Brazilian pastel stand for markets and events

Market and festival visitors, Brazilian and Latin American communities, brewery and event crowds, and curious foodies.

You sell each pastry or a combo with a drink, usually at a set price per piece. Earnings depend on how many events you can book and how fast you can serve a line.

• Cooking and deep frying safely
• Food handling and hygiene
• Customer service at a busy counter
• Planning prep and stock for each event

• Fried savory fillings with meat or cheese usually do not qualify under cottage food rules, so check with your state and county health department
• Temporary event permits or a mobile food vendor permit, often with a commissary kitchen requirement
• General liability insurance, which many markets and events require
• Fire safety rules for fryers and propane at outdoor events, check with your local fire marshal
• Sales tax registration with your state and local business license rules

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on whether you use a tent or a trailer, your fryer and propane setup, permits and insurance. Getting your own quotes will give a more accurate figure for your area.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how many markets and events you work, your menu and your prices. That is revenue before costs, and the estimate assumes at least about 12 hours a week.

Check whether fried savory fillings with meat or cheese qualify under your state's cottage food rules, plus temporary event or mobile vendor permits and any commissary kitchen requirement. Also check insurance needs, fire marshal rules for fryers and propane, and sales tax registration.