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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.

Below is Part 4 of the email I received from a successful vendor who sells mini donuts and other items at his trailers. Thanks Dave for sharing this info with our readers!

Also, you never want to get too far ahead of yourself with making the donuts. I'll start the morning off with one batch, which gets me about 12 bags. When I get down to 2 bags, I'll start another batch. When I start frying, I turn my exhaust hood on, and the aroma gets drawn out of the trailer into the field. And this aroma draws people to my trailer! Smell sells when it comes to donuts! I've seen some vendors with smell-sensitive things like kettle corn or mini donuts who want to make their entire product first thing in the morning, so they can just sit there and sell and collect money for the rest of the day. Then they sit there and wonder why they can't move their product. Smell sells... trust me! Make them as you need them, that way the smell will keep drawing people to you, and people will get them nice and hot when they're best. And if people get donuts that they think are really good, they'll be repeat customers. It took me 5 years selling at the same location to build my business to where it now is. That trailer is a stationary unit by the way... it stays at the market year-round, and has not moved from that spot since 2006. I usually sell between 150 and 200 bags of donuts on a typical day now... I think my record day in 2010 was 236 bags. There are days I cannot keep up with the demand... I've got people placing orders and waiting, and I just keep making them as fast as I can. It takes the machine about 1 minute to make 1 bag of donuts. So there are mornings I'm literally making $3 a minute for hours. And that's just on donuts. I sell so much coffee that I needed to invest in a second commercial airpot coffee maker. I could not keep up with just one machine. I sell usually around 30 airpots worth of coffee in a morning. I also do tea, hot chocolate, iced tea, iced coffee, smoothies, canned soda, and bottled water. It is a relatively simple menu, but the trailer runs like a well-oiled machine, and everything I sell is very high profit. I buy bottled water cases at Costco... it amounts to about 15 cents a bottle, and I sell it for $1.50. On a hot summer day, I could easily sell 50-70 bottles of water. Another thing I should mention, which I think is a large part of why I have been successful there at the market, is because I keep my trailer very clean. People like to see that. I also like to use all professional signage... I think hand made signage is tacky and looks unprofessional. I got those "Dave's Donuts" signs made up last year at a professional sign shop. People want to shop at a trailer that looks professional and clean, and if you have a good aroma coming from it, that's a plus as well.

Back in 2007, a fresh squeezed lemonade stand opened up 2 spots up from my donut trailer. It was a simple setup, just a table and umbrella and ice bucket, but damn... they did a good business! They'd have a line on any sunny hot day during the summer. That space had been vacant for a while, and I was kicking myself for not starting up something like that on my own. I told myself, if and when the time comes that they close, I'll take over. Well, 2009 came along and they never returned. 2010 came and the spot was still vacant. So I finally took some initiative and talked to the market manager, and he agreed to rent me the spot to sell lemonade. So then I had to find a trailer, outfit it how I would need it for lemonade, and get it to the market ASAP because the hot summer days were quickly ticking away. I found a used 6'x10' concession trailer on Craigslist that I thought would do the trick. It's my only "real" concession trailer... a Haulmark, not a homemade job. And what a difference in quality! I will NEVER buy another homemade concession trailer. The Haulmark is very well built. No leaks, and a solid floor. Here's a video of what it looked like when I first bought it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V2w5cNmDIU

Stay tuned tomorrow when Dave talks about the importance of your stand or trailer and why it should look good.  He gives you some advice on where to find wraps and things to make it look its best!

Still wondering where to start a successful concession business?   Below is an excellent site to get you started, it will help you answer a lot of questions you may have.  There is no limit to the number of questions a future business owner can ask,  this site really breaks it down for you.  Definitely a good read.

Click for Help with Starting  your Concession Business

Are you looking for a quick way to make money? Would you love to become self-employed but don't know where to begin? Do you want a business that will allow you to turn a profit fast? Surely you have seen concession trailers at fairs, festivals, parks, sporting events or even in parking lots or on busy streets. Chances are you have even been a patron at a few.

