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With support from Sebrae Minas, Nayara Almeida structured Hot Dogs da Nay as a hot dog business for events, bought a cart, adopted a custom motorhome, and recorded 850 hot dogs sold at the Lagoa Santa Carnival, using 2025 to test cities and prepare an itinerant schedule starting in 2026.
The hot dog became the center of the business model created by Nayara Almeida, an entrepreneur from Lagoa Santa, in the Central Region of Minas Gerais. After reorganizing her career during the pandemic, she sought a food operation with low initial cost, participation in events, and the possibility of mobile expansion.
According to the Sebrae Minas News Agency, in a report by Aline Reis, published on March 25, 2025, Nayara sought out Sebrae Minas in May 2022, during MEI Week. From the guidance received, she structured Hot Dogs da Nay, started in August of that year.
Idea started with low-cost food and focus on events
Before consolidating Hot Dogs da Nay, Nayara evaluated different paths of operation and identified food as a more accessible alternative to start. The hot dog entered the planning as it is a popular product, adaptable to events, and with a relatively simple operation to test the market.
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The difference in the journey lies less in informality and more in the gradual construction of the business. The entrepreneur sought consultancy, made financial planning, evaluated initial investment, and started working with strategies for service, product presentation, and customer loyalty.
First cart opened space to test the market
The initial planning indicated the need for R$ 5,000 to purchase the first cart. According to the report, part of the amount came from a crowdfunding campaign, with R$ 1,200 raised, and the rest was complemented by her husband, allowing the operation to start.
With the cart, the business began participating in events and gaining direct contact with the public. This phase served as commercial validation, allowing for the observation of demand, adjustment of service, organization of production, and understanding which occasions had the greatest sales potential.
Motorhome became a mobile structure for Hot Dogs da Nay
The motorhome came into the story as part of a mobility strategy. The family had been familiar with this lifestyle since 2019, but the entrepreneur states that it was necessary to prepare before switching from a fixed operation to an itinerant format.
In July 2023, with a more stable cash flow, Nayara ordered a motorhome. The vehicle became part of the business routine as a mobile base, allowing for short trips, tests in nearby cities, and participation in commercial agendas outside the original location.
Carnival showed the potential of strategic dates
Hot Dogs da Nay reports a monthly revenue between R$ 4,000 and R$ 6,000, according to the report. However, the entrepreneur identifies holidays and events as moments of higher volume, which changes the logic of commercial planning.
During the Carnival in Lagoa Santa, 850 hot dogs were sold in four days, with a revenue of R$ 13,000. The result was treated as a business record and reinforced the importance of carefully choosing the calendar, location, and service structure.
Regional agenda prepares for a possible trip across Brazil
The idea of traveling across Brazil appears as a future goal, planned for 2026. Before that, Nayara intends to use 2025 to test experiences in regional cities, organize finances, and build a reserve, avoiding expansion without preparation.
In April, the entrepreneur planned to stay in Lagoa da Prata during the month, as part of this experimentation process. The proposal is to understand logistics, legislation, travel, and consumer behavior in different areas before expanding the operation.
Recognition came with entrepreneurship award
In 2024, Nayara won the Minas Gerais stage of the Sebrae Woman in Business Award, in the individual micro-entrepreneur category. The award recognized the journey of Hot Dogs da Nay and gave more visibility to the project.
The recognition also shows how small businesses can gain structure when they combine popular products, technical guidance, cash control, and market reading. The story does not depend solely on individual effort, but on planning, adaptation, and strategic use of opportunities.
What this case shows about mobile businesses
The case of Hot Dogs da Nay shows how a hot dog business can move away from the traditional format and adopt a mobile logic, connected to events, cities, tourism calendar, and direct customer service. The operation is still in the testing phase for larger expansion but already presents learnings about management and positioning.
Do you believe that mobile food businesses have a better chance of growing when they follow events and seasons, or is a fixed location still safer for small entrepreneurs? Leave your opinion in the comments and join the conversation.
