20 Creative Ice Cream Business Ideas

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested to start a ice cream business but not quite sure what to start?

The good news is, there are so many opportunities to become an entrepreneur and build an innovative product/service in this line of work.

If you're looking to start your own ice cream business, there are several low-investment options you can choose from.

We put a list together below of the most profitable ice cream business ideas you can start today!

Here they are:

1. Start an amazon business

How much you can make: $3,000 — $1,175,000/month

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How I Started And Grew A $50K/mo Phone Case Business

Felony Case, a Toronto-based company designing unique iPhone cases, started as a small shop on Etsy and has grown to become an internationally recognized fashion iPhone case brand sold in top tier retailers like Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, Indigo, Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Free People, and made over half a million dollars in revenue last year.

About
Andrew started Felony Case about 12 years ago
Revenue
Andrew grew the business to $120K/month
Read by 27,383 founders

2. Start a food blog

Do you love educating people on the importance of keeping healthy food? Starting a food blog can be rewarding and fun.

A healthy food blog can focus on educating website visitors the importance of keeping it healthy food. Besides, you can share recipes for healthy eating and budget-friendly options with the reader. To start, you may hire someone to configure your website and content creator to share insightful information with the audience.

To increase blog interactions, share informative insights with your readers.

How much you can make: $5,000 — $26,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 86 days (?)

How I Started A $15K/Month Food Blog For Fitness Enthusiasts

How one food blogger turned his passion into a business that brings in $15k-$20k per month through display advertising, affiliate marketing, and exclusive content, and doubled in revenue every year since going full time in 2018.

About
Mason started Kinda Healthy Recipes almost 7 years ago
Revenue
Mason grew the business to $26K/month
Costs
It cost Mason $10000 to start the business
Read by 11,562 founders

3. Start an ice cream cone production business

4. Start a vegan ice cream business

Starting a vegan ice cream business is a great way to tap into the growing demand for plant-based options. To do this, you will need to source ingredients such as coconut, almond, and soy milk as base ingredients and various flavors such as chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla.

You will also need to invest in equipment such as an ice cream maker, freezers, and containers for storing and serving the ice cream. In addition, you will need to consider marketing and branding efforts and finding a suitable location to sell your vegan ice cream.

To run a successful business, it is essential to focus on creating high-quality, delicious products that appeal to a wide range of customers and to have a solid online presence and engage with customers through social media and other marketing efforts.

Overall, starting a vegan ice cream business is a rewarding and exciting venture that allows you to positively impact the environment and contribute to the growing demand for plant-based options.

5. Start an ice cream cookbook business

6. Start a drive-thru ice cream and frozen yogurt business

According to a recent survey, nearly 80% of American consumers prefer frozen yogurt to ice cream and other cold treats.

Experts report that the demand for frozen yogurt has experienced a huge surge because it is considered a healthier alternative.

Therefore, starting a drive-thru frozen yogurt business stands a huge potential for multiplying your profits. If you plan to start a frozen yogurt business, define the target market and choose a strategic location where they can reach you.

7. Start an ice cream producer business

8. Start an ice cream spoon manufacturing business

9. Start an ice cream wholesaler

10. Start a liquid nitrogen distribution business

11. Start an ice cream truck business

Do you have childhood memories of a neighborhood ice cream truck that reminded you anytime is a good time for ice cream?

An ice cream truck is one of the truck business ideas with great potential. So long as you choose high-traffic streets and a business strategy, an ice cream truck business could be profitable.

Starting an ice cream truck makes you your boss and helps you reach your financial goals. To start the ice cream business, research the nearby ice cream businesses and identify some potential gaps, prepare a business plan, customize your ice cream truck and launch your business.

12. Start an ice cream vending cart business

Ice cream businesses are probably the most visited shops by people of all ages. In addition, ice cream is the most popular dessert in the world, with the average American consuming about 22ibs of ice cream annually.

If you are interested in starting a dessert-related business, consider setting up an ice cream vending machine. But first, understand the basics of the ice cream business and map out every decision and cost of starting the business, and budget accordingly.

13. Start a specialty ice cream business

14. Start an ice cream supplier business

15. Sell ice cream cakes

How much you can make: $2,500/month

How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 59 days (?)

How I Started A Bakery Business In Brooklyn During Peak Covid That Now Makes $30K In Annual Revenue

Moco Choco is a profitable Brooklyn-based private bakery that specializes in custom cakes, cookies, and chocolates, grossing around 60-80% on products that range from $70 to $650 and whose founder started the business amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

About
David started Moco Choco about 4 years ago
Revenue
David grew the business to $2.5K/month
Costs
It cost David $2000 to start the business
Read by 1,022 founders

16. Start an ice cream distribution business

17. Start an ice cream party business

18. Start an ice cream shop

Starting an ice cream shop can be a fun and rewarding business idea. Whether you're looking to open a small shop in your local neighborhood or a larger franchise, there are a few key things you'll need to consider when starting your ice cream shop.

First and foremost, you’ll need to decide on the type of ice cream you want to serve. There are many different flavors and styles, ranging from traditional vanilla and chocolate to more exotic flavors like mango and green tea. You’ll also need to consider whether you want to offer both soft, hard, or a combination.

Next, you’ll need to find a location for your shop. Look for a location with high foot traffic and good visibility, such as a busy street corner or a shopping mall. You’ll also want to consider factors such as parking availability and competition from other ice cream shops.

Once you’ve found a location, you’ll need to purchase or lease the necessary equipment, such as ice cream makers, freezers, and cash registers. You’ll also need to stock up on supplies such as cups, cones, spoons, and napkins.

To run your ice cream shop successfully, you'll need a strong marketing strategy. This can include advertising through social media, local newspapers, and flyers and offering special promotions and discounts to attract customers. You’ll also need to hire and train employees to serve customers and handle transactions.

Starting an ice cream shop can be a fun and rewarding business venture as long as you have a clear business plan and are prepared to put in the hard work and dedication required to make it a success.

19. Start an ice cream equipment business

How much you can make: $65,000/month

How long does it take to build: 730 days (?)

How This NASA Engineer Built A $65K/Month Kitchen Tools Business

Midnight Kitchen Tools founder Michael Chou shares how he identified a need in the market for ergonomic kitchen tools, and built a successful business through Kickstarter campaigns, e-commerce capabilities, and partnerships with other companies.

About
Michael started Midnight Kitchen Tools almost 10 years ago
Revenue
Michael grew the business to $65K/month
Costs
It cost Michael $25000 to start the business
Read by 1,413 founders

20. Start a prepackaged ice cream business

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.