Well, howdy! I get this question all the time — “Ben, do I really need a cart to start a hot dog business? To start vending?” The short answer?Nope. You can get started right now without one — legally and smartly — if you know how to work your local codes. Starting Out Without a […]
10 Must Try Hot Dog Toppings (and What the Health Department Will Actually Let You Serve)
Howdy folks, Ben here! You can add hot dog toppings in a hundred ways—but not all of ’em are allowed by your local health department. The Balancing Act: Flavor vs. Rules In our Q&A, Dan asked, “How many toppings do you suggest stocking on a hot dog cart?” and that kicked off one of my […]
How to Keep Hot Dogs from Splitting on Your Cart
I got a great question from Frankie la Soda—he asked me how to keep hot dogs from busting open while cooking on the cart. Should you turn the flame down and cook slower? Great question, and I’ve had it happen a million times. Let me walk you through it, Ben-style. When Hot Dogs Split (And […]
Hot Dog Vendor Rant: Stop Asking Me This!
Well, after my 70-TEENTH time answering the same dang hot dog vendor questions today, I figured I’d share this little rant with you. I get it—you’re excited about starting a hot dog vending business, you’ve got questions, and you want answers yesterday by noon. But here’s the deal: I’ve made videos, articles, free guides, and […]
Most Street Food Vendors Are Overpaying Sales Tax (Here’s How to Fix It)
Most vendors don’t even realize they’re overpaying sales tax every dang time they vend. Well howdy! If you’re a street food vendor, let’s talk about sales tax. They’re Taking Your Money – And You’re Handing It Over Willingly Yeah, that dreaded thing that’s way too easy to screw up and even easier to overpay. But […]