What are the options for opening a small ice cream parlor or ice cream kiosk?

If you've been thinking about starting your own ice cream store for a while, but would prefer to start with a smaller business first, or simply want to sell ice cream on the side, you have several options.

You can easily start with a small ice cream parlor or ice cream kiosk with purely to-go sales, which has such a few advantages.

What are the options for opening a small ice cream parlor or ice cream kiosk?
There are different concepts for starting a small ice cream parlor. You can start a mobile sale with an ice cream truck or operate an ice cream stand at markets, festivals or on certain days of the week. Or you can open an ice cream kiosk without seats and service and sell your ice cream only to take away.

To run a small ice cream parlor, ice cream kiosk or ice cream store, there are a variety of concepts and options.

You can give free rein to your creativity and try out different forms of mobile stands or stationary small ice cream parlors.

Why a small ice cream parlor?

An ice cream parlor or ice cream kiosk with around 50 square meters is easier to manage for the start of the ice cream business in the maintenance and can nevertheless become a customer magnet.
With a small ice cream parlor you normally take fewer risks. Moreover, you can also expand a small ice cream parlor as soon as you realize that the business is doing well and larger premises would be advantageous.

Nevertheless, even the opening of a small ice cream parlor should be well thought out in advance and thoroughly planned. If you would like to start with mobile sales, we have listed three concepts below and explain which advantages and disadvantages you should consider in each case before deciding on a concept.

Two alternative concepts to the small stationary ice cream parlor

1. move around the area with an ice cream truck

Do you want to start small and not take big risks? Then a mobile ice cream parlor could be the right concept for you. Please keep in mind that for a mobile ice cream parlor you usually need a permit from the responsible regulatory authority. You can start with a lower initial capital and do not have to worry about contractual obligations regarding rental objects.

You will face other challenges for this, but the entry risk is significantly lower than if you invest in starting a stationary ice cream parlor.

With an ice truck, you are mobile and can adapt to the weather or other circumstances such as events or celebrations.

In addition, you have, especially if you buy the ice, significantly lower maintenance costs. Since you are very flexible with an ice cream truck, you can also be booked for festivities or celebrations.

If you also want to generate sales in winter, it is much easier to change your offer and offer winter snacks, cookies, cakes, hot chocolate, teas or coffee adapted to low temperatures.

However, you should not ignore the disadvantages, because if you want to make your own ice cream, of course, you still have to put your kitchen in fixed premises and possibly rent rooms for it.

Additionally, running costs can add up even with a food truck, depending on driving distances and fuel costs. Other expenses such as the maintenance of your vehicle and parking fees are also not to be underestimated.

2. reasons a market stall at the weekly market

A market stall at the weekly market is also a great way to open a kind of mini ice cream parlor. You can book a stand at weekly markets, but also at the fair and test whether you like selling ice cream.

You can also ask to open your stand at other events. Here, too, your running costs are lower than if you were to open an ice cream parlor with a store.

However, you are dependent on events in your area and in bad weather the effort will hardly be worth it. Still, selling through a market stall is a good start to gain experience and learn about the selling business. Connect with catering services or restaurants. To get started in the ice cream business, you can begin by selling your artisan ice cream creations to restaurants and caterers to promote your ice cream in your area.

Here, too, you need premises for the production of ice cream, which also results in running costs, even if they are significantly lower than for an ice cream parlor with a large sales area.

Moreover, this second point can be excellently combined with the two previous concepts.

If you decide to open a small ice cream parlor with a fixed sales area, we have summarized some tips that you should consider when setting it up.

Establishment of a small stationary ice cream parlor or ice cream kiosk.

Note the basic requirements in an ice cream parlor

Small ice cream parlors and ice cream kiosks require a design that is accurate to the centimeter and an extremely strict division of space. In contrast to larger stores and craft businesses, there is less room for maneuver and thus fewer design options.

The perfect integration of the different operational areas, ice cream display cases, cash register, counter and back counter of the ice cream parlor, is crucial to make the areas dedicated to the customers usable and welcoming.

What are the best solutions to optimize space and ensure optimal service?

The minimum equipment for the establishment of a small ice cream parlor

The minimum area of an artisan ice cream shop with takeaway service is about 50 square meters, taking into account a sufficiently large area for laboratory and warehouse.

