-Z Built cart is built and inspected by the health department. It passed with out any problems. I am just putting the finishing touches on the menu and working out the pricing. The last thing will be the website.
I have my first hot dog outing this Wednesday night for a local church youth group to get some practice. Our township has just opened up the park system which includes 20 parks to mobile vendors.
A little about me then. I am a chemical engineer, I have worked in technical sales for the past ten years. After being let go two times during this recession I am going to set out on my own with my own mobile vending business. I have been layed off 5 months this go around, still interviewing but this will take away some of the fear of being with out regular employment.
I also plan to have my children work on the cart with me so that I can give them a little education in business.
About the cart. The health department required three sinks and a separate hand washing sink. Hot water was also required. I decided to add dual LP tanks in the front which made a more sturdy wheel necessary.
I am running the grill off of one propane tank and the L5 water heater and the burners off of the other. I also put a hot water spicket right next to the pans to fill them and also decided to put my water switch there as well.
Some of my biggest fears through the process. Going into this I thought the health department was going to be a bear, but they where sweet hearts and even told me the ins and outs of what they where looking for.
I met with the chief sanitarian at the out set and with your plans in hand he told me I really did my home work before my visit compared to the yo yo’s he usually sees.
At the final inspection it went extremely smooth and they commented that the cart was constructed and designed really well compared to what they usually see.
The name, “The Woodlands Mobile Vending Company”. I know it is long but I am thinking hot dogs, smoked sausage, pretzels, tamales, hamburgers, chicken patties can all be purchased through my local Sam’s club and all fully cooked before I purchase them. So I did not want to limit my self by calling it “Steve’s Dogs”.
I purchased your “Hot Dog Biz 101” book and CD’s and also the EZ cart instructions. I think they have served as good tools. Wish me Blessings and favor as I set out on this adventure.
I have included a few pictures of the cart for all of our hot dogger brothers and sisters. I hope my story helps some one make the decision to get into business for themselves.
I knew that I wanted to get into business for my self, I just did not know what to do or what business to get into, I know I can sell a hot dog. Who knows what else this will lead to.
Sincerely,
Steven Ead
Owner
The Woodlands Mobile Vending Company
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Beautiful job Steve!I still remember the feeling of selling my very first hot dog from a cart I built myself. I about burst my shirt buttons with pride. Nothing compares to it.
I wish you all the luck in the world, hot dog brother. Let’s hear it for Steve in the comments people!
-Steve
Update: Pics from Steve’s first night out…
Hello Steve,
I know you are publishing the article in the morning but I thought I would send you these photos from the first night out with the cart. It was a complete success. The first picture is of my daughter and I, she just wanted to help her Dad sell dogs on the first night out. That grill was a great addition, precooked burgers and chicken breast does not flame up and the steamer keeps them perfect until they are ready to be served. All in all a great first outing, thanks again for the tools you provided to build this cart and get an understanding of this business opportunity.
Steve Ead
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You two look very happy. I love it! My daughters loved coming out to see me at King Weenie Hot Dogs before I sold it. They even made up a King Weenie theme song! A hot dog cart business is a great opportunity to work, learn, and play together as a family. Awesome stuff Mr. Ead!
-Steve
Awesome looking cart. Colors perfect. Nice accessories.Congratulations on your first cart, may the lord give you financial success. Chris
Sweet looking cart! Love the Mods!
Go get em Woodlands!
Congratulation. Your cart really looks good and professional. Would you be able to disclose how much time and money it took you after getting the plans.
Good Luck
Congrats Steve!
I like the soap dispenser above the hand sink.
Best to you,
Cindy
Nice going Steve best of luck in the dog bussiness. I hope to join you soon.
GO Steve! Hot Dog Bro!
Great looking cart, really like the setup. You may want to take it one step at a time. Remember you have a hotdog cart, you can add things but take your time, one step at a time. Sams does sell a lot of items but they have the room and the money… Selling my first hotdog only compaired to the day I got my wife of 30 years to cut the grass while I watched, some things you will always remember forever. Good luck with your cart and make it fun. Starting my second year and its has been a blast.
Duggs Doggs
Good!! Good!!
Michael S.Wood
Best of luck to you! Your cart is beautiful. I am starting my Sue-Bob Dogs of Goldsboro (NC) on Monday the 18th of October, outside our courthouse. I too lost my job. Good luck to the both of us, and God Bless.
The cart looks fantastic! What I really like the most is your idea to teach your children about business. That will bring them many rewards later.
The best of good fortune to you.
Great looking cart! I love the sinks and the grill on the side! A unique variety in a cart is a real catcher. I had to experiment with a few things before I found what the crowd really wanted. I also found that a large menu board rather than a printed sign caught their attention and boosted sales of the other goodies I offered. Otherwise, they just thought “hotdogs” and I didn’t sell much of anything else I had. Find something unique to sell that no one else has on their carts. My little catcher in this area is pulled pork. No other carts offer it yet and it’s popular in this area, but here in CT, tastes vary widely from town to town.
Good advise Michael! Success to you Steve in your newest adventure. I hope to join you on the trail next year. I liked the look of your setup as well. Very inviting to customers. Have a blast, the money will follow, you have made an investment in your whole families future, go have fun now!
Very nice! I love it! Good Luck and always Have Fun! Sell ’em all! Remember the lessons that our fearless leader has shown us. And if you have never considered mowatching you should look into it.
Dugg? do you think we have a new mowatcher as well as a new dogger? Doesn’t get any better then that! it’s our second year here too. It is exciting. I remember that first dog like it was yesterday. It was a great moment. Have fun Steve and welcome to the rank of dogger!
