Concession trailers are a common sight at soccer games and county fairs. Most often associated with concession trailers are hot dogs and ice cream. Getting a little creative can be the key to making the most of concession trailers. Perhaps the concession trailers are an extension of a store front, or maybe your whole business is portable. Either way, adding a few additional offerings can keep you in business year-round.

Food concession trailers often have a particular theme, and when that type of food season is over for the year, so is the vending truck. This does not have to be the case with your concession trailers, though. Consider the following to make your concession trailers last the distance:

1. Don't limit your concession trailers to one variety of food.

2. Add heating and cooling elements to make each vending trailer equipped for the whole year.

3. Choose items that can be easily managed to minimize the amount of equipment needed.

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Have your concession trailer used for ice cream in the summer and hot dogs in the winter

Break out of the mindset that your concession trailer has to offer the same items all year round. Let's be honest, who wants to buy ice cream in the dead of winter? Consider customizing your concession trailer to encompass the types of food that are popular in each season. At the change in temperature, revamp your menu a little to increase sales at your next event.

I recommend: ConcessionTrailersUSA.com helps walk you through the steps to setting up a concession trailer business. Concession Trailer Bay also offers some tips to those just getting started in the concession trailer business.

Customize your new or used concession trailers to be comfortable through all the seasons

Once you broaden your menu, you have to ensure that the concession trailer is going to be comfortable for you and your employees throughout each season. Installing fans and air conditioners for the summer and heating units that can be used in the colder months will help your concession trailer to remain open during the hottest and coldest times of the year.

I recommend: Places like Enclosed Trailers can help you customize concession trailers for sale into the trailer that will best suit your business needs. Cash Cow Concession Trailers can help you build the concession trailer of your dreams from the ground up.

Limit your inventory so you only need a few major pieces of equipment inside your concession trailer

Choosing a few food items that either all cook the same or can be stored the same will limit the number of pieces of large kitchen equipment you will need for your concession truck. This will not only save you space but also money toward purchasing and maintaining the equipment. This will allow you to either have more concession trailers across the country or put money into making those you do have the best and most profitable they can be.

I recommend: My Popcorn Machine offers answers to common questions about purchasing the appropriate concession equipment. Squidoo's guide to buying concession equipment may also help point you in the right direction.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Choose a versatile name for your concession trailers to make sure it encompasses each change in your menu.

If your business requires food concession trailers, find ones that are cost-effective while also appealing to your customers. Search the web for concession trailers, from used to custom-fit. Then compare prices and request quotes on a variety of trailers.

Once you have a general idea what you will need, make a business plan for using your trailer. Try to minimize your initial investment so you can get out of debt and make a profit quickly. You don't want to owe more than you can recoup in sales. Consider the following question before getting concession trailers:

1. What is the purpose of your business using food concession trailers?

2. Do you need to buy or rent a concession trailer? How long will your business require the use of food concession trailers?

3. How much can your business spend on concession trailers for sale?

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Decide if you'll buy new or used concession trailers

A concession truck is not something you need to buy brand new. Search the web for used ones that fit your business needs. Make sure the concession vehicle is in good condition; you can always paint one or add your company logo to a used trailer. Find a concession trailer used that is similar to what your business requires.

I recommend: ConcessionTrailers.com lets you search for used concession trailers by the region where you do business. Custom Concessions has higher-end custom concession trailers made to fit your business. Concession Trailer Bay lets you bid on food trailers.

Narrow down what items will be sold on your food concession trailers

Make sure the concession trailer used by your business fits the goal of your business and is not trying to do more than you need. What types of items are you selling? What type of equipment will the trailer need to fit for those food items? For example, do you need a BBQ or shaved ice trailer?

I recommend: Supreme Products has a photo gallery of trailers for anything from funnel cakes to corn dogs and more. Southern Yankee Bar-B-Q has BBQ concession trailer options to buy. Willy Dog Hot Dog Carts has an extensive guide to budgeting for concession trailer costs.

Budget for additional equipment on your food concession trailers

When deciding how much to spend on a vending truck, factor in the total cost including equipment such as fryers, ovens, sinks and more.

I recommend: Concession Nation has cooking equipment, sinks, generators and more. RussellConcessions.com has good tips to consider when selecting equipment for your food vending trailers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for concession trailers for sale on auction sites too, such as eBay.
• •  When deciding how your vending truck, research out the local health code laws for food safety. Your vehicle could require a certain number of sinks for cleaning or other items.

For someone who's looking to start a small business, food concession trailers make a good option. From small hot dog stands to large custom concession trailers, these types of small businesses can be a profitable way to go into business for yourself.