Has it ever occurred to you that a quick way to make money is to open your own concession trailer? This is a business that you can start up with a very low investment that offers high profitable returns. It can be a part time or full time job and the best part is you are guaranteed to make money. As long as you are setting up your business somewhere where there is foot traffic, the hungry people will come to you. Advertising costs aren't even necessary like with a traditional restaurant!

It doesn't matter if you have no experience in the food business or if you are a good cook or not. It really doesn't matter even what food you choose to sell. All concession food is popular and adored by the masses and of course, very profitable.

The concession food business is not only a quick way to make money, it is also a recession proof business. Even during financial downturns when other businesses fail, a concession food trailer will not. Unlike a restaurant where people have an unlimited choice of places to go, a concession food business is completely different. When you are set up at events, people have to eat, they come to spend money and there are no restaurants available. People will stand in long lines for your food because they have to and because they actually want to, its all part of the novelty of getting their favorite food.

If you are looking for a quick way to make money where you can finally set your own hours and work for yourself, open a concession food business and take control over your future.

Are you thinking about starting your own business as a way of making extra money? If you want to become self-employed to put some extra money in your pocket for bills, vacations or school, the concession food business is the perfect place to start. Making extra money this way is extremely easy and a whole lot of fun. It is a business that allows you the unique opportunity to work outdoors at fun events and the chance to meet tons of interesting people.

A concession trailer has the ability to be moved wherever the people are gathered which makes making extra money super convenient with endless potential money making possibilities. Fairs, festivals, sporting events, parks or the busy corner of the business district in your city, anywhere there are people, there are opportunities to make money. On the other hand, should you decide to set up a semi-permanent location, that is always an option too.

A concession food trailer is the perfect way to get into the food business. It can be as profitable if not more profitable than a traditional restaurant with a lot less work. Making extra money is simple and fast because it requires very little start up capital and you don't have to hire a whole restaurant staff. You can literally triple the amount of money you spend on product in only one day.

Making extra money with a concession food business is also ideal because you can choose to just work at it part time on the weekends if you have a day job that you love or it is a perfect opportunity for a summer job for students. Of course, if you want the freedom of being your own boss and setting your own schedule, making extra money can easily be making full time money for your sole source of employment. Many people choose to open a concession food business as the perfect way to retire and have extra income or as a great excuse to travel and take their business with them. The best way for making extra money is by starting your own concession food business.

Every entrepreneur knows that overcoming obstacles in business is just one of those things that you have to deal with from time to time when you finally become self-employed. Most people may consider an obstacle quite a nuisance but, believe it or not, they can actually help your business.

Although overcoming obstacles in business may cause a bit of stress and frustration at the time, these obstacles also allow you to evaluate what is working and what isn't. A lot of trial and error is involved in building a successful business. If you are not coming across and error once in awhile, that means you are not pursuing enough trials.

To be a successful entrepreneur, you need to aim to constantly discover ways to improve your product or service and find ways to pull away from your competition into your own league. Opportunity will not come and knock on your door, you need to pursue your own dreams and make them happen and do not let anyone stand in your way. Walt Disney was ridiculed everyday for his ideas but he followed his dreams and created a multi-billion dollar company.

To be successful, you need to take risks. Overcoming obstacles in business allows you to develop strength and gives you the courage to seek out new opportunities. When obstacles arise in your business, you need to look at them as a learning opportunity and be thankful for them rather than be frustrated. When you are faced with a huge decision or dilemma, take the time to sit and write a plan of how you are going to get through the situation or weigh all of the pros and cons of your decision first before following through.

Overcoming obstacles in business is as simple as changing your attitude and how you look at things. Be thankful that you have a business and focus on positive things. You created your business and only you can overcome the obstacles that it brings.

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.

