business plan of ice cream pdf

How to Write an Ice Cream Shop Business Plan + Free Sample Plan PDF

Elon Glucklich

6 min. read

Updated February 16, 2024

Download: Free one-page ice cream shop sample business plan

With the global ice cream market projected to grow by over 40% by the end of the decade, now is a great time for entrepreneurial dessert enthusiasts to enter the ice cream business.

But running any kind of business requires careful planning. You’ll need to consider your location and the preferences of customers in your area, and understand what direct and indirect competitors are offering.

Are you writing a business plan for your ice cream shop because you’re seeking a loan? Or, is your primary concern building a clear roadmap for growth? Either way, remember that no two ice cream shops are exactly alike. Your business model will be different if you’re making your own ice cream or selling scoops from big manufacturers. So take the time to do some market research and create your own financial forecasts to give you a blueprint for sustained growth. That’s the benefit a business plan provides.

• What should you include in an ice cream shop business plan?

Your ice cream shop business plan doesn’t need to be hundreds of pages — keep it as short and concise as you can. You’ll probably want to include each of these sections:

• Executive summary
• Company overview
• Market analysis
• Marketing and sales strategy 
• Operations Plan
• Financial plan

One of the things that makes an ice cream shop business plan different from some food and beverage business plans is that your business might be more affected by seasonal downturns. 

You also have to account for consumers’ growing preference for dairy-free alternatives. If you’re trying to reach a health-conscious market, make sure to keep an eye on market trends, and include your ideas for offering dairy alternatives on your menu.

Here’s an example of an ice cream shop business plan outline.

• The 7 elements of an effective ice cream shop business plan

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary gives a broad overview of your plan. It should outline your goals for the shop, whether it’s to enter a new market, separate yourself from competitors with innovative ice cream flavors, or expand your customer base.

The executive summary should clearly articulate the ice cream shop’s mission. Maybe it’s to deliver locally sourced and organic ingredients. Or it could be to establish a new community gathering space for families. Whatever it is, you should carve out some space in the 1-2 page executive summary section so that readers understand the “why” of your business right away.

Lay out what the keys to success are for your ice cream shop. It could be finding a location with high visibility and foot traffic, a team that delivers exceptional customer service, a unique product line, or a combination of these factors.

2. Company description

The Company Description section should give readers deeper insight into the operations and structure of your ice cream shop. It expands on the brief overview provided in the executive summary, offering more information about your ice cream shop’s unique value proposition. 

If you have an existing business, briefly share its history, highlighting any milestones you’ve achieved, like reaching certain sales goals or employee counts.

If you’re a new business, start by discussing the rationale behind your business name and location. Then, go into more detail about your concept. Describe if you’re focusing on traditional flavors, gourmet or artisan options, or a niche market like vegan or dairy-free alternatives. Detail offerings like coffee or baked goods and snacks that might support your main product line.

It’s also important to detail the ownership and legal structure of your business, like if you’re a sole proprietorship, a limited liability company, partnership, or more formal corporate structure.

Finally, you can go into more detail about the goals for your business that you touched on in your executive summary. These could be sales targets, expansion plans — whatever you hope to achieve. Explain how you plan to measure success toward your goals, and your projected timeframe for meeting them.

3. Market analysis

Separating yourself from competitors requires a strong understanding of your business opportunity. The market analysis section is where you document the size of your market and your competitors.

This is where you hone in on the demographics and preferences of your target market, as well as trends in the ice cream industry that could impact your sales. Whether you plan to target health-conscious college students, families with young children, or another segment, explain in your plan why this focus is justified, and back it up with research.

You’ll also need to research your target market’s other dessert options, whether it’s direct competitors like other ice cream shops, or indirect competitors like grocery stores.  

4. Marketing and sales strategy

The marketing and sales strategy takes the research from your market analysis, and turns it into an actionable plan to get more customers in the door.

Advertising online or in local publications can help spread awareness of your business. Participating in community events is another way to connect with potential customers. Digitally savvy business owners also leverage their website and social media accounts as low-cost ways to reach customers wherever they are.

You should also consider if discounts or special offers for repeat customers will encourage enough loyalty to justify the lower sales price. Just make sure that these initiatives are tailored to your target market. Effective marketing is about utilizing tactics that work, and scrapping ones that don’t provide any return. So be sure to establish key performance indicators to track the effectiveness of your marketing strategy.

5. Operations plan

The operations section details how you’ll run your business efficiently from day to day. All of the logistics you’ll need to manage to avoid wasteful spending — production processes, supplier relationships, staffing, inventory and technology — are documented here.

Outline how you plan to source ingredients and materials you’ll be ordering regularly, and identify your key suppliers. You should also give details about the building size and layout of your business, and any renovations required if you’re starting out or expanding.

List your staffing needs, including key roles and responsibilities. If you’re writing your business plan for a bank loan or investment, be sure to include your plan for managing inventory and reducing waste, since they’ll be especially concerned about if you’ll use their funds wisely.

6. Financial plan

Your financial plan should include financial projections for your business, including your sales , expenses , and profitability . Include a cash flow statement , income statement , and balance sheet .

Also, outline your pricing strategy and compare your prices to competitors. Examine your wage costs and consider how they will affect your profitability.

As you compare your financial projections to your actual results over time, you’ll see where you need to make strategic adjustments to reach your goal, or if you need to revise your target. 

7. Appendix

The appendix is where you add any additional documents that support your business plan. This could include market research and survey data, lease agreements, employee contracts, or licensing and permit documents.

An appendix isn’t always necessary, but it can provide valuable context and proof to support your business plan’s content.

• Download your free ice cream shop one page sample business plan

Download this ice cream shop sample business plan for free right now, or visit Bplans’ gallery of more than 550 sample business plans if you’re looking for more options.

There are plenty of reasons ice cream shop owners can benefit from writing a business plan —you’ll need one if you’re seeking a loan or investment.

Even if you’re not seeking funding, the process of thinking through every aspect of your business will help you make sure you’re not overlooking anything critical as you grow.

See why 1.2 million entrepreneurs have written their business plans with LivePlan

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

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Ice cream shop business plan template + PDF

This article offers a detailed Ice Cream Shop Business Plan template, ideal for those looking to start or grow their ice cream shop. Please note, the names and financial details provided within this sample are entirely fictional and are used solely for demonstration purposes. These examples aim to show how you can structure your own Ice Cream Shop Business Plan , ensuring it's tailored to the unique aspects of your ice cream shop endeavor.

To facilitate easy customization, we provide a downloadable "Ice Cream Shop Business Plan PDF" . This document is a crucial asset for entrepreneurs focused on developing a solid and effective strategy for either launching or expanding their ice cream shop. The 'Ice Cream Shop Business Plan' serves as a detailed guide, offering comprehensive insights into the ice cream industry, and equips you with the necessary tools to effectively manage and grow your ice cream business.

How this ice cream shop business plan sample was created

Effortlessly design your ice cream shop's business plan with our user-friendly service. Click on "Generate your business plan" and answer a set of straightforward questions about your shop. Our advanced AI will analyze your responses to craft a customized business plan, tailored to your unique goals. The process is swift and streamlined, usually taking only 5-10 minutes, and produces an organized, comprehensive plan. The flexible nature of our system also allows for adjustments, ensuring the plan aligns perfectly with your vision. Once you're satisfied, you can easily download the plan to your computer, giving you a clear, detailed roadmap to successfully launch and grow your ice cream business.

Generate your custom ice cream shop business plan in minutes!

Ice cream shop business plan sample, executive summary, business description, market research and analysis.

• Organizational Structure and Management Team

Products or Services

Marketing and sales strategy, operations plan, financial projections, risk analysis.

Frozen Whispers is set to revolutionize the ice-cream industry with an appealing array of products that cater to children, teenagers, and adults alike. This ice-cream parlor, operating under a flat organizational structure headed by Sarah Johnson (Owner), Emily Turner (Manager), two Shift Supervisors, and ten Ice Cream Servers, aims to tantalize your taste buds with a myriad of ice cream flavors and desserts.

Our extensive product portfolio comprises sundae, milkshakes, and ice-cream cakes, among others. To accommodate customers' diverse lifestyle choices and dietary needs, we are committed to offering vegan and sugar-free options. We are determined to keep our offerings fresh and exciting by introducing unique and seasonal flavors regularly.

Frozen Whispers competes with formidable rivals in the market, such as Cold Rush Ice Cream, Chilled Chatters, Arctic Delights, Frozen Fables and Ice Dreams Parlor. Our strength, however, lies in our comprehensive range of products and commitment to inclusivity by offering vegan and sugar-free varieties. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the need to continuously innovate and strive for excellence, hence the regular introduction of new flavors and an unwavering commitment to high-quality, irresistible offerings.

Our skilled management team includes industry veterans such as Sarah Johnson, Alicia Clarkson, Emily Turner, Laura Sanders, and Robin Gordon, each bringing valuable professional expertise from notable companies like Baskin Robbins and Ben & Jerry’s. Their collective years of experience and proven track record in the food industry will drive Frozen Whispers’ success in the competitive ice-cream market.

Our marketing and sales strategy hinges on traditional advertising, digital marketing on popular social media platforms, in-store promotions, and strategic alliances with local events. We also plan to expand our reach by offering a delivery service through popular apps like UberEats and Grubhub.

Operationally, Frozen Whispers will source premium ingredients, attract skilled staff and maintain cutting-edge ice-cream-making facilities. With quality as our prime focus, we aim to sell 400 cones per day. Our operating hours will span from 10 AM to 10 PM, accommodating the varying schedules of our customers.

Financial projections indicate a favorable outlook over the next 3-5 years, with expected revenue reaching $500,000 in the second year and crossing the $1 million mark by the fifth year. However, we have identified potential business risks, including seasonal fluctuations, spoilage, health violations, fierce competition, and the adverse effect of COVID-19 on business operations. Each risk has an associated mitigation plan to counter potential devastation, and a contingency plan to ensure the business remains robust and profitable, even in the face of adversity. With thorough planning and a clear vision, Frozen Whispers is set to conquer the ice-cream industry, making every bite an unforgettable journey of flavor and delight.

