MyConcessionBusiness.com

Finding a Mentor in the Concession Business

Finding a mentor in the concession business is actually simpler than in other businesses, for the most part, because concession entrepreneurs have all been where you are and once too had the dream to become self-employed. You will find that most people either currently in the business or retired from the concession business are good-hearted individuals and as long as you are not trying to to use their knowledge to take their business away, they genuinely want to help.

So, how do you find the right one? That depends on how selective that you are. Most governments will offer mentoring for small businesses. Quite often, they will offer entrepreneurs free workshops and mentoring from successful retirees. There are also professional organizations that offer mentoring programs.

Direct Personal Contact

Finding a mentor in the concession business is most commonly done by finding someone in the business on your own. An easy way to do this is to go to a fair or a festival and find a busy business. After closing or during a slow period, ask if the owner would mind if you set up an appointment to speak with them for a half hour or so one day or if they can recommend any good mentoring organizations in the area. There is a good chance that they will be flattered and happy to talk with you and possibly be your mentor or at least point you in the right direction of finding one.

Choosing From Several Mentors

If you are choosing a mentor from several choices, you need to decide which one is right for you. Meet with them and have a prepared list of questions that are important to your decision. Find out their current situation, history and goals. When you propose a mentoring relationship, you need to be sure to spell out expectations and goals. Remember that even though a mentoring relationship usually lasts long beyond a few meetings, neither one of you is obligated to be locked into the relationship.

There are many fantastic benefits of being self-employed. You may find yourself wanting more in life and a job that you have been comfortable at for so long may just not be satisfying you anymore. Perhaps you are tired of the predictable routine of your day job and being paid what someone else thinks that your time is worth and never being appreciated. Taking the first step to become self-employed is the hardest but once you get started you will be able to bask in all of the wonderful benefits of being self-employed.

Job Security

People are being laid off and fired for no reason other than the company needing to cut wage costs which means the employees that are still employed are having to handle more work than ever before without any additional money. You can lose your source of income at any time. Why give someone else control over your future? One of the benefits of being self-employed is that no one has the power to fire you. Only you control your future.

Hourly Pay

More and more people are forced to work longer and harder hours for far less pay than what they are worth. When you become self-employed, you control what hours you work and how much money you ultimately make. For example, brilliant individuals will start a concession business and only work the spring and summer, selling their product at fairs, festivals and sporting events and make enough money to live on all winter. Sure they work hard but then they have a season to travel and relax and do whatever they want.

Experience

When you work the same job everyday, you are never furthering your experience level. Is the job experience that you have right now going to keep you employed and be worth any value 10 years from now? One of the fabulous benefits about being self-employed is that you can constantly learn things that you can apply to your business to increase your success.

  If you have been to a fair or a festival, there is almost a guarantee that you have patronized some type of a concession business, whether it was food or drink. Fairs and festivals really are ideal for the concession business because a good percentage of visitors come to these events for the sole purpose of eating and they come to spend money.

 Just like baseball is associated with hotdogs and peanuts and the movies scream buttery popcorn, fairs and festivals represent some of the favorite foods of many people, especially funnel cakes, pretzels, elephant ears, cotton candy, caramel apples, ice cream and of course, hotdogs and popcorn.

 Fairs and festivals are the ideal venues for concession stand businesses because they provide a constant flow of foot traffic that purposely comes hungry so they can eat as much of their favorite food as possible. There is no restaurant competition to deal with. The only choice that people have is to purchase concession stand food, not that they would choose any differently anyway.

 These events offer low overhead, easy set up and a guarantee of hundreds or sometimes thousands of potential customers everyday. Even if the weather is bad and there is an off day in visitor numbers, all of the employees of the fair or festival still need to eat.

 These places are full of concession stands and most business owners will watch out for each other. Bathrooms are convenient as are water sources and waste removal and the profits are huge. On a hot day, people will spend a large amount of money on a beverage as long as it is cold enough to quench their thirst and cool them off. The best part is there really is not a “bad” location to be set up at, there is the potential for huge profits whatever location you secure.

 Concession stands symbolize fairs and festivals, you almost cannot have one without the other. These exciting events offer concession stand business owners the opportunity to make a substantial amount of money in a very short period of time.

  Finding the right location for your concession business can most definitely be a daunting task. Location is the key component to the success of any business, especially a concession stand. The location possibilities are truly endless to set up shop at including fairs, festivals, carnivals, flea markets, malls, parks, etc. Of course, the spot that you ultimately choose is often going to be influenced by just how much money that are willing and able to spend to secure your desired location.

 Outdoor events are perfect places to look when you are trying to find the right location for your concession business. You are looking for a spot where there is a consistent flow of heavy foot traffic. Carnivals and other outdoor activities are ideal to set up at because there is easy set up involved and overhead costs are generally quite low.

