Comments on: The Hot Dog Guy http://www.GeekMBA360.com/the-hot-dog-guy Career Advice At The Intersection Of Business And Technology Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:00:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: dogman http://www.GeekMBA360.com/the-hot-dog-guy/comment-page-1#comment-19186 dogman Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:04:51 +0000 http://www.GeekMBA360.com/?p=580#comment-19186 no offense, but I know a little bit about this type of business and the numbers in your hot dog example are way way off- are you in sales?<br>Now 200 hot dogs divided by 2 hours means 1.6 hot dogs per minute. Assuming an orderly line that proceeds non-stop that would be almost plausible, but 200 drinks is over 8 cases which is a way too much soda which would require 2 or 3 ice chests to hold- and you'll need to keep them on ice since the stream of people is happening so fast. I'm assuming the guy has a van for all those ice chests. You'll need it for the 200 chips that you need to store.<br>Price is roughly right, but more likely closer to $2 not $1 (bread, dog, chips + soda).<br>I live in California where the weather is good and these types of carts can go year round. I know a couple of people that have run these types of carts at decent locations. The money ain't bad, but I think you inflated it quite a bit.<br>Oh, and if you really can find 4 locations that are selling 200 dogs in 2 hours then rest assured that NJMeaty is right and you're paying some hefty license fees.<br><br>My point is- do your homework. Going into business is a great, and the money can be good, but don't get over excited. Make realistic projections so you don't get trapped with a $2000 hot dog cart and wondering what you're going to do with a freezer full of dogs. no offense, but I know a little bit about this type of business and the numbers in your hot dog example are way way off- are you in sales?
Now 200 hot dogs divided by 2 hours means 1.6 hot dogs per minute. Assuming an orderly line that proceeds non-stop that would be almost plausible, but 200 drinks is over 8 cases which is a way too much soda which would require 2 or 3 ice chests to hold- and you'll need to keep them on ice since the stream of people is happening so fast. I'm assuming the guy has a van for all those ice chests. You'll need it for the 200 chips that you need to store.
Price is roughly right, but more likely closer to $2 not $1 (bread, dog, chips + soda).
I live in California where the weather is good and these types of carts can go year round. I know a couple of people that have run these types of carts at decent locations. The money ain't bad, but I think you inflated it quite a bit.
Oh, and if you really can find 4 locations that are selling 200 dogs in 2 hours then rest assured that NJMeaty is right and you're paying some hefty license fees.

My point is- do your homework. Going into business is a great, and the money can be good, but don't get over excited. Make realistic projections so you don't get trapped with a $2000 hot dog cart and wondering what you're going to do with a freezer full of dogs.

]]> By: dogman http://www.GeekMBA360.com/the-hot-dog-guy/comment-page-1#comment-13416 dogman Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:04:51 +0000 http://www.GeekMBA360.com/?p=580#comment-13416 no offense, but I know a little bit about this type of business and the numbers in your hot dog example are way way off- are you in sales?<br>Now 200 hot dogs divided by 2 hours means 1.6 hot dogs per minute. Assuming an orderly line that proceeds non-stop that would be almost plausible, but 200 drinks is over 8 cases which is a way too much soda which would require 2 or 3 ice chests to hold- and you'll need to keep them on ice since the stream of people is happening so fast. I'm assuming the guy has a van for all those ice chests. You'll need it for the 200 chips that you need to store.<br>Price is roughly right, but more likely closer to $2 not $1 (bread, dog, chips + soda).<br>I live in California where the weather is good and these types of carts can go year round. I know a couple of people that have run these types of carts at decent locations. The money ain't bad, but I think you inflated it quite a bit.<br>Oh, and if you really can find 4 locations that are selling 200 dogs in 2 hours then rest assured that NJMeaty is right and you're paying some hefty license fees.<br><br>My point is- do your homework. Going into business is a great, and the money can be good, but don't get over excited. Make realistic projections so you don't get trapped with a $2000 hot dog cart and wondering what you're going to do with a freezer full of dogs. no offense, but I know a little bit about this type of business and the numbers in your hot dog example are way way off- are you in sales?
Now 200 hot dogs divided by 2 hours means 1.6 hot dogs per minute. Assuming an orderly line that proceeds non-stop that would be almost plausible, but 200 drinks is over 8 cases which is a way too much soda which would require 2 or 3 ice chests to hold- and you'll need to keep them on ice since the stream of people is happening so fast. I'm assuming the guy has a van for all those ice chests. You'll need it for the 200 chips that you need to store.
Price is roughly right, but more likely closer to $2 not $1 (bread, dog, chips + soda).
I live in California where the weather is good and these types of carts can go year round. I know a couple of people that have run these types of carts at decent locations. The money ain't bad, but I think you inflated it quite a bit.
Oh, and if you really can find 4 locations that are selling 200 dogs in 2 hours then rest assured that NJMeaty is right and you're paying some hefty license fees.

My point is- do your homework. Going into business is a great, and the money can be good, but don't get over excited. Make realistic projections so you don't get trapped with a $2000 hot dog cart and wondering what you're going to do with a freezer full of dogs.

]]> By: NJMeaty http://www.GeekMBA360.com/the-hot-dog-guy/comment-page-1#comment-13298 NJMeaty Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:14:00 +0000 http://www.GeekMBA360.com/?p=580#comment-13298 Not sure what city you are in, but the licenses to sell hot dogs can be outrageously expensive in a place like NYC. Prime licenses near heavily trafficked areas can go for $200k or more. <br><a href="http://gothamist.com/2009/01/07/hot_dog_vendor_outside_met_pays_thr.php" rel="nofollow">http://gothamist.com/2009/01/07/hot_dog_vendor_...</a><br> I too have done the same calculations that you have while staring out the window at the hot dog guys. But after license, it's unclear whether they are netting that much profit. Not sure what city you are in, but the licenses to sell hot dogs can be outrageously expensive in a place like NYC. Prime licenses near heavily trafficked areas can go for $200k or more.
http://gothamist.com/2009/01/07/hot_dog_vendor_…
I too have done the same calculations that you have while staring out the window at the hot dog guys. But after license, it's unclear whether they are netting that much profit.

]]>