Frozen Whispers is an ice cream parlor, located in the heart of New York City. The business was first conceived in 2018 by Sarah Johnson, a passionate ice cream enthusiast with a dream. Her vision was to create an oasis where everyone, regardless of age, could indulge in creative, mouth-watering ice cream varieties that far exceeded the traditional vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry offerings. The purpose of Frozen Whispers is not only to provide delicious ice cream but also to create a unique and memorable dessert experience.

We operate in the Food Services Industry, specifically in the Ice Cream Parlors segment. This industry is filled with intense competition but has remained resilient over the past decade due to its persistent popularity across all demographics.

Our mission is to provide a delicious escape from the everyday through our variety of gourmet ice creams. We intend to be the top management team of dessert lovers from every walk of life, promising an innovative variety of flavors, top-notch customer service, and a commitment to high-quality ingredients.

Frozen Whispers operates as a sole proprietorship, owned entirely by Sarah Johnson. We feel this structure benefits our business as it allows us maximum management flexibility, with the ability to adjust quickly and effectively to shifting market demands.

In terms of the projected long-term potential of the business, we see great promise. The appeal of ice cream is enduring and crosses all age demographics. With our focus on innovation and a commitment to quality, we envision Frozen Whispers evolving into a top destination for the dessert lovers, not only in NYC but across the state and, one day, the nation.

Looking towards the future, we plan for steady yet formidable growth. We aim to continuously expand our menu, whilst ensuring we consistently deliver the tastes and experiences our customers have come to expect. This growth will certainly introduce new challenges, but with Sarah Johnson and her committed team at the helm, we are confident in our ability to navigate these challenges and achieve our dream of making the world a sweeter place, one ice cream at a time.

Frozen Whispers aims to inspire a sense of anticipation and tantalize taste buds as customers look forward to savoring their picks. Ice cream for us is not just a business; it's a sweet journey that we love to share with everyone.

Frozen Whispers operates within the thriving ice-cream industry. The U.S. ice-cream market was valued at $57.7 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.3% from 2020 to 2027. This industry is driven by trends including the consumption of organic ingredients, demand for premium products, and continual flavor innovation.

Our target market comprises children, teenagers, and adults who revel in ice cream and desserts, specifically within the New York metropolitan area that has a population of approximately 19.3 million. With an intended focus on millennials who are leading drivers of the organic and sustainable food movements, we acknowledge the significant growth potential within this demographic.

The market's growing appetite for diversity and innovation fuels the demand for exotic and unexplored flavors alongside a strong preference for healthier options. Vegan, gluten-free, and low-sugar alternatives are sought after, along with artisanal hand-crafted ice creams that offer an upscale dessert experience.

Trends indicate consumer preference for personalized experiences, such as build-your-own-sundaes and mix-and-match flavor options. Subscription services and home deliveries are also gaining traction, mainly due to the recent pandemic's societal shifts.

A competitor analysis indicates several prominent competitors. Cold Rush Ice Cream, armed with its expansive flavor library and national brand recognition, holds a significant market share. Chilled Chatters is known for its unique flavor combinations and holds a loyal customer base. Arctic Delights, Frozen Fables, and Ice Dreams Parlor also offer stiff competition with their appealing marketing strategies and customer loyalty programs.

Potential barriers to entry include the established presence of competition and the substantial initial capital investment required for leasing premier locations, procuring machinery, and inventory build-up. Furthermore, ensuring compliance with food safety and health department standards requires continual investment and vigilance.

Frozen Whispers intends to navigate these barriers through strategic planning and execution. The investment in a highly experienced and committed management team will provide an advantage in business operations, strategizing, and problem-solving. Additionally, offering a variety of ice cream-based desserts that cater to vegan and sugar-free options can address market demands and set us apart from competitors.

Our unique and seasonal flavors, alongside superior customer service, should result in strong customer loyalty. By leveraging marketing platforms, both online and offline and engaging potential customers through local event partnerships, we intend to quickly establish ourselves as a premier destination for ice cream lovers. Offering delivery services through popular apps will also cater to consumer preferences and enhance our reach.

In conclusion, Frozen Whispers, equipped with a comprehensive understanding of the market, is well-positioned to step into the industry, develop a loyal customer base, and secure a good market share in the excitingly versatile world of ice cream.

Organizational Structure and Management

Frozen Whispers is set on a mission to provide a delightful, out-of-the-box ice cream experience. This ice cream shop, located in the heart of New York City, revolves around a flat organizational structure that promises efficient decision-making and improves communication.

The leadership team comprises Sarah Johnson (Owner), Emily Turner (Manager), two Shift Supervisors and ten Ice Cream Servers, each bringing their unique skills to the table. Sarah, a former regional manager of Baskin Robbins, brings valuable industry experience and an unyielding passion to the role. Emily, with over ten years of experience in food retail management, ensures seamless operations across the ice cream shop's facets.

Our staffing needs are met currently, but as we plan towards expanding our "Frozen Whispers" brand, we foresee increased manpower requirements for both back-end preparation and front-end customer servicing roles. Consistent recruitment and rigorous training of staff will be prioritized to maintain high service standards and food quality.

Human resources policies and practices at Frozen Whispers are designed to ensure an inclusive and engaging work environment. We believe in equal opportunities for all and adhere to strict anti-bias and anti-discrimination practices. Regular feedback sessions, performance evaluations, and emphasis on skill-enhancement underscore our commitment towards supporting our employees' well-being and professional growth.

External advisors and consultants play a crucial role in our company's progress, particularly in areas such as legal compliance, tax planning, and food safety standards. We count on the expertise of external HR consultants for the most updated and relevant HR practices.

On the finance front, robust financial planning steered by our Financial Controller, Robin Gordon, a seasoned CPA. Robin's extensive experience in retail finance provides us with solid footing in the sector while ensuring the effective and responsible management of resources.

Our primary competitors in the current market are "Cold Rush Ice Cream" , "Chilled Chatters" , "Arctic Delights" , "Frozen Fables" , and "Ice Dreams Parlor" . Our strengths lie in our unique flavor profiles, a firm commitment to quality, and unparalleled customer service. We aim to differentiate ourselves from our competitors by consistently introducing unique and seasonal flavors. However, we acknowledge challenges, such as maintaining consistency in flavor and quality, managing customer expectations, and the need for continuous innovation. We are confident that with strategic focus and implementation, we can turn these challenges into opportunities for growth and brand differentiation.

Frozen Whispers is centered around the creation and retail of quality ice-cream, including a variety of innovative flavors and novel dessert combinations. Consisting of our flagship range of classic flavors, we regularly innovate with unique seasonal and gourmet flavors derived from local and exotic sources. Our offerings also include custom-created sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, and other ice cream-based desserts. A blizzard of sweetness, if you will.

Our unique selling proposition is a fusion of quality, creativity, and customer responsiveness—reflecting a mix of classic and unusual flavors you won't find anywhere else. We cater to a broad range of tastes with vegan and sugar-free options. Under Sarah Johnson's creative stewardship, our shop offers an array of European and Asian inspired flavors that bring the global culinary scene home to New York.

Frozen Whispers is a startup currently in the beta phase. We are testing with a select group of local consumers while sourcing high-quality inputs from the creameries of Pennsylvania and organic fruit farms of Up-state New York. Although we are in the early stages, future plans involve expansion. In 3-5 years, we plan to establish a chain of stores in the Tri-state region and develop a national-brand presence.

We are currently awaiting the approval of patents for three of our unique flavors: Caramelized Fig & Cheese, Earl Grey Fudge, and Bourbon Pecan Pie. In addition, we have registered Frozen Whispers and our by-line "Whispering Sweetness" as trademarks, setting a strong foundation for future branding.

The production process at Frozen Whispers starts with quality ingredients sourced from reliable suppliers. The ice cream base is made fresh every day and pasteurized in-house. Flavors are then incorporated, followed by churning in high-end ice cream machines imported from Italy. This slow process allows the ice cream to have a denser, creamier texture.

Our major suppliers are local dairy farms affiliated with the Certified Organic Association of Northeastern New York, and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture for fresh, organic fruits and cream. We have secured contracts with these suppliers for a continuous and stable supply of high-quality ingredients, ensuring minimal delays or disruptions.

Delivering a refreshing experience with every scoop, Frozen Whispers is here to make your ice-cream dreams come true with a truly unique, exquisite twist on beloved classics.

Frozen Whispers, born out of a love for ice cream and a passion for crafting unique flavors, has its headquarters nestled in New York City. What started as a playful exploration of dessert varieties by Sarah Johnson has grown into a business venture with a comprehensive range of products that cater to diverse tastes and age groups. The ice cream parlor offers a wide variety of flavors, sundaes, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, and numerous other desserts, with vegan and sugar-free options to cater to the health-conscious market.

Marketing Strategy:

Our marketing strategy revolves around online and offline channels. We intend to connect with our audience through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. These platforms allow us to showcase our products effectively, share behind-the-scenes content, announce new flavors, create brand stories and engage directly with our customers. We also recognize the critical role of search engine optimization (SEO) and plan to create a user-friendly website with regularly updated blogs about ice-cream trends and in-house developments. For offline promotions, we aim to collaborate with local events like food festivals, sports events, and community gatherings to create a presence within our target market.

Sales Strategy:

A robust sales strategy is crucial to our business objective. For sales activities, our prime channel would be our store; however, we will also adopt a delivery model operating via food apps like UberEats and GrubHub to increase our service reach. Our sales team, led by an experienced supervisor, will provide warm, friendly, and efficient service to our customers.

Pricing Strategy:

Our pricing strategy is based on a cost-plus pricing model. We have priced our products reasonably while ensuring excellent quality, which we believe differentiates us in the competitive market.

Distribution Channel:

Apart from our flagship store in New York City, our ice cream delivery model through UberEats and GrubHub aims to cater to customers who prefer enjoying our products within the comfort of their homes.

Promotion and Advertising Plans:

Our promotional plans include frequency-based customer reward programs to increase customer retention. We would also run regular discount offers during off-peak seasons. Advertising would primarily be digital, through social media and Search Engine Marketing.

