Concession Stand Planning Guide: Menu, Payments, Staff
Posted by Trey Mosier
Planning a concession stand means thinking through the menu, the money, and the people before the first game. Pick a short menu, set simple prices, plan how you’ll take cash and cards, and fill every shift ahead of time. Do that once, and the rest of the season mostly runs itself.
Most stands don’t fall apart over food. They fall apart when the line backs up, the cash box comes up short, or nobody shows for the third quarter. This guide walks through each part so your stand stays calm and makes money all season.
Set Your Goals and Budget
Start with one question: what is this stand paying for? New uniforms, a team trip, or the booster club’s general fund all lead to different plans. A clear goal helps you decide how many games to cover and how much to spend up front.
Next, write down what you have to work with:
How many home games or events are on the schedule
What equipment you already have (warmers, coolers, a popcorn machine, tables)
How much money you can spend on your first round of supplies
Any rules from your school, league, or venue about food, health permits, or outside vendors
Check the rules early. Some schools require a food handler on every shift or limit what you can cook on site. It’s easier to plan around those limits now than to change the menu in week three.
Plan a Simple Menu
A short menu sells faster than a long one. Fans decide quickly, volunteers learn it in minutes, and you waste less food at the end of the night. Aim for a few items in each category below, then add or drop items once you see what sells.
Category
Easy Picks
Planning Note
Drinks
Bottled water, sports drinks, hot cocoa on cold nights
Usually your easiest profit. Buy in bulk and keep extras on ice.
Packaged Snacks
Chips, candy, granola bars
No prep, so new volunteers can sell them on day one.
Classics
Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos with cheese
Fast to serve. Needs a warmer or popcorn machine.
Hot Food
Walking tacos, pizza slices, soft pretzels
Sells well at night games. Check your equipment and venue rules first.
Allergy-Friendly
Fruit cups, pretzels, gluten-free chips
Label clearly and store away from other food.
Sweets
Cookies, brownies, rice crispy treats
Ask families to donate baked goods to cut your costs.
Donated baked goods are one of the simplest ways to raise your profit. Set up a sign up where families pick a game and an item, and you’ll know what’s coming before the gates open.
Price Your Items and Stock Supplies
Set prices in whole dollars when you can. Round numbers keep the line moving and make it easier to count cash at the end of the night. To set a price, add up what one item costs you, then pick a price that covers it with room to spare. Look at what nearby schools or rec leagues charge so your prices feel fair to families.
For supplies, buy enough for your first two or three games, not the whole season. You’ll learn quickly what sells and what sits. Keep a simple sales count each night so you know what to restock.
Don’t forget the items that aren’t food: napkins, plates, cups, condiments, gloves, trash bags, hand sanitizer, and a clear price sign. A missing box of gloves can stall a shift just as fast as running out of hot dogs.
Take Cash and Card Payments
Plenty of parents don’t carry cash anymore. If your stand only takes cash, you’ll lose sales every night to people who walk away. Taking cards and phone payments at the window keeps those sales and makes the line move faster.
You still want cash on hand for kids and anyone who prefers it. Plan for both:
Payment Type
Best For
What to Plan
Cash
Kids and quick small orders
Start each night with the same amount of change. Have two people count it in and out.
Card Tap or Chip
Parents without cash and bigger family orders
Charge your phone or reader before the game. Check the signal at the field.
Apple Pay and Google Pay
Fans paying with their phone or watch
Works on the same device as card taps. Post a sign so people know you take them.
Card sales also give you a cleaner record than a cash box. You can see what sold each night without anyone counting change at 10 p.m.
Take card payments at the window with your phone
No cash box required for every sale
With SignUpGenius Online Stores, you can add your menu items and accept in-person payments with Tap on Mobile or a Bluetooth card reader. Fans can tap a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Sales land in the same account you use for the rest of your group's payments, and it's included on every plan, including Free.
Run one test sale on your phone before the gates open. If the signal is weak at your field, you'll find out while there's still time to move closer to the building or switch to Wi-Fi.
Staff the Stand
Most small stands run well with two or three volunteers per shift: one taking orders and payments, and one or two handling food. Bigger events may need a runner to restock and a lead to handle the cash box.
Break each game into shifts, such as before the game, first half, and second half, so no one works the whole night. Put every shift on a sign up so families can pick a time that works for them. Automatic reminders go out before each shift, which cuts down on no-shows and last-minute texts.
Add a "closing lead" slot to every game. One person owns cleanup, the cash count, and the restock list, so nothing gets left for the next shift to figure out.
Start with a short menu of drinks, packaged snacks, and two or three classics like hot dogs or popcorn. Add hot food only if your venue allows it and you have the equipment. Include a few allergy-friendly items, then track what sells after each game and adjust before you restock.
What supplies do I need for a concession stand?
You need food and drinks, plus napkins, plates, cups, condiments, gloves, trash bags, and hand sanitizer. Add a cash box with starting change, a price sign, and a charged phone or card reader for payments. Buy enough for two or three games at first so you don’t overstock.
Can a concession stand take credit cards?
Yes. With SignUpGenius Online Stores, you can take in-person payments with Tap on Mobile or a Bluetooth card reader. Fans can pay with a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. It’s included on every plan, including Free, so you can take cash and cards from the same stand.
How many volunteers do I need to run a concession stand?
Most small stands need two or three volunteers per shift: one to take orders and payments and one or two to handle food. Larger events may need a runner and a cash box lead. Splitting each game into shifts on a sign up keeps the workload fair and fills every slot.
How to Run a Concession Stand Without Losing Your Mind
Keep your stand staffed all season without chasing volunteers every week.
SignUpGenius is the best thing since sliced bread. It makes organizing volunteers and food assignments a breeze! I save so much time not having to make phone calls and follow-up calls, and the email reminder feature is great.
Posted by Trey Mosier
