Did you know that over 95% of American households eat hot dogs? It’s not surprising to find hot dog stands and hot dog food trucks everywhere. Are you wondering how much do hot dog stands make? This article will examine the different income metrics and the hot dog business insurance policies you need to protect that income.
Hot dog stands to make their income from a small variety of different products. Below are the prices you can expect to sell your hot dog stand products for.
| Product | Estimated Price for Customer |
|---|---|
| Hotdogs | $3-$7 |
| Sodas | $1-$3 |
| Chips | $1-$3 |
| Extra toppings | $0.50-$1 |
| Bottled Water | $1-$2 |
| Fries | $3-$10 |
The estimated profit on each hot dog sale is between $1 and $2. A typical order you might see at your hot dog stand is for two hot dogs and one drink. You have an estimated average profit of $2.75 for your typical hot dog order. While this number may seem small at the individual level, it scales up fairly efficiently.
If you can sell hotdogs at a big event with many people, those $1-$2 of profit add up quickly. Your hot dog stand could work at a baseball stadium or cater a large event. A study found that over 4,000 hot dogs and 18,000 beers are sold at a single baseball game. Running concessions with a hot dog stand at an event like this could make you $4,000-$8,000 of pure hot dog profit every game.
According to the NHDSC, Americans will purchase and consume 350 million pounds of hot dogs just from retail stores alone. This translates to over 9 billion hot dogs eaten annually in the US.
However, this number doesn’t tell the full story. It is harder to track the amount of hotdogs Americans eat at fairs, carnivals, street hot dog carts, parks, and other places. The NHDSC estimates that nearly 20 billion hot dogs are consumed yearly. Below is a comparison of how much people in different states consume hotdogs yearly per capita:
| State | Estimated Hot Dogs Consumed Per Capita Per Person Every Year |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 255 |
| Alaska | 207 |
| Arizona | 279 |
| Arkansas | 192 |
| California | 207 |
| Colorado | 197 |
| Connecticut | 260 |
| Delaware | 250 |
| Florida | 212 |
| Georgia | 226 |
| Hawaii | 202 |
| Idaho | 192 |
| Illinois | 317 |
| Indiana | 240 |
| Iowa | 207 |
| Kansas | 197 |
| Kentucky | 240 |
| Louisiana | 183 |
| Maine | 260 |
| Maryland | 207 |
| Massachusetts | 221 |
| Michigan | 245 |
| Minnesota | 197 |
| Mississippi | 178 |
| Missouri | 216 |
| Montana | 178 |
| Nebraska | 226 |
| Nevada | 216 |
| New Hampshire | 221 |
| New Jersey | 250 |
| New Mexico | 192 |
| New York | 221 |
| North Carolina | 279 |
| North Dakota | 183 |
| Ohio | 264 |
| Oklahoma | 212 |
| Oregon | 188 |
| Pennsylvania | 289 |
| Rhode Island | 279 |
| South Carolina | 279 |
| South Dakota | 197 |
| Tennessee | 231 |
| Texas | 192 |
| Utah | 188 |
| Vermont | 245 |
| Virginia | 236 |
| Washington | 188 |
| West Virginia | 481 |
| Wisconsin | 221 |
| Wyoming | 149 |
During your research, the first question you may ask is how much does a hot dog stand make a year? The total range of annual salaries is between $28,000 and $68,000. The most likely range of salaries is between $34,000 and $55,000. This range is the 25th percentile and 75th percentile of the salary ranges.
Some hot dog vendors also make commissions, like those that sell hotdogs at sports games. Stadium hot dog vendors will deliver food orders to customers so they can avoid leaving their seats and waiting in line, charging them extra for convenience.
Do you want to know how much can a hot dog cart make in a month? A hotdog vendor's monthly income from their hot dog cart is $3,602 on average. The range of monthly salaries is between $2,333 and $5,666 for most vendors. The additional pay from tips, commission, and delivery services is $205 monthly.