Customer Service Policies:

Customer satisfaction is our top priority. We believe in a proactive approach to customer service - addressing concerns promptly and ensuring that all our customers leave with a smile.

Our business plan leverages strategic marketing and sales efforts, well-calculated pricing, efficient distribution channels, impactful promotion, and advertising efforts, and focused customer service policies. By doing so, we plan to establish Frozen Whispers as the go-to spot for all ice cream lovers, delivering not just a product, but a delightful experience.

Our operations workflow at Frozen Whispers involves opening the store each day at 10 a.m. We start by preparing the ice cream, which can take a few hours depending on the number of flavors being made that day. Once the ice cream is prepared, it's time to open the store. The servers are tasked with operating the cash register, taking orders, serving ice cream, and ensuring the shop remains clean and inviting. Manager Emily Turner and the shift supervisors divide responsibilities, manage staffing, and ensure the store runs smoothly.

The production process begins by choosing top-quality ingredients for our ice creams. Afterward, the ingredients are carefully mixed and frozen using our state-of-the-art ice cream making machines to ensure a perfect consistency and texture. Depending on the flavor, the ice cream might then be enhanced with mix-ins like nuts, fruit, or candy pieces.

Quality control is crucial in our operations. We regularly inspect our ingredients to ensure their freshness and taste. Our machines are also subjected to regular maintenance and sanitation procedures to ascertain their optimal functionality. Additionally, we pride ourselves on maintaining a clean and safe environment for our customers and employees.

Inventory management is another essential part of the operations. Inventory levels are reviewed daily, and the necessary orders are placed with suppliers to ensure we never run out of essential items. All inventory is stored in the appropriate cool storage facilities to prolong freshness and prevent waste.

We also pay attention to our supply chain management. We've partnered with reliable suppliers who provide us with high-quality dairy products, fruits, and nuts. Our partnership with these suppliers ensures we can provide our customers with consistent and excellent quality products.

Facilities and equipment needs are crucial to our operations. We operate from a well-situated store with excellent visibility and footfall. Our store was designed to show off the breadth of our offerings, with bright displays and comfortable seating. We have invested considerably in powerful freezers, high-quality ice cream making machines, and other small wares such as serving utensils and storage containers, necessary for day to day operations.

Overall, our operational plan integrates all aspects of our business, ensuring that customers are served exceptional ice cream in a pleasant environment by friendly staff.

Frozen Whispers projects substantial growth, positioning itself to capitalize on the increasing consumption of ice cream by children, teenagers, and adults. We have prepared a financial forecast, projecting substantial growth for the next three to five years.

Sales Forecast:

Within our first year, we project a conservative revenue target of $250,000. As the brand name becomes more familiar, we anticipate an increase in sales, reaching $500,000 in revenue by the second year, and crossing the $1 million threshold by the end of the fifth year.

Profit and Loss Projection:

In the initial stages of the business, startup costs and operational expenses may lead to limited profits or even minor losses. However, we expect to see positive growth from the second year onward with a net profit of $75,000.

Cash Flow Projection:

Due to the cyclical nature of the business, we project stable cash flow during the warmer months and predict a decrease during the colder months. However, our marketing initiatives and the introduction of winter-specific flavors will serve to bolster winter sales and maintain a favorable cash flow throughout the year.

Balance Sheet Projection:

We project an increase in assets over the next five years as the business grows and expects to see accumulated profits invested back into the business. Our short-term and long-term debts are projected to decrease as the profits roll in, leading to a strengthening of our equity position.

Break-Even Analysis:

Our break-even analysis shows that with an average sales price of $5 per ice cream serving and an estimated cost of goods sold at $2 per serving, we will need to sell an estimated 125,000 servings annually, or around 342 servings per day, to cover our fixed costs completely.

Financial Assumptions and Considerations:

These projections and analyses are based on several assumptions, including market stability and consistent consumer demand for ice cream. Changes in the economy, shifts in consumer taste, or the entrance of a new competitor could alter these projections. Considering this, we plan to review and adjust our financial forecasts as necessary every quarter to reflect the most up-to-date business and market situations.

Even with these considerations, we are confident that our offerings' uniqueness, sustainable business model, and the team's experience will make Frozen Whispers a success. The business aims not only for fiscal growth but also to be an integral part of our customers' delightful memories.

Frozen Whispers, like any businesses, faces potential risks that could disrupt operations. These risks include market risks, operational risks, and financial risks.

Market Risks:

• Demand Fluctuations: Since the business is in the ice cream industry, seasonal variations might affect consumers' interest. Mitigation Strategies: Develop diversified menu options like hot beverages and desserts for the cold season. Contingency Plans: Enhance advertising during low seasons. Creation and promotion of unique winter flavors.
• Market Saturation: Many competitors already exist in the market, and new ones might emerge. Mitigation strategies: Offer unique and innovative flavors and provide unparalleled customer service. Contingency plans: Launch marketing campaigns to increase visibility.

Operational Risks:

• Equipment Failure: Our business relies heavily on ice-cream making machines and cold storage units; these equipment's failure can disrupt operations. Mitigation strategies: Implement a regular maintenance schedule for all equipment. Contingency plans: Maintain relationships with equipment vendors for quick repairs or replacements.
• Staff Turnover: Being in the food industry, frequent staff turnover can affect our business operations. Mitigation Strategies: Offer competitive salaries, create a positive working atmosphere, and provide job training. Contingency Plans: Maintain a pool of trained part-time staff who can step in when necessary.

Financial Risks:

• Increased Costs: A rise in the cost of ingredients or equipment could affect our profitability. Mitigation strategies: Develop relationships with multiple suppliers to prevent dependency on one source. Maintain an efficient inventory system to manage stock and reduce waste. Contingency Plans: Review and adjust menu prices as necessary.
• Sales Volume Fluctuation: Sales might not meet projections, impacting our financial health. Mitigation strategies: Develop aggressive marketing strategies to attract customers and increase sales. Contingency Plans: Assess and adjust operational and marketing strategies.

Insurance and Legal Considerations:

To protect our business from potential legal issues, Frozen Whispers will comply with all necessary permits, licenses, and health regulations. We will secure liability insurance to protect the business against potential lawsuits. Additionally, we will insure our property and equipment against damage, theft, or loss.

In conclusion, a broad understanding of potential risks and strategic planning will help Frozen Whispers navigate difficulties and maintain resilience in the dynamic and competitive ice-cream industry.

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Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template

If you want to start an Ice Cream Shop business or expand your current Ice Cream Shop business, you need a business plan.

The following Ice Cream Shop business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning Ice Cream Parlor business plan.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Below are links to each of the key sections of an example ice cream business plan. Once you create your plan, download it to PDF to show banks and investors.

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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500+ business plans and financial models

How to Write an Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

• January 3, 2023
• Food & Beverage

Whether you’re looking to raise funding from private investors or to get a loan from a bank (like a SBA loan) for your ice cream shop, you will need to prepare a solid business plan.

In this article we go through, step-by-step, all the different sections you need in the business plan of your ice cream shop . Use this template to create a complete, clear and solid business plan that get you funded.

1. Executive Summary

The executive summary distills the details of your business plan into major points potential funders can easily grasp within a few minutes. It usually contains a brief description of your product, financial growth plans, vision and mission statement, target market , marketing strategy , funding ask, and your team.

Though the executive summary is the first and the most important section, it should normally be the last section you write because it will have the summary of different sections included in your business plan below.

Why do you need a business plan for an ice cream shop?

The purpose of a business plan is to secure funding through one of the following channels:

• Obtain bank financing or secure a loan from other lenders (such as a SBA loan )
• Obtain private investments from investment funds, angel investors, etc.
• Obtain a public or a private grant

How to write your ice cream shop’s executive summary?

Your executive summary shouldn’t be more than two pages and should grab and sustain the attention of whoever reads it. In most cases, how you present the information here determines how feasible your business appears to potential funders and if they will bother about the remaining pages. Remember, first impressions matter! Here are the major parts your executive summary should contain:

• Business Overview : here, you explain your business vision and goals, your products and pricing strategy . Also mention where your store is located, how big it is, whether it’s a sit-in or takeaway-only ice cream shop, etc.
• Market & competitive overview : here you must go in depth about the ice cream industry in your area (the city you intend to open your shop for example), the level of competition from other ice cream shops, and the demography of your target market (age, income level, gender, ethnicity, education, religion)
• Sales & marketing strategy : how will you reach your target market? What marketing channels will you use? What is your marketing budget?
• Management & people : what are the roles and responsibilities of every team member? What are their experiences? Who manages the team?
• Financial plan: how much profit and revenue do you expect in the next 5 years? When will you reach the break-even point and start making profits? You can include here a chart with your key financials (revenue, gross profit, net profit )
• Funding ask : what loan/investment/grant are you seeking? How much do you need? How long will this last?

Ice Cream Shop Financial Model

Download an expert-built 5-year Excel financial model for your business plan

2. Business Overview

Here, you shed more light on your ice cream shop concept while answering questions potential funders will likely ask. For instance:

• Why did you decide to open an ice cream shop today?
• Where is your shop located? Why did you choose that location?
• What is your business model: sit-in, takeaway ice cream shop or food truck?
• How many employees will you hire to run your shop?
• Will you specialize in a specific ice cream specialty? Will you offer other products (e.g. coffee, drinks, etc.)?
• What legal structure will you adopt for your business?

History of the project

Any business overview must start with explaining the history of the project. There are 2 components here:

• Passion & experience of the business owner
• Rationale behind starting a ice cream shop today

Passion & experience

You may or may not have prior experience. If you have experience, speak about it and how it will help you to run your business. For instance, you may have worked as a manager in one of the leading ice cream franchises in the country and you want to start your own.

Is there a certain problem (or perhaps, a set of problems) that your ice cream shop will try to solve? For example, the area where you want to operate may not have a full-service ice cream shop despite being located in a busy summer vacation area next to the shore.