Steven,
Run don’t walk to your computer and get your web site if you plan on having one. There are companies out there that pray on new companies as they file for licensing and lock up their name wanting money to use it and they do it for pennies and you pay $$$.
My first step while building my cart that I call an event cart, was to keep testing website names until I found one that I liked with and open website name. Even though I have not started developing hogsdogsexpress.com while I am working on my inspection paper work it is locked in and I own it. Within days you may find your name for your website is not available but available for sale.
I now have all the time I need to come back and develop my hogsdogsexpress.com website and will start on it soon. If you are looking for a good company to use I used fatcow.com. They have all the tools needed and however far you decide to take your online services they can help you.
Just like I like my hot dogs from the little guy down on a street corner and not the fast food crap you get at your fast drive through mega chain, I used someone that I knew would not pull tricks and they would own my site if I went somewhere else for service.
Wesley the Hot Dog IT guy
Pradeep,
It took me one month solid to build this cart, some nights I stayed out in the garage until 2 A.M. building. It cost me right at $2900 to build this set up but that includes things like the business name letttering, trailer hitch for my van, cart umbrella, S.S. grill, 10 gallon RV waste water tank, dual LP holder, automatic change over for LP gas, $200 in pans, 3 GPM pump, 4 sinks, water spicket to fill pans, spare tire, upgraded front wheel, larger cooler – These are all things I added to improve the functionality of the cart.
With business liscenses and insurance to start this up from scratch I think you are looking at 4K. I have calculated monthly costs for business insurance for both liability insurance for my vehicle, general business liability 1MM, township permit, yearly health dept permit to run at $200/month. A whole lot cheaper than paying rent.
Great looking cart. How big is your fresh water and waste water tank?
Jerry
Tasty Dogs
Looks like a great great job you done,You by all means will be a great success on that hot dog cart.All the best.
Great job Steve, the cart looks great and we had the same sink requirement you had, but our health department was also very helpful to us so it worked out okay.
Your kids will have a blast helping dad, so now go out and have some fun. Oh yea forgot; make some money too!
Just some clarification on start up costs.
Steve Ead added a lot of equipment to his E-Z Built cart but the basic cart can be built for under $800 fully equipped with water heater and pump, and one sink.
Business insurance can be gotten for under $500 per year (shoot me an email for my source). Permits vary wildly from location to location. My city charged me $25 per year and the county wanted an additional $35 per year.
Depending on your local fees you can get a hot dog cart business off the ground for about $1500, then add extra equipment and what ever else your heart desires from your cash flow.
-Steve
Wow Just like a engineer to come up with new additions to the cart. LOL Love what you did Steve, Best of wishes to your family and the success of your new adventure. I love all the pics, and it is truly an inspiration to everyone!
Wesley is right about getting your name.com secured. I recommend GoDaddy.com and do a search you can get your email and .com for very cheap and then you own it. Rock those Dogs!!
Hi Steve,
Could I get your insurance connection please? I called my insurance guy and he said around $1,500 (loose est.) for the year, which I figured was high for $1Mil liab ins.
Thanks,
Brian
Steve, that is a great looking rig! I bet that by your first year, you will be doing gigs that you never thought of, that will fortuitously fall in your lap…a year ago, I was wondering why the catering part of this hadn’t happened in spite of my promotions, but due to word of mouth, nearly every weekend this summer has had me booked for parties, wakes, etc…
I no longer bother with gigs that are marginal…my entire strategy has changed 180 degrees…I can make a good living working 2 nights a week…through Fall, I have 4 lucrative gigs a week, one for and with the city and one for the science museum.
You may discover, as I have, that you never had so much fun working…wish I had thought about this 10 years ago!! Best wishes!
Thank You Wesley Croon,
I went ahead and bought the .com domain name now as you advised so I can have it for when I start the web site in the next month or so.
Some one asked the question about the waste water and fresh water tanks. My fresh water tank is six gallons and the waste water tank is ten gallons. My local County Health Department requires a waste water tank that is 50% larger than the fresh water tank. I also arranged with a local RV park to dump my waste water for $10.00 per dump.
Best of luck and times with you your. New business venture and enjoying the business with your children. Will S.
Great job!!!!!! much good fortune !!!!! question for steve: does the three sinks satisfy the need for commissaryservice? Thanks
One last thing: Training your wife to cut the grass is priceless.
Success is Soooooo Sweet
Steve,
Great job! Best of luck to you.
I’m looking on starting my own up in spring 2010. I am curious as to where you got your grilling unit. Thanks!
Ken
You did Awesome and you’ll need the kids a lot! My six year old daughter made me buy her a hot dog costume that she wears about 30 min per hour and it really has doubled my sales! If it’s cold there, she may stay in it a little longer. Ha/Ha.. Good luck and God bless you and yours, Big Momma
Sounds like we got a new bunch of Mowatchers coming up. I love it!
-Steve
Brian,
Email me for the insurance info.
-Steve
Steven,
I’d also sign up with Facebook….You can use it to post your daily locations, see what other Dog slingers are doing, etc….alot of those above are on F/B….Check it out….
WOW STEVE!! Great looking cart! I wish my HD would let me sell chicken… Looks like you are on your way to a VERY profitable new business. God’s blessings to you and yours. Steve does have the link to a cheaper insurance..Thanks Steve.
Great Cart as far as insurance I have mine with State Farm 1,000,000 Lialibity 2,000,000 aggreate. Also insures my cart for 5,000 and covers me up to 500.00 if I am robbed. all for about 225.00 a year
Jim & Kay
cart looks fantastic!!!! Good Luck Woodlands….