 Keep in mind that the prime locations at an event are going to cost you more than being in the sidelines so this gives you another huge decision to make. You may choose to pay top-dollar because you know the profit will be well worth it if you set up where the masses will flock to eat or you can often pay a substantially less amount of money and be where there is less foot traffic. However, if you are selling a more original product that other concessions may not have, you may opt for this choice because the people will travel a few extra steps to access your product.

 You may even want to consider setting up at food drives or charity garage sales. These events draw a giving crowd and if you are giving a small amount of your profits to the cause, you will attract even more traffic.

 There are endless possibilities of where your business can take you. Do not put a lot of stressful thoughts into finding the right location for your concession business. Go where the people are, sell a tasty product and offer outstanding customer service and you will do just fine.

  Getting your employees legal does not need to be as intimidating as you may think. You will first need to file for an employer identification number (EIN) if you do not already have one. This allows you to actually be able to hire someone legally. This number is easily obtained by visiting the IRS website. The following is a helpful guideline for getting your employees legal.

• New Hire Agreement – It is not required but it is always recommended that you go over a new hire agreement together that you will both sign in the presence of one another. This important document will protect both the business as well as its employees from any misunderstandings regarding employment, behavior, job description and expectations.

• W-4/W-9 – One of these forms is required by the IRS to verify that the employee is not subject to a withholding.

• INS Form I-9 – The INS requires that citizens and non-citizens fill out this Employee Eligibility Verification Form to establish that the worker can legally be employed. Proper identification must be provided with this form.

• Employee Information Sheet – You will keep this sheet on file that will offer names and phone numbers of two people to contact in case of emergency.

• Application – If some reason your new hire did not already fill out an application, one must be filled out and kept on file with their paperwork.

• Payroll Deduction Form – This form is a must if you are deducting any money from the employee's paycheck to cover uniforms, parking passes, etc.

• Employee Handbook – This is optional but ultimately it serves the purpose of letting your new hires know the company mission and philosophies. It should spell out policies on hours, overtime, benefits, vacation time, paid holidays, uniforms and salary reviews. There should be a page in the handbook that the employee has to sign and return to you.

 If you have several workers at all times and therefore do a lot of hiring, getting your employees legal can often be made a bit simpler if you have the documents already made up in employee new hire packets to be sure that you do not miss anything important.

  Most people, at some point in their lives, have the dream to become self-employed. There are a huge number of benefits of being self-employed such as control over your own schedule, having no boss and the sense of accomplishment of creating your own future. However, if you want to become self-employed, you must also understand that there are a few disadvantages including not having a guaranteed paycheck and no paid vacations or health insurance.

 To become self-employed, you need to really think about if it is the right choice for you. Are you self-motivated, driven and goal oriented? If so, you are probably a good candidate. However, if you are someone who needs guidance or cannot figure things out for yourself, self-employment is not a good idea.

 You will need to decide what you want to do to become self-employed. The most popular approaches are opening a small business such as a concession stand or a catering business or offering your services as an independent contractor or freelancer. Make yourself a list of way to become self-employed by doing something that you would love and that you are good at.

 Then, once you decide on your niche, do as much research as you can on the topic and create your own business plan. You will need to explore financing options unless you have a substantial amount of money saved up for start-up costs like equipment and supplies. Most people choose personal loans, small business loans or home equity loans for financing their new business.

 If you really want to become self-employed, go for it and do not listen to anyone else. Start with something small that you can turn a huge profit with like your own ice cream or hot dog concession and then work up to a concession trailer with other food options and highly profitable venues like fairs and festivals. Your opportunities are truly endless when you want to become self-employed.

  Starting a concession business with multiple owners is a fairly common occurrence. There are many advantages to doing so however, it can also lead to serious complication with time if you do not have a clear cut, drawn out agreement of business goals and each owner's responsibilities.

 When you dig to the root, a concession business is just the brilliant idea of a person or people who want to become self employed and make money.

 The idea of starting a concession business with multiple owners is a fantastic one but when a problem does arise, it can lead to disaster. The biggest conflict that multiple owners have is over power, especially if the business is successful.

 If you start a business with someone whether they are a family member or your best friend, you have to write in detail, who is responsible for what, hours that will be worked, goals of where you want the business to grow to, etc. Without these, you could ultimately have one person doing the large percentage of the work and feeling resentful which not only causes problems in the business but also in your friendship.

 You should also take the time to discuss what happens to the business if someone doesn't hold up their end of the job or decides that they want to venture off on their own in a different direction. How will issues be handled? This all needs to be put in writing. You may feel a bit uncomfortable discussing such matters since you do not want to hurt each others feeling and there is a certain level of trust obviously already there however, owning a business needs to be handled like a marriage with a prenuptial agreement to protect everyone that is involved.

 Starting a concession business with multiple owners is common and usually successful. It certainly helps to have a shared workload but to avoid any future problems, be sure that everyone is on the identical page from the beginning and put in in writing.

  Planning the menu for your catering truck business may be one of the toughest parts of your job. You can fill your truck with virtually any type of goodies but just remember that if people do not buy them, you will be stuck with them. Knowing what sells and what your customers want is the key to having a successful catering truck business.

