36 Trending Ice Cream Shop Businesses [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: January 18th, 2023

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.

Looking for some examples of a ice cream shop?

Interested in case studies of a successful ice cream shop? Check out our full list of success stories.

1. Enlightened Ice Cream

Enlightened: Delicious, healthy low calorie ice cream pints and ice cream bars. High protein, low sugar, low carb, low fat, and high fiber. Feel-good ice cream, dairy-free vegan ice cream, and keto pints and bars available in over 50 flavors.

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

2. Stewart's Shops

Stewart's Shops is a family owned and operated chain of convenience stores and gas stations in New York and Vermont. Stop by to see what we have to offer today!

Learn more about starting an ice cream shop:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start an ice cream shop?
-> Pros and cons of an ice cream shop

Need inspiration?

-> Other ice cream shop success stories

Other resources

4. Nightingale Ice Cream

Nightingale Ice Cream ships our delicious ice cream sandwiches nationwide with Goldbelly—straight from Richmond, Va right to your doorstep. Get yours now.

Where they're located: Ninove, Flanders, Belgium

5. Ice Cream Profits

The leading ice cream business information resource including an ice cream business directory of equipment manufacturers and suppliers, ice cream forum where you can post questions and ice cream business classifieds for used equipment.

Where they're located: Detroit, Michigan, USA

6. Paciugo Gelato Caffe

Where they're located: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

7. Bridgeman's Ice Cream

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

8. turnkeyparlor

Where they're located: Jersey City, New Jersey, USA

9. Secret Recipe Cakes & Cafe

Where they're located: Dighalia, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh

10. Ice Roll Pro

Ice Roll Pro is your preferred supplier for ice cream roll machine and accessories. Learn how to make ice cream rolls with our instructional videos and more

Where they're located: Kärsämäki, Finland

11. Henry's Homemade Ice Cream

Enjoy Henry's Award Winning Ice Cream in Plano by the cone or wholesale for your restaurent in Frisco, Dallas and throughout Texas.

Where they're located: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

12. cowtippingcreamery

Where they're located: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

13. Weckerly's Ice Cream

Honest to Goodness Ice Cream & ice cream sandwiches handmade in Philadelphia with local organic milk and cream. Visit our Fishtown Scoop Shop or order online.

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

14. HUB Ice Cream Factory

Where they're located: Tucson, Arizona, USA

15. Sebastian Joe's

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

16. The Ice Cream Shoppe – Have Fun Eating Our Ice Cream

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

17. The Franklin Fountain

The Franklin Fountain aims to serve an experience steeped in ideals, drizzled with drollery, and sprinkled with the forgotten flavors of the American past. House-made Ice Cream, Sundaes, & Drinks

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

18. Izzy's Ice Cream

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

19. Carolina Socials Catering

Looking for a sweet treat for your next event or office party? Carolina Socials Catering focuses on designing each event to meet your needs and budget!

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

20. La Michoacana Purepecha

Offering the authentic, original experience of traditional La Michoacana shops. Our owners, immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico, took a leap of faith to make their dream a reality: to bring their favorite childhood frozen treats to Minnesotans.

We’ve taken Mexico’s number one natural frozen treats shops and created our unique offering and concept, giving Minnesotan’s an authentic and original experience—for the first time—of traditional La Michoacana shop

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

21. Fletcher's Ice Cream Home

Fletcher's Ice Cream offers homemade ice cream, fair trade coffee, and waffles.

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

22. Edina Creamery

Where they're located: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

23. Ice Cream Shop in Jacksonville, NC

Yo Bre'z Frozen Dessert Bar is a professional Ice Cream Shop located in Jacksonville, NC, specializing in Ice Cream Sandwiches, Milk Shakes, Ice Cream Catering, & more! Contact us today!

Where they're located: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

24. Boardwalk waffles and ice cream home page 2020. Specials, Twist on a classic Jersey Shore treat in St. Louis.

We make hot Belgian-style waffles to order, then load'em up with ice cream, sandwich-style!

Where they're located: Ninove, Flanders, Belgium

25. C3 – Coffee|Crepe|Creamery

Where they're located: Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

26. Red Rabbit Cafe & Ice Cream

Red Rabbit Cafe & Ice Cream. Josh and John's Ice Cream. Colorado Springs, Colorado. Fresh food. Pikes Peak Chocolate and espresso drinks.

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

27. Colorado Custard Company [Home]

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

28. Shop(pe) Ice Cream & Shop

Come into our shop for ice cream and gift shopping!

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

29. Blue Mountain Creamery

Where they're located: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

30. Electro Freeze Northeast – Commercial Soft serve ice cream machines and equipment – Acana Northeast New England

Where they're located: Ararat Province, Armenia

31. Goodnoe Farm Dairy Bar

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

32. Big Boy Ice Cream

Where they're located: Tucson, Arizona, USA

33. Andre Andrews – Andre Andrews

Where they're located: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

34. Sullivan's Eatery and Creamery – Sullivan's Eatery and Creamery

Where they're located: Tucson, Arizona, USA

35. Ice Cream Shop in Melbourne, FL

Maggie’s Ice Cream in Melbourne, FL is an Ice Cream Shop specializing in Super Premium Ice Cream, Milkshakes, & more! Call (321) 610-3264 for Ice Cream Cakes and Birthday Party Catering today.

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Starting An Ice Cream Shop: Everything You Need To Know

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