Outside-The-Box Career Idea: Be A Hot Dog Vendor

Hot dogs are a simple food that requires very little in the way of preparation, is modest in cost, and is as American as apple pie.

Every ball park, county fair, and football stadium sells them. With a large captive customer base, serious money changes hands during these and many similar events.

Fun facts about hot dogs sold at baseball stadiums.

Here in Duluth Minnesota, there is a long-established hot dog vendor business selling under the name "The Original Coney Island." The largest portion of their business is generated from the sale of coney dogs, dressed with coney sauce, mustard and onions.

Many years back, I often picked up "5 coney dogs with everything" for lunch at a cost of about $2.50 it was an economical meal that came guaranteed with heartburn to carry me through the rest of the day.

Today, I'm more likely to order just two, but the tab will come to $3.50, indicating a healthy profit on a very small investment for the modern hot dog vendor.

Read one man's story about selling hot dogs through the recession.

The key to success in the vending market is to sell the very best hot dogs you can obtain.

Low quality hot dogs may save you a few cents when buying your inventory, but it will also eliminate any hope of returning customers.

Buying the best product will still have your investment at 50-cents or less per hot dog. With the going price for a hot dog at sporting events and such averaging between $2.00 to $2.50 each, you can see that the profit margin is huge.

See which type of hot dogs are popular in different parts of the country.

This hot dog cart manufacturing video will give you some idea of what goes into building a street vendor's cart:

Reasons To Become A Hot Dog Vendor

There are a number of business benefits to selling hot dogs:

Since they are a pre-cooked food item, licensing and Health Department regulations are much simpler.

If you limit your serving utensils to plastic throw-away items, you may be able to eliminate the need for commercially rated dishwashing facilities.

Inventory is readily available, so you don't have to keep a large quantity of product in storage to meet your needs.

Obviously, selling hot dogs isn't rocket science. Though to be successful, it does require you to be friendly and outgoing. After all, this is a business that involves selling to the public. The better your presentation, the more business you will generate.

Don't miss Fast Company's slideshow: The Business Of Selling Hot Dogs.

Here's a video of a two-man inside hot dog trailer concession. This type of set-up gives a nice professional appearance to your operation:

As with all food selling operations, you will need to have your business plan approved by the Health Department in your city before you purchase your equipment. They may have special requirements that might not be met if you buy an off-the-shelf vending cart.

The next time you see a busy hot dog operation, step back and watch. Keep track of how many customers make a purchase in 10 minutes time. Calculating that every sale means a profit of at least $1 to $2, you will quickly realize that as simple as this business is, it can also be quite lucrative.

Like in real estate, the key word is: location, location, location. Placing your hot dog concession in the right spot will guarantee a high level of traffic. Selling the best possible hot dogs will guarantee repeat customers. Drawing in that first new customer is completely up to you, it's all in the presentation.

More tips on selling hot dogs from The Hot Dog Professor.

Where To Buy Hot Dog Carts & Supplies

Hot dog concessions can be operated at a variety of different venues in a variety of different ways, including:

the familiar push-cart with a colorful umbrella

a concession trailer set up in a central location

a truck or van converted for the purpose of selling wieners and sausages