The food industry is one of the largest business fields in the entire world and yet, there is a lot of room for growth and opportunity. A great way to start out is to know what kind of food you will be serving. Food is an important cultural item all over the world. American, Chinese, Mexican, Greek, and so much more. The good news is that you will find someone who will enjoy whatever it is that you cook. But why don’t we start with something easy? A nacho business.
At its base, it’s just melted cheese and tortilla chips. A very simple premise, but a lot of people like it because it is hot and ready food. Not to mention, there are all sorts of nachos one can make. But, let’s start at the beginning before you begin your nacho enterprise.
Location, Location, Location
Starting a nacho business does have its pros and cons. But, before you can start on that, you need to know where you are setting up. Look around your local community to see where good locations for your nacho business can be located. Take notes and focus on areas with a lot of foot traffic. Students, business people, shoppers, and more will be all over the place, especially at lunchtime. So be sure and pay attention to where these people go to eat, what they are eating, and if they are eating and walking.
Granted by the Government
Once you find your sweet spot, you should contact the local government about what you can do to set up your nacho business. Now, if this is a restaurant idea, then you need to have certain permits and credentials. But, if you have a small cart that can be pushed around, then the amount of paperwork you need to do would be greatly diminished.
A mobile food cart does require a permit and you would also need to apply for food permits and a license to collect a sales tax. This can be done by going to the local government and making your way to their health department. There, you can get an inspection done and you can pay for your permit.
Acquire Your Ingredients
Once you have your permits and everything in tip-top shape, you can then start gathering the resources you need. A food cart or food truck would be a great way to go. These will have to be approved by the local government’s department of transportation. Other items that you will need include:
- Warming trays to keep food warm
- Refrigeration to keep certain foods and drinks cold
- Prep area
- Sink for washing hands and dishes
- Some sort of weather covering to protect from intense sunshine or rain
For a food cart, one can purchase at places such as All Star Carts, Creative Mobile Systems, or you could even purchase a used cart from an e-commerce service like eBay.
Creating the Nacho
Cookbooks, cooking channels on YouTube, or even watching TV networks like the Food Network can also help you in your journey. As a tip, it should be advised to know how to make the nachos before anything else, just so that you can not waste too much time trying to make nachos. This kind of food has a variety of cheese, seasoning, meat, chips, and other ingredients that require basic food knowledge to understand how to cook. Be sure to understand what the process is and that you will have to work quickly, especially if you are doing this by yourself.
Think Business
So, you have your cart and you can make nachos. Great! Now, you need to buy supplies. This includes food and drink, napkins, silverware, cleaning products, and other related items. Note: you should pay attention to the cost of these items so that you can sit down and set prices. As you set your prices, think of what the menu is going to look like. Sure, you are going to have nachos, but some will be more expensive than others. Drinks or other food also could be available.
Market
Finally, advertisement. Before you have your grand opening, you should market yourself. Fliers, signs, and even handing out coupons are great ways to get people to notice. Also, pay attention to local events. You could pass out fliers about your cart.
Conclusion
That’s it! You have your cart, permits, food, and advertisements. Now, you need to make sure that you are getting business. Offer specials and deals, take your cart to local events such as fairs. If you can afford it, run some ads in the local newspaper or on the radio.
At long last, you are an entrepreneur with a tasty idea! Not to mention, you have money coming in! Use that money to add new items, customize and decorate your cart, or even hire another person!
