The American Hot Dog Cart World

Hot Dog Carts In Fort Wayne Indiana

2013-02-26T16:13:00.000-08:00

Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts out of Florida is teaming up with Debra Osborne of Fort Wayne, Indiana to create a dealership branch of Dreammaker hot dog carts. Debra has over 12 years experience in the food service industry, and has successfully run a hot dog cart dynasty of her own for over a decade. She current administrates a online national forum for hot dog vendors and mobile food vendors on facebook where vendors can go to get support and answers. Online forums are one of the best creations for hot dog vendors, rarely is it something you will find in your own home town. We are announcing the location in Fort Wayne, Indiana soon. A dealership location specializing in Dreammaker carts. Dreammaker carts have the seal of the National Sanitation Foundation which most health departments are leaning toward. NSF regulated the standards for the food service industry. It has become extremely important to have this prestigious stamp of approval. Beware of companies who tell you that you don't need a NSF manufacturer. Those companies don't want to send their carts through the scrutiny of the National Sanitation Foundation. Most of the manufacturers that tell you that story, have yet to be in the food business, and never had an food inspector to please. Ask your manufacturer if they have any food service experience, or experience in manufacturing food service equipment, if they hesitate run ....fast. A backyard shop often will use parts that will not meet the strict requirements of most health departments, if they say it's your responsibility to do it, beware again....although each health department may differ in the regulations and requirements of permits most agree that the highest of standards is best. That is why I chose to be a dealer of Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts. Their reputation is stellar, good business ethics all around.

Stay tuned, website to come, http://www.hotdogcartworld.com 1-800 to call and carts to arrive 2nd week of April. We only recommend the best, no worries about passing the health department, come see Osborne's Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts.

Hot Dog Carts in Indiana

2012-02-24T18:20:00.001-08:00

At Osborne's Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts in Fort Wayne Indiana we have worked extremely hard to source out a vendor friendly model of hot dog cart. The love of concession stands, hot dog stands, mobile food vending carts appears to not only be a passion but a necessity as the American economy continues to get worse it seems. Pending a new political election people who have an entrepreneurial spirit have taken to the streets to take their future in their own hands literally. A hot dog vending cart purchase not only makes sense it makes money, real green cash money. This season we have more to offer the new hot dog vendor, an easy to use piece of equipment. See our website, new pictures are posted daily. Better yet, come to Fort Wayne Indiana...visit the factory and see for yourself how special we are. Fat Jon's BBQ did and here is what they had to say about us here. Thank you Jon, it's customers like you that we work endless hours for. We look forward to doing business with you in the future. Here is Jon's testimonial to us:

I've been in the BBQ business for a while, and began looking into

the Hot Dog Cart scene a couple years ago to help take up the

time in between BBQ gigs, especially in the off-season.

I must have looked at every hot dog cart maker in the US,

watched every EBay auction and read every Craigslist ad I could

find for more than two years!

One day this last October I found an ad on Craigslist for a used

cart and best of all, it was only 20 miles from my house. I

stopped in and that's when I met Deb Osborn for the first time.

Through my hot dog cart research I remember seeing Dog House

Carts but it was not until this day I realized they were built in

good old Fort Wayne, Indiana.

I got to see all the new carts they have in stock, ready to sell hot

dogs. Then I even got to go through their factory and see first-

hand the highest quality, pride and attention to every detail that

goes into each cart built.

The craftsmen there were happy and more than eager to show me

all the many features that are built into every cart made at their

plant.

I have a mechanical contracting background and know high -

quality craftsmanship when I see it. And I saw high quality that day--

everywhere I looked.

Needless to say, after meeting Deb, her team, seeing her hot dog

carts, I was hooked. And, I bought one!

The whole experience with Deb and her team has made me a life-

long customer and if anyone is in the market for a hot dog cart--

there is no other choice: .

Side Note: On the morning of my first hot dog day, Deb drove to

my location just to see if I needed anything, to make sure

everything was going as smooth as possible! Seriously!

How many times do you hear of people doing anything like that

these days?

"Fat" Jon Dobson

Used Hot Dog Carts

2012-02-16T19:33:00.000-08:00

Buyer Beware, used hot dog carts can at times be a nightmare for the buyer. Often times older models of hot dog carts, food vending carts, hot dog stands and concession trailers are outdated and no longer meet the code in the city that they were originally purchased for. You can feel a little bit more secure if the cart is in operation and under a current health department permit. In most midwest states like Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois if a cart is currently licensed, and inspected it will be approved to run. Recommendations will often be made by the county health departments to upgrade the water systems and the burner systems if they are not sufficient or if they lack modern fixtures. The best way to find out if the used hot dog cart that you are buying meets your local county health codes is to get the guidelines and ask what codes are the most important when you are looking to buy a used hot dog cart or mobile food stand. Do they require water under pressure? How long will it take for your water to heat up so that you can wash your hands? What temperature is the handwashing water on your hot dog cart? These are some very important questions. At times the hot dog cart or mobile food stands will have an old serpentine coil water heating system, these are ineffective and when water is heated and steam is created your water lines will pop off every time. Watch for someone who tells you to leave your hot water tap open to release pressure, you should have a pressure relief system installed on the water system or an on demand hot water system. Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana sells hot dog carts, mobile food stands and concession stands with the standard eccotemp hot water system which is a hot water on demand system. Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts has the ability to manufacture NSF hot dog carts. They also specialize in a cool air flow burner system which makes sure the heat stays where you need it most, in the burner well not heating up your cart or your cooler section. What is unique about Osbornes Hot Dog Carts in Fort Wayne, Indiana is that they have created options for any type of food production, this unit heats directly from your steam well and is very easily controlled by installed louvers. Also, new in the accessory department is a free standing propane steam table unit, full size. This unit is one of the only units that are manufactured specifically on the hot dog vending carts or as a stand alone unit. Unique, and adds massive opportunities for any hot dog vendors current menu. Just visit http://www.dreammakerhotdogcarts.com for more information on getting your cart upgraded to some of their unique options or for an entire hot dog cart overhaul. If you don't like how your hot dog cart operates we can modify your existing cart without you having to buy a new one.

