How To Start An Ice Cream Truck Business

An ice cream truck business entails driving an ice cream truck through different neighborhoods selling ice cream. An ice cream truck functions similarly to a mobile and specialized food truck. You must be able to prepare and keep a selection of ice cream in your truck’s freezers before serving it through a window. You must also experiment with various routes in order to identify the most profitable ones.

To start an ice cream truck business you should determine the resources needed, choose the type of ice cream you want to offer, decide and buy the equipment needed, make a route plan and promote your business.

Determine the resources needed to start your business

The truck itself is the most important item you’ll need to start an ice cream truck business. Consider purchasing a used ice cream truck with built-in freezers. If you can’t find one that fits your demands, you’ll have to buy a truck or step van and make the appropriate modifications.

Among other factors, operating expenses include gasoline and maintenance costs. You can calculate your costs once you know the length of the route you intend to drive.

Of course, you’ll need to buy ice cream on a regular basis, as well as any toppings, cones, cups, or other supplies you might need. The good news is that you will be paid quickly for your products, so you will have an income that you can use to maintain your inventory well-stocked.

Other expenses to consider when starting an ice cream truck business are the permits and licenses required to operate. These costs will vary based on where your ice cream truck is located and the local laws enacted by the government.

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Choose the type of ice cream you want to offer

While most conventional ice cream trucks sell fancy ice cream, some do well selling soft-serve or hard ice cream. Gimmicks are by far the simplest option because the only requirement is enough freezer space. Because the ice cream is pre-packaged, it also alleviates some of the food safety risks that come with running an ice cream truck business. Your inventory will also be simpler to manage and track.

This is one part of beginning an ice cream truck business that you should take your time deciding on. Consider your selections carefully, as they will have a significant impact on everything from your branding to the demographics you target, and most crucially, your bottom line.

Decide and buy the equipment you need

POS System

When starting an ice cream truck business, one item of equipment you should consider is an iPad-based point of sale (POS). Because most ice cream trucks can get by with a calculator and a cash box, you may be thinking if the additional expense of a POS system is essential. It all basically comes down to your long-term business goals. If you want your ice cream truck business to become a thriving, profitable endeavor, you must invest in technology that speeds up transactions, streamlines inventory management, and offers your business with useful analytics.

Accepting a variety of payment methods, such as cash, credit cards, or online payment, can help you increase sales. You can also track sales trends in real-time while you’re away from your place of business, and rapidly determine the best-selling ice cream truck menu items.

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Freezers and ice cream machines

Of course, you’ll need freezers, which should be attached to the truck’s floor and frame with bolts. In order to ensure that your freezers have the correct power supply and maintain the proper temperatures, it is a good idea to consult a qualified refrigeration mechanic.

This is a mistake you don’t want to make while starting an ice cream shop. Your whole inventory could be destroyed by issues with your refrigeration system in a matter of hours, costing you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in lost sales.

Assess the truck’s total floor area and make an estimate as to how much space you’ll need to store a whole day’s supply of ice cream to decide which type of freezer to buy.

If you’ve made the decision to serve soft-serve ice cream, you’ll need the right equipment to make and serve the ice cream. In order to keep all of this equipment functioning, a generator is also required.

In order to let people know you’re coming, an amplification system and a music box are two other pieces of equipment you might require when starting your mobile ice cream business.

Make a route plan

Places for an ice cream truck route include evidently close-by schools, parks, and places for entertainment and sports. Check your town’s regulations to see if setting up shop in the parking lot of the closest park is permitted before moving forward with your plans.

Some municipalities prohibit ice cream trucks from operating close to schools or parks because of pressure from parents or residents. Others might impose limitations on when and where you can play the music that draws customers.

You should also avoid trespassing on a route already established by another ice cream truck, as doing so may provoke anger from that truck’s devoted customers while also reducing your sales. Conduct the necessary research to ensure that you can find a profitable and legal route in your area.

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Promoting your ice cream truck business

The good news for starting an ice cream truck business is that, thanks to that instantly recognizable music, you give a little bit of advertising every time you drive down the street. But it probably isn’t enough. Therefore, you need to come up with some additional original ideas for marketing your ice cream truck business.

Maintaining a consistent route makes it easier for people to hear about your truck. Even young children who have just started to tell time are able to keep track of when the ice cream truck will arrive. 

Consider printing fliers to let potential customers along your route know when to expect you if you vary your routes and visit different neighborhoods on different days.

Additionally, this is the opportunity to use social media. To share appetizing photos of the ice cream you are selling, use Instagram. You can also tweet your daily location so that your devoted customers always know where to find you.

Conclusion

In this article we covered that to start an ice cream truck business you must determine the resources you need, choosing the type of ice cream you want to offer, deciding and buying the equipment needed, making a route plan and promoting your business. Entrepreneurs who want to start a business that doesn’t require a lot of startup cash can consider starting an ice cream truck business. Once you’ve established yourself as the local ice cream truck provider, think about getting a second truck and expanding your routes to expand your ice cream empire.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.