Hot dogs can make a pleasant meal. In fact there are people who are addicted to it. They could have it over and over again. This is why those who are in the business have continued to make good money.
Opening a hot dog cart might be one of the best moves to make. This is hinged on the fact that there are a whole lot of people who are into the consumption of it. Starting a hot dog cart business doesn’t cost a fortune, as you can start with some small amount of cash and then grow with it.
A Sample Hot Dog Cart Business Plan Template
Table of Content
1. Industry Overview
The Hot Dog cart industry has skilled people and can be said to have continued to evolve as the years go by. Over half a decade ago, up until now, remarkable changes have continued to happen in the industry, as consumers have increasingly paid premiums to get the best hot dogs.
Despite the efforts which the entrepreneurs in this field put into the trade, there is still a high competition and an unfavorable regulatory conditions in some cities in the united states of America that have limited the growth of industry vendors.
Research has shown that soon in 2023, favorable consumer trends will continue to support moderate revenue growth. However, the industry will need to work with community governments to resolve the numerous legal challenges to food cart operations.
The Food Carts industry is in the increasing phase of its life cycle. Nonetheless, growth has increased slightly over the past few years and revenue is still growing at a much faster rate than the larger food-service sector.
In the past food carts have progressed better than their food-service counterparts- with the hot dog cart not an exception, primarily due to the budget-friendly features of their products and the expanding style of consumers seeking new food concepts.
Besides, the industry continues to progress and new creations are still entering the industry with new concepts. Figures have it that by 2022, industry value added (IVA), which has its measure an industry’s contribution to GDP, is predictable and is likely to grow at an average annual rate of 6.4%.
2. Executive Summary
Shasta Hotdogs ® is a leading and standard hot dog cart Company that will be based in Boston – Massachusetts, USA that covers a wide range of clients both individual and corporate clients. We have been able to lease a standard corner piece facility that is centrally located in the heart of Boston.
We have put plans in place to also sell our franchise and offer consultancy services in line with our area of business. Shasta Hotdogs® is established by the Boston awarding winning food nutritionist and caterer – Banta Gibe – who has B.Sc. in Food Science Technology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the Harvard Business School.
He also has a robust experience in the food business having worked both in the public sector and the private sector prior to starting his own business. We are in the Hot dog cart Industry to favorably compete with other leading and brands in the industry. Our corporate business goal is to be among the top 10 Hot dog cart chain brand in the United States of America.
As a company, we are willing to go the extra mile to invest in some of the finest professionals we can find and also we have set plans in place to acquire the best of equipment when it comes to setting up a standard and first class Hotdog cart business.
When it comes to hygiene and proper packaging, we have put plans, process and structures in place that will ensure that we are always at the top of game when it comes to that. We have been able to secure permits from all relevant departments in Boston.
Beyond every reasonable doubt, the demand for Hotdogs isn’t going to plummet any time soon, which is why we have put plans in place to continue to explore all available market around the cities where we are going to be located and ensure that we create a wide range of distribution channels via franchising. With that, we know that we will be able to maximize profits in our business.
Our strongest selling point at Shasta Hotdogs Foods ® is the unique taste of the different types of delicacies that we will make and sell. There is hardly any customer that will taste any of our meals who would not want to come back and make more purchase or order more– we take great delight in welcoming repeat customers over and over again.
Shasta Foods® will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a firm, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible. We will ensure that we hold ourselves answerable to the uppermost standards by meeting our customers’ needs precisely and completely whenever they patronize our products.
We will nurture a working environment that provides a human, sustainable approach to earning a living, and living in our world, for our partners, employees and for our customers.
Our plan is to position Shasta Foods® to become the leading brand in mobile Hot dog food industry in the whole of Boston, and also to be amongst the top 10 Hotdog cart brand in the United States of America within the first 6 years of starting our business.
This might look too tall a dream but we are hopeful that this will surely come to pass because we have done our research and feasibility studies and we are enthusiastic and confident that Boston is the right place to launch this type of business before spreading to other cities all across The United States of America.
3. Our Products and Services
At Shasta Hotdogs ® we make a wide range of Hotdogs in terms of sizes and flavors et al; we prepare and serve our meals and other related items. We will also adopt full-service restaurants and quick-service style. As part our strategy to create multiple sources of income in line with our core business concept, we will run a consultancy service and trainings.
Our intention of starting Shasta Hotdogs ®is to make profits from the industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and ambition. Here are some of our products and services;
- sell Hotdogs with meals
- sell snacks
- sell assorted drinks (Soft Drinks, Wines, smoothie, and punch, Fruit Juice, amongst others)
- Sell franchise
- Training and consultancy services on mobile Hotdog business
4. Our Mission and Vision Statement
- To become the leading brand in mobile Hotdog cart business in Boston and the whole of United States of America.