I feel like getting the hot dog cart out

2012-01-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

Many people in Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio and other midwest locations are wishing that they hadn't winterized their hot dog carts nor ended their season this year as normal in November. The temperatures would have allowed most hot dog vendors in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area to vend their yummy hot dogs for a couple of more months. One new vendor did just that. Bill from Detroits Finest Coney Island Dogs is still vending in January on the corner of Rudisill and Anthony. Bill has a brand new custom made hot dog cart with a full 24 inch griddle to grill most of his dogs. His dogs are tasty and they have a natural casing that has a pleasant snap when you bite into it. Bill also uses loose meat to top his deluxe dogs...yummiest, high quality ground beef tops his dogs. If you live near or around Fort Wayne, visit Bill for some of the finest hot dogs in Fort Wayne Indiana. You won't be sorry you tried, in fact you may just find yourself driving down near Bill's for any reason just to grab a dog....Dog gone good Bill ! Keep up the good work because you are making Fort Wayne Indiana Hot Dog Vendors proud.

Hot Dog Cart Season is Always in Season

2011-09-07T18:05:00.000-07:00

If you think the it is too late to buy your first hot dog cart think again. The best time to buy your new business is when the season is slowing down and people are beginning to plan for next year's events. Most event planners begin planning their events at least a year in advance for a successful event. Hot Dog Vendors in the US and other countries need to plan their event calendar the same way. Every event you want to rebook should go down in your calendar of events fist. Then call and send emails all winter long trying to book the calendar as full as you possibly can stand it for the following year. I would not recommend booking too many events prior to March or you could end up running your hot dog cart in the snow if you live in the Midwest or Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you want to know more about the hot dog cart business, call Osborne's Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts in Fort Wayne Indiana. Our experts have been running successful businesses for years and years now. We still operate a hot dog cart locally and have a blast at some events. This month will be going on the road to Columbus and to Michigan and back again to Aetna with our Tasty Taco Wagon. You never know where you will see us next but you can be sure that we will bring the most innovative hot dog vendor cart in the industry and our food will be good and hot just like our customers like it. Check out our newest selection of hot dog carts and mobile food stands at www.dreammakerhotdogcarts.com . We look forward to meeting you !

Labor Day Activities in the Dog House

2011-09-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

It was a very busy Labor Day Week at Ds, and at the Doggies Gourmet Hot Dog Mobile Food Cart. We set up in Auburn, Indiana at the Antique Auto Auction newly owned and hosted by Auctions America on Wednesday. The heat rolled in and started heating up our hot dog buns almost immediately. Even though heat index was projected to be in excess of 100 each day for 3 days straight we got to work. We knew that the show must go on, even if we expected the worst and acted like we were out to give our best. The best is what we gave them, the worst is how we felt but you could never tell by the smiles on our face as we saw our regular customers roll up to our little hot dog cart by the pond in it's 10th anniversary showing. We relished each customer, one and all. As they got to the front of the line and smiled and said give me one..burn it as always and aked "do you remember me?" Of course, I remember most of my customers who have been faithful out there over the years. Do I remember their names...? Honestly, no. Do I remember their kind faces or their smiles? Of course I do, I even remember their food requests. I remember that they like my smoked sausage the best, majority like burnt dogs, this weenie wagon is not for kids by any means. Most of the hot dog cart customers noticed that we had a new innovative hot dog cart, yes... this hot dog cart was manufactured by Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts, Indiana, owned by Osborne. It boasts of 2 large storage drawers, a nice stainless grill to burn dogs on, 2 full size steam tables that held the temperatures well. a full size customer service shelf and a back prep shelf for the 2nd operator. In fact my cart was so well planned out that I was able to reduce my labor from 4 people to just 2 people in the front and one prep person in the back saving me labor. One plus was the bun warming drawer, the prep person was able to roll dogs in foil wrappers and fill the bun drawers with the buns as I slipped them quickly into the steamer unit for just a few seconds. Our customers commented on how tasty their steamed buns were and how well they loved the new operation. Although they did miss the brightly colored hot dog cart that looked like a bun they did not miss the smile on my face or our food which is so famous at the Auctions America Auction Park in Auburn Indiana. Some say that the Antique cars are the draw for customers there...we like to think that the little hot dog cart in front of the pond area for the last 10 years is the draw for some nationwide from Florida to Wisconsin, to Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Our dogs were hot, our feet were barking, we couldn't keep up on the sunscreen or ahead of the dehydration as temperatures exceeded that triple digit heat index but the tired smile on our face displayed the love of our time ... our tradition at the Auctions America. Sales were down, over 60% but spirits soared and our customers were so happy to see us. It is encouraging to be so loved by your customers. The money wasn't enough to pay the rent or retire on, that is for sure but we will continue to come back as long as they want us and our hot dogs.

