Posts Tagged ‘type’
Things To Look For In Food Stands For Sale
When you are looking at food stands for sale, there are many things that you should take into consideration before making your purchase. These are available in many different sizes and styles with an endless number of equipment and appliance configurations.
First you need to determine if you are looking for new or used food stands for sale. New ones will have a full warranty but of course a used one will save you a considerable amount of money. Once you have made this decision, it is best to make a list of all of the options that you absolutely need as well as any additions that you would like to have that are not necessarily requirements or deal breakers.
When you create your list of needs, you need to take into consideration the type of food that you will be selling. Obviously an ice cream stand would have no need for fryers and a flattop while a funnel cake food stand probably doesn't need a whole wall full of freezers. You should also take into consideration storage area space. If you are only carrying one or two types of concession stand foods, you won't need as much refrigerator and dry storage space as someone who is preparing and selling full meals. Do you want three sinks or will you find a way to divide one large one to meet health code regulations? Will a dishwasher come in handy or are you selling prepackaged items? Depending on where you plan on setting up, you may need to consider an extra quiet generator that will meet certain park regulations as well.
There are many variables to take into consideration when shopping for food stands for sale which is why a list is a very helpful guide to have with you. If you are purchasing a used stand, you should check for any rust and be sure that all appliances work.
There are always many food stands for sale due to people upgrading, expanding or retiring so you don't have to jump into the decision. Find the one that has the perfect options to suit your needs in your price range.
Helpful Food Stand Ideas
There are endless food stand ideas that you can choose from, all that will provide you with an impressive profit. While prepackaged foods are definitely easy to deal with, sometimes people that are visiting an attraction may have the need to grab a full meal. When choosing which food stand ideas that you want to sell, take into consideration cost for supplies, equipment needed and how the food will fit in with the location or event.
Snack Food Stand Ideas
Customers are always on the look for quick, easy and delicious snack foods. You can either make the snacks yourself like popcorn, caramel apples, cotton candy or candied almonds or you can sell prepackaged snacks like ice cream sandwiches, suckers and other candy. It is always best to stay clear of chocolate if your food stand will be out in the heat or sun, unless you have a cooler to keep them from melting.
Meal Food Stand Ideas
If you have the facilities and room to heat up and cook food, you may want to explore the option of serving meals. Fabulous food stand ideas that go over quite well with the hungry masses are french fries, hotdogs, pizza, hamburgers, nachos and tacos in a bag. These are really ideal for fairs, festivals or other events that people spend any length of time at. Quite often, chips or ice cream are not going to satisfy a hungry family that has been in the sun and walking around all day. You can provide them with a meal so they can later enjoys snacks from someone else.
Specialty Food Stand Ideas
These are probably some of the most popular food stand ideas. If you don't want to deal with a variety of different products, then you can choose to specialize in just one type of food. Funnel cakes, corn dogs, pretzels and ice cream stands are all profitable food stand ideas to consider.
Drinks
Although you can provide a stand selling only drinks like lemonade or slushes, it is recommended to offer some type of drink at all food stands. Fountain or can soda and bottled water are important additions to boost your products. This allows customers to get their drinks along with their food rather than them having to stand in an additional line.
Basic Business Strategies for Running Your Concession Business
There are a few basic business strategies that you should apply regardless of the type of business that you are in. Quite often, entrepreneurs are so preoccupied with all of the immediate issues and day to day tasks of running their business that they tend to lose sight of what their ultimate objectives are which is why a strategic plan is so incredibly necessary.
Do not confuse a strategic plan with a business plan, they are not the same thing. Your strategic plan actually provides the foundation for your business plan. An effective strategic plan needs to be both attainable and realistic. Basic business strategies include reviewing past performance of the business and employees, focusing on all matters that are of strategic importance including marketing, and distinguishing clearly between cause and effect.
When you develop your strategic plan you need to clearly identify the current status of your business as well as all of your objectives. Write out weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats. You need to focus on building on your strengths, exploiting all of your opportunities, avoiding potential threats and resolving your weaknesses.
