Hot Dog Business

The Health Department is one of those aspects of the business that you really need to get to know properly.  Because you are dealing with food, it is vital that you have the right permits.

Getting the right permit from the board of health will require that you have a Servesafe certification.  You can find out where to do this by searching online for Servesafe.

This whole process is not difficult to complete and then you will have the Health inspector come and inspect your van. I would recommend that you phone them up after you have done all your research, but before you spend any money to ensure that the equipment you are going to buy for your cart satisfies their requirements.

photo credit: joshstaiger

They are also a really great source of information, so if you want some answers, it’s always a good idea to give them a call and ask.  You will want to make an appointment for them to come and see you.  You could also ask them if all the information you have is correct for the business you want to set up.  They will have a lot of insight into the kind of licenses you need for both a public and a private hot dog stand.

Getting the right information is really important before you spend any money.

No matter what business you decide to start, you are unlikely to be able to begin without first getting the required licenses. Each state and local municipality will have it’s own requirements which means that you will have to do a little research of your own.

State license versus local license?

While you may be expected to have a state business license in some areas, you may not require it where you live. You may only need to have a local license. Some states require that you have one or the other and in some cases you may even need to have both. This makes it extremely difficult for a lot of people to get started. YOu may also need to ask about ‘mobile vendor’ permits befor you get started. Having a guide to help you through this tedious, yet very important part of your business will make it a lot easier.

The best source of information for your area is to ask someone who is presently working a hot dog stand what the requirements are and where to find the best information, or alternatively you can read all the information in our hot dog cash download.

photo credit: Tony the Misfit (taking a break)

When you are doing your research, you may also want to enquire about weather your license can be used if you are going to move your cart to another location. Sometimes a state license will cost a bit more but will allow you the freedom to move your cart when you have an event that is worth working outside of your normal location.

Although licenses and permits are a pain to have to get, getting the right ones is an investment in time and money that you just can’t afford not to invest. Get your licenses and start making money.