Author Topic: Snow Cone Stand  (Read 12735 times)

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Snow Cone Stand
« on: May 08, 2017, 01:50:52 PM »
Has anyone tried owning a snow cone stand?  A friend of my girlfriend's did it awhile back and made some really good money.  It seems pretty low startup with a large profit margin, the only challenge is finding reliable people to run the stand and location.  I think this Fall I'm going to keep an eye out for used equipment on Craigslist, and maybe give it a go next Summer.

meatface

  • Guest
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2017, 11:15:35 AM »
There's always money in the banana stand.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2017, 12:49:03 PM »
I know people in the concession business and it's a hard business to maintain due to the ever changing laws, fees, people's likes and venues.

If you can find a good location, along with a solid product, you should be okay.  I would maybe join a concession forum or maybe www.roadfood.com  They have good members there with ample knowledge.

Good thinking, I'm looking around elsewhere and have found lots of helpful info.

There's always money in the banana stand.

Exactly what a buddy of mine said when I mentioned it to him.  My girlfriend and I just started season 4!  I watched it all years ago but it's been quite a while.

Axecleaver

  • Magnum Stache
  • ******
  • Posts: 4155
  • Location: Columbia, SC
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2017, 07:41:59 AM »
Have you ever had Hawaiian shave ice? It's the same concept as a sno-cone, but instead of chipped ice, it's shaved with a blade machine. The texture is much softer and more pleasant. The machines I saw when I was there appeared to be of Japanese manufacture. Probably a $2-4k investment but it would give you a very unique product in the rest of the mainland.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2017, 06:37:40 AM »
Have you ever had Hawaiian shave ice? It's the same concept as a sno-cone, but instead of chipped ice, it's shaved with a blade machine. The texture is much softer and more pleasant. The machines I saw when I was there appeared to be of Japanese manufacture. Probably a $2-4k investment but it would give you a very unique product in the rest of the mainland.

Yeah those machines are fairly common in TX as far as I know, that's the route I'll most likely be going as it is much nicer.  Right now I'm trying to decide whether to go with a semi-permanent location in a parking lot somewhere, or to get a small stand and try to do festivals and things on the weekends.  I'm going to approach a few businesses in the next week or two to see what sort of costs I'm looking at for a space in a parking lot (and maybe electricity).

I've seen a number of already set up trucks/trailers/stands on craigslist.  For a complete enclosed trailer with AC (needed for the parking lot strategy) it seems like $12-20k is the going rate.  For a small open air stand to use at festivals and such I can probably get everything for $5-7k.  The main upside to the permanent location is that I can hire high school kids to run it and not have to have me or my girlfriend always be there.

I think I'm going to create an LLC to own it, just in case something crazy happens.  Guess that's another research rabbit hole I need to go down.

I'm a red panda

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8186
  • Location: United States
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2017, 08:42:36 AM »
Have you ever had Hawaiian shave ice? It's the same concept as a sno-cone, but instead of chipped ice, it's shaved with a blade machine. The texture is much softer and more pleasant. The machines I saw when I was there appeared to be of Japanese manufacture. Probably a $2-4k investment but it would give you a very unique product in the rest of the mainland.

I don't think I've seen a "sno-cone" in 20 years. It's always shaved ice.

In every state I've lived in, the stands that I've been to have also been around for decades. I wonder if it is hard to "break into" the market, as it seems like there are really well established businesses in all the cities I've lived in. If you want a sno-cone, those are the places you go.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2017, 09:23:32 AM »
I don't think I've seen a "sno-cone" in 20 years. It's always shaved ice.

In every state I've lived in, the stands that I've been to have also been around for decades. I wonder if it is hard to "break into" the market, as it seems like there are really well established businesses in all the cities I've lived in. If you want a sno-cone, those are the places you go.

With smaller towns I think you're right, but I will say in the last two large cities I've lived in I've had a few occasions where I wanted a snow cone, and couldn't find anywhere within a 15 minute drive on google.  Granted, maybe they aren't listed in google, but I couldn't recall seeing any around either. 

I figure it's a 15-20k risk, and a decent chunk of that I could get back with re-selling the stand/equipment if it doesn't work out.  Even in a worst case scenario where the stand burns down on the first day or something it still shouldn't hurt me too badly, unless I'm caught in the fire I guess.
« Last Edit: May 24, 2017, 09:25:19 AM by ooeei »

I'm a red panda

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8186
  • Location: United States
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2017, 09:59:13 AM »
I don't think I've seen a "sno-cone" in 20 years. It's always shaved ice.

