Burger Joints Make Millions, And You Can Too

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These days it seems as if everybody is having a go at setting up their own street food stall. Suddenly, street food is trendy in Canada, just like it is in places like the Middle East and Asia. But with some many people trying to get in on the act, how does the average street food entrepreneur make any money? And can they make millions, just like the big fast-food chains?

Yianni Papoutsis wanted to find out. His passion for street food began way back in 2009. He set up his own burger van, amusingly named the MeatWagon. And although it took him nearly two years to leave the day job, the decision paid off. Now he’s got two locations up and running and is looking to start a third. So what’s his advice for those looking to make millions from a street food burger joint? Let’s find out.

Your Supplier Is An Ally

Papoutsis puts a lot of his success down to his relationship with his suppliers. Despite the fact that he now runs a large enterprise, he still uses the same wholesale ground beef suppliers that he used on day one. The reason is simple really. His suppliers were there to offer advice when he needed it. When he began, he was a total novice. But with the help of people who knew the industry, he was able to learn and grow his business. Now he pays them back with his success. Each time he opens a new restaurant, his suppliers get more business.

Layer Your Knowledge, Not Just The Burger Bun

Running a successful burger joint is more than just making great burgers. As Yianni, explains, it’s also about having business smarts. You need to know the exact price of every item in the menu and how to optimize portions. It’s great if you’ve got a line that sells really well. But it’s not great if you’re blowing your margins by using lots of excessively pricey ingredients. If you’re not confident with numbers, Papoutsis recommends getting the help of somebody who does. It’s a good idea to choose a business partner who’s savvy when it comes to accounts. Or failing that, find somebody who is able to come up with a financial plan and costing for the business.

Keep Your Burger Van Safe

If you’re starting your own burger business, your van is at the heart of everything you do. Papoutsis learned this the hard way. He was due to do a lot of business at a popular music festival. But just a day before the punters arrived, his van was vandalized. It was so badly damaged; he couldn’t use it at all. As a result, he wound up missing out on making a ton of money.

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But that wasn’t the only incident. A year later, another one of his vans got stolen. This time, he was due to serve up burgers in a pub. He didn’t give up, and people arrived at the bar demanding his burgers. He borrowed a griddle off his friend and started grilling burgers ad hoc in the pub garden.