A fun and potentially lucrative business venture is the starting of your own ice cream stand. Mobile stands have some of the cheapest start up costs and give you the opportunity to move to where business is. Whether this means hanging out in a busier part of town or getting in as a vendor at a festival, you can take your cart where the people are.
However, there are some guidelines to follow and some tips to help your little business stand out. Below are some of the steps you need to take to run a mobile ice cream stand as well as ways to make your stand unique and successful.
City Requirements
Something to consider when starting your business is that every city will have its own rules and regulations when it comes to food vendors. You will need to make sure that the areas you wish to sell in are zoned for food vending or you could get into trouble. You will also be subjected to health inspections like any stationary ice cream shop to make sure everything is stored at the right temperature and clean and safe. Different states and cities have different laws, so you will want to check into the laws in your area.
Buying Supplies
When buying supplies to start up your ice cream business it is wise to buy in bulk. You can usually get great discounts this way and have items shipped to you. You can order custom paper ice cream cups, spoons, tasting spoons, straws, to-go containers, and more all from one place and make it easy.
Offer Frozen Yogurt
One tip for drawing in business is to not back yourself into a corner when it comes to your inventory. Try branching out into frozen yogurt as well as ice cream. You can even have some gelato flavors available. Having a wide range of options to suit different tastes is a good way to broaden your customer base and keep people coming back.
Be Eco-Friendly
People love a place that is eco-friendly. Buying eco-friendly supplies is a great way to make your stand shine. Paper straws and paper ice cream cups are biodegradable and safe for the environment, so consider investing in them.
Running an ice cream stand is just like running any other business. There are rules to follow and competition you need to scope out, but with the right plan you can succeed.