Certain licenses are one of the basic requirements for your ice cream shop to operate. Before a business may open, permits and licenses must be secured. Permit and license requirements vary by city, county, and state.
When opening an ice cream shop, you’ll need four permits: a business license, a seller’s permit, a building permit, and a food handler’s permit.
The items listed below are the most typically required if you want to open a food business. Read on to learn more about the permits required to operate an ice cream shop.
Business License
To operate, most businesses require a business license. Your county and/or city will determine how you apply for this license and what conditions to follow.
You must obtain and pay a license cost. You are charged a proportion of your total sales on an annual basis, which varies depending on your city, state, and type of business.
What Are the Business License Requirements?
- Written Application – This will be a form approved by the government. When applying, you must provide evidence of identification.
- Business Name – If you intend to operate as a lone proprietor, you can use your own as the business name.
- Statement of purpose — You must include a statement of purpose that describes the type or nature of the business you want to operate. Your business operation will be categorized (coded) into some previously recognized business activity.
How To Open Your Own Ice Cream Shop
Sellers’ Permit
Your ice cream business is accountable for remitting the tax collected to your state’s taxing body. Seller’s permits are state-specific, which means they allow you to collect and remit the applicable sales tax in the state where the permission is granted.
The Procedure for Obtaining a Sales Tax or Seller’s Permit:
In most states, you can register for sales tax and obtain a seller’s permit online.
- Gather information about your company, such as its legal name, any tax identification numbers, and other distinguishing characteristics. Find the webpage of your state’s Department of Revenue by searching “state name” and “department of revenue.”
- Navigate to the website’s “Sales and Use Tax” section.
- Examine the rules and regulations to check if you’re required to pay sales tax.
- Check online to see if you may register for sales tax and a seller’s permit.
Building Permit
If you want to establish an ice cream business within a building, you must obtain a building license from your present city or county. However, before they grant your license, the fire department, environmental safety board, and other safety agencies must do a thorough inspection.
How Do You Get a Building Permit?
You must first apply for a building permit before you can obtain one. You may or may not be required to submit a draft of what the permit is requesting based on the scope of the project and what it requires.
Four Tips On How To Brand Your Ice Cream Shop
Food Handlers’ Permit
While scooping ice cream may appear to be an easy task, it requires food safety training and the proper certifications to keep customers safe and healthy. To best serve customers, you and your workers will need food handlers’ permits.
How to Acquire a Food Handler’s Permit
Find out how to get a food handler’s permit from your state’s department of health or your county’s health safety organization. A food safety course will very certainly be required as part of the process.
Some cities and states require one or more employees of a food establishment to get a handler’s permit and attend food safety training. It is a procedure that must be followed before the permit is issued.
If at all possible, have all of your staff obtain a food handler’s permit, as a person with a valid food handler’s permit is needed to be on the premises at all times during business hours.
Conclusion
You’ll need four permits to open an ice cream shop: a business license, a seller’s permit, a building permit, and a food handler’s permit. No matter how unique your ice cream products are, you’ll need the proper licenses and permits to open an ice cream shop. It takes more than exquisite flavors and brand names to open an ice cream shop. To stay in business and avoid government expenses and fines, you’ll need the required permissions and licenses.
Four Tips For Opening A Gelato Shop
Frequently Asked Questions
Consider opening your shop near restaurants, parks, athletic fields, beaches, schools, or other places where most families with children go during the summer. You should also choose a location where most kids pass by because they are always attracted to it.
Unlike other hot food units where some dishes require some restaurant work abilities, ice cream vendors only need a basic understanding of food hygiene and a driver’s license.
To learn more on how to start your own ice cream/gelato business check out my startup documents here
This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.
Hi! I am Shawn and I am a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online ice cream/gelato business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a ice cream/gelato business owner, I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Ice Cream Business Boss: I want to help ice cream and gelato business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.