- We are in the mobile Hotdog industry with the aim of constructing a brand that can readily meet the needs of our valued clients in places where they can hardly access standard cafeterias.
- And also to offer entrepreneurs the opportunity and training needed to successfully lunch their own mobile food truck business in other cities in the US.
Our Business Structure
On the average, mobile Hotdog companies usually have 4 or 5 employees under their payroll. Because of the type of mobile food business brand that we intend building, we have been able to make provision for the following employees;
- Chief Operating Officer (Owner)
- Chef / Caterer
- Assistant Caterer
- Sales Girl
- Cashiers
- Driver
- Office Administrator
5. Job Roles and Responsibilities
Chief Operating Officer (owner)
- Responsible for providing direction for the business
- Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
- Responsible for the day to day running of the business
- Responsible for fixing prices
- Responsible for recruitment
- Responsible for payment of salaries
- Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
- Evaluates the success of the organization
Chef / Caterer /Cooks
- Responsible for preparing delicacies
- Makes lists and budget for kitchen supplies
- Oversees the entire kitchen staff
- Responsible for training new cooks
- Makes sure that the meals being whipped up tastes really good
- Kitchen Assistant / Utility Staff
Assistant the chef/ cook in the kitchen
- Ensures that all the needed cooking ingredients are in supply
- Runs errand for the chef / cook and every member of the workforce
- Ensures that the kitchen area of the truck is clean and hygienic at all times
- Responsible for washing cooking pots, utensil and dishes when necessary
- Assists in packaging food and snacks
- Responsible for moving packed foods from the kitchen to the cubicle / point of sale
- Ensures that various types of drinks are present in the fridge per time (get them replaced as soon as they are sold)
- Any other duty as assigned by the line manager
Sales Girl
- Interfaces with our highly esteem customers
- Collects orders and issues foods as demanded by customers after payment
- Keeps proper records of daily sales and then reconcile with the cashier
- Responsible for manning the fridge and every stuffs that are up for sale
- Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer
Cashier
- Receives payments on behalf of the company (POS, cash, mobile money et al)
- Issues receipt to customers
- Prepares financial report at the end of every working week
- Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the company
- Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer
Driver
- Responsible for driving the cart to sales venues and back to base
- Ensures that the cart is in top shape at all times
- Ensures that maintenance schedules for the cart are strictly followed
- Responsible for renewing the vehicle license, insurance and any other documentation for the vehicle as at when due
- Any other duty as assigned by the food cart manager
Office Administrator
- Responsible for managing the daily activities of the back end office
- Prepares payroll for the organization
- Prepare monthly financial report for the organization
- Interfaces with vendors and third party suppliers ( drink suppliers, raw food suppliers and maintenance team et al)
- Responds to enquiries on behalf of the company
- Handles phone calls for the company
- Manage the company’s e-mail and website
- Interfaces with our bankers (lodgment of cash, checks and bank drafts et al)
- Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills
- Any other duty as assigned by the Chief Operating Officer
6. SWOT Analysis
As a team together with our paid business consultants, we have been able to look both inward and outward, as well as critically assess ourselves and business ideas to know if we are truly ready to launch our mobile food truck business in Boston.
No doubt, we have a lot of factors working in our favor but at the same time we have some factors that we must contend with if we intend becoming the number one brand when it comes to mobile food cart business in Boston and the whole of North America. Below is a summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Shasta Foods® Mobile Hotdog Company;
- Strength-:
Aside from the exercises that have been acquired, as well as the hands on experience attained over the years prior to starting Shasta Hotdogs ® , our strength lies in our financial capacity and determination to succeed in the business at all cost.
We have been able to acquire a brand new mobile food preparation vehicle (MFPV). It has the capacity to meet the needs of well over 500 customers per day.
Our strength also lies in the fact that we have relationship with brand experts who are working almost for free for us. With that, will be able to build our brand to a level where we can start selling franchises and offer trainings and consultancy services on mobile Hot dog Cart business.
- Weakness:
The fact that we are preparing to roll out our hotdog cart business alongside other similar business offerings like training, consultancy services and sale of franchise could distract us from directed and channeling our energy in one direction.
We are quite aware of that and we are working towards blocking any area that will sap our energy and make us under performed in our core business area – sale of foods and drinks from a mobile cart.
- Opportunities:
The opportunities that we stand to leverage on are much. The fact that we are not snarled down to a location is indeed a good opportunity for us to grow our business to the level we want to grow it to. For example; we can afford to trade foods, snacks and drinks in more than two locations within a day. It is all about knowing when to arrive and leave for another location.
- Threat:
There is hardly any business venture that doesn’t face its own threat. Concerning Hotdog food cart business, one of the threat that we may likely face is; vehicular traffic in key cities.
Traffic can delay one and as a result of that one may get to the location where one intend selling the foods and drinks late- this could be when the lunch break is over (basically for organized events). Yet another threat is; the government policies, which could also pose a great threat to the mobile food cart industry.
7. MARKET ANALYSIS
- Market Trends
In this dispensation more than ever before, people no longer have sufficient time to do all they would want to do within the available 24 hours. Hence, the rise of fast food restaurants all over the cities. As such, mobile Hotdog cart business is another business that is designed to fit into a dispensation like ours.
Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we shall adopt include but not limited to the following; Submit proposals to event management companies to become their official mobile food vendor.
Submit proposals to management of public facility (sport centers, beach and schools, et al) to become their official mobile food vendor. Send proposals to schools and corporate organizations to become their official mobile food vendor. Sponsor relevant events, such as cooking competitions, and cultural events, et al.
8. Our Target Market
When it comes to mobile Hot dog cart business, there are no restrictions to the market you can explore, as long as you are operating within the law of the state where you are conducting your business. We do not intend to place any limit to the scope of our target market and these are the places / locations where we intend operating our mobile food cart business with the aim of maximizing sales;
- Construction sites
- Tourism locations
- University Campuses
- Carnival ground
- Stadiums and sport centers
- Community Outdoor Events
- Blue Collar work locations
- Farmers Markets
- Industrial Parks
- Movie Recording Location
- Farmers Market
- Military Bases
- Office Complexes
- Mechanic Villages
- Open air shows and programs
When it comes to foods, there is indeed a wide range of available customers. In essence, our target market can’t be restricted to just a group of people, but all those who eating out and of course those who would want to try it out. In view of that, we have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. These are the groups of people we intend marketing our mobile Hot dog cart business to;
- Households
- Children
- Corporate Executives
- Government Officials
- Business People
- Celebrities
- Military Men and Women
- Sports Men and Women
- Students
- Tourists
- Everyone who resides in our target locations.
Our Competitive Advantage
There isn’t a business without competition. As such, tons of factors count towards our advantage as a mobile Hotdog cart business operator. The fact that we have the ability to determine where we want to sell our foods and drinks per time gives us the leverage to make as much sales as we can make in a day.
It has been observed that any organization that offers training and consultancy services is always amongst the leaders in their industry and we at Shasta Hotdogs Company are set to tow along this part because we want to become experts and amongst the leading mobile food truck company in the whole of the US.
We have put plans in place to facilitate continuous improvement on what we do, because we know that is one of the factors that will be give us competitive advantage in the market place. Another competitive advantage that we have as a company is the size and condition of our food truck.
We have been able to purchase brand new retrofitted carts with the entire required gadget. It is big enough to accommodate all that we would need for the business, we are going to spend less on maintenance and we can easily obtain approval from the appropriate authorities.
9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY
- Sources of Income
Businesses that do pretty well are businesses that have more than one source where they generate revenue. It is risky to run a business where you can only generate income from just one source. The truth is that if anything goes wrong with the source of income, the business might likely collapse.
This is why we worked hard to provide you with a sample Hotdog truck marketing plan template to help you through the process. The big picture we have for Shasta Hotdog Cart ® to generate income from the following sources;
- Sales of Hot dogs (meals)
- Sales of Snacks
- Offering training services
- Offering consultancy services in line with our business goal
- Sales of drinks
- Sales of our franchise
10. Sales Forecast
It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies and also assumptions. This is for sales projections based on what we saw.
Hot dog Lunch:
- 1000 lunches per day (on average), 12 months per year
- $20 per person on the average
Hot dog Snacks:
- 1500 snacks per day, 12 months per year
- $5 per person on the average
- Sales of Drinks and Water et al:
On the average over 80% of people who purchase lunch (meal) and snacks would normally consume drinks as well.
- $1.5 for a bottle of coke
This equates to 2000 drinks in a day when you multiply 2000 by 1.5 we will make an estimate of $3000 daily from the sale of drinks alone
- Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy
Before choosing a location to launch Shasta Hotdogs ® and also the types and the types of foods we prepare, we conducted a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to infiltrate the available market in the cities where we intend positioning our business.
We have comprehensive information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time and also for our products to favorable compete with other leading Hotdog cart brands in Boston – Massachusetts and the whole of the United States of America.