But that’s not all! The market must be suitable for a business to exist and thrive. For instance, if you are trying to open a gelato foodtruck next to an already very successful and longstanding gelato ice cream shop, the business may not succeed. 

b) Business model

This section of the Business Overview should explain the model you want to adopt for your ice cream shop. For example:

• Will it be an independent or a franchise ice cream shop?
• Is this a seasonal or year-round business?
• Will it be a food truck or a brick-and-mortar location?
• Will you buy and remodel an existing ice cream shop, or will you have one built from the scratch?

c) Products

What ice cream products will you sell (Italian gelato vs. different flavors )? What additional products will you offer your customers to beat the competition (Milkshakes, sundaes, yogurt, etc.)? Will you have unique services ( custom-themed ice cream for events, outdoor catering, etc.)?

d) Target market

You need to define your target market to be able to sell to them. In other words: who is your ideal customer?

A few questions you must ask yourself is:

• How old are they?
• Are they families?
• Are they tourists or residents?

e) Pricing strategy

Your pricing strategy influences your key financials, so you must get it right. You don’t want to set prices so low that you almost run at a loss or so high that you alienate your target market.

We strongly recommend you include a pricing list here. While it may not be possible to provide a proper pricing table for all products that you will offer, it is still a great idea to provide a table that gives an overview of your pricing structure.

For example, you can provide an average price based on categories like shown below:

However, don’t go into extreme details here as you might lose investors’ interest. They just need the big picture to assess your business profitability: they will tie your pricing strategy with your financial projections later on. Keep details for the appendix instead.

f) Legal structure

Finally, your business overview section should specify what type of business structure you want. Is this a corporation or a partnership (LLC)? Who are the investors? How much equity percentage do they own? Is there a Board of Directors? If so, whom? Do they have experience in the industry?

3. Market Overview

A complete understanding of the market where you want to operate is important for the success of your business. That’s also something you must showcase in your business plan.

You must cover here 3 important areas:

• Industry size & growth : how big is the ice cream industry in your area? What is its growth rate (or decline rate) and what are the factors contributing to its growth or decline?
• Competition overview : how many competitors are there? How do they compare vs. your business? How can you differentiate yourself from them?
• Customer analysis : who is your target audience? What type of ice creams do they prefer? What is their average spend per order? How frequently do they visit an ice cream shop?

a) Industry size & growth

How big is the ice cream industry in the us.

The overall US ice cream market was valued at $13.3 billion in 2020 , and is projected to be $15.8 billion by 2027 . This includes ice cream shops, yet the biggest part is retail ice cream (the ice cream you buy in a store).

Within the overall US ice cream market, ice cream shops represents $5.1 billion in 2022 (so approximately 1/3 of the overall ice cream industry).

Moreover, there were approximately 11,000 ice cream shops in the US in 2022: that’s an average annual turnover of $430,000 per shop..!

How big is the ice cream shop industry in your area?

After getting a clear picture of the ice cream shop industry in the US as a whole, narrow down to your location. It’s very likely that you won’t find the number anywhere (at least not for free). In that case, you can use our guide to estimate the TAM, SAM, and SOM for your business.

Here is an example of how to do it:

We already know the average annual turnover per ice cream shop is $430,000. Therefore, if the location where you will operate has a total of 15 ice cream shops, the ice cream shop industry in the area is worth about $6.5 million.

Yet, be careful with averages too: for example, Minnesota is ranked one of the least US states where ice cream consumption is low . You can’t compare the sales you’ll make in a city in Minnesota to a city in California, the US state that consumes the largest amount of ice cream.  

How fast is the ice cream shop industry growing in your area?

We know the US ice cream shop industry has increased by 0.6% from 2017 to 2022 . But what about the area where you want to open your shop?

US national averages are a great addition to your business plan, yet they don’t necessarily help to assess the ice cream shop industry where you want to open your store.

As you likely won’t find this information online, you can instead rely on the number of ice cream shops in the location as a proxy for market growth.

For example, if your city had only 14 ice cream shops in 2019 and 15 in 2022, you can assume that the average annual growth rate of the industry is about 2%.

b) Competition Overview

You’ll learn a lot of business practices if you study your competition : How do they acquire and retain customers? Where are they located? What type of ice cream do they sell? Etc.

For a better understanding, you can use a SWOT analysis to compare your risks and rewards with the competition. Here’s an example :

c) Customer Overview

Here, you need to show whoever looks through your business plan that you understand your target audience’s needs and preferences.

For example, here are a few questions you must ask yourself:

• Who is your target audience (age, demographics, etc.)?
• How do they prefer to consume ice cream (on-the-go vs. sit-in)? What do they complement ice cream with (drinks, cakes, cookies, etc.)?
• What ice cream flavors they want the most?

4. Sales & Marketing Strategy

This is the section of your business plan where you outline your customer acquisition strategy. Try to answer here the following questions:

• What is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)?
• What are the different marketing strategies you will use?
• How do you intend to track the success of your marketing strategy?
• What is your CAC or customer acquisition cost?
• What is your marketing budget?
• What introductory promos and offers do you intend to provide for attracting new customers?

What marketing channels do ice cream shops use?

Even though ice cream sells itself, you still need to invest in marketing channels to increase sales. The standard marketing channels include:

• Billboards & signage
• Social media 
• Referral programs
• Partnerships with stores and restaurants
• Getting an ice cream truck to go to food festivals and public events
• Traditional media (radio and television) for franchises and chains

5. Management & People

You must address 2 things here:

• The management team and their experience/track record
• The organizational structure : different team members and who reports to whom?

Small businesses often fail because of managerial weaknesses. Thus, having a strong management team is vital. Highlight the experience and education of senior managers that you intend to hire to oversee your ice cream parlor.

Describe their duties, responsibilities, and roles. Also, highlight their previous experience and explain how they succeeded in their previous roles.

Organization Structure

Even if you haven’t already hired a pastry chef, bakery managers, shift leaders, serving staff, cooks, bakers, cashiers, and other relevant staff members, you must provide a chart of the organizational structure defining hierarchy and reporting lines.

Of course, the number of employees and their roles will vary greatly depending on the number of shops you operate, whether your ice cream parlor is independent of part of a franchise, and the concept (sit-in vs. takeaway vs. food truck).

6. Financial Plan

The financial plan is perhaps, with the executive summary, the most important section of any business plan for an ice cream shop.

Indeed, a solid financial plan tells lenders that your business is viable and can repay the loan you need from them. If you’re looking to raise equity from private investors, a solid financial plan will prove them your ice cream shop is an attractive investment.

There should be 2 sections to your financial plan section:

• The startup costs of your project (if you plan to start a new store, add a new location to your ice cream shop chain, etc.)
• The 5-year financial projections of your ice cream shop(s)

a) Startup Costs

Before we expand on 5-year financial projections in the following section, it’s always best practice to start with listing the startup costs of your project. For an ice cream shop, startup costs are all the expenses you incur before you start making sales. These expenses typically are:

• The acquisition of the real estate (if you buy)
• The lease deposit (if you rent)
• The renovation and equipment costs
• License & permits, business insurance, etc.

Of course, the startup costs depend on a number of factors, like the number of stores you plan to open, their size, the quality of the design and equipment, etc.

b) Financial Projections

In addition to startup costs, you will also need to build a solid 5-year financial model in the business plan of your ice cream shop.

Note that your financial projections should be built using a spreadsheet (e.g. Excel or Google Sheets) and presented in the form of tables and charts in your business plan.

As usual, keep it concise here and save details (for example detailed financial statements, financial metrics, key assumptions used for the projections) for the appendix instead.

Your financial projections should answer at least the following questions:

• How much revenue do you expect to generate over the next 5 years?
• When do you expect to break even?
• How much cash will you burn until you get there?
• What’s the impact of a change in pricing (say 10%) on your margins?
• What is your average customer acquisition cost?

You should include here your 3 financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement). This means you must forecast:

• The number of customers / orders over time ;
• Your expected revenue ;
• Operating costs to run the business ;
• Capex (cost to renovate / build your ice cream parlor, furniture and equipment, etc.)

When projecting your financials, make sure to sensitize sales volume (customers), pricing as well as the expenses (inventory, salaries, etc.). Indeed, a small change in these assumptions may have a significant impact on your revenues, and most importantly, your profits.

7. Use of Funds

This is the last section of the business plan of your ice cream shop. Now that we have explained what your business model is, what type of products you sell, how you get customers, etc., this section must now answer the following questions:

• How much funding do you need?
• What financial instrument(s) do you need: is this equity or debt, or even a free-money public grant?
• How long will this funding last?
• Where else does the money come from? If you apply for a SBA loan for example, where does the other part of the investment come from (your own capital, private investors?)

If you raise debt:

• What percentage of the total funding the loan represents?
• What is the corresponding Debt Service Coverage Ratio ?

If you raise equity

• What percentage ownership are you selling as part of this funding round?
• What is the corresponding valuation of your business?

Use of Funds

Any business plan for an ice cream shop should include a clear use of funds section. This is where you explain how the money will be spent.

Will you spend most of the loan / investment in paying your employees’ salaries and the COGS (inventory)? Or will it cover mostly the cost for acquiring the real estate and renovations?

For the use of funds, we also recommend using a pie chart like the one we have in our financial model template where we outline the main expenses categories as shown below.

Privacy Overview

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Ice Cream Shop business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Ice Cream Shop businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Ice Cream Shop business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Frostee Delights Shop is a startup ice cream company located in Nashville, Tennessee. The shop is founded by Janice Maynor, who has experience in operating an ice cream shop. Now, with the expertise of knowledge and business acumen, she has determined she can confidently start and effectively grow a successful ice cream shop. She believes her experience of strategic growth, marketing skills, financial capabilities, and wide and deep knowledge of ice cream making and selling will provide everything needed for long-term growth and profitability.

