The Pros and Cons of Opening a Mobile Ice Cream Shop
We all fondly remember the joyful sounds of the ice cream truck in the summertime. Everyone loves ice cream trucks. Should you open a mobile ice cream shop? Here are the pros and cons.
Pros:
1. Low Start-up Costs
Mobile ice cream shops have much lower start-up costs. Because you aren't buying or renting a building, you don't have any costs for the structure itself. Your only start-up costs are the vehicle, insurance, and the product you're selling.
2. Go Where Your Audience Is
Unlike a physical building, a mobile ice cream shop can move where the crowd is! If your local park is busy at specific times during the day, you can set up your mobile shop there. Having a mobile ice cream shop gives you an easy way to meet your customers where they are.
3. Less Cleaning
Because mobile ice cream shops don't have public bathrooms or sitting areas, you don't have any public areas to clean. You'll only have to clean the inside of your shop.
4. You Control Your Hours
Similar to how you choose where to park each day, you choose when you're open. You can tailor your hours to exactly what you want. If you want to stay open late, you can!
5. No Property Tax
In a physical building, you'll need to pay property taxes. With a mobile shop, there are different taxes you'll pay. Property taxes don't apply to ice cream trucks!
Cons:
1. Your Business is Weather-Dependent
Because you're not in a physical building, your customers don't have shelter from the weather. When people are outside, they'll come to your shop. If the weather is bad and people aren't spending time outside, you'll have a harder time getting business.
2. Limited Space
Mobile ice cream shops have much less storage space than traditional ice cream shops. you won't have the space to store multiple containers of each flavor of ice cream. Alongside storage space, mobile ice cream shops have less room inside - less room for employees and appliances.
3. Frequent Vehicle Maintenence
Unlike a physical building, mobile ice cream shops need regular vehicle maintenance. With constant movement and weather concerns, you'll need to continually keep up your shop. It'll take more work than a traditional shop.
4. Seasonal
Much like weather concerns, unless you live somewhere with warm weather year-round, mobile ice cream shops can only be open during the warmer seasons. Some traditional ice cream shops are only open seasonally. A mobile ice cream shop would be a good idea if you're okay with only being open part of the year.
5. Strict Parking Regulations
Most cities have strict parking regulations for any kind of food truck or mobile shop. There are very specific rules that are different for each city. Make sure to consult your local government before you open for business.
Mobile ice cream shops are a great way to bring your product straight to your customers. It's cheaper to run than a physical store, but there's more upkeep. When deciding whether or not to start a mobile ice cream shop, you need to consider a lot of things. If you've thought through each of these pros and cons, we're sure you'll come to a good decision!
Are you thinking of starting a mobile ice cream shop? Tell us about it in the comments, we love hearing from you!
