Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • entries
    88
  • comments
    168
  • views
    14,186

Alternative Business Ideas


Ennis-TX

3,030 views

So while I need an initial 30k to finance the food truck, then have heavy overhead, a very strict health inspector the has it out for food trucks keeping me from daily vending in town (next town over is nice), seasonal sales, and tons of permits and regulations. I was approached with a different concept by someone.
A mobile video gaming trailer via a franchise what will provide support and booking, this would not need the extra permits, very limited overhead, and only require I raise 14K to start. I can offer my baked goods from my bakery to people who book me for parties and pay it off in a few years by then start raising money to get the truck. By which time I can pray to god that my health inspector will retire. 

An interesting concept would be placing my business as an event/party company, later on, offering video game trailers for entertainment and a food truck for food and catering. A nice combo deal if you ask me. I think this would eliminate seasonal sales issues with food trucks, offer a dual income with less overhead. 

Now while the cost for getting into this is 1/2 the cost of the food truck....I still am at a loss of where to get the money. I am considering some drastic options for raising funds under the table, if that is what it takes to start putting food on the table. 

8 Comments


Recommended Comments

Scott Adams

I know there is a video gaming place at my local mall, very different from the old model where we put coins in to play, but whenever I go by it there are not many people in there. Are you sure there is demand for it? Also, this relies heavily on investment in comparison to a food truck. In the video game world the players expect the latest games, equipment, fast processors, etc.

Link to comment
kareng

We have video game trucks that you rent for birthday parties here.  Not sure about finances.  

Link to comment
Ennis-TX
1 minute ago, Scott Adams said:

I know there is a video gaming place at my local mall, very different from the old model where we put coins in to play, but whenever I go by it there are not many people in there. Are you sure there is demand for it? Also, this relies heavily on investment in comparison to a food truck. In the video game world the players expect the latest games, equipment, fast processors, etc.

This is the purpose for joining the franchised company. They provide updated consoles, they do the booking, they advertise. The big games for parties are still classics like call of duty, halo with a few new ones
A food truck is a 30k investment for financing a 150k truck that has thousands in permits and thousands in monthly stock. It is very weather dependent, and seasonal, and high risk investment. I love it and yes it would be me working 12+ hours a day with prep, setup, sales and clean up. There is also the need to deal with a health inspector with a thing against food trucks, and all the insurance (food trucks are required to have a 2million policy in case of food poisoning in addition to commercial truck insurance)  etc. The food industry has tons of regulations and fees. 

A gaming trailer is an about 14k investment for a 53k financed trailer, no permits, no inspectors, looking at 60-250 a month overheard with insurance, gas and only needing to buy 4 copies of a game 2-4 times a year. These would do great at the festivals in the area of my 3 local cities, booking for birthday parties is rather big with these. I have done a bit of a poll with some local parents showing rates, games, and pictures of the trailers. They said it would be great, they can have a birthday party and keep the kids entertained OUT of the house. Again this would allow me to offer cupcakes, cakes, and cookies from my bakery as add-ons. 

To be perfectly honest I would take my passion with the truck over the trailer concept, but it will take me about 5 more years to reach the trailer requirement and 10-15 years to get the money for the truck. Pending I do something drastic and reckless to get money (probably going to happen). But I figure integrate the two and do events. IE people can get an entertainment package and a catering package, I can run both under one business entity. 

I am honestly more or less cornered by life and if I can get my foot in the door and start seeing more money coming in them I will go at it. I am making $60-150 a week right now if the market is not rained out. Can you live on this as a human in America? A single party from the trailer could net $200-400, a food truck average catering event is $1200-2500 with festivals netting $1200-5000 in sales with heavy overhead. Both look dang good right now. 

Link to comment
Scott Adams

The game truck would be a lot easier to run and maintain than the food truck, that is for sure. I had a short-lived gluten-free cookie company, and was shocked about the huge amount of regulations, paperwork, taxes, certificates, etc. to maintain it.

Make it a GF game truck and sell super unhealthy GF junk food that kids love and parents hate...?

Link to comment
Ennis-TX
1 minute ago, Scott Adams said:

The game truck would be a lot easier to run and maintain than the food truck, that is for sure. I had a short-lived gluten-free cookie company, and was shocked about the huge amount of regulations, paperwork, taxes, certificates, etc. to maintain it.

Make it a gluten-free game truck and sell super unhealthy gluten-free junk food that kids love and parents hate...?

LOL well I do not even have Sugar in my bakery anymore, I use Erythritol, stevia, and monkfruit for sweeteners. IT will be SUPER HEALTHY cookies and cupcakes without any sugar, grains, or dairy. Parents will hate the prices lol. 
 

Link to comment
ch88
On 5/8/2019 at 2:55 PM, Ennis_TX said:

Pending I do something drastic and reckless to get money (probably going to happen).

This doesn't sound like good idea. I recommend not doing anything that would harm anyone else or yourself. Even if you get the money there is no guarantee that the either idea- for a food truck or a gaming truck- would work. I would recommend being flexible and considering other options. You may feel like you need the food truck or a gaming truck to be happy but it probably won't work out exactly that way. If it is an illegal activity it definitely isn't worth going to jail for. Anyway that is my advice. Hyperfocus on one idea is an autistic trait. If someone with autism is aware that they are thinking that way they may be more flexible and it might help them in the long run. 

Link to comment
Ennis-TX
16 hours ago, ch88 said:

This doesn't sound like good idea. I recommend not doing anything that would harm anyone else or yourself. Even if you get the money there is no guarantee that the either idea- for a food truck or a gaming truck- would work. I would recommend being flexible and considering other options. You may feel like you need the food truck or a gaming truck to be happy but it probably won't work out exactly that way. If it is an illegal activity it definitely isn't worth going to jail for. Anyway that is my advice. Hyperfocus on one idea is an autistic trait. If someone with autism is aware that they are thinking that way they may be more flexible and it might help them in the long run. 

I will not do anything illegal if that is your fear, due to my requirments of gluten, corn, and dairy free enviroment to manage health and allergies I can not risk incarsartion. While I will admit it does sound easy to just steal a truck or rob some place the implications of said matter would risk everything I have tried for and ruin my life,

Drastic means like start trying to sell equity of my company, split with a buinsiness partner, or perhaps working in a strip club. Heck if selling my organs was legal I would sell a kidney.

I do not seek happiness, just a way to work without gluten, corn, or daiy in the area. Tried in the past and get sick, or even have a coworker purposly poision me. SO I must own my own and regulate it, IE dedicted kitchen free of for allergen sake, or a clean grameing trailer with food and drink outside and wash your hands before using. I am just tired of only being able to legally sell and advertise 1 day a week and hope to help pay bills then have family buy food/meds I still need. It makes me feel guilty and like a worthless leech. So much wrong with thos body preventing me from doing stuff from nerve and brain damage, to odd ball allergies and food sensitvties.
 

Link to comment
ch88

Oh, okay that seems fine. Just so long as it isn't illegal or something you might get into trouble for. 

Working in a strip club sounds drastic. Definitely a different job.

Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




×
×
  • Create New...