To all of our faithful customers, from shytown, Danny, Don, Hoot, Steve, and our neighbor vendors like Jim-the sunglass man, fi-fi's momma and brother.. We love you all, May God keep you all safe until next Labor Day weekend where we have been meeting and falling in love with all of you at the hot dog cart by the pond for the last 10 years.

New Hot Dogger in Ohio

2011-08-04T21:45:00.001-07:00

Welcome our newest hot dogger, Roy Foster from the Cincy Ohio area. I wish you the best in your new adventure and will be here to support your efforts if you need me. :)

Roy is sure to be a success in his new mustard and ketchup cart shown here. Good luck Roy and serve em up hot !!

Is there money in the hot dog cart business?

2011-05-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

A resounding "yes" is heard from coast to coast from vendors who are new and old in the business of hot dogs. The question is do you want to be an average hot dog vendor or do you want to be one of the top dogs in the industry? Here are a few tips for finding a profitable location in your area that I have found to be money makers. Keep in mind that in order to make money you do not want to sacrifice the quality of your food.

1) Call or visit your Parks and Recreation Department in your city to inquire about any independent food service contracts that are available for bidding. When bidding these contracts always bid a % of sales up to 20% but never over this amount. Take into consideration what they provide. Some may reasonably provide you with commissary, electricity, water and storage room..some may even have access to ice and other necessities to reduce your overall cost of doing business in the industry. These kitchens are almost always equipped as commercial kitchens although small in nature could serve as a home base for your business and you only pay when you make money. These contracts are normally signed in one year agreements with a multiple year renewal. I usually ask for 4 years. Common in the political arena.

Example: You contract for concessions for 3 city pool locations, these locations gross 10k per month which is very realistic, they furnish the facilities, you pull the license, hire the staff, pay the wages and sales taxes and 15-20% which will likely be 70% of your total income and pocket the profit of 34% because your overhead is fixed for utilities, rent etc at the 15-20% mark. Best of all you do not physically run any of the locations yourself. During my career as a restaurant owner just my food costs could run around 30%, employees 35% not including my rent and utilities by the time I was finished for the month I may have only net a mere 5% for all of my hard work.

Soccer fields are great for income, however keep in mind that you must be hearty in your mission as this sport occurs in the midwestern US during the coldest months of the year. Early Spring and late fall are the most profitable times of the year.

Dont limit yourself to outside contracts, as a vendor, become a caterer and diversify your business so that you may operate year around.

Dog House Carts, Inc located in Fort Wayne Indiana can manufacturer you a custom made hot dog cart with electrical capabilities for indoor use. Turning your business to an all year food service business can increase the odds of your success while increasing your bottom line. Although in most areas of the upper midwest you will have to close your business sometime in November, the line can form inside...and being a hot dog vendor you wont' want to miss a business opportunity.

2) Fairs & Festivals, special events. By all means, schedule your life and make it easy. If you choose this avenue you can expect to make big money and not work the traditional 5 day a week work week. Make sure that you dont find yourself buying bad hot dog cart vendor real estate as I call it. Fair and festival boards have a common goal in making money. They don't offer rain checks so dont gamble on a large event with big dollar entry prices unless you are willing to loose it should mother nature decide to take it from you. You may be willing to do the work during a stormy day but your customers have the choice of eating inside a building...nice and cozy instead of eating out in the rain and getting soggy buns.

What Hot Dogs do I use?

2011-05-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

I can not tell you how many times a week, a month or a year that I am asked this same question. Does it matter what brand of hot dogs I use? Well, of course it does. Regardless of what some non hot dog lovin people think, quality, price and region matters. People in certain regions have come to trust and love brand names that are indigenous to their area. In Florida, people love Sabretts famous brand, in Penn people love Smith's hot dogs, in Chicago people love Vienna Beef hot dogs.

My favorite hot dog is Boars Head due to it's No cancer causing nitrates and no fillers, just high grade meat. These are sold in a continuous link, all connected like the old day vendors use to buy for their hot dog carts. They are commonly found in fresh markets and whole food stores. I also like the new angus beef hot dog from Oscar Myer meets. It is nitrate free too. I am not into "healthy foods" 100% of the time but I quit smoking years ago to live a little longer, to see my grandbabies grow up why would I choose to have proven cancer causing agents in my hot dogs?

You have to like the hot dog that you serve, if you would serve it to your family, friends and eat it as your hot dog of choice, it's the dog you should use. Yes, price consideration is important but backing your product quality is important too.

There are many things to consider in your new business, but your main choice should be quality food, after all that is what the industry is all about.

From Hot Dog Vendor to Hot Dog Cart Builder

2011-05-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

You would think that if you were down for count, the count was 3 that your spirit would be a little crushed. After someone taking all that you have worked so hard to build for over a decade what would you be expected to do? I have been meaning to write a bit about this situation on my blog, get it out of my heart and soul and send it in a balloon or something, just let the feeling go for once and for all. After all, it's been almost a year. I am healthy and happy to be in a loving enviroment among friends who respect and know me. That I am thankful for. There is one thing that I am most thankful for, my husband and friend. James Osborne..he is brave, he is honest and he is the hardest working man I know. He may not be the most romantic man in the world..he doesn't buy me diamonds, he doesn't take me out for high class meals at fancy restaurants as a matter of fact he feels quite uncomfortable at those places.

So what does my husband do that makes him so special you ask? Let me tell you.... HE MAKES ME HOT DOG CARTS..not just any hot dog cart, but beautiful hot dog carts.

