How to Start an Italian Ice Business

Italian ice is also regionally known as water ice and is a favorite summertime treat at fairs and festivals. Customers love to buy scoops from mobile carts, seasonal kiosks, and permanent storefronts.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start an Italian ice business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Italian Ice Business
  2. Form your Italian Ice Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Italian Ice Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Italian Ice Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Italian Ice Business
  7. Get Italian Ice Business Insurance
  8. Define your Italian Ice Business Brand
  9. Create your Italian Ice Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your Italian ice business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Italian Ice Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening an Italian ice business?

Starting a small water ice vending business is inexpensive. Some types of Italian ice carts are available for less than a thousand dollars, and even top-of-the line carts are less than $4,000. The cost of buying wholesale water ice is also a lot less than the price for ice cream.

The real cost of vending is obtaining the right permits and staying legal. In most cities, vendors need to belong to a commissary to obtain a vending license, and the rent for the use of the commissary is from several hundreds of dollars to thousands each month. Italian ice vendors who only operate at festivals usually can avoid the commissary charge, but will need to pay vendor fees directly to the festival organizers. All in, a mobile water ice vending business can cost less than $7,000.

Opening a storefront to sell Italian ice is much more expensive. The cost of additional freezers, dipping cabinets, and other equipment is much more than a simple cart. In addition, owners of a storefront need to pay rent and utilities, even when the store is closed during the winter. Locating a storefront water ice business in a location which is warm throughout the entire year offers a better chance for success.

What are the ongoing expenses for an Italian ice business?

The ongoing expenses include rent or commissary charges, restocking, and fees for festivals and labor.

Who is the target market?

Children love Italian ice, but many adults buy scoops for themselves, too. This is especially true at festivals or other active outdoor activities when ice cream may be a little too heavy. Italian ice has a perception among many customers as being a healthier alternative to other sweet snacks.

How does an Italian ice business make money?

An Italian ice business earns money through selling scoops of Italian ice.

How much can you charge customers?

Prices for a scoop of water ice is usually the same as the average price for a scoop of ice cream. Many vendors sell a single scoop in a cup for two to three dollars.

How much profit can an Italian ice business make?

A small scoop of water ice in a cup with a spoon costs around 35 cents to make and will sell well for two dollars. That is almost 600% profit! Italian ice has a long shelf-life if frozen, and it is rare to lose money through spoilage.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Combining an Italian ice business with other food businesses which are popular throughout the year helps to reduce the risk of poor weather forcing a business to close. Food businesses like soft pretzels, roasted nuts, smoothies, and cookies are great options for adding to a water-ice menu.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your Italian ice business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your Italian ice business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate an Italian ice business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

An Italian ice business is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to an Italian ice business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your Italian ice business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Food Regulations

When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Italian Ice Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Italian Ice Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market an Italian ice business

The best promotion method for a water ice business is to just show up where the customs already are located and offer free samples. Customers usually purchase Italian ice without planning, so investing in advertisements is not the best use of resources. On the other hand, Italian ice shops with a permanent location need to heavily advertise throughout the season to drive business in the door.

How to keep customers coming back

A well-known brand combined with a good location is usually enough to attract customers, especially if it is a mobile vending cart. To keep customers coming back to brick and mortar storefronts, owners need to create a child-focused and exceptionally fun experience. Loyalty programs and other specials, like limited-time flavors, will keep customers coming through the door.

Italian ice shops should remember to send out a flyer to past customers to remind them when they are planning to reopen for the season.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

An Italian ice business is perfect for anyone who is looking for a mostly seasonal or part-time food business. The owner of an Italian ice business should enjoy working outside during hot weather. In addition, any water ice business owners who are planning to travel to fairs or festivals in other locations for work should feel comfortable pulling a trailer on the highway.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at an Italian ice business?

After restocking an Italian Ice cart or dipping cabinet, the remainder of an operator’s daily activities involves selling and scooping water ice. At the end of the day, the equipment needs to be cleaned and any leftover Italian ice needs proper storage.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful Italian ice business?

Besides basic business skills, Italian ice business owners should have some food experience. Most areas of the country require an operator of an Italian ice business to have a business license, a food handler’s license, and for mobile businesses, a vending license. Past experience dealing with the various permitting agencies can speed up the process. Owners of an Italian ice business should love to interact with a wide variety of people and have great customer service skills.

What is the growth potential for an Italian ice business?

The easiest way to increase the growth potential for an Italian ice business is to extend the number of days the business is open. To successfully extend the season, mobile Italian ice businesses which operate in Northern states can head South to take part in festivals during the colder weather at home. Purchasing additional mobile vending units will also increase gross sales, but will lead to more expenses as well.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting an Italian ice business?

A great idea to jump start a water ice business while reducing expenses is to partner with an existing business. Many businesses attract large numbers of young people throughout the year like indoor playground and arcades. These businesses may allow a water ice cart to set up permanently inside for a cheap rent or a small percentage of sales.

Business owners who want to sell name-brand Italian ice and step into a fully tested system should consider a franchise opportunity. Many water ice franchises are available online with prices to meet almost any budget.

How and when to build a team

Small vending businesses usually do not need additional employees, but for storefronts, it is important to have a good team from the start. Employees who work in this type of business are generally students or others looking for short-term jobs and do not earn much more than minimum wage.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading