You can try to get the van or truck used to save some money on it, though you should make sure the van or truck will run reliably. You can also look for a van that already has freezers in it to save on outfitting costs.
You will also need a “special vendors permit” for the ice cream truck. This will depend on where you live. Usually, a vendor permit in a smaller city will be around $50-$200. In larger cities, permits may be more expensive. Look at local government websites for small business owners to find out the costs for insurance and permits in your area.
The cost of inventory will be an ongoing cost of the business, as you will need to replenish the inventory regularly. You may start with $500 worth of stock and then replenish it as needed.
You should also consider the cost of labor. Usually, ice cream trucks are smaller enough and low stress enough to only have one person working at one time. If you are going to work the ice cream truck, the labor costs may be zero to start.
You may consider asking friends or family to help fund the start-up capital needed to get the business going. If you are in good financial standing, you may consider Get-a-Business-Loan|taking out a business loan from a bank for the ice cream business.
Your budget should also factor in a projected revenue for the business. Most ice cream trucks that do well can earn $200-$300 a day, or $5,000 a month. Your revenue for the business should always be more than your expenses.
You can also reach out to local ice cream truck vendors and ask them what type of truck they have. If you are trying to cut down on your startup costs, you may get a used ice cream truck. Always test drive the truck before you buy it from a seller. Have an auto mechanic inspect the engine and the truck as a whole to confirm it is a good investment before you purchase it.
You may have a cabinet or tray in the truck for toppings and dippings that customers can access to put on their ice cream. You may also have a menu board, spoons, cups, napkins, and a cash box in the truck.
You may choose a classic flavor like vanilla or chocolate, for example, as well as one to two unique flavors. You may also invest in soft serve ice cream machines if this is part of your budget and there is room in the truck.
It is not recommended that you skip this step and try to operate the business without a permit. This can lead to a heavy fine.
You can then post the approval of the health inspector on the truck for display to let customers know that the truck has been deemed food safe.
To get ideas for the branding of your ice cream truck, you may look at how other local ice cream vendors present their trucks. You can also look at popular ice cream vendors online to get ideas.
If you live in a very warm climate, you may be able to make money year round. It may matter less if you open in the summer or in the winter, especially if the weather is sunny and warm all the time.
Make an effort to connect with people in a neighborhood or community. This will encourage them to buy from you again and help your truck become known by word of mouth.
Maintain an active social media presence so customers stay interested and engaged with the ice cream truck. If you have any specials or promotions at the truck, make sure you let your social media followers know.
For example, you may notice certain ice cream flavors are more popular than others, or that people prefer ice cream bars over ice cream cones. You may try adding new or interesting flavors to the list of options to draw customers in. You can also offer a weekly ice cream special to encourage customers to try new products.