In every state I've lived in, the stands that I've been to have also been around for decades. I wonder if it is hard to "break into" the market, as it seems like there are really well established businesses in all the cities I've lived in. If you want a sno-cone, those are the places you go.

With smaller towns I think you're right, but I will say in the last two large cities I've lived in I've had a few occasions where I wanted a snow cone, and couldn't find anywhere within a 15 minute drive on google.  Granted, maybe they aren't listed in google, but I couldn't recall seeing any around either. 
In Austin, I'll drive 45 minutes to get to my favorite one... I'm pretty brand loyal. haha.

Quote

I figure it's a 15-20k risk, and a decent chunk of that I could get back with re-selling the stand/equipment if it doesn't work out.  Even in a worst case scenario where the stand burns down on the first day or something it still shouldn't hurt me too badly, unless I'm caught in the fire I guess.

Just don't line the stand with money, then burn it down.

SC93

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2017, 12:21:16 AM »
What city are you going to put this in?

This is one of my favorite ideas is a stand like this. I also have some ideas for you to throw around if you want them.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2017, 06:18:02 AM »
What city are you going to put this in?

This is one of my favorite ideas is a stand like this. I also have some ideas for you to throw around if you want them.

Houston, I've got a phone call set up with a friend who's successfully owned one before, so hopefully he can give me some insight.  Extra ideas never hurt!

loyalreader

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 35
  • Location: East Coast
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2017, 08:50:06 AM »
This is one of my favorite ideas too, and agree with making it real Hawaiian shaved ice. There's a huge difference between that and 'sno-cones'.

VeggieGirl

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 49
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2017, 09:25:34 AM »
Agree with everyone, a great idea. Over the weekend at a festival, when it was super hot, I was just thinking how awesome a Hawaiian shaved ice would be but all the places around here are the sno-cone type.

SC93

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2017, 12:42:03 PM »
Houston = perfect for serving Blue Bell. We have a small chain around here called Burger Box. They serve food but every time we are there 99% of the customers are ordering ice cream. And after we eat, we order ice cream as well. Sno cone or Hawaiian shaved ice and add Blue Bell I think would be a million dollar business. I'm not real sure why I don't do it...... but if I ever do, it will be at a fixed location. Or, add on soft serve because nowadays they have machines that can mix and match all different kinds of flavors, not just chocolate & vanilla.

There were 2 high school girls in Jackson, Tennessee a few years back that started a sno cone stand over the summer.... they made great profit for 2 teens and each year it grew. My mother-in-law has since moved back to Texas so I don't know what's happening with it this year but I suspect it is doing well.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2017, 08:26:54 PM »
Houston = perfect for serving Blue Bell. We have a small chain around here called Burger Box. They serve food but every time we are there 99% of the customers are ordering ice cream. And after we eat, we order ice cream as well. Sno cone or Hawaiian shaved ice and add Blue Bell I think would be a million dollar business. I'm not real sure why I don't do it...... but if I ever do, it will be at a fixed location. Or, add on soft serve because nowadays they have machines that can mix and match all different kinds of flavors, not just chocolate & vanilla.

There were 2 high school girls in Jackson, Tennessee a few years back that started a sno cone stand over the summer.... they made great profit for 2 teens and each year it grew. My mother-in-law has since moved back to Texas so I don't know what's happening with it this year but I suspect it is doing well.

I'd planned on looking into ice cream as an add on, but didn't consider pushing the Blue Bell angle, great idea!  Had a chat this evening with my girlfriend's friend who ran a stand years ago and got a lot of good advice.  He did say ice cream may come with extra health requirements, I'm checking in with the health department next week to run down everything and see what else I need.  I'm going to approach businesses after that to try and nail down a location, then get a trailer and start up. I'm really excited for my first business, I've always been the guy who pokes holes in ideas so I'm about ready to start actually doing something.

SC93

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2017, 11:12:19 PM »
By the way ooeei, I sent you a private message.

Shanksy

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 32
  • Age: 40
  • Location: Phoenix, AZ
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #15 on: May 26, 2017, 01:36:46 PM »
If you can swing it, offer toppings! Fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate syrup etc. Serve it in bowls like a frozen yogurt place. There's a popular local shaved ice place here in Phoenix called Snoh https://www.snohice.com/

They have a unique Asian spin on it with interesting flavors, they are so popular they just opened a second location.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #16 on: May 26, 2017, 09:35:32 PM »
By the way ooeei, I sent you a private message.