 It is helpful to ask someone that is already familiar with your route what food is popular. If you are purchasing the route from someone, they will be able to answer this or else you may need to go hand out a few surveys or ask questions at businesses along your route.

 You will want to alter your menu for your catering truck business to compliment the time of day. It is also a good idea to offer a different special everyday of the week. As long as they are always good, the people that are on your route will look forward to the day of their favorite special.

 Always be sure to keep plenty of packaged snacks and soda available. These types of items generally have a long shelf life so you won't have to be concerned with throwing stuff away. Remember, the more convenient snacks that you have available, the higher the chance that your customers purchase an extra snack for their next work break.

 When planning your menu for your catering truck business, you will need high-quality hot beverages. Fresh coffee is a must and you should stock a decent variety of black, green and herbal teas. Always have sugar, sweeteners and creamers available and consider even carrying hot chocolate in the winter. These hot beverages are especially important if your route consists of stops to construction sites, factories and car dealerships that staff a lot of mechanics and porters. All of these workers generally work very long and hard hours and appreciate a warm caffeine pick-me-up, especially if you reside in a cooler climate.

 You may also want to consider having a suggestion box or taking notes if someone recommends or asks for something to be added to your catering truck business menu.

Catering Truck

US $120,000.00

2d 3h 57m

NO RESERVE!! Catering Truck/Food Delivery Truck

0 Bid

US $10,000.00

3d 1h 56m

Herpa 1:400 Catering Truck

US $12.00

25d 5h 5m

HOME JOB MOBILE FOOD CAR/TRUCK/TRAILER CATERING SECRETS

US $39.59

3d 4h 48m

Catering Truck, Concession Truck, Food Truck

US $3,795.00

3d 14h 45m

Powered by phpBay Pro

  Just because you are a health food fanatic does not mean that you cannot become self-employed by opening your own concession stand. There are plenty of people that would prefer to have a healthier alternative available to eat, not only for themselves but for their children as well. Many festivals, fairs and other events only offer concession stand food so people have no choice to make unhealthy food choices but they may actually prefer to have an option that is good for them, especially in today's society when more and more people are becoming health conscious everyday. Of course, some of these healthy concession stand ideas are not extremely healthy foods, they are better for you than items that are fried or loaded in sugar.

Frozen Yogurt – This is ideal especially for a hot day. You can choose to just carry one or maybe two flavors and have toppings that have a long shelf life and that will not melt like granola, nuts and coconut. If you know business will be busy, consider caring one of two types of fruits to top with such as raspberries, blueberries, sliced strawberries or kiwi.

 Popcorn – Nothing draws a crowd like the familiar aroma of fresh popped popcorn. Of course you will want to have butter and salt on hand for those that prefer their popcorn flavored but many enjoy it as a healthy snack plain.

1. Frozen Bananas – So, chances are, your frozen bananas will probably be dipped in chocolate but at least the banana is healthy, full of vitamins and potassium which is a plus if you are looking for healthy concession stand ideas to set up around sporting events like children softball or soccer games or anywhere people might be sweating and in need of something healthy that will refresh their energy levels.

Vegetarian Burgers and Hotdogs – You do not have to be a vegetarian to enjoy these either. Many people are looking for healthy alternatives to meat that are still full of protein.

1. Fresh Fruit – Ideally, you can simply prepare fresh fruit cups or you can also sell large slices of watermelon, frozen coconut or even contains of frozen grapes or berries. Fresh fruit appeals to people of all ages and chances are you won't have any competition.

Are you anxious for the day that you can become self-employed? Owning a catering truck is one of the easiest ways to get started in the food business. You may have dreams of owning your own restaurant and this is a stepping stone or you may find that you love the freedom and flexibility of a catering truck business so much that you want this to be your career. But, where do you begin?

1. Obtain Licenses and Permits – When you begin a catering truck business of your own, you will need to get a local business license and you will have to meet food business requirements that are set by the Health Department.

1. Buy a Catering Truck – Rather than having a retail location or a store front, your business will be ran completely out of your catering truck. You can either build a truck for this purpose or you can buy one that is already designed with all of the bells and whistles that you need. Economically, the best option is to buy a used catering truck but you will need to thoroughly inspect it, drive it and make sure that all of the appliances are working properly.

1. Plan Your Menu – The menu posted on your catering truck should be simple to read and easy to understand. Keep in mind that you are usually dealing with people that are on a limited amount of time on their lunch hour or a coffee break. They want food that is both tasty and easy to eat complimented by quick and efficient service.

1. Develop Your Route – Location is one of the most important elements of any successful business. You need to choose locations where there is plenty of foot traffic and hungry people. You may want to devote your breakfast hours to the corporate world who may already be on their first break at the time when other company employees are just arriving and then cater to the factory and construction workers in the afternoon when these hard working employees are the hungriest. It is extremely important that once you establish you route for your catering truck business that you remain consistent, arriving at the same time everyday so your customers will know when to find you.