You see when all of my dreams were crushed by someone much bigger and richer than I he saw me cry...he wiped my tears and he cried with me when I lost my hot dog cart business due to making a deal with the devil. He wanted to fix it...he didn't know how. I gave up, I pursued another career leaving my old expertise behind due to pain and sorrow and added to the pain was the death of one of my good friends. I gave up, I stopped being the happy person I knew before I met this horrible fate. My trust was gone..... no promises came true.

This is my story, I have been waited a long time to tell it. I have been hurt very deeply by those I trusted with all I built, trust was destroyed a bit at a time until all that was left inside was hate. But my husband...the greatest man I know builds me hot dog carts and I love him for it.

Hot Dog Vendor Season Arrives

2011-05-09T20:38:00.001-07:00

It's here, we can feel it in our bones. Hot Dog Cart season is upon us. I can hear the fabricators at Dog House Carts, Inc buzzing with excitement as the custom cart orders come in for the 2011 hot dog cart season and they determine how they will keep up with their orders. To see the quality carts come off the press is amazing. The new wood cart that was hand fabricated by an amazing wood craftsman out of Georgia is just amazing !! Talk about a touch of the past, this cart is nostalgic and speaks with measures of elegance. A Hot Dog cart that even makes me want to fire up the flames !!

My life is much different this season, as some that are close to me know that I am no longer acting (for now) as the Queen of weenies, I am making an honest living helping those with skin care battles win their war. I am now a Indiana State Licensed Esthetician and perform microdermabrasions, chemical peels and constantly research methods commonly only derived from the fountain of youth. My new website is up and running now and the new business promises to be awesome. See me at http://www.behindenemylinesllc.com not only does this name depict what we sometimes feel when we are hiding behind a face that has seen too much sun in it's years, acne concerns, dryness, aging and just looking like we are tired beyond our years. I can turn back time with tried and true methods of anti youth serums, and procedures that make you feel and look younger.

However, I do volunteer to run a hot dog cart from time to time, show up for a now and then again lesson to new vendors in starting up and running their new business. Menu consulting for new hot dog vendors and cost analysis which in this age in time is ever so important. I am also currently contemplating reving up my ebay store where I sell those hard to find vendor accessories. Dog House Carts, Inc of Indiana has agreed to provide me with custom made accessories, swing away grills that attach in tow to your push bar and drop in condiment shelves. They have amazing equipment drawers with cam locks that are both secure and storage in their carts that I only dreamed of being a vendor. I don't know about you but the packing and unpacking of all of my supplies when I did an event to keep them from bouncing all over in my cart...gets old, real soon. The guys at Dog House Carts, Inc have solved those storage problems. And much much more, when I want a hot dog cart that is girl friendly I think of the models that are fabricated at Dog House Carts, Inc because they don't expect you to lean over a hot steam table to get to your on board cooler.. they have inovated a cooler that slides out so that you can easily get to your products without being burnt or worrying about setting something on a surface that you have to move on the top of the cooler every time you want to open it. I love the guys at Dog House Carts, Inc. That just may be because one of them is my husband James Osborne and Engineer, Hot Dog Cart Designer...Steve Schaefer. These guys really now how to make a vendor happy.

Jim and Steve would love it if you checked out their site, http://doghousecarts.com as they grow and progress. And if you need colored cart you should check them out. Wow, these carts are cherry red and bright yellow.....nice and the best thing is that they don't cost any more money. Give their sales department a call and talk to Greg Price about getting your amazing new cart.

And if you want to be the best looking hot dog vendor in the field, come see me.... I will make you look brand new.

Hot Dog Cart Spring Start up checklist

2011-02-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

So you think you are ready to take that hot dog cart out of storage and get it ready to go for the 2011 hot dog cart season? Well, a few things need to be taken into consideration prior to starting a successful vending cart season. Follow this checklist and you will rest assured that you will have months of interrupted food preparation.

1) remove your fresh water tank from your unit and flush with a food grade disinfectant. You can use chlorine bleach, however per the food safety guidelines you will want to mix it to be 50 ppm. No need to rinse out the container after the bleaching process unless you are using more than 100 ppm chlorine mixture. I recommend that this be completed at least once a month to keep any bacteria from growing in your water tank during the hot days of summer.

2) Check all of your water supply lines, make sure that there is no bacterial/dark growth going on in your supply lines. Flush with disinfectant solution also or replace the lines every 3-5 years on your hot dog cart to make sure that your water supply stays as clean as it needs to be.

3) Check your burner system, light it and make sure that your fire stays lit in all of the burner gas supply holes. If only a portion of the burner is working you may either see if you can get it unclogged by using a steel brush or powerwashing technique. Another option would be to replace the entire burner ring and the hose assembly if worn and non working. Check the propane supply hoses really well for any weakness as this can cause a fire during your seasonal operations and possibly shut your cart down for a few weeks. Very few vendors can afford to loose time during the active hot dog cart season.

4) Take your cart to a powerwashing facility that has hot water, wash it thoroughly, then sanitize each portion. After washing and sanitizing your cart, use stainless steel food grade polish or baby oil to protect it. This procedure should take place after each major event or at least a few times a week for the daily operator.

5) Throw out any old serving paper products that have been open and exposed to bacteria during the off months. Including paper towel, hot dog boats, napkins & any other serving ware. Unfortunately if you didn't protect it from the environment..it's probably not worth risking bacterial contamination over. You could make someone sick.