I responded, hopefully it went through!

If you can swing it, offer toppings! Fresh fruit, whipped cream, chocolate syrup etc. Serve it in bowls like a frozen yogurt place. There's a popular local shaved ice place here in Phoenix called Snoh https://www.snohice.com/

They have a unique Asian spin on it with interesting flavors, they are so popular they just opened a second location.

That looks great, but a bit more involved than I want to be right now. We're going to keep it basic to start, and maybe start experimenting once we've got the business part down. Definitely wouldn't mind trying one of those...

FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #17 on: May 27, 2017, 08:46:42 PM »
Keeping it basic at first and growing is the best. Once you have a baseline then you can quantify the results of adding/subtracting certain offering and their work/payout balance. You can get better and better every day.

The business will work. Really, most businesses will work if you don't accept a failure and try to identify the specific reason something is working (or not). When you start small you can identify the variables (product, location, service) and adjust the variables on the fly without having to risk lots of capital. Being able to experiment without risking huge capital (especially on your first business) is a beautiful thing.

Good luck. Use this thread to tell us how it goes. I'm interested.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #18 on: May 28, 2017, 10:36:38 AM »
Keeping it basic at first and growing is the best. Once you have a baseline then you can quantify the results of adding/subtracting certain offering and their work/payout balance. You can get better and better every day.

The business will work. Really, most businesses will work if you don't accept a failure and try to identify the specific reason something is working (or not). When you start small you can identify the variables (product, location, service) and adjust the variables on the fly without having to risk lots of capital. Being able to experiment without risking huge capital (especially on your first business) is a beautiful thing.

Good luck. Use this thread to tell us how it goes. I'm interested.

Thanks for the encouragement, we're hoping to be up and running in 2-3 weeks.  I'll post back here occasionally as we get going.

Manguy888

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 256
  • Location: Rhode Island
    • EA Mann, Writer
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #19 on: May 31, 2017, 08:12:36 AM »
This would be a great business idea for people with kids coming up on their teen years. Built in minions to help you run the business, maybe scale it, and give them some work/business experience at the same time. Certainly would be better than my first job washing dishes.

SC93

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #20 on: May 31, 2017, 02:00:37 PM »
Oh God, all these years and I have never said that my first job was washing dishes because I forgot all about that. I sure don't know how I forgot, I guess I wanted to erase it from my memory.... it sucked!

FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #21 on: May 31, 2017, 08:08:26 PM »
Haha, I have "Pizza Hut, Washed Dishes and Delivered Pizzas to pay for education" on my professional resume!

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #22 on: June 01, 2017, 06:32:25 AM »
Well, some sad news, I figured out why there aren't many snow cone stands already in Houston.  I haven't had any luck getting ahold of the right person at the health department, but from reading around a lot on their website here's what it looks like:

In order to use a "mobile unit" like a truck or trailer, you are required to make a trip to a commissary every day.  You are required to store all perishables in the commissary and empty out wastewater and fill up supply water. The commissary will charge a fee, and while I've heard anything from $200-1000/month depending where I look, the idea of driving my ice trailer to a kitchen to empty out a water tank and move a few hundred pounds of ice every day is pretty unappealing for this size/scope of a business. 

In order to have the unit at a permanent location hooked up to electrical or other utilities full time, it has to meet all Houston building codes, which a mobile trailer will most likely not do. 

The other option is to rent a physical location, which is what Bahama Buck's does.  In this case the one quote I got was for $2000/month for a location that isn't particularly high traffic, and isn't ready for any sort of food service.  Of course this will change depending on the specific location, but I don't think I'll be getting much cheaper than that in the area I'm looking.

My $20,000 semi-passive investment idea is quickly turning into a $50-100,000 very active investment idea.  I'm guessing a lot of the food trucks I see are just operating without the proper permits and are banking on the commissary rule not being enforced.  Since I'm trying to put this in a high traffic location I'm not really interested in skirting the rules. Some of the food truck parks probably have commissaries really close by that prevents them from having to move, but in Houston those places have pretty limited traffic and are quite a ways away from me.