In addition to floor space, key equipment features include ice cream making machines - either a pure ice cream machine for cold process ice cream making, a combination ice cream machine with a stove and freezer, or an ice cream machine plus a pasteurizer, professional ice cream display cases or pozzetti counters, a blast freezer, and plus or minus temperature refrigerators for storing ice cream cups and refrigerated/frozen products.

For comprehensive advice on equipping and setting up your ice cream parlor, you can seek help from experienced professionals.

Because especially for a small ice cream parlor, walkways and processes should be included in the planning.

The company Krä Eistechnik has specialized in planning ice cream parlors of all kinds and in advising prospective gelatieri like you, but also experienced ice cream parlor owners on new planning.

In this regard, Krä Eistechnik offers a wide range of professional ice showcases, refrigerated counters, ice display cases and accessories. Krä covers every type of requirement and also offers a special planning service that makes it possible to optimize both large and small spaces and provide all the necessary equipment.

Planning an ice cream parlor has never been so easy, because you can rely on the long experience of professionals and will avoid so many mistakes.

Interior of artisan ice cream parlors - a question of design and technology.

From a design perspective, the challenge for a small ice cream parlor is in the details. Even a minimal outlet, with a compact counter and limited service and entertainment space, can be eye-catching.

I'm sure you're thinking that even a simple bench with tables will be enough to welcome customers, as long as it's part of a coherent project.

However, you should always be aware that first impressions count and you will attract your clientele more easily with a modern and attractively designed ice cream parlor than with a sparsely equipped ice cream parlor and worn furniture.

You should therefore better refrain from looking around online second-hand platforms or other second-hand markets, because you will get lost in the variety of newly launched stores and without a proper concept.

It is also important not to compromise on the technology used to present the ice cream: The refrigerated display case and counter should not only look good, but also guarantee maximum functionality and optimal preservation of product quality, as well as convey to your customers that no expense is spared in order to satisfy your customers.

With anything that's not visible to your clientele, looks can come second. So, while you should never skimp on the visible store design, good used ice-making equipment that has been inspected by a professional can make perfect sense at the beginning to save your budget.

An appealing offer must not only contain ice cream

Even in a small ice cream parlor, it is possible to differentiate the offer to appeal to different customer groups.

Offering coffee, cappuccino or espresso in addition to the ice cream specialties is now probably widespread in every ice cream parlor. But there are other products with which you can attract customers and increase your sales.

If the available square meters allow it, it makes sense to plan a counter for the display of chocolates and other confectionery products in addition to ice cream sales.

These two categories of products can be offered side by side in the same place or alternate according to the season: an option that is interesting for smaller ice cream parlors. Incidentally, there are also special "four-season counters" that can be used to sell ice cream in the summer and cakes and pies in the cold season.

For the cooler months of the year, you can come up with special offers and offer pumpkin ice cream or cookies and cinnamony hot drinks to match the fall or Christmas season, for example.

Ideas on how to make your ice cream parlor unique and stand out with it

• Make your ice cream Instagrammable!

Stack your sundaes so high that your guests can't help but take a photo for social media. Come up with other eye-catchers in your interior design that will go over well on social media.

You can also use various toppings to make your ice cream sundaes or ice cream in wafers so appealing that younger customers in particular are guaranteed to want to post a picture of them. This way, your ice cream parlor is automatically advertised and you become better known.

• Try to offer many different flavors

If your selection of flavors is large, there is a higher chance that there will be something for everyone. Also, many flavors tempt you to try new varieties and you will sell more scoops per person.

• Experiment with local or seasonal flavors

Similar to Black Forest cherry ice cream, if you make your own ice cream, you can play with local characteristics and offer special flavors depending on the region. This will get you noticed, because who can say they've tried onion-flavored ice cream?

• Use unique or unusual ingredients

Similar to flavors based on local characteristics, you can experiment here and invent new flavors or spice up your ice cream with superfoods like spirulina or goji berries.

• Offer various toppings

Toppings have become a popular garnish for ice cream. You can generate additional revenue with toppings and the ice cream quickly and easily becomes an appealing eye-catcher. Toppings also increase the chances that your ice cream shop will be shared on social media, such as Instagram or TikTok, and thus recommended to others.

Offer dairy-free or purely plant-based ice cream varieties Dairy-free varieties or even vegan ice cream should definitely be included in your range. More and more people are choosing a vegan lifestyle or want to limit their dairy consumption.

Young people in particular might decide to go to another ice cream parlor if there is not a single vegan variety in your range. Since this target group usually travels in groups with friends, you would lose several customers at once.