Forming a business plan for a concession business is the most important step of the whole process. Chances are, you probably already have an idea of what you plan on selling but if you don't, this is the time to make that decision. Your business name will need to be determined which should relate to your product and you will need to select a business structure for tax purposes. You may want to do a bit of research on the pros and cons of a limited liability company, sole proprietorship or a partnership. Also, if this is going to be a partnership, you need to be precise with what each person's responsibilities will be.

When you are forming a business plan for a concession business, you need to be aware that you will probably need a certificate granted from the health department that states that you are educated on how to prepare and serve food in a safe and sanitary way. You will also need a license allowing you to do business.

The next thing you will need to do when forming a business plan for a concession business is set up a realistic time line and use this to establish your goals. This time line will also help you decide the time you are willing to spend on development and marketing. Be careful not to make the mistake of setting unrealistic goals.

You will need to spend a bit of time analyzing opportunities for your business. Do you plan on being grounded at one location or will you have a concession trailer and travel from festival to festival. Your time line will also allow you to create milestones for securing your location, buying equipment and your estimated date of when to open your business. List intermediate and long-term goals that are attainable and attractive to investors and banks. Of course, if you are seeking outside funding you will have to know how much money you will need and be able to explain exactly how it will be used.

Forming a business plan for a concession business may seem like a time consuming task but it is the only way to be sure that you cover all important areas that need attention along the way to obtaining your goals.

Many people wonder, “Should you start a concession business in a slow economy?” After all, you will be investing your time and money into something that you do not know if the economy can support. A lot of potential business owners face this dilemma everyday. You may know that you have a product that has potential and you want to go into business for yourself but you are afraid that this slow economy is going to prohibit you from turning a profit. Will you be able to survive the start up period when revenue is low yet your your overhead is high?

The first thing you need to do when you are asking yourself, “Should you start a concession business in a slow economy?” is make sure that you have your old debt paid off and a little extra money saved up. You can profit from starting your own concession business, regardless of economy but you need to have money to fall back on when business hits a low, which it may do from time to time.

If you have a significant amount of money saved up to pay your bills, you will be able to solely focus on your business without the added stress of finances. So, should you start a concession business in a slow economy? Absolutely! As long as you are financially secure and you take the time to create a thorough business plan.

The best thing that you can do for yourself in a slow economy is become self-employed. A good majority of businesses are down-sizing, raises are rare and it seems like the average person works harder, longer and for less money. Concession stands are an ideal way to become self-employed. Additionally, you can even begin with only working on the weekends and keep your regular job while you are starting out. This way you can bring in a little extra income to pay off old debts, loans for equipment and save up a little nest egg so that when you are ready to go at it full time, you are financially secure, comfortable with the business and well-established.

It seems like anything dripping with BBQ sauce is a sign of summertime, holidays or parties. BBQ concession trailers are a great way to start your own business and serve all the hungry people what they are really craving. The whole BBQ rage has become popular virtually everywhere including large festivals, fairs and sporting events where there is high revenue potential.

If you are one of those people that has an absolutely perfect, mouthwatering, barbeque recipe that everyone you know raves about, you should be opening a BBQ trailer and making money off of it.

BBQ concession trailers are profitable anywhere that there are hungry people. Even people that are not hungry will feel their stomach start to growl when they get an inhalation of that familiar aroma. Most individuals running BBQ concession trailers report that a busy location easily can gross well over $1,000 per day and some say that they have built up enough clientele in a short amount of time that they can stay in a static location and their customers will travel to find them. To top it off, they are doing something that they love!

The most important thing to invest in with BBQ concession trailers is your smoker equipment. Make sure that your equipment and set up offer good circulation. It may be a good idea to talk with someone at the health department to find out the standards that your trailer will need to meet before you open for business.

BBQ concession trailers do not need to exclusively cook chicken and ribs either. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also expand your appeal to children as well so parents that want BBQ do not need to make an additional stop for their child's food too. You may want to even sell small containers of beans, rice, coleslaw or potato salad. The best part, since there are far less BBQ concession trailers around compared to other food concession trailers, you won't have nearly as much competition. Not that anyone else could compete with your special barbeque sauce recipe anyway!
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