Frostee Delights Shop will provide a comprehensive array of ice creams, sherbets, frozen yogurt and other assorted frozen treats for a wide variety of clients. Frostee Delights Shop will be the premier ice cream shop, providing frozen and delicious products to each client while supporting the strategic goals of the shop. Frostee Delights Shop will be the ultimate choice in ice cream and frozen treats for clients to ensure that every need of the customer is fully and completely met.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Frostee Delights Shop will provide:

• A wide range of frozen dessert treats, including ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbets, nonfat frozen ice treats and Italian gelatos
• Ice cream cones in various configurations, including giant waffle cones, sweet tortilla cones, and specialty chocolate-dipped cones
• Nonfat and low fat frozen desserts
• Free “Today’s My Birthday!” ice cream cone
• Gluten-free waffle cones and gluten-free frozen treats
• Prepared Ice cream cakes in multiple sizes for pick-up
• Online “Speedy 15 Minute” express pick-up service
• Discount for orders over $40; Discount for parties and special events
• Free delivery on orders over $100

Customer Focus

Frosty Delights Shop will target all individuals within the greater Nashville area. They will target families, birthday party groups, and wedding parties. They will also target citywide businesses and government entities that occasionally host large groups. They will target schools with K-12 students, as well as city colleges and universities.

Management Team

Frostee Delights will be owned and operated by Janice Maynor. She recruited her former assistant manager, Donna LaCree, to be her shop operations manager and she recruited Tomas Lawinson to be her human resources manager.

Janice Maynor is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration. She began working part-time in an ice cream shop while in university and began managing a large nationally-owned ice cream shop upon graduation. She has been a manager for over ten years.

Donna LaCree is a graduate of Pine Community College, where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in business administration. She has worked with Janice Maynor as an assistant for over six years and will take on the role of operations manager in the startup company.

Tomas Lawinson has been a human resources manager for five years, working within a retail chain of stores to oversee employee hiring, human resource practices and procedures, and assist in management. He will become the human resources manager for the startup company.

Success Factors

Frostee Delights Shop will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team at the Frostee Delights Shop
• Comprehensive menu of ice cream and frozen treats with many specialty desserts to suit every consumer.
• Special discounts for large group orders.
• “Speedy 15-minute Express” for pick-up.
• Free delivery for orders over $100.
• Frostee Delights Shop offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Frostee Delights Shop is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its ice cream shop. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the shop space and purchasing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Shop space build-out: $20,000
• Equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for the Frostee Delights Shop.

Shop Overview

Who is frostee delights shop.

Frostee Delights Shop is a newly established, full-service ice cream shop in Nashville, Tennessee. Frostee Delights Shop will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and delicious choice for everyone in Nashville and the surrounding communities. Frostee Delights Shop will provide a comprehensive menu of ice cream and frozen dessert products for all individuals, families and parties to utilize. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive menu of ice cream flavors, specialty frozen desserts and ice cream cakes.

  Frostee Ice Cream Shop will offer a wide, delicious array of excellent ice cream treats, prepared with quality ingredients and expert precision. The team of “ice cream professionals” at the ice cream shop are highly-qualified and experienced in ice cream making and frozen dessert preparation. Frostee Delights Shop removes all headaches and issues of the hunt for excellent ice cream and frozen desserts and ensures all customer needs and desires for ice cream are deliciously met while delivering the best customer service.

Frostee Delights Shop History

The Frostee Delights Shop is owned and operated by Janice Maynor. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration. She began working part-time in an ice cream shop while in university and began managing a large, nationally-owned ice cream shop upon graduation. She has been a manager in the shop for over ten years. Customers have appreciated the care and attention Janice consistently offers and have determined to follow her to the new ice cream shop.

Since incorporation, Frostee Delights Shop has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Frostee Delights Shop, LLC to transact business in the state of Tennessee.
• Has a contract in place for a 10,000 square foot shop at one of the midtown buildings
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include Frostee Delights Shop in their online conversations.
• Began recruiting a staff of two and two office personnel to work at Frostee Delights Shop.

Frostee Delights Shop Services

The following will be the services Frostee Delights Shop will provide:

• Nonfat and lowfat frozen desserts

Industry Analysis

The ice cream shop industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $90,160 million. The growth will be driven by the increased interest of consumers and the wide variety of flavors and frozen desserts available. Global experimentation with flavors, cones and toppings has increased consumer interest and created repeat consumer business across the spectrum of cities and towns globally.

Costs will likely be reduced as technology and software are introduced to both speed the process of ice cream and frozen dessert preparation, as well as methods to enrich and improve the flavors and consumer offers that ice cream desserts can provide for consumers. In addition, software will be further utilized to process day-to-day operations more quickly and with greater efficiency, thereby reducing costs overall.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Frostee Delights Shop will target all individuals within the greater Nashville area. They will target families, birthday party groups, and wedding parties. They will also target citywide businesses and government entities that occasionally host large groups. They will target schools with K-12 students, as well as city colleges and universities.

Customer Segmentation

Frostee Delights Shop will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals seeking upmarket ice cream flavors and frozen desserts
• Individuals seeking specialty ice creams, such as gluten-free and sugar-free options
• Families and those celebrating special events
• Businesses, government entities and corporations
• Area colleges and universities

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Frostee Delights Shop will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor Shop is below.

Jack’s Ice Cream Shack

In 2000, Jack Howell began his ice cream business by renting a portable trailer that hitched to the back of his personal truck. Inside the trailer, he outfitted ice cream machines with various flavors and he arranged ice cream toppings to suit all tastes. Jack opened his mobile ice cream shack on the University of Tennessee campus and began a successful shack business. He now has seven mobile ice cream “shacks,” which are transported to sporting events, city gatherings, nearby tourist attractions and large parties.

Offering only three basic ice cream flavors; vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, Jack Howell depends on a wide variety of toppings to bring unique experiences to his customers. Cut fresh fruit, chocolate chips, gummy worms, and other fun toppings round out the ice cream flavors and bring repeat customers back to Jack’s shacks. The company recently franchised the model and concept nationally to a wide and receptive number of potential franchisees.

Sweet Libations!

Sweet Libations! is owned and operated by Noel Harding, who began the company in 2020 to serve customers who prefer ice cream and frozen yogurt in beverages of all kinds. The company has seen modest success to date by serving such favorites as Cold Press Ice Cream Coffee and Pineapple Frozen Fruit Punch. Sweet Libations! Is located in a mid-city retail area, where shoppers congregate and walk on a regular basis. Noel Harding managed a retail ice cream shop within the downtown Nashville area for over fifteen years before he opened this specialty beverage company. Customers primarily come from the surrounding retail and commercial companies in the city area.

The Hot & Spicy Delicacy Shop

The Hot & Spicy Delicacy Shop caters to consumers who love to experiment with distinctive flavors within gourmet foods. Although not a direct competitor, the shop pulls consumers from the mid-city area by offering quirky desserts and beverages that are not found in any other locations. For example, consumers can order a tasting menu of “Everything Chilies,” which contains glasses of chili pepper ice cream, chili pepper pie and chili pepper pressed juice. This quirky concept is appealing to tourists and others who enjoy distinctive flavors, but not all consumers will choose the experience. Many ice cream choices can be found nowhere else, which appeals to the discriminating consumer looking for an unusual experience. Tami Ray and Tommy Sanger have owned and operated this shop for almost twenty years.

Competitive Advantage

Frostee Delights Shop will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Frostee Delights Shop will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified team of skilled employees provides a customized ice cream or frozen treat cone for each individual
• Unbeatable pricing for clients; they will offer the lowest pricing in the city.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Frostee Delights Shop is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Frostee Delights Shop has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and expertise to former customers. The contacts and clients will follow the new startup by visiting, posting the visits online and talking about the shop to help spread the word of Frostee Delights Shop.

Professional Associations and Networking

Trade associations and networking in local and regional groups will be an immediate plan within the Frostee Delights team. Offers to get involved with charitable efforts or citywide events will be made, as each event and group may be potential customers and future business. Special discounts will be offered during the first 90 days of business.

Print Advertising

Two weeks before launch, all residents of Nashville will receive a special invitation to the launch of the Frostee Delights Shop, along with a gift card good for a free cone. In addition, the shop employees will visit companies and area businesses with free ice cream cones for employees to encourage new customers and business in the months ahead.

Website/SEO Marketing

Frostee Delights Shop will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the products that Frostee Delights Shop provides. Daily specials will be included. The website will also list their contact information and list their availability for large-order deliveries. The website will engage in SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “Ice Cream Shop ” or “Ice Cream near me,” the Frostee Delights Shop will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of the Frostee Delights Shop will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Frostee Delights Shop. Operation Functions:

• Janice Maynor will be the owner and President of the Shop. She will oversee all staff and manage client relations. She has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Debbie Perkins, as the Shop Assistant will manage the ordering, stocking and inventory of products and supplies for the shop.
• Beth Saylar, the new marketing manager, will provide all marketing for the Frostee Delights Shop, including digital and hard copy promotions.

Milestones:

Frostee Delights Shop will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease shop space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Frostee Delights Shop
• 6/1/202X – Finalize plans for Frostee Delights Shop customers
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Frostee Delights Shop
• 7/1/202X – Frostee Delights Shop opens its doors for business

Frostee Delights will be owned and operated by Janice Maynor. Janice Maynor is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration. She began working part-time in an ice cream shop while in university and began managing a large nationally-owned ice cream shop upon graduation. She has been a manager for over ten years.

Donna LaCree is a graduate of Pine Community College, where she earned her Associate of Arts degree in business administration. She has worked with Janice Maynor as an assistant in the ice cream shop for over six years and will take on the role of operations manager in the startup company.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Frostee Delights Shop are the fees they will charge to XXX for their services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff Frostee Delights Shop. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Frostee Delights Shop is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its XX. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Customers Per Month: 575
• Average Revenue per Month: $29,250
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, ice cream shop business plan faqs, what is an ice cream shop business plan.

An ice cream shop business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your ice cream shop business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections. You can easily complete your Ice Cream Shop business plan using our Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Ice Cream Shop Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of ice cream shop businesses, some examples include: Self serve ice cream shop, ice cream truck, and gourmet ice cream shop.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Ice Cream Shop Business Plan?

Ice Cream Shop businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start an Ice Cream Shop Business?

