How to run a school concession stand with volunteers

1. Plan a short menu

A short menu is faster to sell and easier to stock. Pick the items that sell every game, like hot dogs, popcorn, candy, water and pop, and add one or two specials. Group them into a few kinds, such as hot food, snacks and drinks, so volunteers can find things fast.

Combos, like a hot dog with chips and a drink, speed up the line because one tap or one word covers a whole order.

2. Set prices that make change easy

Every price ending in .00 or .50 means fewer coins and faster change. Whole-dollar prices are fastest of all. If you charge something like $1.75, plan for a lot of quarters.

Post the prices big enough to read from the back of the line. People who know what they want before they reach the window make the whole line move.

3. Start with counted cash

The cash you start with is often called the float or the bank. Fill it with small bills and coins, because the first customers pay with $10s and $20s. The right amount depends on your crowd and your prices, so start with a guess and adjust after a few games.

Count the starting cash with two people and write the number down. At the end of the night, that number is how you know what you actually made.

4. Give each volunteer one job

Split the work: one person takes orders and money, one hands out food, one keeps the food coming. At a busy stand, a second register cuts the line in half.

Put new volunteers where they can't get lost. A register with picture buttons and a screen that shows the change lets someone sell on their first night without training.

5. During the game

• When something runs out, tell every register right away so nobody takes an order you can't fill.
• Move big bills out of the cash box during the night, into a safe place an organizer keeps.
• The rush comes before kickoff and at halftime. Have food ready before those times.
• If someone makes a mistake, fix it right then. It's much harder to sort out after the game.

6. Count the cash box at the end

Two people count together. Take away the starting cash, and what's left is the cash you made. Compare it with what the registers say you sold in cash. A small difference is normal. A big one is worth a look before everyone goes home.

7. Keep a record of what sold

Write down what sold at each game. After a few games you'll know how many hot dogs to order for a rivalry game and how many for a cold Tuesday. It also shows the club how much the stand raised for the season.