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 guess what?

You ain’t gotta do that no more.

Stick around and I’ll show you how I fixed it – and how you can too.

💸 How Most Vendors Are Overpaying Sales Tax (Without Even Knowing It)

Let me paint you a picture: You charge $5 for a hot dog.

Boom.

Customer pays it – no extra line item for tax – it’s just a flat $5, right?

Then at the end of the day, you’ve made $500.

Some folks just multiply $500 by 7% sales tax and send the state $35.

BUT HOLD ON…

That $500 already includes the tax.

So when you multiply again, you’re paying tax on the dang tax!

And guess what?

The state ain’t gonna call you up and go, “Hey Ben, you overpaid us.”

Nope, they’ll just cash the check and smile.

🧮 The Real Math Behind It (That Could Save You Hundreds)

Let’s do some quick math…

Say your gross sales were $7,942 in a month, and your state sales tax is 7.25%.

Most folks would just multiply $7,942 × 7.25% and pay $573.30.

But if you take that tax out correctly, you’d only owe $537.06.

That’s $38.24 back in your pocket – every single month!

That’s a few dogs sold right there, my friend.

Multiply that out over a year – and you’re talking real money.

🧾 Real Vendor, Real Mistake

I just talked to a vendor the other day.

She’s been vending since March and killing it – thousands a week.

But she was overpaying sales tax month after month.

She had no idea.

Once I showed her the math, she realized she’s been giving the state free money.

And that right there made me want to build something for you…

🧠 I Built You a Tool That Does the Hard Part

Yup.
I built an app.
It’s free.

Doesn’t matter if you’re on Android, iPhone, or your grandma’s desktop PC.

👉 Just head over to https://learnhotdogs.com/tax

Use it from your phone or computer – no downloads needed.

Just punch in your total sales and tax rate, and it’ll tell you EXACTLY what you owe.

Done and done.

It’s easy and accurate.

Helpful: Are You Missing Tax Write-Offs in Your Vending Business?

💳 Cash vs. Cards – Why It Matters

Nowadays, most vendors are about 50/50 between cash and card sales.

A lot of folks use Square, which helps track credit card transactions and tax.

But here’s the catch…

If you’re taking cash, and you’re not entering it properly into Square or your system, your records are gonna be off.

Then, when you report sales, you’ll be guessing – and probably paying tax on the tax AGAIN.

Don’t do that.

Use Square or a simple log sheet – just be consistent.

Keep it clean.
Keep it accurate.

📒 Track Everything – Even Freebies

You ever hand out a free dog to a cop?

Or drop off leftovers at the fire station or a shelter?

Good on ya – but don’t forget to write it down!

That’s marketing or a donation – and it’s deductible.

I use a plain old yellow legal pad.

Jot down every time I give something away, or spend on samples.

You’d be surprised how fast that adds up – and how much it can save you come tax season.

🔑 BONUS TIP: Don’t Wait to Fix This

If you’ve been overpaying, check with your state about amending past returns.

Some states let you do that and get money back – but only for a limited time.

And listen – don’t think of it like a “tax refund.”

That’s just you finally getting your money back.

The state didn’t pay you interest.

You just gave them a free loan!

🧠 Vendor Success Starts with Knowing Your Numbers

You work hard.

You hustle in the sun, cook delicious dogs, and make people smile.

Don’t let the tax man take more than he should.

Take 3 minutes to check out my free tax calculator and make sure you’re doing it right:
👉 https://learnhotdogs.com/tax

I built it for you.

Because I love you.

And I want you to succeed.

Now go get your money back, vendor!

Helpful: Yes! Tax Exempt Hot Dog Vending – Say What?

📈 Overpaying Sales Tax Can Be Fixed – You Just Need the Right Info

If you’ve made this mistake, don’t beat yourself up.

I did too.
Most of us have.

But now you know better – and you’ve got the tools to fix it.

The vending life is about freedom and financial independence – and not letting the state siphon off your hard-earned dollars.

Go fix it.
Stay profitable.

And as always…

Watch Ben's full video on why vendors are overpaying sales tax here…