6) If your cart is a towable cart the next thing you want to check is the wheel bearings. Some manufacturers tell you that they are lifetime bearings, be sure that they are. If not you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. Just take the bearing cap off and make sure that there is plenty of grease in the bearings. If they look damaged or dry, you may want to replace them.

7) Tires, check your tires for wear and tear including dry rot. If a hot dog cart sits in one place for any length of time it may cause the tires to be flat on one site and you are in for a rough ride when hauling your cart. An entire tire assembly is available at most Walmart stores for less than $40.00 each.

8) Check your onboard cooler and make sure that it is sanitized by flushing it with the bleach mixture as stated above.

9) Check all locks, rivets and latches to see that they are in working order.

10) Make sure your graphics are nice and clean and neat. I would recommend replacing every 5 years or so to keep a professional look to your business.

11) Your umbrella, your open sign, if it's dirty, torn or dingy, replace it. It doesn't have to be an expensive adventure. Go to your local Sams club and pick up a multicolored umbrella for just around $25.00, you may want to buy two.

12) The impression you present with your cart will determine your success. No one wants to hire a dirty mobile vending cart. It is likely that if the owner doesn't care about the cart he doesn't care about you.

Next thing, make calls, make menus, order hot dog cart business cards and Tshirts and you are ready to start the New 2011 hot dog season out right.

New Hot Dog Manufacturers in Indiana

2011-02-11T12:40:00.001-08:00

Look at these two innovative hot dog cart manufacturers ! The smile on their face surely tells you that they know something that makes them feel like spring is just around the corner in the hot dog cart industry. Steve Schaefer makes sure that his engineering degree is not wasted by designing the industry's most vendor friendly carts the mobile food industry has ever seen. Jim Osborne his partner in the business is no stranger to the pristine way of manufacturing quality made hot dog carts as he has worked for some the nations highest quality driven manufacturers in the last 15 years.

New hot dog cart designs boasts of something that no other manufacturer offers in the industry today. A huge pull out bun storage drawer where the operator can be more than ready to do a large amount of business in a very short period of time. No more burning your bun bags on the top of your hot stainless steel hot dog cart, just wrap them in foil and they are ready when you are. Two large full size steam table cookers make sure that you will never run out of food even for the hungriest of crowds. Easy to use pull out cooler is ready when you need it and slides neatly inside the cart when you don't need it. No more bending over a hot steam table and getting burnt or possibly catching your clothes on fire, just slide it out, get what you need and slide it back into place. Mobile vendor friendly design. We have also designed an add on stainless steel grill that swings out so that it is vendor friendly. No more having it where you don't need it. It also locks into place when the hot dog vendor is closing their cart for the day. One of the most important features is our affordable canopy top for our hot dog carts, yes if you like you can still use an old umbrella, however once you see this unique canopy... you will never go back to the traditional umbrella. Call Dog House Carts, Inc 877-490-6655 for an estimate on your new canopy set up for your used hot dog cart and give it a new shine for the upcoming season.

The Hot Dog Vendor Season is in full swing !

2010-03-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the snow is finally melting and we turn all of our thoughts and our dreams to the upcoming season. Vendors get ready, some with new carts, some with new accessories and menus. Who will be the one vendor in the news this year? What type of hot dogs and toppings will be hot in 2010? I can't predict what will be the hottest item but I can predict that hot dogs will be eaten in 2010 in almost every city in the country and that new business will start up and new businesses will give up in 2010. For those of you wanting to start up a new mobile vending business why not check out our websites at www.hotdogcarts.com and www.hotdogcartworld.com and our new site at www.famouscarts.com we have free ownership guides that are sure to please those that are just seekers of general information or those who are serious about creating a win win business planning guide for new hot dog vendors.

Does your business have a success story that you want to tell? Call me or write me at weinerlady3@aol.com and tell me about your story. Every month starting in April I will feature a story about a hot dog vendor and their business at www.hotdogcartworld.com . Yours could be next !!!

New Location Soon To Open

2010-02-27T20:11:00.000-08:00

Our new location in Punta Gorda Florida is almost ready to open, we are putting the final touches on the paint and getting ready to hang up the amazing banners created by Signs and Wonders in our home town Fort Wayne Indiana. We miss everyone so much and appreciate all of their love and support on this mission that has been extremely difficult for both Jim (my hubby) and I. We will be located at 12350 Tamiami Trail in Punta Gorda. We still have to pass our water quality testing, electrical inspection, fire inspection and building inspections and believe it or not that is really close to being opened here. We have been working on opening the new sales location in Florida since last May.

For those of you interested in how our search began, please listen up. Jim, mom, Desiree and I made several trip to Cape Coral and Fort Myers Florida last summer. The heat was blazing and the weather as humid as being in the middle of a jungle. Desiree talked about our hot dog vendor days and said it was amazing at how many obscene areas of our body we were sweating in while looking for a house and a commercial location. This search went well into September and the move to Florida with all of our worldly belongings and the help of our family took place the next month.

In order to make this happen, over the past year I had worked on closing down all of my food service business locations and as contracts with the city expired I did not renew them. AS well as my teaching position for food safety instruction classes. Wow, 7 locations and my classes that was alot to ask to move south to build a new beginning. Faith was what I based my decision on. Growth in my company and the faith going forward that I could help people start their own business beckoned me to continue on the path south.