Starting an ice cream shop business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster. 1. Develop An Ice Cream Shop Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed ice cream shop business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your ice cream shop business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your ice cream shop business is in compliance with local laws. 3. Register Your Ice Cream Shop Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your ice cream shop business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your ice cream shop business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 7. Acquire Necessary Ice Cream Shop Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your ice cream shop business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your ice cream shop business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

Learn more about how to start a successful ice cream shop business:

• How to Start an Ice Cream Shop

Everything You Need to Know About Writing an Ice Cream Business Plan

Everything you need to know about writing an ice cream business plan. So, you want to start your own ice cream business – but how do you do that and make it a success? Enter the business plan. Every business starts with a business plan. A business plan is a roadmap that guides you through every aspect of your business. From what you will be selling? What your business model is? What will your marketing strategy be? How about management and operations strategy, financing, and growth? A business plan is every aspect of your proposed business set out and explained. It is what makes your business viable.

Despite the importance of a business plan research has found that just 20 percent of business owners even have a formal plan in place. In fact, only one in three business owners will even spend time focusing on their business’s growth. That’s right once you start your ice cream shop you need to grow its sales.

Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

In this post, I want to share everything you need to know about writing a business plan for opening a brick-and-mortar ice cream shop. I have written several business plans from scratch for my ice cream businesses. Some were needed for landlords. Some were needed for potential investors, and some were needed for visas. But most importantly, they helped me focus on how I would make my ice cream business a success.

Whilst I will focus on an ice cream shop business plan in this post, a lot of the principles will also apply just as well to an ice cream truck or even a wholesale ice cream business (selling ice cream to grocery stores).

So, let’s crack on – what do you need to know to write an ice cream business plan.

What Do You Need To Know To Write an Ice Cream Business Plan?

As a general rule, an ice cream business plan should be structured based on the below. The sections of a business plan should include:

• executive summary
• mission statement
• projected organizational growth
• company structure
• industry outlook
• key external drivers
• success factors
• marketing analysis summary
• sales forecast for 5 years
• works cited.

Why Write an Ice Cream Business Plan?

First, let’s look at the reasons you may want to write an ice cream business plan. There are three main reasons for writing a business plan for an ice cream shop:

Simply for yourself.

Lay out the plan and financial projections in writing so the path is as clear as possible in your head. After all, as the saying goes “ if you fail to prepare then prepare to fail “. This business plan can then act as a benchmark for you to follow for your business. From it, you can then assess what is working and what is not.

To secure financing to start or expand the ice cream business.

This is usually either to a bank for a bank loan or potentially to investors for investment.

For a potential landlord.

If you are currently looking for a lease, it may be an idea to put together a business plan to show any potential landlords. Landlords need to be confident that a potential tenant is going to make the rent every month before they will lease space to them. A comprehensive business plan could help secure a good commercial lease for an ice cream shop.

How to Write a Business Plan for an Ice Cream Business

I have owned ice cream businesses for the past decade, as well as having done an MBA. Drawing on my ice cream and business experience, here is the best way to lay out an ice cream shop business plan

Executive Summary

An Executive Summary is essentially a short summary of your business plan. It should tell someone in one page or less everything they need to know about your ice cream business without having to read the rest of the business plan. The Executive Summary will be the first part people will read – it is more for other people than for you. If it doesn’t capture them then potential landlords, lenders, or investors may not even bother to read the rest of it.

You want the executive summary to deliver a real punch as to why the ice cream business you are going to open will be wildly successful.

Your Executive Summary needs to include details about you, the ice cream concept, the business location, and the products and services that will be offered.

Try to keep the executive summary to less than one page.

Mission Statement

As a general rule, the Mission Statement is the purpose and value of your ice cream business. You want to try to make this as clear and concise as possible. The Mission Statement is your “ elevator pitch ” –  you know you end up in an elevator with a very important investor and you have 30 seconds to sell your ice cream concept before they have to get out of the elevator.

For example, is your proposed ice cream shop

• focused on children and located close to schools with a mission to bring smiles to as many kids’ faces as possible through delicious colorful ice cream? 
• the first keto ice cream concept developed in your area aimed at the 20–40-year-old demographic with your mission being to deliver keto options to the masses?
• focused on making plant-based vegan ice cream made from minimum ingredients but never compromising on flavor and taste. Your mission is simply to “make someone’s day better” from the way you make your ice cream, to your customer experience to how they feel hours later?
• focused on launching a healthier ice cream product with the aim of showing customers that ice cream can taste great as well as make you feel great.
• focused on creating artisanal and authentic Italian gelato made from high-end Italian ingredients and traditional Italian gelato recipes. Your mission is to show people what real Italian Gelato tastes like.

SPOILER ALERT, one of the above is one of my ice cream concepts.

You get the idea.

Projected Organizational Growth

The projected organizational growth breaks down the projected growth of the business. This is essentially your plan on how your business will grow its sales over a 5-year period. How will sales grow at your first ice cream shop? How are you going to increase sales? Do you plan on opening more ice cream stores or will you focus on turning the one location into the “it-spot”? These are all the types of things you will cover in the Projected Organization Growth section.

In this section, you should include the following:

• Overview of the five-year plan
• Growth year 1
• Growth year 2
• Growth year 3
• Growth year 4
• Growth year 5

Under each section, include a summary of any expansion plans, reinvestment plans, and if more team members are going to be taken on. Also, focus on how you plan on growing the business each year. Also, talk about what role you as the owner will take each year (it may be that in the first year or two you plan in being very hands-on with the intention of hiring a manager at year three for example).

You should also include any marketing strategies you have for years, as well as how many forms of expansion are going to be funded.

Company Structure

In the company structure section, you should provide an overview of yourself the owner (plus any business partners you have).

This is the section where you really get to talk about yourself. In this section, you will want to detail all your achievements, qualifications, and experience. Also, make sure to really highlight any business experience you have had to date.

Finally, include a bit about why you are so passionate about starting this ice cream business and how you will ensure it will be a success.

Staff structure

This section also includes a table detailing how many staff you plan on having in years 1-5. It should be broken down into managerial roles, part-time and full-time. It would also be a good idea to include estimated pay here (research if there are any minimum wage increases planned where you live) and what you expect payroll to be year-to-year.

Industry Outlook

As a general rule, the industry outlook section looks at the specific business sector you are entering. In the case of an ice cream shop, you will want to look at what the ice cream shop industry is like generally as well as in your local geographic market.

Include the size and predicted growth of the ice cream industry. Make sure to use very credible references for these figures and reference them in the works cited section at the end of the business plan. Include the size and predicated growth of your ice cream niche (if applicable and if you can find the figures).

For example, if your “ice cream” is dairy-free then include figures of the size and growth of the dairy-free frozen dessert market.

Geographic Data

This is also a good section to include any data on the market you want to launch your ice cream in. Include here any demographic data relevant to your ice cream niche. Specific data on other ice cream shops in the area including any idea of sales, staffing, locations, rent, etc. are all essential pieces of information here.

Your geographic market will be the one that your ice cream store is specifically targeting. It is the furthest you think a customer will regularly travel to come to your store. The keyword here is regularly. For example, if you open an ice cream store in Beverly Hills your geographic market will most likely be confined to Beverly Hills and not the whole of Los Angeles.

Market Trends

Finally include a section on the current market trend within the ice cream industry and how your proposed ice cream shop is capitalizing on it. You can easily get market reports on industry trends from reports such as Mintel or IBISWorld . If you cannot access these your local library should be able to help.

Key External Drivers

In key external drivers, examine any external factors that will help ensure your ice cream business’s success. If your ice cream concept is there any changing or increasing trends on which you want to focus your ice cream business.

For example, will you make healthier ice cream to take advantage of the continuing movement toward health-conscious eating? Or will you design your ice cream and your location completely around being as TikTok friendly as possible? Both examples of growth factors that are driving customers’ actions separate from ice cream.

Also, what is the current consumer sentiment index? Are consumers’ discretionary spend forecasted to grow? Even if it isn’t, is worth referencing those smaller spend luxuries, like ice cream, tend to fare quite well even during harder economic times.

The aim of this section is to show that your business can take advantage of market trends and isn’t going to be an outdated or out-of-trend concept.

Success Factors

In the success factors section, list out all the reasons why “your” ice cream business is going to be a success. Some example success factors include the following:

• first-mover advantage (if launching a new ice cream concept).
• having a clear market position.
• production of a premium product.
• providing first-class customer service and experience.
• potential to the franchise.
• effective cost controls.
• stores in high-profile locations.

Marketing Analysis Summary

Market segmentation is all about who is your ice cream product aimed at (gender, interest, age range, location) and why you think that group of people will buy it. For example, it may be health-conscious females aged 20-40 (if your ice cream concept is a healthier one). It may alternatively be young children who want a colorful treat after school. You get the idea.

Target Segment Strategy

If you have already secured a lease for your ice cream business then see if you can get some data on the population, average age, and average income of the demographics in the areas.

Marketing Strategies

In this section, you will need to break down all the different ways you intend on gaining customers. Some examples are the following:

• Securing high-profile locations with high footfall.
• PR and editorials.
• Community partnering.
• Social media strategy.
• Advertising.

Competition

If you have already secured your lease, it is worth evaluating the competition in this section. What other ice creams and frozen yogurt stores are near your location?

Competitive advantage

This section look at how your ice cream offering offers a competitive advantage over the competitors in the area. What makes you different? What is your “Unique Selling Point”? Why will people come to you to buy ice cream?

Sales Forecast for 5 Years

A 5-year sales forecast is one of the most important parts of your business plan. This will be especially the case if you are presenting your business plan to potential, investors, landlords, or banks. Unfortunately, it is also the part that a lot of small business owners turn their heads away from. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.

A sales forecast can be one of the best ways of giving you a benchmark on how your business is doing financially. It also sets out specifically what you think your growing costs, expenses, and sales should be over a given period.

Sale Forecast Essential Figures

As a general rule, $1k a day in sales for a small ice cream shop is a good initial first-year sales to aim for. In terms of expenses, the following are the approximate percentages for each ice cream shop expense (before financing – if you plan on taking out a bank loan then include the repayments too).

A good net profit percentage to aim for is 10%-20%.

