What Do You Need for an Ice Cream Shop?
Ice cream shops are widely popular dessert shops that can offer a sweet business opportunity. With enough capital, hard work, and the right ice cream supplies, you can realize your dreams of operating a successful ice cream shop. In this guide, we'll take you through eight steps on how to start your own ice cream shop.
Step 1: Craft Your Dessert Concept
Ice Cream Style
There are nearly as many ice cream shop styles as there are ice cream flavors, including traditional gelato shops, Mexican paleterías, and modern twists on frozen yogurt and soft serve. You can sell your ice cream and yogurt from a vendor or choose to mix your own artisanal flavors.
Ice cream pairs well with other items, such as churros, cookies, soda, or coffee. You might also style your ice cream flavors around a local attraction or opt for adding buckets of toppings.
Service Style
Next, you should decide what kind of ice cream service you want to provide. Brick-and-mortar locations offer room for greater product variability and make it easy to curate a full customer experience. You can create an indoor seating area or keep it simple with a walk-up counter and patio space.
You should also consider whether you'll rent out a space with the essential equipment included or opt to build a custom parlor in a new building. If you plan to operate out of a truck or cart, your needs will be simpler, but presentation matters. Choose a truck or cart that stands out, especially to kids and their parents.
Operating a mobile ice cream business doesn't mean you can't mix your own unique flavors. You could experiment with different flavors and a rotating menu each week. If you do plan on selling prepackaged ice cream, however, you may be exempt from health inspections; simply to find a reputable distributor.
Step 2: Consider Your Market & Start-up Costs
At this point, you should have the beginning of a business plan for your ice cream shop. The next step is deciding if your concept is viable. What kinds of ice cream are popular in your general area? Are there missing concepts that would provide a niche opportunity? An ice cream truck can be started with a few thousand dollars, while a brick-and-mortar shop can cost hundreds of thousands—if not millions—in startup costs. A truck, cart, or kiosk can be started almost immediately, but physical shops will take time. Depending on whether you're renting existing space or building your own facilities, it could take a year or more to start making a profit.
Step 3: Choose a Location
Once you’ve settled on the type of ice cream business you want to open, you’ll need to determine where you want it. You may want to consult the Small Business Administration’s resources on market research to determine how to open an ice cream parlor in specific demographics.
Once you’re certain your location can support your concept, work with a commercial real estate agent to choose the right building and finalize the details of any purchase or lease agreements. You can skip some of these steps with a mobile business, but you'll still need to research areas with high foot traffic and check local government regulations, as some cities have different rules for mobile food vendors.
Step 4: Create a Marketing Plan
Next, you'll want to come up with a branding concept that will help you grow a following. From your ice cream business's name and logo to the decor and menu, think through every detail to ensure that your vision finds your customers.
You can make your brand unique with an upscale gourmet shop or a more basic, family-friendly concept. Some customers look for affordability, while others will pay for a unique experience, adventurous flavors, and premium ingredients.
Your menu is your best marketing tool. You'll probably want it to include the classics such as chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, but you can set your shop apart with organic ingredients and hand-crafted flavorings. Freshly baked cones or bowls and original recipes will help your shop’s popularity with customers.
Step 5: Connect with Your Team
As with any operation, setting up a successful ice cream business includes hiring the right employees. Even the world’s greatest ice cream isn't enough to guarantee repeat business if you have poor customer service.
Develop a training plan for hiring new employees. Your staff is the face of your brand, so you’ll want to take special care to select and train dedicated workers, giving them the tools they need to make the operation successful.
Step 6: Comply with Licensing & Permit Requirements
As with any business, you’ll want to check with local government offices to see the types of licenses and permits you’ll need. These can vary greatly depending on your business model and location.
In any case, you’ll need to register for both federal and state tax identification numbers to ensure you’re paying all applicable sales, employment, and income taxes. You'll also need a business license, insurance coverage, food handler's permit, and health permits.
Check with state and local agencies for any restrictions on selling homemade ice cream. Some areas restrict the use of raw milk, so make sure you follow local codes. If you're selling prepackaged novelties from a truck, requirements may be less strict, but noise ordinances might not allow the music that draws crowds to ice cream trucks.
Step 7: Collect Shop Equipment
No matter how simple or elaborate your ice cream shop is, you'll need essential supplies and equipment. Depending on your menu, your list may be quite extensive.
Soft serve ice cream machines are versatile and can be used for ice cream, frozen yogurt, or custard. You can purchase several of these units to supply your customers with a variety of flavors.
Once you know the type of ice cream you’ll be offering, you’ll need to determine how you’ll serve it. Traditional methods include having staff who scoop and top your ice cream or self-serve models that charge customers by product weight. You’ll need ice cream dishes and scoops and spades for service. You’ll also need a scale if you’re using a pay-by-weight method.
If you’re looking for something that evokes a bit more nostalgia, you might go for an old-fashioned soda fountain look with black-and-white tiled floors, a jukebox, and specialized equipment like a milkshake mixer, dispensers for gooey hot fudge and caramel, and ice cream dipping cabinets. If you plan to offer handmade baked products, you may need equipment such as a commercial mixer and a blast chiller.
Other essential items include:
- Storage: Use airtight storage bins to keep cones and waffle bowls fresh. Shelves keep these containers off the floor to keep the area organized and sanitary.
- Refrigeration: Small shops need reach-in coolers, while walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers will be necessary for larger venues.
- Cooking Equipment: If you're going to offer baked goods, you'll need a commercial oven. For creating your own cones, look into buying a waffle cone maker.
- Serveware: You'll need a way to store, organize, and present serving wares such as cups and bowls, utensils, and napkins. A number of dispensers are well suited for this task, and you might also consider a bakery display case to highlight baked goods.
Step 8: Celebrate Your Achievement
After you've learned how to open an ice cream shop and gathered all you need and for it, you're ready to start your business. In your operation’s early stages, maintain detailed operational records and adjust your menu offerings as you find out which items most appeal to customers. But first, be sure to celebrate your new business with an ice cream party.