So here I am, over 4 months later, doors are going to open.. I am not sure what day at this point but I am sure that the work that I have put into this project, the toil, the tears and the disappointments will all be vindicated sometime soon. All will rejoice in the hot dog world, as the Queen takes her place here in Southern Florida and learns how to help those struggling to get their business up and running to stay the course, stay strong and be ready to ride the waves should they come your way. Tears, sweat and fears all conquered to open this location. Stay tuned as the best is yet to come from me, the Weenie Queen.

The New Titan Model Hot Dog Cart is a Hot Item

2010-02-13T20:03:00.000-08:00

Our new 2010 Model hot dog cart called the Titan is a sure winner. Vendors from as far west as Nevada, South to Texas to Florida and Chicago are calling it a model that will continue to thrive for a very long time. Vendors have long wanted a nice flat-top grilling surface with a smooth stainless hinged lid that fits perfectly over simmering food on the grill. The smell of the grilled onions and peppers draws customers even if they have just eaten lunch. Here are some of the features of our new 2010 Model Hot Dog cart. Be sure to check out my newest website for the new 2010 model of hot dog carts. These models will be available at both our Indiana locations and our new Punta Gorda Florida location where we will soon be having a huge grand opening event. The paint is almost dry and the banners almost ready to hang... we will be updating you soon. Be sure to come by and say "hi"

Features:

18 gauge Stainless Steel 304 food prep surface
choose 2 1/3 pan steamers or 1 1/3 pan and 2 1/6 pan for a total of 4 pan set ups
girl friendly cart, handles with ease and light to move...use one finger control
great handles for easy control of movement
2 - 9,000 BTU cast iron burners keeps your heating bin -HOT
highway towable tires-8 inch (dont' tell anyone but I tested these at 70 miles per hour and they did just fine, no bouncing or swaying)
DOT rated Trailer
1-3 sink set up for the same low price ( 4th sink optional cost of $200.00)
5 gallon fresh-7 gallon waste
New smooth 9 volt battery operated system.. forget the expensive charger we've improved
Nice large cooler with exterior drain
Many other features- check us out at www.famouscarts.com

Come take a look at this cart at any of our locations... we would love to have you. Maybe you will even catch us cooking up some hot dogs, if so I know you hope that we will invite you in.

Hot Dog Cart Season is Upon US

2010-01-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

The snow is melting, the sun is starting to peek out behind the clouds more now and we can imagine the smell of spring, the smell of the hot dog carts and street vendors as they begin another season.

This season seems somewhat different to me. I am not one of those hot dog vendors this year. I am not planning any big new promotion to gather new catering jobs, no menu increases or hot product search. I am in the teaching mode now. I finished my 10 years of street vending as a hot dog vendor last Fall.

I am helping to create some of the best hot dog vending equipment in the US in combination with my friends at Willy Dogs, LTD. Willy Dogs has been manufacturing hot dog carts and mobile food vending carts for over 20 years now. We at Carts of America, Inc love the people at Willy Dogs and have partnered with them to come up with some of the most innovative new products. We are designing some of the most versatile hot dog vending carts this industry has ever had.

Sure the designs make me want to take them back onto the street and serve up some of the best tasting products this nation has ever seen. Great customer service with a smile. That is what I enjoyed as a hot dog lady.

As these hot dog vendors, both old and new take to the streets this season, something will be missing from my life. The amazing ability to determine your worth on a hot dog cart. Work a little work a lot but it's still amazing that people come to depend on your services, your food and your excellent first class customer service attitude. Being a hot dog vendor is an attitude, one of joy one of love of the industry... here my passion.

I am now here to teach others to build their own hot dog cart vending business, smile, relax and above all have a good time. Your customers will come back when they learn that you love what you do and that you love giving them the best hot dogs they have ever tasted in their life.

They are still talking about our service, they still have watering mouths as they talk about us.. yes, the hot dog lady created alot of good memories for many over the years.. Go on, create some of your own. It's not too late, the season is upon us but it has not passed.

Free Shipping In January

2010-01-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

Looking for a great deal on a hot dog cart in 2010? Carts of America, Inc and Carts of Florida (new) are offering "free" shipping in January. That is right, order your cart and pay for it in January and take advantage of the significant savings on your new hot dog cart business. Offer will not apply to in-stock used hot dog carts.

Another news blast from the weenie queen, Debra Osborne and the bunmaster princess Desiree who now manages the Fort Wayne Indiana location we are offering a deal you wont want to miss ! Bring us any competitors quote, we will meet or beat their price, guaranteed !

We are ready to make 2010 one of the best years our company has ever had, we have improved customer service, a huge selection of replacement parts, two hot dog cart repair locations, custom fabrication in two locations in the US and one in Canada. We are becoming one of the largest retail manufacturers and dealership businesses in the world.

Why deal with those that profess to be the King of Hot Dogs? We all know that the Queen has the last word. Why deal with the King when you can deal directly with the Queen.

The Queen is in. Call me, I will help you get started in your new hot dog cart business. See my ownership guide and manual on www.hotdogcartworld.com it will help you get started. And hey, by the way give your local health department a call for regulations on operating a mobile food vending cart in your area before buying any mobile food vending business.

Buying Your Hot Dog Cart

2009-12-07T17:46:00.001-08:00

1) Check you local county health departments requirements for operating a mobile food stand, remember that there may be different rules for "hot dog only carts" vs those mobile food stands that prepare a much higher risk product such as raw meats and fish.

