How to Start an Ice Cream Truck or Bike Business

Speaking from a financial standpoint, it’s a smart decision to start an ice cream truck or cart business. You can always move if a specific location does not generate enough revenue for you. You can be almost anywhere and provide them a cold, tasty treat anytime they want it. It’s really convenient for your customer. However, you have to take many things into consideration.

Which Should You Choose?

It really depends on what your goals are. So, there is no right answer whether you choose a truck or cart.

• Ice cream truck: An ice cream truck is very mobile. You can drive your truck anywhere, that means you can serve your ice cream everywhere. It helps you to get more sophisticated equipment and potentially add other items that you can sell, for example—freshly made waffle cones. But the major disadvantages are that it can be more expensive to buy and maintain a truck, and sometimes it doesn’t allow you to get to certain locations such as the boardwalk. Furthermore, you have to plan on spending $10,000 to $20,000 just on the truck.
• Ice cream bike: Ice cream bikes or carts are easiest to use and maintain. They have the lowest startup costs. You can buy a new ice cream cart for $2,000 to $4,000, though you can also find used ones on the secondary market. You can make your ice cream ahead of time and keep it in a freezer box which you carry. But you have to transport your truck to a particular location and then you can be able to move around with freedom. Typically, ice cream carts or bikes are seen at places such as festivals, fairs, and carnivals. When you go to buy an ice cream bike, make sure you buy from the best ice cream bike manufacturer in your area.

Franchise or Independent?

You have to determine which business format should work best for your situation.

• Franchise: When you buy into a food truck franchise, you step into the shoes of an already successful business. It’s one of the greatest advantages of this format. For instance, if you buy a renowned company’s ice cream franchise, you will be able to leverage its brand recognition and rely on its operations support. However, the renowned company’s franchise fee would be around $5,000, with an additional initial $25,000 downpayment for a branded truck. They will calculate the total investment at around $115,000.
• Independent: You are your own boss, and that’s a huge advantage of going independent. You will not have to follow someone else’s guidelines. Moreover, your initial costs are lower. But the problem is you will not have strong brand-name recognition. And that’s why you will have to work harder initially.

Mobile Licensing Requirements

If you want to run your business legally, you will need the license. Your mobile ice cream business will also need to get a license from all cities and countries that it’s running in. For example, the area that you will be selling in should be zoned for food vending, and you need to check with your local city hall to make sure of that. However, you will not need a zoning permit if you will not be staying in one spot for more than ten minutes. You also have to follow all health code requirements. You should keep the food at the proper temperature and minimize the amount of handling of the products.

What Type of Ice Cream?

Prepackaged ice cream is the easiest type of ice cream to sell. They are also known as novelties. It lessens food-handling issues and is easier to manage inventory. However, you will have a higher earning potential if you sell soft serve or scooped ice cream. Moreover, you can choose other types of ice cream and ice cream creations you can sell. You can also make handmade ice cream sandwiches so that your customers can choose both the cookies and ice cream.

Selecting Your Vendors

You can shop around to find the best prices when you go to buy novelties. It’s also good to check online distributors. You should go to local supermarkets or warehouse clubs if you are pressed for inventory on an extremely hot, busy summer day. However, it’s much more time-consuming to find suppliers in order to make your own ice cream.

The Importance of Location

You have to look for a good place to set up for the day when your business has no permanent location. You have to consider the factors such as if other food trucks or carts are already competing for business and the prime hours for customers in that location. Office parks, shopping malls, sports venues, beaches, college campuses, festivals, and business districts are proven places for your business.

Brainstorm Catering Opportunities

Make a list that addresses catering to private events and parties. Your ice cream cart can be the center of attention at fairs, festivals, community get-togethers, company picnics, parades, birthday parties, fundraisers, engagement parties, weddings, and more. If you make plans to sell soft-serve ice cream desserts at private celebrations and social events, it will be a huge hit with the customers. You ultimately bring in future business on every event you attend. All you have to do is rise up to the occasion and be the best in what you do.

Conclusion

You have to brand yourself. I would recommend that you find a catchy name and decide on a style that will reflect your business and its personality. It takes a lot of work to open and run an ice cream business. But when you do it right, it’s very rewarding as well as it's a lot of fun. You get to be your own boss and get to brighten people's lives on a routine basis. I hope now you are clear about opening up an ice cream business. Thank you for reading.