Recipes are what make or break a barbecue business.
A mobile food stand that sells barbecue can be a profitable business endeavor if done the right way. Research, precision and patience are key components in a mobile barbecue stand owner. Rushing the process, prematurely spending money and thinking profits will come right away are common mistakes in starting a mobile food stand.
Instructions
1. Master an exceptional barbecue recipe. Learn slow-cook meats---whether pork, beef or chicken, depending on the state---and create a recipe for a unique, tangy and addictive barbecue sauce. The way meats and sauces are cooked is half the battle in opening a mobile barbecue trailer. You'll learn a lot about yourself as a cook and, if for some reason you change your mind about opening the stand during this process, you haven't spent much money yet.
2. Purchase a trailer made for concessions. Certain companies tailor a trailer to specific needs for a higher cost. Do not settle for less than needed. Keep looking until you find the right one for your budget.
3. Tweak the food trailer for efficiency, looks and advertising. If a bigger refrigerator is needed, get one. Put up adequate signage that explains what is being served, what foods are offered in a way that makes people want to stop and eat.
4. Research the busiest parts of town and places with the most foot traffic with minimal mobile food stands. Go to these places and observe the demographic, the reason people flock to these areas and how your business would go over in these spots. Take notes and compare them later on.
5. Get a food handler's permit from the health department, business license and sales tax permit from the county clerk and a federal tax ID from the IRS. You'll have to take a test to obtain a food permit.
6. Select a spot for the barbecue trailer and jump through any hoops necessary to obtain that spot. You must not slow down traffic, so it must be in a spot clear of the flow of traffic. If not on a public street, ask the lot owner if you can sell food there. You will have to pay rent.
7. Build a menu for people to look at, set prices and begin selling food. If business is slow, do some basic advertising, but if the product is good, your spot is busy and you're friendly, you should do well.
Tags: mobile food, barbecue trailer, food stand, mobile barbecue, mobile food stand, permit from