The Concession Stand Quick Start Guide

Volunteers show up to help. Operators show up to run a small business for a few hours.

The difference is systems. One person guesses what to bring. The other knows what sells, what costs, and what the night should net. The parents are the same — the mindset is what changes.

Before you pack the car, make sure these are locked in:

• Confirmed stand location, power, and water access
• Volunteer schedule with shift assignments
• Cash box with small bills and coins for change
• Pricing signs posted where customers queue
• Phone numbers for the field manager and maintenance
• A simple inventory list printed for the opener

You can add fancy items later. Start with the staples that move every game:

• Bottled water — highest margin, lowest prep
• Hot dogs — classic, cheap, and fast
• Nachos/Popcorn — smell sells from a distance
• Candy — impulse buys at the register
• A simple combo deal — increases average ticket fast

Most beginner stands price to break even. Operators price to fund the next event.

A good rule: take your cost per item, then double it and add a little. So a $0.50 hot dog costs you $1.00 total with bun, condiments, and foil. Sell it for $2.50, not $1.50. Water you bought at $0.25? Sell at $2.00. The margins on drinks cover the mistakes on food.

Round prices to easy change. A $2.50 item with a $5 bill is faster than $2.37.

A simple day-of flow keeps the stand from panicking at halftime:

1. Arrive 90 minutes early. Setup, power on, and test every item.
2. Open 30 minutes before the game. Early parents are thirsty parents.
3. Run a two-window system: one for orders, one for pickup. It cuts lines in half.
4. Send a runner to restock before you hit empty. Running out during a rush loses more than the food cost.
5. Close sales 10 minutes before the game ends, then count the cash and write down what sold.

You only need one number to start: profit per volunteer hour.

Total sales minus food and supply costs, divided by the number of volunteer hours worked. If it’s $25/hour, you have a real operation. If it’s $5/hour, you have a charity event. Track it, talk about it, and improve it.