Luckily I haven't hit the order button on anything yet, although I do have an inbox full of price quotes and answered questions about trailers, ice shavers, flavors, etc.  For now I'm going to slow down until I'm able to confirm what I said above with the right person at the health department.  So far I've only been shuffled and transferred between people, this will be my 4th attempt to call them.

I guess the semi-permanent shaved ice trailer from my home town run by high school kids isn't really applicable in the big city, at least not Houston.  It seems like such a simple concept, but I guess a few poor food handlers ruined it for the rest of us.

The search for a low startup business continues.

edit:  I looked at the rules for Austin, and they allow you to empty your wastewater and transport it to a processing facility for disposal, or hire a service to do it for you.  In Houston it's specifically required that you move your entire truck/trailer to an approved commissary to dump out the 30 gallon grey water tank that may or may not be full every 24 hours.  I get the feeling some lobbying by brick and mortar food operations may have played a role in this rule.  Basically it puts a stop to my idea until I leave Houston.  I'm still going to try to get ahold of the guy at the health department to confirm all of this.
« Last Edit: June 01, 2017, 08:57:57 AM by ooeei »

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #23 on: June 01, 2017, 12:09:45 PM »
Finally talked to the right guy at the health department, he confirmed everything above, except ice isn't required to be stored in a commissary.  Basically you have to visit the commissary every 24 hours to drain your wastewater tank to be in compliance, that pretty much ruins my whole plan. 

In the meantime, I liquidated about $20k from mutual funds that I'd still like to put to work, I'm open to new ideas! Preferably ones that don't have to deal with Houston health department regulations.
« Last Edit: June 01, 2017, 12:18:59 PM by ooeei »

Manguy888

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 256
  • Location: Rhode Island
    • EA Mann, Writer
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #24 on: June 01, 2017, 12:37:49 PM »
I'm not sure what the exact definition of commisary is. You couldn't find a local restaurant that has all the right approvals and pay them a small fee to store your equipment there/dispose of wastewater?

By the River

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 463
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #25 on: June 01, 2017, 02:02:11 PM »
This would be a great business idea for people with kids coming up on their teen years. Built in minions to help you run the business, maybe scale it, and give them some work/business experience at the same time. Certainly would be better than my first job washing dishes.

Several years back, my sister owned a storage business that was set back from the main highway.  In front, she set up a portable building selling sno-balls (Louisiana spelling) and had her daughters and nieces and nephews working throughout the summers while they were in high school.  However this wasn't in a city like the OP is looking into so fewer rules. 


FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #26 on: June 01, 2017, 02:45:04 PM »
The simpler the idea, the better. I would look for an idea that doesn't require using capital or anymore than a few thousand dollars. SC93 is a poster on here who sells used washers and dryers - check out the "What do you flip" thread or the one about lawn mowing. With a few hundred dollars you can get your hands on the washers and dryers, figure out how to fix them yourself or hire a technician do fix them for you and then flip them. You can start getting lawn mowing contracts, stump grinding contracts anything that is service based.

It is my opinion that lots of the businesses that you might think are to simple and saturated actually don't have one single responsible business person. Pick out something at your house, like indoor painting as a random example. See if you can find a reasonable person and crew to do the job. When you find a service where the answer is "no" you can get in business by simply becoming the connector of the client to the service professionals - you don't even have to do the actual painting. You do have to take calls, return calls, bid jobs, find contractors, make sure they show up as appointed, make sure they do good work, follow up with billing, pay taxes, get appropriate insurance, etcetera. That is what it takes to run a business. The whole can be much bigger than the sum of the parts. That is also the reason the there are lots of painters but its hard to find a painter when you need one.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #27 on: June 01, 2017, 02:51:13 PM »
I'm not sure what the exact definition of commisary is. You couldn't find a local restaurant that has all the right approvals and pay them a small fee to store your equipment there/dispose of wastewater?

That's a good point, and I'll look into it. It's purely for wastewater removal, the health dept website says they will have to inspect any non-listed commissaries (they list about 10 for the whole city), but they don't say what they'll be inspecting for. It does specifically define commissaries as having products meant to use in vending machines, so at this point I'm not too hopeful. I'll call a few restaurants near where I was hoping to locate and see what they say.

The only issue is I'll have to buy a truck and go down and move the trailer every day we use it. The trailer weighs ~4000 lbs so my plan was to just rent a uhaul when we move it. Even if it's only 1000 feet away it's going to be a significant inconvenience, but may be worth it.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #28 on: June 01, 2017, 03:00:39 PM »
The simpler the idea, the better. I would look for an idea that doesn't require using capital or anymore than a few thousand dollars. SC93 is a poster on here who sells used washers and dryers - check out the "What do you flip" thread or the one about lawn mowing. With a few hundred dollars you can get your hands on the washers and dryers, figure out how to fix them yourself or hire a technician do fix them for you and then flip them. You can start getting lawn mowing contracts, stump grinding contracts anything that is service based.

It is my opinion that lots of the businesses that you might think are to simple and saturated actually don't have one single responsible business person. Pick out something at your house, like indoor painting as a random example. See if you can find a reasonable person and crew to do the job. When you find a service where the answer is "no" you can get in business by simply becoming the connector of the client to the service professionals - you don't even have to do the actual painting. You do have to take calls, return calls, bid jobs, find contractors, make sure they show up as appointed, make sure they do good work, follow up with billing, pay taxes, get appropriate insurance, etcetera. That is what it takes to run a business. The whole can be much bigger than the sum of the parts. That is also the reason the there are lots of painters but its hard to find a painter when you need one.

Good advice, I actually PM'd SC93 to get more information about how he sources his appliances for flipping.  I've fixed my own dryer before and am a mechanical engineer, so that seems right up my alley. Unfortunately craigslist around here seems pretty sparse. I am going to pick up a broken kitchenaid mixer this evening to hopefully fix and flip for $100-200 profit.

Being the connector is a good point, and something I hadn't considered. I have a day job so that particular setup might not be exactly right for me, but I get the idea. Stump/tree removal seems like a good idea, and I've considered it before.

Flooding is a big issue in Houston usually a couple times a year, so next time one happens I need to keep an eye out for what services people are scrounging for.  Maybe I'll buy a boat? Or better yet, find some people with boats and connect them with people who need boats.  wefindyouaboatwhenyouneedaboat.com :D

CareCPA

  • Bristles
  • ***
  • Posts: 342
  • Location: Northcentral PA
    • Care CPA - Tax, Accounting and Payroll
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #29 on: June 01, 2017, 04:54:22 PM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #30 on: June 02, 2017, 06:08:11 AM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

That's a good way of thinking, but I think for this area it doesn't make much sense.  The food truck market here is pretty sparse, and I'm still not convinced the ones that are here actually visit commissaries regularly at all.  Based on my friend and two people he knows who do it, none of them even knew it was a requirement.  I think they just bought a truck and started selling food and didn't even consider the health department. The area where I want to put the snow cone stand would cost a fortune to rent a building which I'd have to for a commissary, so I don't think combining the two is going to work. 

I also noticed almost all of the commissaries are also to go restaurants with premade meals.  I'm not sure if they use the commissary status as a side gig for their restaurant, or the restaurant as a side gig for their commissary, but either way I don't want to run a restaurant.  I think some of the bigger ones cook food for smaller kitchens and vending machines and sell it wholesale.  Basically it's a slightly different type of restaurant, and of all of the businesses I had to pick to start off with, restaurant is near the bottom of the list.

I do like how you saw "snow cone stand didn't work because of no commissary, so be the commissary."  That's the type of thinking I need to start doing.

 

FIREby35

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 670
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #31 on: June 02, 2017, 06:22:50 AM »
You could also find out what the consequences are for ignoring the health department. As a lawyer, I can tell you there are often laws with no consequences. I can't say this is one of them, but I'd find out. You'll eventually need a lawyer for your team of business associates anyway. Start finding that person now. I'd look for someone who represents lots of similar businesses or participates in a trade organization with others who run similar businesses. That person might be able to give you some other good ideas.


ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #32 on: June 02, 2017, 07:15:55 AM »
You could also find out what the consequences are for ignoring the health department. As a lawyer, I can tell you there are often laws with no consequences. I can't say this is one of them, but I'd find out. You'll eventually need a lawyer for your team of business associates anyway. Start finding that person now. I'd look for someone who represents lots of similar businesses or participates in a trade organization with others who run similar businesses. That person might be able to give you some other good ideas.

It's up to a $500 fine and the business can be shut down.  My assumption is I'd get a fine the first or second occurrence, then be shut down.

