Hot dogs have held their rightful place in American culture for many years, which is why the hot dog business is so successful. No baseball game would ever be complete, no carnival, celebration or trip to the park would ever be the same without hot dogs on the menu.
Grilled or steamed, plain in the bun or loaded to the ends, hot dogs are big business for a variety of reasons. Frankly speaking:
1. Start-up costs for a hot dog business are relatively low
2. Hot dogs are easy to inventory, prepare and serve
3. Few can resist the lure of a good hot dog
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Decide whether your hot dog business will be mobile or stationary
Do you want the flexibility of going to your customers, or would you prefer for your customers to come to you? Knowing the answer to that question will help determine whether to explore a hot dog stand business or a hot dog restaurant. Although they specialize in the same food type, their similarities end there for the most part.
I recommend: If your hot dog business will be mobile,
Willy Dog Hot Dog Carts has an extensive selection of both new and used carts. If you're planning a storefront hot dog restaurant business, check out
Johnnie's Dog House hot dog chains or the
Nathan's Famous hot dog restaurant franchise.
Choose a location for your hot dog franchise
People who run hot dog stands typically don't stake out a permanent location; rather, they go where the business is. Location, however, is a very important consideration for those who start hot dog restaurants.
I recommend: This list of
possible locations to set up your hot dog cart offers some great ideas for building your hot dog business. If you're going with a storefront, hot dog franchises such as
New England Hot Dog Company typically offer assistance in choosing the perfect location.
Determine your menu items
Again, this process is much different for a cart than a restaurant. Carts typically carry only the basic toppings, chips and drinks in addition to their hot dogs. Hot dog chain restaurants, on the other hand, often offer not only a large variety of hot dog types and toppings, but also myriad other menu items.
I recommend: If you're going the hot dog cart route,
The Hot Dog Cart offers a booklet with a basic supply list (and much more!) to get you started. Plan to revise the list as you build your business and determine what works best for you. Hot dog chain restaurants such as
Fluky's generally provide a menu for you.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Hot dog carts are relatively simple and inexpensive start-ups. They offer the freedom and flexibility that hot dog restaurants don't and are a great option if you're just exploring new opportunities but are not completely sure if business ownership is right for you.
- Hot dog franchises are said to be a fast-growing business opportunity. Although it's easy to get caught up in the glamour and glory of owning your own business, be sure to do your research and explore all of your options before investing in one of the hot dog chains--or any franchise, for that matter.
The official source of Hot Dog Chain Restaurants is
the Hot Dog Chain Restaurants page at Business.com
Related Resources from Business.com
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