We employed experts who have good grasp of the industry to help us develop marketing strategies that will help us achieve our business goal of winning a larger percentage of the available market Boston – Massachusetts and throughout the United States of America where we intend selling our franchise.
So as to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our products to the available market which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver our corporate sales goals. In summary, Shasta Hotdogs ®will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to sell our Hotdog, food and soft drinks;
- Introduce our hot dog brand by sending introductory letters to residence, merchants and other stakeholders both in Boston – Massachusetts and in other cities in the United States of America
- Open our cart business with a party and free meals so as to capture the attention of residence who are our first targets
- Engage in road show in targeted communities from time to time to sell our products
- Advertise our products in community based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
- List our business and products on yellow pages ads (local directories)
- Leverage on the internet to promote our mobile food brands
- Engage in direct marketing and sales
- Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)
11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy
Notwithstanding the fact that our hot dog cart company is a standard one with a wide range of flavors and products that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the United States, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for all our products and brand. We are going to explore all available means to promote our services ®
Shasta Hotdogs ®has a long term plan of opening outlets in various locations all around the United States of America and also to sell our franchise which is why we will purposefully build our brand to be well accepted in Boston – Massachusetts before venturing out to other cities in the United States of America.
As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for selling our products but to also effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Shasta Hot dogs
- Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
- Sponsor relevant community programs
- Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our brand
- Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around major cities in the United States of America
- Engage in road show from time to time in targeted communities
- Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
- Position our Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where we intend getting customers to start patronizing our products.
- Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and distribution vans are customized and well branded.
12. Our Pricing Strategy
Generally food cart business sells meals, and snacks at a cheaper rate when compared to the conventional fixed – restaurant. We don’t have any plans to sell our foods, snacks and drinks beyond the prices that is obtainable in the industry.
That does not mean that we will fall below standard when it comes to the quality of our food. As a matter of fact, one of our strongest selling points will be the taste and perhaps the quantity of our foods when compared to our competitors.
From our market survey and feasibility studies, we are sure going to make reasonable profits even when we sell a little below the average price for package foods and snacks in the food cart industry, especially if the location we intend selling our foods and drinks is not far away from our base.
- Payment Options
At Shasta Foods®, our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available in every of our outlets;
- Payment by cash
- Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
- Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
- Payment via Mobile money
In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our payment plans without any itches.
13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)
When it comes to starting a normal food cart business, one is expected to spend the bulk of the start – up capital on equipping for the business. Aside from that, you are not expected to spend much except for purchasing distribution vans, paying of your employees and utility bills.
This is the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital;
- The Total Fee for Registering the Business in Boston – Massachusetts – $750.
- Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $1,300.
- Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Shasta Hotdogs Cart Business®; in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of – $3,580.
- Cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
- Insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
- Cost for payment of rent for 12 month at $1.76 per square feet in the total amount of $105,600.
- Cost for construction of a standard bakery – $100,000.
- Other start-up expenses including stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,500).
- Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $100,000
- The cost for Start-up inventory (raw materials and packaging materials et al) – $80,000
- Storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
- The cost for counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
- Cost for yogurt making equipment – $20,000
- Cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
- Cost of purchase of distribution vans – $50,000
- The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
- The cost of Launching a Website – $600
- The cost for our opening party – $10,000
- Miscellaneous – $10,000
We would need an estimate of $500,000 to successfully set up our Hot dog Cart delivery company in Boston – Massachusetts. Please note that this amount includes the salaries of the entire staff member for the first month of operation.
Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Buena Food Cart Business®
Shasta Hotdog Cart® is a family business that is owned and financed by Mr. Banta Jibe – and Family. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner, which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.
These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;
- Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sell of stocks
- Source for soft loans from family members and friends
- Apply for loan from my Bank
N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $80,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $400,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.
14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy
We are aware that the imminent success of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If any of these factors is missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.
Shasta Hotdogs ®will ensure that all the factors listed above are reinforced on a regular basis, we will ensure to improvise with our products, come up with pleasant and acceptable variance and also we will involve in continuous capacity building of our workforce.
As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more.
We will make sure that the right foundation, arrangements and processes are put in place to ensure that staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate philosophy is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner. We have the plans of
Check List / Milestone
- Business Name Availability Check:>Completed
- Business Registration: Completed
- Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
- Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
- Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
- Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
- Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
- Application for business license and permit: Completed
- Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
- Leasing of facility and construction of standard Bakery: In Progress
- Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
- Generating capital from family members: Completed
- Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
- Writing of Business Plan: Completed
- Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
- Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
- Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
- Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
- Recruitment of employees: In Progress
- Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
- Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
- Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
- Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
- Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress
- Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers / merchants: In Progress
- Purchase of delivery vans: Completed