Starting a Boiled Peanut Stand

by Ali Delisi
(Honolulu)

I live in Honolulu, Hawaii, and there isn't one boiled peanut stand here, so I want to start one! I have no idea where to start. Please Help!

Comments for Starting a Boiled Peanut Stand

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Jul 29, 2012
 Boiled Peanut Vending
by: Bret

Ali,
We applaud your desire to offer boiled peanuts in Hawaii. It would take many pages to tell you all the steps needed to build a legal, successful boiled peanut business. I'll try to cover many of the main topics here.

Develop a good product. Find a source for quality raw peanuts, either dried or green. Create, and fine tune recipes for them. Standardize your process until you have a consistent, tasty product. Give away samples, get feedback from boiled peanut lovers as you dial in the process. Listen to their feedback, keep an open mind, be willing to adjust your recipes based on input from others.

You need the tools of the trade. The details depend on the amount of boiled peanuts you expect to sell, where and how you want to vend them. If you are only boiling a few gallons of peanuts per day, you may be able to do this on your stove, with a large pot, or pressure cooker. For larger amounts, you will need a propane burner, and bigger pots. Propane burner boiling must be done outdoors, for safety. You'll need utensils for stirring, and scooping out the peanuts from the water.

You need to understand safe food handling, and storage. This includes sanitizing your utensils, storage vessels, and hands. You'll need to create a sanitizing station for your vending site. Learn about safe storage temperatures. You may need a refrigerator, or a freezer space to store your peanuts. Green peanuts must be stored in a cool dry location. Boiled peanuts must be stored either hot, or cold, but not at room temperature.

Select container sizes and types for dispensing the peanuts. Many people like using 16 oz and 32 oz Styrofoam cups. The cup is both the measurement, and an insulated container. Give the customer some paper towels, and maybe a bag for the shells.

Find a location with a lots of traffic, and many hungry people. Location is extremely important for volume sales. The location for vending should be a common intersection, a busy roadside, a popular destination, or event.

Determine how to transport your boiled peanuts, pots, burner, utensils, sanitizing station, signs, tables, tents, towels, change box, and other tools to your vending site.

Calculate a price that covers your costs, plus a reasonable profit, that is within the fair market value of boiled peanuts in your region. Track your costs for raw peanuts, salt, spices, propane, dispensing containers, time, transportation to fully understand your profit margin.

Contact your local department of health to understand food vending regulations, and licenses that apply to preparing, and vending boiled peanuts in your city, county, state.

Promote your business with large signs, local advertising, web advertising, word of mouth. Give away samples to lure buyers.

Sell quality boiled peanuts, at a fair price, at a good location, and your business will thrive.
Feb 16, 2014
 Kids and nuts
by: Bill Croft

When starting a peanut stand, be like McDonald's, target kids. Kids have money as well as their parents. Kids relentlessly hassle parents, and parents give in to the pressure. If they don't they're " bad parents". Sorry, that's just the way it is.

Valencia peanuts usually have three to five nuts per shell. Five nut shells are relativity rare. Probably no more than five in a fifty pound bag. Offer a coveted "free bag" for a five nut shell. It turns peanut buying into a scavenger hunt. Kids love it!

Get some business cards with your logo and name. Include a "boiled peanut club" on the card. For every five bags bought, give the kids, the coveted "free bag"! Use a card punch to document the sales. Kids love it! They'll drag the parents in just to cash in on the possibility of the free bag. Believe me, they'll tell all their friends.

Keep them coming with a consistent product. Find a good recipe, and stick with it. Most recipes on the internet are way to complicated. Mine is easy and very GOOD!

Don't switch back and forth from green to raw. Raw peanuts are consistent year round, available year round, are less weight to pay for, and store long periods without spoiling.

Be at your stand when you say you'll be there. Be consistent, very important to have the same hours week to week! Location, Location, Location! Visibility and traffic flow are very important. I'd rather be at a location with less traffic, at an intersection, than a high traffic location where everyone is doing 55 mph. You need an intersection to slow them down, and provide easy access and exit.

Get to know your customers by name. Talk to them. Be friendly, and concerned about their situations. Sometimes to be a peanut man you have to be a friend, a counselor, a confidant or even a psychiatrist! Tons of fun!

Be prepared when in public places to be called "the peanut man". It comes with the job! The main thing you'll need is a fully equipped trailer. It makes everything so much easier.

That's where I come in. I manufacture, and sell completely equipped peanut trailers, with all the information you need to get going. Don't be fooled. I am the Peanut Man of north Georgia. The official home of the "burled p-nut". I know what I'm talking about, after twenty five years plus in the biz.
Contact me here through this blog, and get off on the right foot!
Feb 27, 2015
 Starting a boiled peanut business
by: Robbie

Good evening. I'm in the process of kicking the idea around of starting a boiled peanut business and was curious if there was any profit in such of a business. Also, was curious to what trailer prices start at etc. Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks, Robbie.
Sep 15, 2015
 Peanuts are good luck
by: Nancy O.

Just wanted to say Good Luck and what a great adventure.
Jun 11, 2016
 Paulaluick@aol .com
by: Anonymous

I'm in Niagara Falls, New York, would like to start a boiled peanut business. Just need a way to keep them warm and easily moveable cart. Where can I buy one?
Dec 06, 2016
 Thinking about it
by: Anonymous

Can anybody help me get this business started? Where to go and how to get it started? Any help would be great.
Dec 09, 2016
 Thinking
by: Bret

You might find this page helpful.
Jul 18, 2020
 Senior pastor
by: Jeff Griffith

Been reading on your site just wondering if you have a used set up for sale I live in Kentucky and they don’t do much more peanuts. I used to live in South Carolina and sell peanuts for Church Member mine to the Clemson Tiger fans it was a lot of fun and profitable my number is 606-305-3044 I’m interested in a set up.
Oct 14, 2020
 Starting a Boiled Peanuts Business
by: Anonymous

Good evening. I'm in the process of kicking the idea around of starting a boiled peanut business and was curious if there was any profit in such of a business. Also, was curious to what trailer prices start at etc. Any information would be appreciated.
Feb 25, 2021
 Who gottem
by: William

Where is the best place to buy uncooked peanuts to boil? In bulk preferably.
Mar 06, 2021
 Selling boiled peanuts
by: Cody from Alabama

I used to sell boiled peanuts at rodeos, car shows, drag races, and also at Tractor Supply where I worked at. Very profitable business if you know what you're doing. I enjoyed it very much because it's also a great way to meet new and interesting people. You won't find many people that don't like boiled peanuts.
Jun 04, 2024
 Packaging
by: Anonymous peanut head

I need some different options, of what to put your peanuts in for sale cheapest way.
Jul 28, 2024
 Price
by: Lyn

This my second time to ask what would be a fair price to sale boiled peanuts for in qt bags and gallon bags? I thought $7.00 for qt and $25.00 for gallon any comments please email me at mustang172442@yahoo.com topic green peanuts please thank you for your help.

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