Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Khadak Singh CEO Warns Corporate Workers About Food Carts
Kawaljeet Singh says a food cart can look like an easy way to leave a corporate job.
It usually costs less to start than a restaurant.
A good location can bring customers, and family members may help with work.
Owners may also avoid some delivery and advertising fees.
But the cart may require work from morning until night.
Sales can fall because of bad weather or weak foot traffic.
Owners may also face problems with local authorities or lose their location.
Singh says profits are not guaranteed, and the owner may need to be present every day.
He also warns that a cart may not receive the same social respect as a white-collar job.
Khadak Singh Da Dhaba CEO Kawaljeet Singh urged employees earning ₹75,000 or more monthly not to rush into starting a food cart.
He said carts require relatively low investment, can benefit from strong locations, and may achieve net margins of about 10–35% of sales.
Family labor, lower compliance costs, affordable prices, and avoiding delivery-platform commissions can improve a cart’s economics.
Singh warned that preparation and selling can create a 12-hour workday, with sales dependent on footfall, weather, regulations, and local authorities.
He said carts may lack stable locations, guaranteed profits, and the social status associated with white-collar employment.
- Who
- Kawaljeet Singh, CEO and co-founder of Khadak Singh Da Dhaba, and corporate employees considering a food-cart business.
- What
- Singh outlined the potential benefits and risks of leaving a corporate job to operate a food cart.
- Where
- The views were shared on X; Singh was described as a Delhi entrepreneur.
- Why
- To caution employees, especially those earning ₹75,000 or more per month, against underestimating the work, financial risks, and social trade-offs.
Potential Benefits
Risks and Drawbacks
Startup economics
Potential Benefits
A food cart can require comparatively little capital, have lower compliance costs, and potentially produce net margins of about 10–35% of sales.
Risks and Drawbacks
The low entry barrier may attract many competitors, and inadequate working capital could quickly put the initial investment at risk.
Operating flexibility
Potential Benefits
Owners can potentially relocate the cart, use family labor, and avoid online delivery commissions and advertising costs.
Risks and Drawbacks
The business depends heavily on physical footfall, weather, local authorities, and the availability of a stable location.
Lifestyle and status
Potential Benefits
Affordable prices may attract mass-market customers, and a cart may appear to offer a better lifestyle than corporate work.
Risks and Drawbacks
Preparation and selling can amount to a 12-hour day, the owner may have little flexibility, and Singh warned that the work may not provide white-collar social respect.
- Speaker
- Kawaljeet Singh, CEO and co-founder of Khadak Singh Da Dhaba
- Target group
- Corporate employees, particularly those earning ₹75,000 or more per month
- Estimated net margin
- About 10–35% of sales, according to Singh
- Capital requirement
- Generally lower than that of a full restaurant or shop
- Working hours
- Preparation may begin in the morning, creating an effective 12-hour workday
- Working-capital advice
- Maintain enough funds to survive for at least three to four months
- Main uncertainty
- Sales and profits are not guaranteed, even with continuous work