Are you looking for short-term profit? If so, wonder how much can you make with a hot dog cart in a week. The average weekly pay of a hot dog vendor is $831. Most hot dog vendors make between $538 and $1,307 weekly. The likely weekly pay range of the 25th and 75th percentile is between $653 and $1,057. The average weekly base pay for a hot dog vendor without tips is $769: tips, commissions, and other forms of bonus pay account for $46 per week.
Do you want to know how much do hot dog vendors make every day they are open for business? Assuming a 5-day work week, a hot dog vendor will make $166 per day on average. Most hot dog vendors will make between $107 and $261 daily. The likely range of daily earnings is between $130 and $211. The average bonus pay from tips and commissions nets you an extra $9 daily.
Are you wondering how much can a hot dog stand make per hour? Assuming a 40-hour workweek, hot dog vendors have an effective hourly rate of $20.78 they make from their hot dog stand. The range of hourly rates for hot dog vendors falls between $13 and $32 an hour. Looking at the likely range between the 25th and 75th percentile for hourly rates, you can expect to make between $16 and $26 an hour.
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If you are just starting, you might want to know how much do hot dog carts make on average within the first year. The chart below breaks up the average earnings that hot dog vendors make from their hotdog carts.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $42,214 | $3,517 | $811 | $162 | $20.29 |
| Base pay | $40,469 | $3,372 | $778 | $155 | $19.45 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $1,745 | $145 | $33 | $6 | $0.83 |
| Possible pay range | $27,000-$66,000 | $2,250-$5,500 | $519-$1,269 | $103-$253 | $12.98-$31.73 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $33,000-$54,000 | $2,750-$4,500 | $634-$1,038 | $126-$207 | $15.86-$25.96 |
With more experience, hot dog vendors generally earn more pay. Below is a breakdown of earning metrics for hot dog vendors with 1-3 years of experience.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $43,629 | $3,385 | $839 | $167 | $20.97 |
| Base pay | $41,809 | $3,484 | $804 | $160 | $20.10 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $1,820 | $151 | $35 | $7 | $0.87 |
| Possible pay range | $27,000-$71,000 | $2,250-$5,916 | $519-$1,365 | $103-$273 | $12.98-$34.13 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $34,000-$56,000 | $2,833-$4,666 | $653-$1,076 | $130-$215 | $16.34-$26.92 |
Hot dog vendors with 4-6 years of experience make an average annual salary of $46,207. This number is further broken down in the chart below.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $46,207 | $3,850 | $888 | $177 | $22.21 |
| Base pay | $44,109 | $3,675 | $848 | $169 | $21.20 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $2,099 | $174 | $40 | $8 | $1.01 |
| Possible pay range | $28,000-$77,000 | $2,333-$6,416 | $538-$1,480 | $107-$296 | $13.46-$37.01 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $35,000-$60,000 | $2,916-$5,000 | $673-$1,153 | $134-$230 | $16.82-$28.84 |
Hot dog vendors with 7-9 years of experience make $47,974 per year on average. Part of your hot dog vendor earnings come from tips, which account for $2,280 of your annual wages. Here’s a table for more idea.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $47,974 | $3,997 | $922 | $184 | $23.06 |
| Base pay | $45,694 | $3,807 | $878 | $175 | $21.96 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $2,280 | $190 | $43 | $8 | $1.09 |
| Possible pay range | $28,000-$81,000 | $2,333-$6,750 | $538-$1,557 | $107-$311 | $13.46-$38.94 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $36,000-$63,000 | $3,000-$5,250 | $692-$1,211 | $138-$242 | $17.30-$30.28 |
If you stick it out for 10-14 years as a hot dog vendor, you will make an average of $51,600 annually. Here’s a table giving a further idea.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $51,600 | $4,300 | $922 | $198 | $24.80 |
| Base pay | $48,932 | $4,077 | $941 | $188 | $23.52 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $2,668 | $222 | $51 | $10 | $1.28 |
| Possible pay range | $30,000-$91,000 | $2,500-$7,583 | $576-$1,750 | $115-$350 | $14.42-$43.75 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $39,000-$70,000 | $3,250-$5,833 | $750-$1,346 | $150-$269 | $18.75-$33.65 |
Hot dog vendors with over 15 years of experience boast the highest average income. They make an average of $57,575 annually, with $3,423 of that wage coming from tips.
