Funnel cakes are almost synonymous with outdoor events, from high school sports games to fairs and festivals all around the nation. These fried, golden, delicious pastries have become a staple of life in almost any outdoor event imaginable and can be the key to starting your own successful concession business. In this 3-part series, you will learn more about funnel cakes, as well as enjoy detailed information about the equipment you’ll need to get started, pricing and profitability specifics and even what licenses are needed and how to obtain them.

The Modern Funnel Cake Market

Today, the market for funnel cakes is enormous. If you’ve ever attended an outdoor sporting event or a local fair, you’ve seen the long lines of people patiently waiting to buy a funnel cake. The reason this food has such amazing staying power can be attributed directly to the great taste, as well as the fact that people are more than willing to pay for food that helps them feel better.

As an example, funnel cakes have become the #1 sales item at fairs during the recent economic troubles, as these foods provide an escape from the everyday. As such, the market is expected to continue in growth, with no downturn in sight.

Profitable Venues for Funnel Cakes

As you can see, the market for funnel cakes is considerable. However, where should you sell them? Where might you find the best market possible? Actually, there are a number of places in which you can sell funnel cakes quite profitably.

You’ll certainly find that local and regional fairs and festivals can be excellent opportunities for your needs. These are the traditional home of funnel cakes and other “fair fare.” In fact, these might just be the most profitable options out there for your needs.

In addition to fairs, festivals and carnivals, you can sell funnel cakes in a number of other places. For instance, high school sporting events, particularly outdoor events, such as baseball games, soccer games and football games are tremendous options. These provide you with the benefit of an ongoing sales venue, where fairs and festivals are seasonal only.

Of course, you’ll need to make sure that you speak with the school in order to gain permission to sell funnel cakes on their grounds. Do not be surprised if the school balks at the prospect, as many schools make additional revenue from a concession stand at games. However, some schools are more amenable, if you offer a share of the profits to offset the expected loss from concession sales.