2) Check with your city zoning and make sure that there are no obstacles in obtaining a general transient permit for street vending. If you have served in the military then chances are this is free to you for your lifetime. My husband is a proud former Marine and so proud to carry his lifetime transient/vendor permit.

3) Compile a simple business plan. When and where do you plan to operate? What will your menu items be, make it simple. Start out as a street vendor just to get some practice in and then find out where in your area you could make the most money. Likely someone out there will have valuable advice for you about your area. Usually those who do not take the risk of being a small business owner have endless amounts of advice for your business success. Some is worth millions little do they know.

4) Set up your suppliers, who will you purchase your product from and how much will it cost you? Do they have a rebate program. Will a family owned meat market trade commissary privledges as long as you purchase all of your meat products from them, or a bakery store? This will save you precious funds if you can barter these services.

5) Do a comprehensive product cost analysis so that you can plan a menu. Find out what your cost is and how much you will make off each product. Determine how many of those units you need to sell each day to stay in the black. This prevents you from thinking that you can sell quality hot dogs at $1.00 each and still make a living.

6) Now determine how much you are willing to spend on your start up business and what type of unit you will need to produce your menu items in a comfortable timely manner. Remember, start your hot dog business simple. You can always complicate things later, you will wish you didn't.

7) Use this formula to calculate how much to allocate for each item. 35 % for food product cost, 35% for your overhead or business start up cost, and the remaining 30% goes into your pocket as pay. Now, later on you can reduce these to 25% for food cost, 25% labor cost to hire someone, 25% overhead cost and 25% goes back into your pocket. Quite alot if you are not operating your own business.

8) Look for your cart, make sure that they can provide you with schematics to submit to the health department for approval. check the following manufacturers... I will list my site first because this is my blog. lol

www.hotdogcarts.com
www.worldsbesthotdogcarts.com
www.willydogs.com
www.allamericanhotdogcarts.com
www.americandreamhotdogcarts.com

Remember when looking for a hot dog cart these things are most important:

All stainless easy to clean exterior and interior design, no porous materials such as wood that you would need to treat year after year. Bacteria can be easily absorbed into wood.

pressurized water system, 12 volt is good make sure that they include your battery and charger because this could cost you as much as $100.00 additional.

If you are going to move from place to place, make sure it is highway grade and towable, with a working light kit.

For hot dogs only you will require a 3 pan steamtable. For an extended menu, you will need more room for product.

Make sure that the manufacturer offers a warranty, ask for references and read about them on the web. Anyone can have problems with a hot dog cart but if the manufacturer cares about it's customers they will try to do their best to help their customers.

Last but not least, make sure that they are there for you after the sale. No, not to go to dinner but to support you in your adventure. Mine was. He was and is still there for me and always answered all of the questions I had about the hot dog cart business. If you have any questions please comment and I will be happy to respond in my next blog... Good luck and until next time.

Keep doggin IT out there.

The New Location Coming Soon

2009-12-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a hectic month. This month promises to serve our loyal customers well. We have been providing quality made hot dog carts, new start up business support, good value accessories for hot dog carts, profit analysis, hot dog product location, hot dog cart repairs and replacement parts along with many other services for many years now. As a hot dog vendor we have provided our customers in Indiana with quality catering at an affordable price. That was our vision statement.

We believe our values have allowed us to grow as a company and taken us on the path to help even more hot dog vendors start up their own business making their time and their paycheck something that they control by the efforts that they put into the business. Ok, we don't want to continue to keep everything a secret so we will tell you that we are arriving soon in the South Florida Marketplace. I am not at liberty to say exactly where we will be located but you will be able to take a nice family vacation to paradise and buy your hot dog cart at the same time. We will have 2 times the models available for you to look at to fit your needs.

Keep reading my blog to get more information as it unfolds. It is an exciting time for Carts of America, Inc. I am so looking forward to 2010, it just may be our year. I am not talking about our company, I am talking about us, the people.. taking the economic status into our own hands as small business owners and doing something about it. We have the ability and we have the knowledge of survival. Small business owners, UNITE.

Hot Dog Vendor Dream

2009-11-28T17:27:00.000-08:00

Are you dreaming of becoming a hot dog vendor in 2010? Do you want to know how to go about buying the right hot dog cart or hurdling the never ending red tape of the health department? Do you know if you have specific zoning laws in your town? Do you know how to write a business plan? These are some of the steps that you will need to learn in order to run a successful hot dog cart vending business. You don't need to be a millionaire or a millionaire's kid either. I started my business on a loan from my 401K retirement plan, why not? It wasn't going anywhere and all of my business expenses including paying myself back was covered by the IRS as a postive investment. Why invest in me? Well, let me see... I am responsible for waking up every day and knowing what makes me happy. I am smart enough to know that if my life plan isn't working that I need to change plans, are you? Take a look at all of the information available to you at www.hotdogcartworld.com , www.willydogs.com, www.worldsbesthotdogcarts.com, www.uscarts.net, www.hotdogprofits.com , and best of all my own site www.hotdogcarts.com and see what you have been missing. Don't forget to read my own personal story on the about us page. Print out all of the hot dog cart vending business plans you can get your hands on. If you have to buy one, make sure that it is worth what you pay for it. Determine what your budget will be for starting your own business. In my experience, I have started up two restaurants, one full service breakfast and lunch and one just a hot dog deli of sorts, of each of these the lowest start up budget was $12,000.00 and the other just over $65,000.00. I had decided that I am not the type of person who can be a prisoner to the economy. I can't sit and wait and depend on marketing coupons to get people to know where my eatery is. I need to go where the people are, then I can get them to taste my delicate yummies and get them to depend on me like a puppy depends on their mother for food. I did just that for 10 years. I am now qualified to help you start your mobile food service business just like I did mine. Take that leap of faith, worst case scenario... you go back to work for someone else. An old saying out of a book I read, you can't run to second base if your foot is still on first can you?