| Pay Metric | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly | Daily | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total pay | $57,575 | $4,797 | $1,107 | $221 | $27.68 |
| Base pay | $54,152 | $4,512 | $1,041 | $208 | $26.03 |
| Bonus pay from tips and commissions. | $3,423 | $285 | $65 | $13 | $1.64 |
| Possible pay range | $33,000-$104,000 | $2,750-$8,666 | $634-$2,000 | $126-$400 | $15.86-$50 |
| 25th and 75th percentile pay range | $43,000-$79,000 | $3,583-$6,583 | $826-$1,519 | $165-$303 | $20.67-$37.98 |
Now that you know how much hot dog stands make, you must learn about the insurance policies that help protect your profits. Without proper insurance protection, all that business income is susceptible to loss from property damage and lawsuits. Below are the recommended insurance policies you should pick up to ensure your hot dog stand’s long-term success.
A business owner’s policy combines general liability and commercial property coverage into one convenient policy. The price of a business owner’s policy is often lower than buying the policies it combines separately.
NEXT is an excellent choice for a business owner’s policy. The company provides affordable insurance tailored to your business needs. They boast an expedited claims process and promise to respond to claims within 48 hours of submission. NEXT handles its own claims so you get a consistent customer experience. The company has a 4.7/5 rating from its customer reviews. NEXT has an A- score from AM Best. Their gross written premium count exceeds more than $200 million. With NEXT, you can save up to 15% on their already low insurance prices when bundling multiple policies
General liability insurance protects you from certain third-party claims that include:
Bodily injury: A claim involving medical treatments after sustaining an injury.
Property damage: A property damage claim is brought after a customer or member of the public needs restitution for damage to their property.
Personal injury: Personal injury claims come from damage to someone’s reputation by slander, libel, or copyright infringement.
Thimble is our pick for general liability insurance. They let you purchase short-term general liability insurance, so you only pay for what you need. You can set the limits of your policy down to the day, month, or hour. A-rated insurance partners underwrite Thimbles policies. Their simplified buying process means purchasing a policy quickly and being insurance-ready within hours. Thimble has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. They have been accredited since 2018. They have an impressive 4.52/5 score from their BBB customer reviews.
Professional liability insurance covers you when you make a business mistake or omission that costs a third-party financial loss. If you are negligent in your services or fail to meet a deadline, this policy protects you from those claims. For professional liability insurance, you should choose Hiscox. They are a specialty insurer that provides tailored insurance for small business customers. Their policies include a 14-day refund policy, so you don’t have to feel pressure during buying. They offer flexible payment options with no extra or hidden fees. You can save money when shopping with Hiscox thanks to their discounts when bundling multiple policies.
Your commercial property insurance is essential for avoiding the devastating costs of repairing or replacing your hotdog stand if it gets damaged. Commercial property protects your business building and equipment from:
Fires
Theft
Vandalism
Wind
Lightning
Water damage
Explosions
CoverWallet is an excellent insurance platform to get your commercial property policy. The company has a selection of over ten top-rated insurance partners. Thanks to their helpful mobile app, you can manage all your policies from different insurers in one convenient place. The mobile app includes a service dashboard that helps you keep track of everything. The Better Business Bureau has awarded CoverWallet an A+ rating.
