Should I sell tamales?

Question

Can you give me some ideas? I am 18 and I am tired of working for people I want to make my own money and I am thinking of selling mexican food, but where, how, where will I get the money to do so, etc.?

Please be creative thanks

Answer 1

I admire your determination and all here have good advise.  My only recommendation is to first try making a batch.  They are wonderful, but very time consuming to make, and time is money!  Maybe start off with tacos and work your way up.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

I know many people that will sell tamales for the holidays etc. You just have to start by telling people that you make them and have them try one for free. They are not too expensive to make. The ingredients are cheap. If people like them they will probably order some for dinner or a family get together. You can also make some flyers. Then maybe when you save enough money you can rent a small place or a lunch truck and sell them from there. You just have to start small and have a lot of patience. You will not be rich over night and it takes a lot of work. You can also make sandwiches or lunches from home and sell them. You may also want to contact your local food health dept to see what your limitations will be. Good luck!

Answer 3

Officially, to sell food commercially, you'd need to get the correct licenses and permits (ughhh!), however, here's a plan to help you start.

Create a menu list and have your mom and dad, and your best friend's mom and dad pass them out to their coworkers. Let them place orders for tamales, carnitas, enchilada trays, tres leches cakes ,etc by phone and then you can deliver it to their home or business. Leaving samples in their workplace lunchroom wouldn't hurt either.

-OR-

Once a week distribute a flyer at workplaces on Monday, asking to take orders for a plate lunch deliver on Wednesday or Thursday. Collect up the orders and prepare food the night before, and cook/plate in the morning. Maybe two meats, some sides, a sweet, and a canned soda for $5.00. If you got twenty people, that's a hundred bucks, minus fifty for the food and supplies. Some good meals-

Pork Carnitas (my favorite); Tamales are good; grilled chicken; beef carne asada burritos/tacos, Arroz con leche, mango and pineapple salad, etc.. Try making really regional dishes (Michoacan, Sonoran, Central American, etc...)

As with everything in life-start small, develop a great reputation for quality and service, then expand within the limits of your reputation.

Answer 4

I dont have any great ideas, but I will buy one :)

Answer 5

I have seen people set up on the side of the road selling tamales. I think they were selling them out of ice chests. Don't know for sure, I never stopped, don't like tamales. If you ever see people selling food along the road stop and check out their set up.

The health dept will not allow you to prepare food in a kitchen that does not recieve regular inspections and pay for a licences and it is hard maybe impossable to get your home kitchen approved. But if you are selling on the side of the road and they shut you down just find another location.

Answer 6

A lot of people sell food outside of stores and on the sidewalk.

YOu could go to walmart or target to get a portable stove top. They have some that are as low as $10. You can have a big pot on top of it and sell them there.

I don't recommend getting a food truck or something similar to that. It would cost a lot of money and you have to obtain a food license that way.

Good luck!