Next you need to take the time to set your business goals. These should be specific, time-based measurements that you plan on achieving by implementing your strategies. Your goals should be consistent, achievable and quantifiable. They can relate to finances, products, market, utilization, profitability, expansion and efficiency.
When outlining your basic business strategies, your objectives, strategies and goals need to be inter-linked and also consistent with each other. Of course, this is easier said than done since most businesses are set with objectives of purely becoming exceptionally wealthy as fast as possible, but they lack realistic goals, strategies and concise missions. Make sure that you develop attainable goals and review your strategies often to make sure that you are on track to be successful with your business.
Fairs and Festivals – Ideal for the Concession Business
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.
Planning the Menu for Your Catering Truck Business
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.
| BBQ Smoker Trailer Catering Truck 2012 BUSINESS PLAN | ![]() |
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US $14.95 | 18d 1h 10m |
| Chevrolet : Other CATERING KITCHEN TRUCK MOBILE KITCHEN CATERING CONCESSION GRUMMAN KITCHEN 20k MILES MOBILE BUSINESS | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $45,000.00 | 12h 27m |
| 1965 Chevy P35 Calumet Coach catering/ice cream/utility truck Vintage | 24 Bids | US $1,225.00 | 18h 34m |
| HO SCALE (6) COMMERCIAL TRUCKS (AMBULANCE, CATERING, STOCK +++) | ![]() |
5 Bids | US $13.50 | 18h 56m |
| COFFEE TRUCK (CHEVY P30 Diesel step van) Mobile Food Truck/Catering/Concession | ![]() |
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US $38,500.00 | 19h 48m |
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Is The Concession Business Profitable?
Is the concession business profitable? The truth is, it is probably far more profitable than you can even imagine. Most people have the dream of becoming self-employed however, not everyone is either suited for the task or up to the challenge. Lack of commitment, inadequate capital or a fear of failure are all things that hold many people back.
However, there are plenty of driven individuals that will tell you that the answer to, “Is the concession business profitable?” is absolutely and positively, yes! Concession stand businesses offer the unique possibility for you to make a substantial amount of money within a very short period of time. With a moderate investment of your time and capital as well as a thoroughly thought out business plan, you can live a comfortable life that you would not otherwise be able to have if you were still on someone or some company's payroll.
If you compare the profits of a concession business with almost any other type of business, the concession will come out far ahead because it can be started with such little start-up capital, a minimum amount of additional employees or, in some cases, no additional employees and for the most part, far less hours worked. A full-time income of substantial size can be obtained with only a part-time effort.
When you run a concession business you have the independence and freedom to build your business and your income as large as you desire. You control your future. You will never need to be paid based on what your time is worth like at a regular job. Most importantly, you can never be written up, laid off or fired.
Also, the concession business can be a ton of fun. You are making money in an exciting and relaxing environment, surrounded by a plethora of interesting people. So, is the concession business profitable? It is profitable in ways that you cannot imagine. You can make an exceptional income, have fun and enjoy your life to the fullest extent being self-employed with a concession business.
Tips on buying a food concession trailer
When you are in the process of looking to buy a food concession trailer, you need to understand that they range from mobile catering trucks to stationary concession stands. You will need to decide the size and type of food concession trailer that you will need according to the food choice you are going to sell and if you are going to sell only at one location or travel to several different places.
Each food concession trailer is going to have its own features. Some may have freezers, refrigerators, fryers, ovens and sinks. So obviously, if you are selling ice-cream, you will not need a food concession trailer that has a fryer and an oven. This is why it is important to have any idea of what foods you will sell. Choose a food that you will be comfortable working around. If you are scared to cook with oil, clearly you will not choose to sell french fries.
The next thing you will need to decide is if you want a new or used food concession stand. A used one is going to save you a substantial amount of money however, there is probably little or no warranty left on it. However, if you do not have the out-of-pocket money available to spend on a trailer to start your own business, you may want to choose a new one. Many vendors will offer financing on a new trailer so you will only need to make monthly payments and you get the peace of mind of having a warranty.