I considered just skirting the rules, but in a high traffic area I find it hard to believe I'd be able to avoid it for long.  Then I'm stuck with a $20k trailer and probably a rental agreement for at least a year with no way to make money.  Most food trucks here are out hiding in the suburbs or areas near factories, not the busy shopping center areas.  The few that are near busy areas are constantly moving, so for all I know they may be doing the commissary thing.

I'm at the point now where there are so many restrictions it's not worth it to me.  I'm sure I could make it work somehow, but it's morphed into an entirely different business from what I was expecting.  Originally it was going to be a small stand in a busy area near where I live that after a few months we could hire high school kids to run with me going by maybe once a day to check up on it. 

Now I have to either move it around an hour away to avoid the regulations, buy a truck and hook it up to move it to a commissary every day to drain a tank and pay the commissary for the privilege, or knowingly violate health code rules which can get it shut down at any moment and probably violate whatever lease I'm under.  It's just turning into a really complicated mess for a first business, and it seems like now I'm trying to force it.  Maybe this is just how small businesses are, but based on the people I know who have small businesses I don't think so.  The guy I talked to who is currently running a stand in Austin didn't even believe me about the health requirements until I showed him, and remarked that's probably why there aren't really any food trucks in Houston.

Goldielocks

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7062
  • Location: BC
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #33 on: June 04, 2017, 10:20:05 PM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

OOH,  could you be licensed as a MOBILE commissary?   A vac truck service for dumping wastewater, plus a refrigerated delivery van, and none of the food trucks need to move -- you come to them?

I am thinking of the refueling mobile truck service, but for food trucks and food.

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #34 on: June 05, 2017, 07:02:40 AM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

OOH,  could you be licensed as a MOBILE commissary?   A vac truck service for dumping wastewater, plus a refrigerated delivery van, and none of the food trucks need to move -- you come to them?

I am thinking of the refueling mobile truck service, but for food trucks and food.

A mobile removal service is strictly prohibited in the health codes for food trucks.  Good idea though.  Seems like they've really covered their bases on making food trucks a huge pain in the ass to run.

Goldielocks

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 7062
  • Location: BC
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #35 on: June 05, 2017, 11:00:04 PM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

OOH,  could you be licensed as a MOBILE commissary?   A vac truck service for dumping wastewater, plus a refrigerated delivery van, and none of the food trucks need to move -- you come to them?

I am thinking of the refueling mobile truck service, but for food trucks and food.

A mobile removal service is strictly prohibited in the health codes for food trucks.  Good idea though.  Seems like they've really covered their bases on making food trucks a huge pain in the ass to run.
That's crappy.  I helped out a few businesses in food processing -- seasonal packing houses, even fish packing  / small farm slaugther sheds, that would reserve mobile waste collection / processing mobile trailers.

I mean, if fod processing plants can do it with licensed trucks, / trailers, why not a food cart?

ooeei

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1142
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #36 on: June 06, 2017, 06:02:35 AM »
Why don't you be the commissary instead? I can't imagine you would have to be there all day - just have someone there for a couple hours in the evening so people could dump, and in the morning to relaod.
Then you could still run your snow cone stand if you wanted, plus people would pay you to come dump water and store their food.

OOH,  could you be licensed as a MOBILE commissary?   A vac truck service for dumping wastewater, plus a refrigerated delivery van, and none of the food trucks need to move -- you come to them?

I am thinking of the refueling mobile truck service, but for food trucks and food.

A mobile removal service is strictly prohibited in the health codes for food trucks.  Good idea though.  Seems like they've really covered their bases on making food trucks a huge pain in the ass to run.
That's crappy.  I helped out a few businesses in food processing -- seasonal packing houses, even fish packing  / small farm slaugther sheds, that would reserve mobile waste collection / processing mobile trailers.

I mean, if fod processing plants can do it with licensed trucks, / trailers, why not a food cart?

You're preaching to the choir. 

Quote
Q.  Can I have the waste-water tank pumped by a truck instead of taking my unit to the commissary?

A.  No.

http://www.houstontx.gov/health/Food/mobilefoodunits/cuu.html

SC93

  • Pencil Stache
  • ****
  • Posts: 605
Re: Snow Cone Stand
« Reply #37 on: June 06, 2017, 12:55:01 PM »
I can answer the question of WHY.... The answer is because the local business owners got busy and protected their brick & mortar business before all these fast money people got a chance to come in. I'm all for being one of the fast money people myself but I gotta hand it to the business people of Houston for being on top of their game before people like us came to town.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!