Ice cream parlors (or parlours) are places that sell ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt to consumers. Ice cream is typically sold as regular ice cream (also called hard-packed ice cream), gelato and soft serve, which is typically dispensed by a machine with a limited number of flavors (e.g. chocolate, vanilla, and "twist", a mix of the two). It is customary for ice cream parlors to offer several ice cream flavors and items.
Ice cream parlors sell ice cream, frozen yogurt, sundaes, milkshakes and banana splits. They feature take-out and sit-down service, although most chain stores have mostly take-out customers. Ice cream parlors stay open year round in warm weather locales and typically remain open only during the spring and summer in colder climates.
On a hot summer day, nothing beats a refreshing scoop of your favorite ice cream. The treat is a favorite around the nation, but is particularly appealing in the Southern states when the sun is blasting and the municipal pools are open. Starting an ice cream business can be extremely lucrative, as long as you have researched other ice cream businesses in your area and developed a detailed business plan.
Types
Parlors vary in terms of environment, some only have an order window and outside seating, while others have complete indoor facilities. Additionally, some parlors have drive-through windows. Some parlors remain open all year round (typically in warmer weather locations) and others in colder climates stay open only during warmer months, particularly from March to November. Parlors in major metro areas, including those in colder climates, often remain throughout the year to satisfy high consumer demand for frozen ice creams, yogurts, and sorbets.
Things Needed
- Store location
- Market research
- Business plan
- Permits
- Start-up capital
Instructions
- Develop a business plan for ice cream parlors. Include your market research, target audience, design ideas for your shop, potential locations around the city, advertising techniques, how you intend to finance the business and your competition. Present your business plan to financiers, starting with your local bank, to procure funding. Check business plan publishers like entrepreneur.com. Determine the licenses or permits you'll need by visiting your state's official website. Look for financing in the form of a business loan, or use savings or even your credit cards.
- Decide on a location. Choose a space close to a park, school or entertainment venue to attract a high number of customers. Devise a catchy name or theme for your ice cream parlor unless you want to purchase a franchise.
- Contact ice cream parlor owners. Ask them how they got started and observe how they run their shop. Work or manage an ice cream parlor to learn more about the day-to-day operations. Put together a list of the equipment and supplies you'll need to open the business. Consider the prices and types of soft serve ice cream machines, parlor tables and chairs, coolers, freezers and display cases. Then stock up on ice cream mix, cones, toppings, and fruits for your opening day.
- Decide whether to invest in a successful or up-and-coming franchise or start your own independent ice cream shop. The benefit to starting a franchise is that you will have built-in help to guide you through the process of starting your business. Franchises typically provide the store layout and design, ingredients, supplies and employee training. However, they can require significant upfront capital. Starting your own business allows you the freedom to determine exactly how much money you can afford to invest.
- Research other ice cream or mobile businesses in your area to help you get an idea of the type of business you want to start and ideas for designing your store or cart. A low-fat, frozen yogurt shop may do particularly well, particularly if you intend to set up shop in an area that has a high interest in healthy living.
- Contact your city’s health department to learn the requirements and costs associated with obtaining a permit or mobile permit if you intend to operate an ice cream cart. Equipment, lighting, garbage, plumbing and ventilation requirements; rodent and insect control; and access to restrooms will be considered for a physical location. Keep this information with you when looking to rent commercial space so you don’t invest in a place that will require costly adjustments.
- Develop a list of products that you will sell with your ice cream, such as bottled drinks, cookies, waffle cones and toppings. Research equipment costs for carts, condiments, walk-in coolers, walk-in freezers, soft-serve machines, storage shelves, a soda machine, tables, chairs, fudge warmers, prep tables, mixing bowls, pasteurizers (if you'll be making your own ice cream) and ice cream vendors or dairy farmers.
- Create a menu and advertising plan. Concentrate on the way you want to present your business. Attract kids by serving ice cream bars, sundaes and cones with funny names. Add hot foods like sandwiches and hot dogs to the menu to bring in more sit-down customers.
Tips
- The city of Houston has a small-business packet that can help you get started on the administrative aspects of starting your business, such as obtaining a business license, sales tax permit and federal identification number and learning tax requirements.
- Self-serve, which allows customers to create their own ice cream treats, is a great way to compete with chains such as Baskin-Robbins or Maggie Moo’s, which offer traditional, behind-the-counter service.
How to Open an Ice Cream Parlor, Ice Cream Parlor Business
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