Food Vendors

Concession Trailer, Vending Cart, Lunch Truck Business Information Center

Permanently located concession stand

Advantages

• Repeat Business

A permanently located concession stand should develop repeat clientele. They will know the quality and price of your food and when you are open for business. Having repeat customers can increase your business dramatically as they will tell others about your business.

• Operating Hours

By having a permanent location you can create a standard set of operating hours. This allows you the ability to have a life outside of your food concession business. Concession businesses that service specific events must operate within the constraints of the event’s hours.

• No Set-up or Dismantling Time

A permanently located concession business does not have to invest no income hours in set-up and dismantling as a mobile concession trailer does.

• Less Equipment Downtime

Equipment housed in a permanent concession stand does not suffer the wear and tear associated with the vibrations and shocks that occur when a concession trailer is being driven on roads.

• Easier Staffing

It is easier to staff a permanent concession stand then a mobile unit.

• Operating Expenses

There are no costs involved for fuel, engine repairs, tires and other vehicle type expenses.

As well, you will be able to develop a history of how much food to purchase, what foods sell best in the area, meaning less food wastage.

• Income

Over a period of time you will be able to budget your income as history will tell you what days are your busiest.

Disadvantages

• Traffic

You are confined to the business traffic in your location. You cannot relocate the permanent concession stand if business is slow due to circumstances beyond your control such as road closures.

• Building Codes

A permanently located concession stand may be subject to stringent building codes that could be very expensive.

• Location Cost

You will most likely have to pay a monthly rent and/or a percentage of sales for the right to place your concession stand on a piece of property.

Permanently located concession stand

Advantages

• Diversity

Mobile food concession carts and trailers provide you with more challenges, new customers and venues. If you hate a mundane lifestyle then having a mobile food concession business may be just want you need.

• Can Be a Part Time Business

Mobile food concession carts and trailers are not constrained by a set of operating hours or days of the week when you must work. If the weather is bad, or if you have other things to do, you can leave the mobile food concession trailer or cart in your garage until it suits you to operate it!

• Freedom To Be Creative

Each and every day you can decide where you want to go, what prices you will charge and what foods you will sell.

• Lower Investment

The entry level cost of a mobile food concession cart is substantially less than a permanently located food concession stand.

Disadvantages

• Unpredictable Income

Whether you are attending events or just moving from location to location, you will have difficulty in budgeting your income as locations will differ in the traffic.

• Operating Costs

More expense related to moving your equipment from location to location.

Hard to determine how much food to have on hand as you have no history of that specific event or location.

Higher maintenance costs for mobile equipment due to vibration and road shocks.

• Commissaries

Many jurisdictions require that food vending carts work from an approved commissary.

• Staffing

Staff could have problems in finding and/or reaching the location as it continuously changing.

If you have questions or comments write to: Comments & Questions