Howdy, howdy! Let’s dive into a great question I got the other day about selling extra stuff—like popcorn—from a hot dog cart.

You’re gonna love this because I’ve got some fun stories, real-life examples, and tips to help you make more money while keeping things simple and legal.

Can You Sell Other Items From a Hot Dog Cart?

The short answer is YES!
Absolutely.

You’re not limited to just hot dogs.

You can sell popcorn, cotton candy, hats, t-shirts, sunglasses, and more.

There’s a ton of flexibility when it comes to vending.

But, as with everything, there are a few rules and best practices you’ll want to follow.

Let’s get into the details.

The Nostalgia Factor

Before we get all excited about adding everything under the sun to your cart, let me give you a little tip: don’t overdo it.

One of the reasons people love hot dog vendors and street food vendors is the nostalgia.

You’re not a traveling convenience store, and you don’t want to look like one.

Keep it simple, and choose items that complement what you’re already offering.

For example, popcorn is a perfect match for your hot dog cart.

It’s simple, fun, and easy to prep in advance.

Plus, it won’t clutter your cart with unnecessary stuff.

Adding Popcorn to Your Hot Dog Cart Menu

If you’ve got a popcorn machine—or even a simple Whirley Pop setup at home—you can absolutely make and sell popcorn from your cart.

Bag it up in advance, and you’re good to go.

You can even offer a couple of different options, like long bags and short bags, to maximize your sales.

Here’s why popcorn is such a great add-on:

1. Low Cost, High Profit: Popcorn is dirt cheap to make, and people love it.
2. Easy to Prep: You can make it at home, bag it up, and bring it to your vending spot.
3. Nostalgia Bonus: Popcorn has that old-school, fun vibe that makes people smile.

If you’re worried about the legal side of things, don’t be.

Most states allow popcorn under their cottage food laws.

You can check out cottagefoodlaws.com to see what’s allowed in your state.

It’s probably one of the easiest ways to add something extra to your hot dog cart business without jumping through a ton of hoops.

Other Items You Can Sell

It doesn’t stop at popcorn!

Vendors all over the country are getting creative and selling a variety of extras:

• Candy: Bulk Hershey’s bars, Reese’s Cups, Snickers—you name it.
• Cotton Candy: Another easy and nostalgic item.
• Hats and T-Shirts: I used to sell sunglasses and hats right from my cart. Bought them dirt cheap in bulk and sold them for a nice profit.
• Funnel Cakes, Kettle Corn, and Fudge: These are great items if you’ve got the setup and a little extra space.

The key here is to find things that don’t take up too much room or distract from your main business.

Helpful: Funnel Cake Vending For Fast Cash

Helpful: Kettle Corn Profits – A Real Story

You want to keep it manageable, especially if you’re working solo.

Helpful: How to Keep Chili on Cart, Popcorn and more

Keep It Legal

Now, let’s talk about the legal side of things.

While it’s easy to add these extras, you still want to make sure you’re following the rules in your state.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Check Cottage Food Laws: Head over to cottagefoodlaws.com to see what’s allowed in your state. Most states are fine with items like popcorn, kettle corn, and prepackaged treats.
2. Stay Within Your Health Department Guidelines: Some items may require additional permits, so keep it simple to avoid any headaches.

Real-Life Inspiration

Let me tell you about some vendors I know who’ve nailed this.

• One vendor started with a simple Whirley Pop in their kitchen, moved to their garage, and eventually turned their popcorn business into a full-blown operation with shipping and online sales.
• Another vendor in our Vendors United group (shhh, it’s a secret group!) runs a family business selling popcorn. They’ve perfected their process and are making a killing with gourmet popcorn flavors.

Helpful: How We Did Popcorn under the Cottage Food Laws

The bottom line is that there are so many opportunities to make extra cash if you’re willing to think outside the box.

How to Price and Promote

If you’re adding something like popcorn to your hot dog cart, here’s a quick tip on pricing: make it simple.

For example, sell your popcorn bags for $3 or $5, depending on size.

You don’t need a big menu board—just a little sign that says “Fresh Popcorn!” will do the trick.

As for promoting, let your customers know you’re offering something extra.

They’re already there for a hot dog, so why not give them a little something to take home?

Resources to Help You Get Started

If you want to dive deeper into this, I’ve got tons of free resources to help you out:

• LearnHotDogs.com: Type “popcorn” into the search box, and you’ll find articles, interviews, and more.
• CottageFoodLaws.com: Your go-to for state-by-state legal info.
• Vendors United: Join our private group to connect with other vendors and get insider tips.

And if you want to take your vending business to the next level, go and get together with the best vendors on the planet inside the Vendors United community.

You can learn about it HERE (it is 100% free to try it out for 5 days!!)…

🧡🧡 Vendors United – 100% FREE 5 Days Trial – Try It Today! 🧡🧡

Final Thoughts

Adding popcorn or other extras to your hot dog cart is a no-brainer.

It’s easy, profitable, and a great way to boost your income without adding a ton of extra work.

Just remember to keep it simple, stay legal, and have fun with it.

If you’ve got questions or need help getting started, you can always reach out to me.

I love hearing from vendors and seeing all the creative ways you’re growing your businesses.

So go out there, try something new, and keep on vending!

I love you.
Talk to you soon.
Bye.

Watch full Video HERE…