2-5 Year Predicted Sales

Once you have put together your first year predicted sales, you will have to then put together your 2-5 year predicted sales. For these years you will have to account for the following:

• Annual sales growth for the store (a 5-10% annual growth is a pretty good figure to aim for).
• Any expansion plans (e.g., any plans to open further stores).
• Inflation for some of your expenses.
• Any rent increases (commercial rent tends to go up by a small amount every year according to the terms of the lease).
• Any wage increases for team members and any new hires.

Before you write this section, I suggest reading my dedicated post on Ice Cream Shop Profits where I go into detail on understanding an ice cream shop P&L. You can read it here: Ice Cream Shop Profits – How To Run A Profitable Ice Cream Shop .

Or is your business plan for an ice cream truck? No problem – I wrote a dedicated post for Ice Cream Truck finances here: How Profitable Is An Ice Cream Truck ?

Works Cited

In the works cited section just make you properly cite any resources used in your business plan. Make sure to properly credit and source all pieces of information you used. Someone should be able to easily find any reference materials from this section.

The more credible the resource the better.

Everything You Need to Know About Writing an Ice Cream Business Plan – The Final Lick

Everything you need to know about writing an ice cream business plan. What have we learned in this post? Well, despite the fact that most business owners do not write a business plan, let alone update them regularly – writing a business plan is essential.

In my experience, you really need to write two sets of business plans. The first will be designed for people outside of the business – potential investors, lenders, landlords, etc. The second is just for you. Why have two separate plans? Well, whilst yes, there will be a lot of overlapping information in both – a business plan aimed just at you is meant to be a strategic document you look at weekly. It is meant to guide your business decisions. It is meant to show you what is working in your business and what isn’t.

For example, by comparing your forecasted accounts against your current accounts you immediately have a benchmark to see how your business is doing. Likewise, stuck on marketing, or are your planned marketing strategies even working? Having a business plan which details what you plan to do and what you are doing lets you immediately know what to double down on and what to stop marketing-wise.

Write a business plan you will use

I have written a lot of business plans. I have spent days writing some which are then only thrown into a drawer or saved on a computer to never see the light of day again. This is not the purpose of a business plan. It is meant to be your business’s playbook. A guide for your day-to-day decisions. It should be something you look at weekly. It should be something that helps you grow your ice cream business.

Whatever you write – even if it doesn’t have all of the above in it, make sure it is something that YOU can use in YOUR business.

Time To Learn Some More

Want to learn more on your path to ice cream entrepreneur success. Then check out some of my other articles.

• What Are the Challenges In An Ice Cream Business
• How Do I Start My Own Ice Cream Business
• Ice Cream Shop Profits – How To Run A Profitable Ice Cream Shop
• How Much Does It Cost To Start An Ice Cream Truck
• How Much Does It Cost To Start An Ice Cream Shop
• Ice Cream Shop Accounting – Everything You Need To Know
• Can I Make Ice Cream At Home And Sell It
• What Are the Different Types of Frozen Desserts?
• Is Vegan Ice Cream Profitable
• What Equipment Do I Need For My Ice Cream Truck
• How To Pick A Generator For Your Ice Cream Truck
• How Profitable Is An Ice Cream Truck?
• Everything You Need To Know About Working In An Ice Cream Shop
• Everything You Need To Know About Rolled Ice Cream
• Everything You Need To Know About Soft Serve Ice Cream
• Vegan “Ice Cream”
• Everything You Need To Know About Batch Freezers
• What Equipment Do You Need For An Ice Cream Shop
• What Supplies Do You Need For An Ice Cream Shop
• What Is The Best Location For An Ice Cream Shop
• How To Open An Ice Cream Shop
• How To Start An Ice Cream Truck
• Do Ice Cream Shops Make Money in the Winter
• How To Make An Ice Cream Shop Stand Out
• How Do You Become An Ice Cream Distributor
• Everything You Need To Know About Ice Cream Delivery Apps
• Everything You Need To Know About Gluten-Free Ice Cream and Toppings
• What is the Mark-Up on Ice Cream?
• What Scoopers Do Ice Cream Shops Use?
• What Are the Best Toppings and Sauces for Ice Cream?

Chilled Startup Team

Since 2012, the Chilled Startup team has been in the ice cream business. From creating retail store ice cream concepts from scratch to ice cream trucks to selling ice cream pints wholesale to grocery store outlets to private and public events. We have even set up vegan and plant-based ice cream concepts. The ice cream business is one we understand inside and out.

Learn more with these similar posts

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Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template​

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To ensure your ice cream shop business success in this highly competitive market, you need a properly structured ice cream business plan. With over 12 years of experience, we have helped over 5,000 entrepreneurs create business plans to start and grow their ice cream shop businesses. If this is your first time writing a business plan, we’ll walk you through these sections and give you some key things to consider.

Things to Know Before Writing an Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

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Ice Cream Store operators offer customers a range of frozen desserts, such as ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, as well as a range of toppings, such as crushed candy or syrups.

The revenue of ice cream store operators is expected to grow over the next 3 years.

Consumers are predicted to continue choosing healthier dessert options over ice cream and gelato over the 3 years to 2025, as per capita disposable income is expected to increase by 2.5%.

Additionally, industry operators will offer healthier options, leading consumers to spend more at industry establishments. Industry revenue is expected to grow an annualized 1.4% during the period to reach $5.4 billion.

This industry’s major products and services include

• frozen desserts
• Ice cream sold over the counter
• Iced beverages served at a counter
• Ice cream and beverages are served at a drive-through
• Ice cream and beverages served at walk-up windows, through delivery and others

Despite the challenges of the ice cream industry, We have identified five factors that can help you boost profitability, efficiency, and ultimately success.

Premium goods and services: Operators who sell premium and specialty ice cream often earn higher profits.

Supplies of key inputs: Ice cream does not have a long shelf life, and ice cream kept in a freezer for too long burns, so a steady supply is essential to maintain quality.

Access to the appropriate land/property: Some models of service, such as walk-up windows and drive-through windows, require specific types of properties.

Effective cost controls: It is critical for industry operators to keep input costs low if they wish to achieve higher profit margins. 

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The primary goal of this ice cream shop business plan is to outline the parameters under which the principals will continue to build, develop, and operate an ice cream shop in a prominent location.

A solid, comprehensive plan will serve as a road map for the next three to five years of the ice cream shop business. Any bank or investor you approach will require an ice cream shop business plan, so putting one together will be critical to securing funding.

In short, writing a business plan can help you succeed if you’re thinking of starting an ice cream shop business or pitching to investors or venture capitalists.

You can stay current with market trends by developing an ice cream shop business plan. In addition, it lets you track results over time, test lead generation strategies, and develop new marketing approaches.

Ice cream shop owners who have a business plan grow 30% faster than those who don’t, and 71% of fast-growing businesses have a business plan.

The following is what a good ice cream shop business plan will show you:

• Where you are right now
• What you want to achieve
• How will you get there
• How will you measure your success
• Where and when to make corrections

An ice cream shop business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

The main sources of funding for an ice cream shop business are personal savings, credit cards, microloan program, merchant cash advances and bank loans. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay the loan and interest.

To gain this confidence, the loan officer will not only look at your financials but they will also demand a professional business plan. A well-developed business plan will ensure that they are confident that you can successfully run a business.

Looking to Build Business Credit for Your Ice Cream Shop?

Build your business credit quickly with an easy approval net 30 account from Wise Business Plans. Or check out the top 10 net 30 vendors to find the best one for you to help build your business credit .

To write an ice cream shop business plan, you don’t need to be an expert. Our step-by-step guide will show you how to write an ice cream shop business plan, or you can just download our proven  sample business plans  to get a better idea.

Download our Ice Cream Shop business plan in PDF and Word here.

The executive summary is the most important part of the document since it outlines the whole business plan. Despite the fact that it appears first in the plan, write the executive summary last so you may condense key concepts from the other nine parts.

It’s a part that catches the investor’s eye and provides key information about your company’s overview and upcoming short- and long-term goals.

Tell them what kind of ice cream shop business you have and what stage you’re in; for example, are you a startup, do you have an ice cream shop company that you want to expand, or do you have a lot of ice cream shop businesses?

Finally, an executive summary should provide investors with a preview of what they may expect from the rest of your document.

• Provide a high-level overview of the ice cream shop industry
• The name, location, and mission of your ice cream shop company
• A description of your ice cream shop business, including management, advisors, and a brief history
• Discuss the type of ice cream shop business you are operating, Give an overview of your target customers, and how your company differs from competitors in the industry
• Create a marketing plan that describes your company’s marketing strategies, sales, and partnership plans.
• And give an overview of your financial plan

Check out these executive summary examples to help you write a perfect one for your ice cream shop business plan.

Free: Executive Summary Examples

An executive summary is the most important part of your business plan, and it need not be challenging to write. This is why we have put together some awesome free Executive Summary examples for you.

The company analysis follows the executive summary as the second section of an ice cream shop business plan. Your company overview will be short and clear, similar to the executive summary.

Even if they just have a few minutes, your reader has to understand what your company does and who your customers are.

The following sections will be included in your business plan’s Company Analysis:

• Company summary: Your company analysis will describe the type of ice cream shop business you are running and its future goals. The type of ice cream shop business you might be focused on ( Self serve ice cream shop, Ice cream truck and Gourmet ice cream shop etc)
• Company history: When and why did you start your ice cream shop business?
• What milestones have you achieved so far? Your milestones could include sales goals achieved, new store openings, etc.
• Legal structure and ownership: Do you have S-Corp status? Is it an LLC ? A sole proprietorship ? Describe your legal structure.
• Mission statement: An overview of your ice cream shop’s guiding principles. Learn how to write a perfect mission statement

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You need to include an overview of the ice cream shop business in the industry analysis you performed before sitting down to write your ice cream shop business plan.

While this research may appear to be unnecessary, it helps you to build strategies that maximize business opportunities while lowering or avoiding the identified risk.

Furthermore, market research can improve your strategy, especially if it identifies market trends. As an example, If there’s a trend toward ice cream flavor combo, it’s a good idea to make sure your plan includes plenty of ice cream flavor combos.