Of course, when you're interested in purchasing concession trailers, pricing and costs is in the forefront of your mind. What are the startup costs of owning such a business?

Before you purchase any concession trailers for sale, consider the following costs that you will incur with a concession truck:

1. Shipping costs. Anyone purchasing food concession trailers needs to consider the location of the trailer and how much it will cost to ship to their location. It may make more financial sense to fly to the location and drive it back to your hometown.

2. Licensing fees. Each city and state has its own rules and regulations regarding food vending trailers. Make sure that you understand all of the requirements before you make a costly purchase.

3. Supplies. Whether you are looking at used or new concession trailers, you also need to look at the costs of supplies for starting a business. This includes ingredients and equipment.

Action Steps
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Research the costs of a small vending truck

Depending on the type of food you are thinking about selling in your vending trailer, a small truck may be the right size. A small sized vending trailer is ideal when you plan on traveling frequently, as it's much easier to move from place to place.

I recommend: VendingTrucks.com lists small ice cream trucks from $18,000. Other vans range up to $70,000. The All American Hotdog Company lists hotdog carts under $4000 and the smallest model at AmericanDream Hot Dog Carts starts at $3300. See Willy Dog Hot Dog Carts for a guide to budgeting for concession trailer costs.

Budget for large concession trailers

Large trailers are good for those making several types of food or who plan to stay primarily in the same place. They have more space, which allows for additional workers or storage. Some large concession trailers may not be much more expensive than their smaller counterparts.

I recommend: Russell Concessions offers a BBQ concession trailer at just over $30,000. Custom Concessions offers the ability to customize your concession stand. Prices start at $29,900 and you can put in a request for customized pricing.

Save money with used concession trailers

For those that don't have a lot of money to spend on a concession trailer, used trailers are available and often come with lower price tags. When purchasing used, keep in mind that you may be able to make modifications to it in order to create the look that you want. Used prices vary greatly, so it's a good idea to constantly keep an eye out when looking for a concession stand in your price range.

I recommend: Breaktime Concessions lists used concession vending trailers, starting at under $10,000. Buy It List It connects vending trailer sellers with those that wish to make a purchase. You can find simple vending carts for under $2,000 and ready-to-go concession trailers for less than $30,000. Be sure to look for vending trailers in your area to reduce on shipping costs and allow you to inspect the trailer in person.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Expect to pay from $60 to $300 a year for a city business license for a street-food trailer.

Concession trailers, also sometimes known as mobile kitchens, travel to events like state and county fairs to serve food products to the crowds. Concession trailer owners usually follow the fairs from county to county or state to state to feed the frenzied crowds and rake in the profits. Concession trailers offer various menus, from humble fare like hot dogs and hamburgers to gourmet specialty foods made to order for each customer. Learn the key terms of the concession trailer business so you buy the right kind of equipment for your particular venture.

Action Steps
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Mobile kitchens

In addition to sometimes being treated as a synonym for concession trailers, mobile kitchens are a form of concession trailer that includes a complete kitchen within the trailer. With a mobile kitchen, the business owner is not limited to one kind of food but can serve a varied menu.

I recommend: Russell Concessions offers a detailed description of mobile kitchens, while Nationwide Mobile Kitchen Rentals offers full service mobile kitchens for rent.

Mobile trailers

Mobile trailers are another name for concession trailers. They are mobile because they hitch to the back of a pick up truck to go from site to site selling food products.

I recommend: Gold Medal Products offers detailed information on concession trailers and explains the term mobile trailers. They also explain the difference between a stationary concession stand, a mobile cart and a mobile trailer.

BBQ trailers

BBQ trailers are concession trailers designed to sell BBQ products only.

I recommend: Quality Concession Trailers offers information about BBQ trailers including what equipment you need to start this business.

Customized concession trailer

A customized concession trailer is one that you create to your own specs by picking the non-standard items you want and having them installed.

I recommend: Worldwide Trailer Sales offers customized concession trailers. They offer photos of what customizing looks like, so take a look at both photo galleries.

Inventory for concession trailers

Inventory is a list of all of the products you use for your concession trailer, including ingredients, preparation equipment, serving plates and utensils.

I recommend: National Barcode offers detailed information about inventory.

Health codes for concession trailers

Health codes are the laws which govern food sales and preparation, including concession trailer businesses. Every state has a different health code for concession trailers, so contact your local board of health.

I recommend: Supreme Products offers detailed information about health codes for concession trailers. They work with health departments all over the country to insure your concession trailer meets your state's requirements.