November Newsletter Coming Soon

2009-11-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a real effort to compose a newsletter that is worthy of my friends and my co-workers. Yes, I have 10 + experience as a hot dog lady, yes many good stories of success to share but when it comes to putting it all down on paper as most of you well know it's quite difficult to determine which ones are going to be useful and which ones just fall between the cracks. Given consideration for a miserable long time, I decided that I will just jot it all down month by month. Everything I have learned in the business. All of the advice that was given to me by the experts in the field. I am not a carnie... those that chase the carnivals from one state to another so if you seek expertise in this area, I prefer the hometown hot dog vendor appeal. I may wander an hour or so away from my home but not so far that I can not return to properly sanitize my dishware and scrub my pots in my home kitchen for another day's event. Stay tuned, sign up for my newsletter at www.hotdogcartworld.com and get ready, pictures, stories and advice. Feel free to email me @ weinerlady3@aol.com with anything you feel newsworthy. If it's in good taste, I will publish it. Later...

Newsletter Sign ups

2009-11-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

We are going to publish a monthly newsletter, I know big committment on my part. However, there are so many people out there that have daily questions about their mobile food service business I felt like the easiest way was to publish a monthly newsletter. It will come out by the 15th of every month. It will have new products, important hot dog vendor information. Hot Dog Cart sales events, vendor and training events in the food service industry and some area health department tips for starting your own business. We are hoping to get a business plan out in hard copy here soon to help those who need to refer to it on a regular basis. Please go to our site at www.hotdogcartworld.com and sign up for your newsletter. Dont be left out, the more you are educated about the business you are in, new or old to it the better off you are. If you have any suggestions or feedback about what you would like to see in the newsletter please submit them to me at www.hotdogcartworld.com on the contact us form. We already have plans to include popular recipes and hot dog suppliers, with feedback from our customers who love them best.

Time to Plan for 2010 Hot Dog Cart Season

2009-11-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

That is it, the season for about 60% of us, hot dog vendors effected by the cold weather is about to end. But does that mean we sit on our sofas and watch Soap Operas and Talk show hosts try to solve everyone else's problems? Not me,no sir. I am ready... I am hitting the southern market to check out the view. Not only am I hitting the southern market to check out the view but you will have to stay tuned to my blog to find out what I am doing. Curious? You should be.

Modern day hot dog vendors aren't vendors who sit on a single street corner their entire life being happy with a mere $150.0 per day that most vendors will admit to taking in. We strategize, plan and make phone calls in the off season. Hoping to book those corporate events, festivals, sporting events and more. A decent event grosses at least $100.00 per hour for 4-5 hours in a row every time. If your street corner location does this, stay there and don't move. You will do well.. be dependable. If not, move on. There are better locations, hungrier people and those who want you to serve their customers.

How much do you think a caterer charges for just showing up? Do you think that the average catering business would show up and pay someone to show up for 20-50 people? If so they would be out of business. You shouldn't either. There are corporations out there, businesses that need food service, want food service but they can't afford a caterer. Talk about keeping your employees on site, getting them fed in timely manner without causing their staff gas money and time for the employer, it's a win win situation to have you there. You are an asset, find someone who recognizes that.

Don't pay rent, barter your space. Trade some free meals, donation to a favorite charity, cater their birthday party, wedding or special event. Don't pay rent !!! I am telling you that there is a better option, find it.

I have been in the hot dog cart business for over 10 years and not ever paid "rent"for a space. Always barter, employee rewards or donations to a favorite charity. I have however paid a % of my income, combined with sales receipts from a location sharing the ownership of the business with the property owner. With a stake like that it is very likely the property owner will look after your best interest. Otherwise, you are a tenant and the success of your business is up to you.

I hope that you have gathered some good advice from this post. More will be coming as I update you on one of my life's greatest business accomplishments yet. I am brave, holding my breath, working diligently and praying intensely.

Hot Dog Vendor Fall Venue

2009-10-01T10:22:00.001-07:00

Guys...It is an exciting time for all of our businesses ! You say why the season is about to close in the midwest and northern areas to get ready for winter months. Well, some of my best work has been done in the fall and winter months. When is the best time to start that annual business plan, work on your website, cater holiday events? This is it ! Network !! Join all of those networking groups that you have always wanted to. Have lunch, make some new friends and share your enthusiasm for your business with them. They will see the passion you have. Have you taken a food safety class yet? Sign up for one. Most certificate holders will expire next spring if you were certified in the year that the health departments mandated participation in health and safety training and certification. Email me with questions on where the nearest class is to your area. Heck you can even study online now and go to a local college and take your exam. You won't get the hands on training that a good, no great teacher will give you. This is house cleaning season also. Does your mobile unit need repairs? Schedule those repairs now. Get it shiny and clean, clean out every nook and cranny so that your business shows your pride and makes your customers aware that you care about sanitary practices. Get Ready for next season, 2010 promises to be more of the same. Success in the Hot Dog Vending industry takes work, it's your business. What do you want out of it? Do you want to make money? Read about how to increase your ticket sales... keep posted. This winter I will make some very serious recommendations on how to increase your per person ticket value....