When possible, take the time to inspect the trailer in person and ask the seller plenty of questions if it is a used item. You will want to know how old it is and how long that they had it for? Did they buy it new or used? What did they use it for? How old are all of the appliances? Is there any warranty left?
Do not rush into your food concession stand purchase. You are probably excited to get started on reaping the rewards of havingyour own business but picking the right trailer can ultimately make or break your business.
| Cinnamon Rolls Pastry Bakery Concession Food Truck Van Cart Vinyl Decal 14" | ![]() |
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US $14.99 | 16d 19h 8m |
| CHECK THIS! Concession Truck Food Signs. Corn Dog Signs. Corndog Sign Display. | ![]() |
US $549.00 | 9h 12m |
| Chevrolet : Other CATERING KITCHEN TRUCK MOBILE KITCHEN CATERING CONCESSION GRUMMAN KITCHEN 20k MILES MOBILE BUSINESS | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $45,000.00 | 12h 27m |
| 27" Shaved Ice Moose Concession Trailer Food Truck Restaurant Cart Sign Decal | ![]() |
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US $43.00 | 22d 14h 37m |
| COFFEE TRUCK (CHEVY P30 Diesel step van) Mobile Food Truck/Catering/Concession | ![]() |
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US $38,500.00 | 19h 48m |
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Staying organized is key in starting a business
Staying organized is key in starting a business. You may hear this advice a thousand times from people in every type of business but that is only because it is so incredibly important. New business owners and entrepreneurs are usually so incredibly excited with the plans of starting their business and actually making money that they pay such little attention to all of the electronic data and paperwork that they are rapidly generating. This is quite typical and always expected so if you have gotten yourself in a unorganized state, you are not alone.
The problem usually begins about six months later when everything is so unorganized and out of control that the stress and frustration sets in. Consequently, this is usually the time when they are starting to realize that they need some of those papers that they can't find or didn't think that they would need. The truth is, if you stayed organized from the beginning and took the time to set up proper organizational systems, you would not be in this situation. Small businesses that are the healthiest and become the most successful are those that start organized and revisit their organizational system every six months. If you are not fully aware of every area of your business, you cannot possibly know if you are losing money in certain departments or if you are obtaining your financial goals.
Being organized is understanding that organization is an endless journey. You need a system in place that helps your business run smoothly. Lost documents, piles of paperwork and misplaced items lead to stress, frustration and often results in the habit of running late. For your business to be successful, you have to hurdle these obstacles.
If you are unable to create an effective organizational system or if you have dug yourself in a grave of paperwork, hire yourself a professional organizer that will set your business up customized systems. These organizational system will make your business productive, functional and stress-free.
Should You Have a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC or Corporation?
If you are just beginning your journey to become self-employed, you will need to decide should you have a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC or corporation? This may seem really confusing but it doesn't have to be. Each option will have its advantages and disadvantages so you will want to take the time to weigh the pros and cons to decide which option will be most beneficial for you and your business.
- Sole Proprietorship – This is a form of business that is owned and completely ran by one individual. All losses and profits accrue to the owner and all business assets are owned solely by the proprietor. Therefore, the owner is completely liable and has no partners. These are easy businesses to start and filing taxes is simple. The biggest disadvantage is raising capital with one business owner.
- Partnership – Businesses that are ran by a partnership allow the owners to share the losses and profits of the business. These types of businesses are usually favored instead of corporations in regards to taxation purposes however, owners involved in a partnership can be exposed to quite larger personal liability in comparison to being shareholders in a corporation.
- LLC – A limited liability company is a flexible type of business enterprise blending corporate structures and partnership elements. This option is a bit more flexible in comparison to a corporation. It is ideal for single owner businesses. Many feel that it completely protects business owners from personal liabilities however this is not true if there is misrepresentation or fraud involved.
- Corporation – This separate legal entity is recognized as being distinct from its members and having certain privileges. Liability is an important focus of this type of business. If the corporation happens to fail, the shareholders generally only lose their investment and their job but are not liable to owe the corporation's creditors.



