So you want to vend...what now?

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Tue Jan 05 16 4:32 am Post subject: So you want to vend...what now?

I started out vending 7 years ago..It has turned into a full time venture - complete with 2 fully licensed mobile kitchens [ food trucks / trailers ]
Start with your health dept for rules / regs. for licensing etc.
Get liability insurance
Take the serve safe food course
Plan on spending twice the hours you are currently planning!
Plan to spend twice the money you are currently planning!
Find a quality / authorized food wholesaler willing to work with smaller orders to start - buying from local grocer or wal-mart is not cost effective.
Find something to set you apart from the others - one of my many "differences" are a specific hard roll for sammies that people love, but take a few hours a week for me to procure.[ driving back n forth, ordering etc.]
Allow time to find quality gig's and/or locations - its not always as easy as it may seem!
A LOT of hack promoters out there! Finding a good one or two can make your career! The 'big gig's ' can be very hard to get into - or you may get the back alley if you do get it....Its quite the learning curve!
Your food may very well be top notch, but if not properly promoted / seen / easily available, it may not sell.
Be prepared to toss food....SOO many variables in this gig besides just weather [ which is huge! ] Weather forecasters are right about 40% of the time.....
New gig's with other established gig's across town, or simply poor promoter.... can kill sales etc.
Local ordinances may squash your dreams, be prepared!
Local ordinances change often - keep up to speed! Ask questions, a lot!!
Some towns / cities I go to, one can only sell on private property, the next one can only sell on the street.
Established restaurants HATE vendor / food truck type operations and will try to destroy you.
People suck! Some will try to sue you for food poisoning etc.
Word of mouth is HUGE, in both directions! Customer service is job #1 People dont care if you have a family emergency, they want their BBQ.....
I have heard a lot say they love to sell out by 'x' o'clock....Well, customers dont care for that AT ALL! Alienating those who have jobs and families to feed doesnt pan out well at all.
I love my work most days, and work 16-22 hrs/day 7 days a week for 7 months of the year vending / catering / food trucking, cater and plow snow in the "off season".
Plan on either putting a lot into it [ time / talent / cash ], or failing.....
Not in the least trying to scare anyone off, just being realistic! Have seen a lot of people "try" it only to buy their equipment from them cheap!
I am more than happy to help where I can answering questions as I would not be where I am without the help of other 'Ringers' !
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Money Maker
Scrapper
Mr Tony's Kitchen http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67601
Being Blessed with income from my passion!
WWW.MRTONYSBBQ.COM

fish&q · Posted: Tue Jan 05 16 8:57 am Post subject:

What he said
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Lang 60
500 Hog cooker
Juice can
Meadow Creek chicken cooker

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Sat Jan 09 16 1:37 am Post subject:

Social media - can and will work both for you and against you.
Yes, the gub'ment - Big brother IS watching...I know this for a FACT. Most likely reading this post and taking a screen shot of it..
_________________
Money Maker
Scrapper
Mr Tony's Kitchen http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=67601
Being Blessed with income from my passion!
WWW.MRTONYSBBQ.COM

bjbbq · Newbie Joined: 06 Sep 2013 Posts: 80

Folks, Tony is 100% right about what he said. i have seen him in action and he works his butt off to give the customer a great product. Being successful in this game is really hard and can be stressful so you gotta have a sense of humor like Tony!
Keep up the good work.

Bubba

AIRBORNE-QUE · Joined: 23 Jan 2017 Posts: 14 Location: Fayetteville, NC

Thanks for the useful info Tony. I am currently serving in the Army and I love to BBQ. I want to enter the BBQ vending business after I retirement. I still have some time but already doing my research. I am so happy I found this forum and there being people willing to give advise. I'm pretty sure I will be messaging you again in the future. Hopefully I don't become a pain. Thanks again.

Ernesto

Mr Tony's BBQ · Posted: Mon Jan 30 17 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Thanks for the info