Do you dream of having your own ice cream shop but don’t know where to start? Wondering what challenges, traps and predicaments lie ahead? What can be done to make ice cream production a profitable business? We can help. In only five steps, we will show you how to open your own ice cream shop and make your dream come true, which will not only bring satisfaction but also profit.
Step one: An ice cream shop from your dreams – meaning what exactly?
Before you start looking at which ice cream powder supplier has the best range on the market and wondering about the basic equipment of an ice cream shop, you need to answer one of the most important question: what should your own ice cream shop be like? Will it be a venue with a serving window? A café with tables, or perhaps a movable ice cream stall? Do you want it to be a seasonal or year-round business? Who will be working in it – the additional people employed or just yourself? What will you be serving there?
Artisanal scoop ice cream or the ones from the machine – soft serve or twist ice cream? Or would you like to offer a broad menu and also serve coffee, waffles or other desserts? You will find the answers useful when preparing your business plan and estimating the cost of your overall investment. They will also allow you to clarify your expectations and reduce the risk of making the wrong decisions.
Step two: open an ice cream shop…. but where?
A good location for the ice cream shop is extremely important. If you choose a movable ice cream stall, you have the ability to move around and find customers yourself. However, if you are thinking of a stationary ice cream shop, then you need to make every effort to ensure that customers can find you – without even looking for you. So where to open an ice cream shop to get customers? In fact, any place is good – what’s important is that it is a frequently used place. It makes sense to open an ice cream shop at a tourist destination or near the water, as well as in a residential area, next to a playground or near a school, church or store. A great location can simply be a venue on the main street or simply in a busy part of the town.
Step three: costs of setting up an ice cream shop, paperwork and documents
Opening your own ice cream shop is not complete without creating a solid business plan and completing all the necessary paperwork. To do this, it is best to go to the office – of your municipality or city – right away to register the business and obtain detailed information. A visit to the local sanitary-epidemiological station is all that is needed to obtain all the important information and learn about the sanitary requirements for opening a restaurant.
Be sure to include a cost estimate in your business plan to estimate the costs of setting up an ice shop. This will ensure that you do not go over the planned budget and that you successfully achieve your plan. How much does it cost to own an ice cream shop? It all depends on your idea – the type and size of the venue, the equipment and the menu.
Step four: Take a moment… to learn about production of ice cream
Opening your own ice cream shop means producing ice cream by yourself. It is worth exploring the topic in order to serve a product that is not only tasty, but that will also distinguish you from your competitors. To make soft serve or twist ice cream, you will not only need the right machine, but also an ice cream powder mix. When making your choice, check exactly what ingredients the ice cream powder supplier uses – the quality of the product you offer depends on this. Remember that ice cream is a high-margin product. Choose ice cream mix powder with good, natural ingredients. By serving delicious ice cream made from whole milk and real fruit juice, you can be sure that your customers will certainly come back again and again, and that the word of the quality of your ice cream will quickly spread to a wide audience.
Design your ice cream shop menu based on the ice cream shop equipment. In order to sell soft serve ice cream, you’re going to need an ice cream machine – brand new, second-hand or leased – and refrigeration equipment to store the ice cream in. On the other hand, if you want to serve your customers coffee or waffles, you will need to equip the shop with a coffee machine, a waffle maker, a blender for crushing fruit or whipping whipped cream. By equipping your ice cream shop with these types of items, you can turn a seasonal business into a year-round one.
Step five: Promote your own ice cream shop
Start your promotional activities by publishing your business card on Google and setting up your ice cream shop’s social media account. Publish content and appetising photos regularly. If you do not have the right equipment, skills or time to photograph the ice cream you offer – you can use professional advertising support. Ice cream powder manufacturer Lykke, for example, offers free marketing material to its customers – be it photos or designs for menuboards, posters or swing signs. Using them, you can easily help you advertise your premises and thus make it more visible.
Opening an ice cream shop is a great idea
People have always loved ice cream – it is a favourite dessert of many sweets lovers. Many owners of even the tiniest ice cream shops sell a ton of ice cream during the summer season and have people queuing outside the venue before the ice cream shop even opens. Selling ice cream can certainly be extremely lucrative, but it is worth remembering to choose ice cream with a good composition, the right machines and the most popular ice cream flavours. Now that you know how to open an ice cream shop to make your dream come true and own a profitable business, invest in your own business! Let’s roll!