One way to make money in the hot dog business is by going to events and picking up "side gigs." Some hotdogmen do this sort of selling as their primary source of income or as a second income.
I have a customer who sells cars for his "day job" and sells sausages and hot dogs outside bars on the weekends. He works Friday and Saturday nights from about 11PM to 3AM and he makes a handsome profit! He'll also work on the 4th of July in downtown Worcester, MA. Last year he sold 1200 POUNDS of sausage on the fourth of July. At 3 sausages to a pound and $5 a sausage-well YOU DO THE MATH!
Lucrative events and "side gigs" can be more profitable than a regular location. The types of events that attract a lot of people to one location are the ones you want to look for. You can search for events in your area at any number of online sites.
Just like your regular location, you'll need to inquire about permitting, but you're an expert at that by now, right? Many large events will also require proof of insurance, so make sure you see your insurance man. You'll also need to be prepared to do much more volume than you would at your regular spot. I'll sell 200-400 hot dogs a day at my regular spot, I could go through that in just 2 hours at a quality event(remember my friend who sold 1200 pounds of sausage).
Here are some ideas for additional events and gigs:
Outside busy late-night locations (outside bars isn't the only place-I know a hotdogman who set up in a suburban "hotel complex" that had no late night food options for guests-be creative)
Fairs and Festivals if you can name it, there's a festival for it! These are usually large, weekend long events that will attract thousands of people. They can range from craft fairs to antique fairs to music festivals. There are MANY sites that list fairs and festivals-GOOGLE IT. Many of these venues, particularly very popular ones book food vendors as much as a year in advance so it pays to do your homework.
Outside Sports Venues a location outside a professional sports or major college sports venue is sure to be profitable. Many times, cities will limit the number of permits for these venues and there is often a waiting list. Snag a spot like this and you may not even need a regular location!
Youth Sports Tournaments I do a soccer tournament or two each year and do quite well there. A weekend long youth sports tournament can have tens of thousands of people coming through and they're all hungry! You can sell tons of drinks at these things too. Check around with local youth sport organizations in your area to see who hosts tournaments and offer your services.
Parades Everyone loves a parade. There is a Fourth of July parade almost everywhere in the US and what goes better with the Fourth of July than hot dogs? If you know of any local parades in your area, contact the parade organizers and the host municipality for their requirements.
Catering You can do birthday parties, company outings or other private functions. I once catered a graduation party with hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks.
Extra events and gigs can add to your bottom line. Seek them out. After you've been in business for a while, people will seek you out!
