Supplies for food vending trailers consist of food products, beverages, napkins and other paper products, snacks and whatever else you intend to sell to your customers. Buy this product in bulk from the warehouse and resell to your customers.

Local wholesale supply companies will be able to provide some of the goods you need, but for other products, it may be best to go directly to the company for the best prices. Beverages, for example, usually sell for the least if you buy them directly from the soda manufacturer. The same is true of many snack products. Investigate the following when buying supplies for food vending trailers:

1. Choose beverage companies to buy soda, water and more to sell on your food carts.

2. Locate vending snack companies for potato chips and other snacks for vending carts.

3. Purchase paper goods and supplies for mobile food carts from wholesale vendors.

Action Steps for Choosing The Right Mobile Food Carts
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select beverage choices for your food concession trailers

Sell soda, water, juice and coffee and quench your customers' thirst. Obtain different flavors of soda and coffee to spark your customers' interest and make them return to buy from you again.

I recommend: Beverages Direct carries soda, energy drinks, water and sugar free drinks and offers a wide variety of flavors. Jones Soda offers various flavors of soda including fufu berry, blue bubble gum and crushed melon. Coffee Bean sells coffee and tea wholesale. Look at the long list of products and choose something different for your customers. Specialty Java sells coffee wholesale in 15 or 25 pound increments. They will private label your coffee for an additional fee.

Find vending snack companies that supply snacks and healthy foods for portable food carts

Snacks are the mainstay for busy workers who do not have time to stop for a complete meal. Offer chips and treats for a quick pick-me-up for your customers.

I recommend: Aramark Refreshments sells healthy snack treats and juices. Conn's Potato Chips sells potato chips for mobile food carts under their label or will private label them for you. Herr's sells potato chips, pretzels and popcorn snacks for your food vending cart.

Pick wholesale companies for other supplies for your food vending carts

You will need the extras that go with your products such as straws, napkins and coffee stirrers. Buy these at your local wholesale house or have them delivered to your commissary.

I recommend: Betty Mills sells creamers, sugar, paper towels and other supplies you need. MCT sells coffee filters, cups and lids as well as other products you need.

Tips & Tactics for Best Use of Food Vending Trailers

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you buy in bulk for your food kiosk, you may need a license to prove you are in business. Visit local city or county officials and ask about licenses and permits for your business.

Travel the country, work three days a week and make a good living. Sound far-fetched? It is possible if you make your living in concessions. Many concession trailer and mobile food cart owners love the freedom that comes with traveling to carnivals, festivals and concerts. To get the most from vending cart business:

1. Decide on the right trailer or cart set-up for your concession.
2. Figure out what storage space you need to carry all of your equipment and product.
3. Schedule events in advance that will keep your cart/trailer in business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hot dog vending carts

Hot dog trailers and vending carts come in a variety of styles suitable for either indoor or outdoor use. Prices typically range from about $2,000 to $10,000, but some smaller models and used food vending trailers can be purchased for less.

I recommend: TheHotDogCart.com and AAAHotDogCarts.com have several types including push carts with umbrellas and enclosed carts. HotDogCarts.com offers D.O.T. tow-ready carts. AllAmericanHotDog.com sells used carts that are listed for up to 50 percent off retail. Check out additional suppliers for hot dog vending carts at Business.com.

Food concession trailers

Hot dogs haven’t cornered the market on concessions. If it can be served on a stick or through a window, you can have custom-made food concession trailers made to order. Food concession trailers run from under $10,000 upwards of $25,000.

I recommend: All A Cart Manufacturing makes custom vending carts, food kiosks, step vans, sprinters, food vending trailers and vending tricycles. Pace American manufactures commercial-quality, flat-top trailers with heavy-duty truck body style construction. Shop for used food vending trailers nationwide at ConcessionTrailers.com. Supreme Products makes custom made concession trailers and vending carts. For a directory of manufacturers for concessions trailers and the overall visit Business.com.

Other specialty concession trailers and mobile food carts

If you’d prefer to serve a specialty food item, look for manufacturers who sell food carts that serve barbeque, cotton candy, smoothies and more.

I recommend: HTmarket.com offers cotton candy and popcorn carts. If you’re in the market for ice cream, gelato or smoothie carts, check out this listings at Business.com or suppliers like 800BuyCart.com, MagnoliaCarts.com or TurnkeyParlor.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Equipment, such as stoves and refrigeration systems, are often built into vending carts and concession trailers.
• •  Decide how you will transport food carts or food vending trailers. If you choose a towable trailer, make sure it is D.O.T. approved and it is able to be licensed, wired for taillights and generally road-ready. Regulations differ from state-to-state, so check out your state’s licensing requirements.
• •  Before you hire your vending carts out for business, make sure you’ve passed muster with the county health department and you’ve gotten all vending licenses and permits to sell concessions.

Pricing and costs of food vending trailers depends on what type of food cart you wish to own. Hot dog carts are at the top of the list and a simple hot dog cart costs a few thousand dollars. Walk-in elaborate carts will run into tens of thousands but they hold more product and provide room for additional products.

Food concession trailers cost tens of thousands new, so consider a used trailer to save cost in start-up businesses. Consider the following when determining pricing and costs of food vending trailers:

1. Purchase hot dog trailers or carts for minimal cost.

2. Look at concession trailers for more opportunities.

3. Consider used food vending carts to lessen the start-up costs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy hot dog food carts that go anywhere

Hot dogs remain a favorite food and selling them for a living remains a good occupation. Investigate the costs of both a mobile cart and a walk-in hot dog trailer and weigh your options accordingly.

I recommend: Armenco Cater Truck sells hot dog carts starting at $6,250 and going up to around $8,000. 800 Buy Cart sells several basic models. Call, fax or email them for current prices. They offer custom configurations on some of the models.

Find additional income opportunities with food vending trailers

Instead of just selling hot dogs, escalate to all types of foods with mobile food carts. These stand-alone trailers cost considerably more than hot dog carts but the possibilities for income are unlimited. Sell hot dinners and cold sandwiches, snacks, pastries, hot and cold beverages and even make your own popcorn.

I recommend: Apollo Carts sells expresso carts and crepe carts with a range of prices from under $10,000 to over $20,000. They also sell concession trailers. See their complete selection. West Coast Custom Carts sells starter carts, ice cream and "boomin'" carts (with built-in speakers) for a range starting at about $2,500 up to around $7,000. They will customize your cart or trailer for 25% off and build your trailer to your specification.

Locate used vending carts for less costly start up

Used food equipment is substantially less expensive, but take care in buying, since it is usually sold 'as is.'

I recommend: USA Concession Supplies sells used hot dog carts. Call for current inventory and prices. Their new carts start at under $3,200. Buy It List It puts sellers of used equipment together with buyers. Click on any item to get detailed listing of price and seller information. Current listings range in price from $5,000 to $30,000 but the list changes frequently. Hot Dog Profits offers used hot dog carts and concession trailers from $5,000 to $25,000. Check current list for prices and pictures.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchase insurance for your portable food carts to protect against loss or vandalism.