Starting A Shaved Ice Business In Your Area

Shaved ice makes a wonderful summertime treat. It is cool and refreshing, and with the right flavors, you can create a treat that is not overly sweet but offers a delicious treat without all the sugar and calories found in other warm-weather treats, like ice cream or milkshakes. And best of all, it is not difficult to get started making shaved ice and selling it to customers. 

Getting Your Business Started

Before you start any kind of business, you need to check the laws in your area and determine how you want to structure your new venture. Shaved ice is often sold at events and on the street from a cart or truck. Like a food truck, a shaved ice truck gives you some options and makes it easier to get to an area and set up to sell your treats very quickly. 

It is important to decide how you will sell your product early on because selling shaved iced off a pushcart may mean buying different equipment than you would have in a truck and the investment is much smaller for cart vending. Take the time to work through your plan, make sure you have the right permits, and look carefully at the return on investment for the business so you get started with a reasonable expectation for the business. 

Equipment Investment

When you are shopping for a shaved ice machine, it is important that you buy a high-quality machine that will stand up to commercial use. A small home machine is fine for making shaved ice for the kids at home, but if your plan is to serve people and make money, you have to have a machine that can handle the workload.

Ice is deceptively hard and can dull the blades in the machine pretty quickly if they are not up to the task. When you are considering machines, ask about the blades and what they are made from. It is important to buy the best quality machine that your budget allows so that you do not have a breakdown in the middle of an event or well you are set up on the street somewhere. 

Standing Out From Your Competition

If you are the only vendor for shaved ice in your area, you don't have a lot of worry about competitors, but if you are successful, expect other people to see that and consider trying to compete with you. If you really want to lead the race, come up with fresh new flavors or change the way your ice is offered. Maybe put it in a fun container or bowl instead of the traditional cone. If you want to be the best in your area, you need to stay ahead of the crowd and serve the best possible treats that will keep people coming back.