Why Start an Ice Cream Truck Business

The ice cream truck business has been an icon of Americana since the early 1920’s. By the 1950’s, there was an ice cream truck in just about every neighborhood of the country. Today, the ice cream truck business can be a fun and profitable business for the entrepreneur.

In today’s uncertain economy, it can be tempting to start your own business that has a low initial investment, no boss holding all the power and you can earn up to $500 in just a few hours. The ice cream truck business is just that sort of venture.

Getting Started
Unlike a lot of new ventures, getting started in this exciting business is relatively easy and inexpensive. With a solid business plan, the right permits, and an ice cream truck, van or scooter, you can be running your own ice cream truck in just a few short months.

• Get off to the right start!
For an affordable price, an ice cream truck business plan template acts as your blue print as to what the goals of your business are and how you will reach them. An industry specific template is an inexpensive way to make sure that all the necessary research has been done to help you succeed.

• What permits will I need to start an ice cream truck business?
The permits you need to start your new business venture varies from county to county, but typically you will need to get a business license, a permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles and an inspection done by your local Health department. By contacting each of these government offices, you can quickly learn the costs involved for your particular area.

• How much does an ice cream truck cost?
The cost of trucks range in size and style. You can purchase a used van fully equipped for less than starting an ice cream shop – under twenty thousand dollars or a scooter type cart for even less. Getting financing for an ice cream truck vehicle is usually not a problem, especially if you have a solid and well thought out strategy to show your investors.

Be Your Own Boss
While being your own boss may sound appealing, it does come with its own risks. While you won’t have someone watching over you who can fire you on a whim, it is entirely up to you whether your ice cream truck venture makes a profit or not. It is true that with the right ice cream truck business plan, the right route and the right amount of commitment, you can earn as much as $500 handing out tasty treats to neighborhood kids; but it will be up to you to actually make that happen.

The key to succeeding in the ice cream truck business is three-fold:
1. Create or purchase a well-researched and detailed plan.
2. Establish and stick to a route that includes areas with lots of families as well as parks and other public areas where kids hang out.
3. Put in the time and effort to keep your customers coming back for more.
To learn more about purchasing an ice cream truck business plan template, visit: http://icecreamtruckplan.com.

When starting a new business, it is always best to start with a well-researched and thorough plan to help guide you toward success. An ice cream truck business plan will be the blue-print you will use to help you reach the long- and short-term goals of your new company.

Why do I need an ice cream truck business plan?
You would be unlikely to set off on any sort of journey without first knowing why you are going, what sort of things you might encounter along the way, and how you are going to reach your destination. Starting a new business is an exciting journey and an ice cream truck business plan provides you with the data and ice cream truck market research that you need in order to have a successful journey to a profitable and exciting new corporation. Without a detailed plan in place, you will be running your new ice cream truck without a very valuable, and necessary, tool. Research shows that about 95% of all small companies fail with in the first 5 years. The best thing that you can do to avoid becoming part of that statistic is to have a solid ice cream truck business plan in place before you start.

Now that you know the value of having an ice cream truck plan, you have 4 options:

1. You can write it yourself.
Writing a good plan for your company takes many hours of industry research and data analysis. You will need to know where and how to find ice cream market information, interpret that information and then compile it all into a professional, legible document. If you are great at research and data collection and are willing to put in the time necessary to write your plan yourself, then this might be a good option for you.

2. You can use a generic template.
There are several generic templates on the internet which you can be downloaded and then completed with your information. The problem with this type of template is that the information within it won’t be specific to the ice cream truck business. It is a simple and inexpensive way to get a business plan, but what good will it really do you in the long run?

3. You can hire a independent consultant.
A professional consultant can create exactly the right type of strategy on paper for your ice cream truck business and with it you will have the right tool to help your new company succeed. The downside is that consultants charge as much as $100 an hour which means you can end up paying as much as $10,000 for a thoroughly researched and detailed strategy.

4. Purchase an industry specific plan template.
The fourth option in creating a strategic plan for an ice cream truck venture is sort of hybrid of the first three options. An ice cream truck business plan already has the industry specific research and data compilation done for you and is downloadable from the internet at a fraction of the cost of hiring a professional consultant. Using this type of template is a simple, yet valuable option when getting started with your new venture.

As people become more and more active during the summer, the demand for quick, frozen dessert alternatives continues to grow. Starting an ice cream truck business to meet that demand is smart business. With the right routes and a solid business plan, you can start your new company and have it up and running in no time.

A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Determine the cost to start an ice cream business with a solid business plan.
The first step to starting any business is to create a well-researched business plan that gives you business market data, outlines the goals of your new venture, and details how you will reach those goals. Whether you do the research and data collection yourself and write your ice cream truck business plan, hire a business consultant to do it for you for several thousand dollars, or you use an industry specific ice cream truck business plan template, make sure that you have your business plan in place before investing any time or money in starting your ice cream truck route.

2. Secure the perfect route.
The information gathered for your business plan will help you determine where the perfect route for your ice cream truck business would be. You can then negotiate the lease or purchase of the ice cream truck and fill it with the equipment you need to run your business.

3. Get the necessary permits and licenses.
Your local Small Business Association can help you determine which permits and licenses you need to operate your frozen treat business and will let you know the associated costs based on your location. You will also need to get an inspection from the Health Department, so be sure to contact them as well.

4. Begin marketing campaign focused on making profits.
Your potential customers will need to know where your starting an ice cream truck business and why they should patron it. Your marketing strategy should include ways to entice people to your shop and also ways to keep them coming back.

5. Create a menu and set your prices.
If you are starting an ice cream truck franchise, your menu should reflect not only popular choices, but should be somewhat in-line with the costs of other similar frozen treat businesses in the area. However, research has shown that those companies whose products are different, or stand out because they are better, deserve and will fetch a higher price point. So, don’t undersell yourself! With a little research, you should be able to determine which flavors are most popular and create your menu based on this list.

6. Hire your staff.
An ice cream truck business can be run with a limited staff. One of the great things about the ice cream business is that you can operate your shop using teenagers and other low-wage employees. Treat your staff well and they will treat your customers well!

There is nothing quite so quintessentially Americana as the tinkling sounds of an approaching ice cream truck on a hot summer’s day. Generations of children have run, money clutched in hand, to catch the ice cream truck before it leaves their neighborhood. Starting this type of business is both exciting and rewarding.

The History of the Ice Cream Truck

Ice cream trucks have been making the neighborhood rounds since the early 1920’s when the maker of the original ice cream-on-a-stick, the Good Humor Bar first came on the scene. Growing popularity in the 1950’s, the ice cream truck business became a familiar sight in most American neighborhoods. The original ice cream trucks only carried one product – vanilla ice cream frozen on a stick and dipped in chocolate. Today’s ice cream trucks carry not just a wide assortment of ice cream, but candy, drinks, and other snacks as well.

Budgeting, Costs to Start Your Business and More

If you are considering becoming a part of this great American tradition and starting your own ice cream truck business, there are a few simple things to keep in mind:
• Be sure to create or purchase an ice cream truck business plan. An industry specific business plan will act as a blueprint for the success of your new company.
• The success of your ice cream truck business is very dependent on how you run the business. A well planned and well run business of this type can make as much as $500 in a day for just a few hours of work!
• Apply for the proper permits and licenses for your location. In addition to a business license, you will need a special permit from the Department of Motor Vehicles to operate your ice cream truck.
• Part of your ice cream truck business plan will include your start-up budget. Through ice cream truck market research you can determine how much it will cost to purchase everything that is needed to run an ice cream truck business
• Once you have created your star-up budget, start chopping! Your market research should have helped you decide on what size of an ice cream truck you want to operate and now you can find the right one to fit your needs.
• Contact your local Health Department. Your ice cream truck will need to be inspected on a regular basis because you are selling food.
• Establish your ice cream truck route and stick to it. Your weekly route should include areas where there a lot of families with children and several parks or other public areas with a lot of kids. Once you have set your route and weekly schedule, keep to it so that your customers can begin to expect you. This way you will build up a regular and consistent client base.

If you are looking to start a fun and profitable business that is part of a long standing American tradition, then an ice cream truck business is a great choice. Today’s ice cream trucks offer candy and other snacks as well as ice cream to their customers and can earn you as much as $500 in a day. Here is how to start your ice cream truck business in three quick and easy steps:

Step One – Create a well-researched ice cream truck business plan
You will need to do ice cream truck market research that will give you a solid plan to how you to create a successful new business. Your industry specific business plan should, at the very least include:

• Information about the ice cream truck market and your local competition. This will help you know who your target market is, how will you let them know about your business, and how your ice cream truck business will be different than other similar type businesses in the area.
• Your ice cream truck business marketing strategy. Researching the local market for ice cream truck businesses you will be able to create a solid plan as to what products you will offer and what you will charge for these products.
• An executive summary which highlights your business strategy. You will need this for any banks or investors you will be working with.
• The goals of your ice cream truck business and how you plan to achieve accomplish them.
• A financial plan which includes your expected profit and loss, cash flow, and assumptions.

If creating your ice cream truck business plan yourself sounds a bit overwhelming, you’re not alone. One simple solution is to purchase a pre-formatted business plan template which you can easily customize to your particular ice cream truck business. This sort of industry-specific business plan template gives you all the benefit of a professionally written business plan without a lot of effort or expense.

Step Two – Get Set Up
Contact your local City Hall, Department of Motor Vehicles, and Health Department to get the necessary licenses and permits you will need to operate your ice cream truck business.
Once you have all your paperwork in order, you can purchase the ice cream truck that is the right size for your particular business. This is where having a well-researched business plan will come in handy. You will know whether you want to operate a small, scooter-sized ice cream truck or a large, van-sized ice cream truck and which will be more successful in your location.
Shop around and find the best distributor for the types of products you plan to offer your customers, stock your truck, and you are ready to make your rounds.

Step Three – Plan and Establish Your Route
One of the secrets to a successful ice cream truck business is establishing a route and sticking to it. You want to have repeat customers that can count on you to be in their neighborhood on a consistent schedule. Set up your route in areas where there are a lot of families with children and include several parks or other public areas where kids hang out.