Part Time BBQ Vending?

I have a few passions, Photography and BBQ are a couple and I have been a full time Photographer / Videographer for several years with a successful business. I love doing that but each year the business is going down. Nothing you can do about it, the digital era and prosumer electronics has taken its coarse. I have so many friends and peers that are out of business its not funny.

I am still doing well, but need to find a way to supplement our income in the next couple years. My BBQ has been a huge hit for friends and family, here in rural pa. BBQ is un heard of.

I realize that pleasing friends and family is not like dealing with the public, heck, I deal with them every day and have a long background in sales.

I also know there is a learning curve, HD to deal with and start up expenses.

I feel if I can make $5000.00-$10000.00 a year it would be a huge help.

I am usually steady with photography from June - October, but then very slow until summer again. I would have plenty of time over Thanksgiving, Christmas, Super Bowl etc.

I also have breaks in between customers and can be flexible with my scheduling.

I could easily take of some big BBQ weekends etc and wondering if the numbers I mentioned above are realistic after a year or two?

I am not looking for a get rich quick gig, or to make a big profit year 1, just a way to supplement my income a little more each year.

jbrink01 said:

I'm planning a catering / vending class for this September. I'll finalize by end of June. BIG events are hard to find. Vending can be risky (we had one this weekend that broke even after help was paid). Catering is getting more competitive. BUT, it can be done. We've done well for 6 years now. We have fed 7, yes 7, for a wealthy guys poker party (paid WELL) and we've done 1600. This business dies January - March. We make several times what you deem a huge help. Time, money, committment and a strong base of knowledge will pull you through. We started shoestring, and had an initial outlay of roughly $10k not counting a tow vehicle and we worked "under the radar".

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Thanks, and I am used to having little or no income Jan-Mar, that is when I usually do my training / education, business plans etc.

With my current business would never have to come close to providing for my family with BBQ, but would be nice to have my eggs in more than one basket too.

My biggest income source is high school seniors, I have been photographing about 200-250 students a year, and the great thing is they all have graduation parties the following June. I would have a large group to market to for graduation parties.

I would prefer to do just the meat for now, and build on that later.