Commercial auto insurance protects your business from vehicle accident liability. It will also often help you cover damage to your own vehicles. Compared to personal auto insurance, it has higher limits and covers more events. Personal auto doesn’t cover work-related activities except for your daily work commute. Tivly is our pick for commercial auto insurance. They offer a vast insurance platform with over 200 insurance partners. You can get quotes from multiple partners at once over the phone. They boast a 4-second phone answer rate for customers, so help on your policy is never far away. Tivly helps you find policies from partners like The Hartford, Liberty Mutual, Gallagher, and Progressive.
A workers’ compensation policy is required in most states when hiring employees. It provides coverage for injured and ill workers through medical treatments and lost income. Suppose an employee injury makes your employee unable to work. In that case, this policy helps them recover and get back on their feet.
For an affordable and feature-rich workers comp policy, we recommend The Hartford. This company has over 200 years of insurance experience, starting as a fire insurance company in 1810. They offer policy benefits to AARP members, and their workers' compensation policy gives your employees access to over 65,000 pharmacies. The Hartford has an A- rating from AM Best. They boast a 4.8/5 rating from customer reviews and write over $11 billion of premiums annually. The Hartford ranks high on customer trust and has been named one of the most ethical companies by Ethisphere.
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This place is an absolute joke of a company and should be ashamed of the way they conduct business. I was hurt on the job at the end of July and it took them just shy of 7 weeks to issue out a paycheck to me. Yes the amount was back dated but still. Not many have the luxury of not receiving a paycheck for almost 2 months. To top it all off, the original adjuster marked me down for the wrong state which caused a problem from the get go, I've had 3 different adjusters now since each one can't seem to figure out the simplicity of my claim. All my paperwork which includes, my job, house, and drs visits all are from the same state and city but yet some how I have been filed under a completely different state 1500 miles away. They do not answer your phone calls or emails no matter how many you leave. I've had to escalate my frustrations to the supervisors of each of these individuals in order to even get some kind of response. I've had more communication and information given to me about my claim from the customer service representatives then the actual adjusters.......... please tell me how that works?! A serious overhaul needs to happen here in order to serve your clients the way they deserve to be taken care of. 10/10 do not recommend this company to a single soul on earth
I have never had the displeasure of working with a more incompetent and disrespectful person in my life. I’m an injured worker and the adjuster that was assigned to my case was named Carrie Furgeson. In the past 6 weeks that I’ve been injured and out of work I have only been able to get ahold of her twice, not for lack of trying. I have left countless voicemails, countless emails, and she ignores them all. When I am finally able to get ahold of her I’m greeted with terrible customer service. She is rude, she talks over me and I’m hardly able to get a word in edgewise. She spelled my name wrong on my documents even after I spelled it for her properly countless times, this caused a whole new issue with my bank. I have bill collectors from the hospital calling me demanding payment and Carrie Furgeson won’t do a single thing to help, or to get them paid. All of my documentation is in Colorado, my job is in Colorado, my address is in Colorado, all my Dr offices and appointments have been in Colorado and Carrie still managed to hold my claim because she wasn’t sure what state she needed to file it under. It’s been 6 weeks since my Injury and my company still hasn’t received the wage paperwork to fill out so they can get me my correct wages. When she’s not ignoring me she’s answering my questions with “I don’t know” well I don’t know how she got this job, because apparently she doesn’t know anything about it. She is a disgusting morose individual inside and out and I genuinely wish her the worst in all of her future endeavors. I highly recommend you don’t use this company. Please if you are a business owner and your looking into this company please don’t use them. I’m sure they have the cheapest payment and that’s why companies use them in the first place, but you will be doing your employees a grave disservice by forcing them to venture into this absolute dumpster fire of a company. I would rate 0/5 if possible but 1 was the lowest I was allowed.
Their general liability insurance purchase process is simply the best online experience I've ever had in my life!
As long as they cover your line of business, you're literally covered! best rates, best coverage, best online experience, best professionals, can't be happier that I chose them!
It really can't get any better than this... wow
Not all those who wander are lost.
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