The third purpose for conducting market research is to demonstrate to readers that you are an industry expert.

Industry analysis can be presented as a 8-step process when written as part of a company’s business plan.

• Give a quick overview of the ice cream shop industry. Define the ice cream shop business in terms of size (in dollars), historical background, service region, and products.
• Examine previous trends and growth patterns in the ice cream shop industry.
• Identify the market’s major competitors.
• Age, gender, and general lifestyle of the targeted market
• Determine the factors that have an impact on the ice cream shop industry. These might include government regulatory rules and other businesses’ competitive activities.
• Using research data, the industry forecast expected growth over the next five to ten years. Predictions should be made for both the long and short term.
• Describe how your ice cream shop business intends to position itself in the industry. Concentrate on how your ice cream shop can benefit from opportunities highlighted in the industry.

The first condition for an ice cream shop business is to identify its target customers clearly. Customers can be categorized into the following segments: Students, Children, Parents, Restaurateurs, Teenagers, Families, 

The customer analysis section is an important part of any ice cream shop business plan since it evaluates the consumer segments that your company serves. It identifies target customers, determines what those customers want, and then explains how the products will meet those requirements.

Customer analysis may be divided into two parts: Psychosocial profiles and Demographic profiles .

With regards to demographics, include information about: the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of your customers. When targeting businesses, describe what kind of business, size, and location your target customers are.

The psychological profiles of your target clients reveal their wants and needs. The better you understand and identify these demands, the better your chances of attracting and retaining customers will be.

Free: Business Plan Examples

Do you need help creating a business plan? Check out these six free, proven business plan examples from different industries to help you write your own.

Who are the main competitors in your target market, and what makes them your main competition? How will you beat them? Use competitor analysis to:

• Identify the strength and weakness of your ice cream shop business competitors.
• Search for opportunities to distinguish your ice cream shop company from competitors.

The first step is to determine who your direct and indirect competitors are.

The direct competitors consists of other ice cream shop businesses. These are alternatives to direct competitors that customers have.

Customers have other options for purchasing from indirect competitors than direct competitors. Grocery stores, convenience stores, and ice cream vending machines or kiosks are examples of this. You must mention such competition to demonstrate that you recognize that not everyone who wants ice cream will go to an ice cream shop.

When it comes to direct competition, you should describe the other ice cream shop businesses you compete with. It is most likely that your direct competitors will be ice cream shops located nearby.

Once you’ve identified the competition, concentrate on the direct, head-to-head competitors, since they are the most threatening to your ice cream shop business— but keep an eye on the indirect competition as well, just in case.

Provide an overview of each direct competitor’s business and detail their strengths and weaknesses.

You will be able to position yourself competitively in the market if you perform proper competition research. Perform a SWOT Analysis to learn your competitors’ strengths, weaknesses, and competitive advantages in the following areas:

• Prices – Are they offer cheaper ice cream products or more costly than you and other competitors, what value do buyers get for that price?
• Quality – Are they offer better quality ice creams, the perceived worth in the eyes of the customers
• Customer service – How they respond to their consumers, whether they treat them poorly or well, and the degrees of satisfaction customers show
• Reputation — The sum of everything mentioned above: their credibility, how loved the brand is, and the loyalty of their customers

The final section of your competitive analysis should include a list of your areas of competitive advantage. for example: Are you going to offer premium ice creams? Will you offer unique ice cream products that your competitors don’t offer? Will you offer better pricing or will you offer greater customer support?

Consider how you will outperform your competitors and include them in this portion of your ice cream shop business plan.

Free: SWOT Analysis Examples

Take advantage of our free SWOT analysis examples. Make your business future-proof by identifying your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats using this free SWOT Analysis Template.

Creating a marketing plan for an ice cream shop business involves identifying the target demographic and finding ice cream products that suit their preferences.

As part of your marketing plan for an ice cream company, you should include:

Pricing and Product Strategy

Your ice cream shop business must offer ice cream’s flavor that are different from those of your competitors, better in quality and taste and affordable in price. Research what your competitors offer and how they price their ice creams products. Unique and quality products identifies your ice cream shop business as the place to go for unique ice cream products and differentiates it from others.

Placing and Promotions

Place refers to where you have your ice cream shop. Highlight how the location will affect your success. Where is your ice cream shop located, for instance, in a busy retail district, shopping plaza, mall, etc? Consider how your location might generate a steady stream of customers

Promoting your ice cream shop business is the final part of your marketing plan. In this step, you document how you will drive customers to purchase your ice cream shop business business. A few marketing methods you could consider are:

• Adding extra appeal to your ice cream shop’s storefront to attract passing customers
• Marketing on social media
• Advertise in local papers, magazines, and on the web
• Placing banner ads at local venues

You should also think about your ice cream’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP), which should explain why clients should choose you over other ice cream businesses. Ensure that your USP is reflected in your marketing.

Recommended Resources: Are you writing an ice cream shop business plan yourself? this guide on how to write a marketing plan in a business plan can help you in creating a successful business plan.

While the previous sections of your ice cream shop business plan described your goals, your operations plan discusses how you will achieve them.

An operational plan in business plan is helpful for investors, but it’s also helpful for you and employees because it pushes you to think about tactics and deadlines.

Your operations plan should be divided into two individual parts, as seen below.

Everyday short-term processes include all aspects of running your ice cream shop, such as making ice cream, serving customers, and maintaining equipment.

Long-term goals are milestones you hope to reach. It may be the date when you expect to serve your 1000th customer or when you hope to reach $X in sales. Another example would be when you expect to hire your Xth employee or start a new location or service.

A strong management team is necessary to demonstrate your ice cream shop’s ability to succeed as a business. Highlight the backgrounds of your key players, emphasizing the skills and experiences that demonstrate their ability to grow a business.

You and/or your team members should ideally have prior experience working in an ice cream shop. If so, emphasize your knowledge and experience. However, you should emphasize any experience that you believe will help your ice cream shop business succeed.

Consider forming an advisory board if your team is lacking. An advisory board would consist of 2 to 8 people who would act as mentors to your company. They would assist in answering questions and providing strategic direction. If necessary, seek out advisory board members with experience running ice cream shop and/or retail and small businesses. 

Suggested Resources: This guide on how to write a management team section in a business plan can help you to create a winning ice cream shop business plan.

As part of your financial plan, you should present a 5-year financial statement broken down monthly or quarterly for the first year, and then annually. Financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.

Income Statement

A profit and loss statement is more commonly called an income statement . It shows your revenue and subtracts your expenses to determine whether you were profitable or not.

As you develop your income statement, you need to develop assumptions. For instance, Will sales grow by 2% or 11% per year? Your choice of assumptions will greatly impact your business’s financial forecasts. Conduct as much research as possible in order to ground your assumptions in reality.

Free: Income Statement Template

Create a financial statement for your business by downloading our free income statement templates.

Balance Sheet

While balance sheets include much information, to simplify them to the key items you need to know about, balance sheets show your assets and liabilities.

The balance sheet shows your ice cream shop business’s net value at a specific point in time. It categorizes all of your company’s financial data into three categories:

• Assets: Tangible goods with the monetary worth that the company owns.
• Liabilities: Debt owing to a company’s creditor.
• Equity: The net difference when the total liabilities are subtracted from the total assets.

The equation that expresses the relationship between these financial data elements is Assets = Liabilities + Equity.

Create a pro forma balance sheet for your ice cream shop business plan that highlights the information in the income statement and cash flow projections. A balance sheet is normally prepared once a year by a company.

Balance sheets indicate your assets and liabilities, and while they contain a lot of information, they are simplified to highlight the most important things you need to know.

For example, spending $100,000 to build out your ice cream shop business will not result in instant revenues. Rather, it is an asset that should help you earn money for many years to come.

Similarly, if a bank write you a check for $60,000, you do not have to pay it back right now. Rather, that is a liability that you will repay over time.

Cash Flow Statement:

Your cash flow statement will help you determine how much money you need to start or grow your ice cream shop business. In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing an ice cream shop business:

• Cost of equipment like blenders, refrigerators, etc.
• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of fixtures like tables, chairs, a menu board, etc.
• Cost of ingredients and maintaining an adequate amount of supplies
• Taxes and permits
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Legal expenses
• Business insurance

Pro Tips: If your are a DIY business plan write, this guide on how to write a financial plan in a business plan might be helpful for you.

Free: Balance Sheet Template

Create a financial statement for your business by downloading our free balance sheet templates.

List any additional material you cannot include elsewhere, such as resumes from key employees, licenses, equipment leases, permits, patents, receipts, bank statements, contracts, and personal and business credit histories.

Attach your full financial projections along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling in the appendix.

Bonus Tip: Here is a step by step guide on what to include in a business plan appendix

An ice cream shop business plan is a worthwhile investment. As long as you follow the template above, you will become an expert in no time. By following the template, you will understand the ice cream shop business, your competition, and your customers. The plan will help you understand the steps necessary to launch and grow your ice cream shop business.

Wouldn’t it be nice if your business plan could be completed faster and easier?

With wise business plans Business Plan Template , you can finish your ice cream shop business plan in just 6 hours or less with a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

OR, we can create your ice cream shop business plan for you

Since 2010, Wise business plans’ ice cream shop business plan writers has developed business plans for thousands of companies that have experienced tremendous success.

We will show you some real-world business plan examples so you may know how to write your own, especially if you are seeking a bank loan or an outside investment and need to use SBA-approved formatting.

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• Business Plans Handbook
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• Ice Cream Shop Business Plan

Ice Cream Shop

BUSINESS PLAN

FRAN'S ICE

Davis Plaza Regional Mall 19 Orchard Avenue Davis, CA 95616

January 1996

This business plan details a franchise ice cream shop located in a California shopping center. Fran's Ice anticipates continued success due to its superb location, diverse menu, and well-known quality product

• TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Executive summary.

• DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Development timetable, principals' profiles, financial information.

The purpose of this business plan is to outline the parameters under which the principals will pursue the construction, development and operation of a franchised Fran's Ice Cream Shoppe in a key location at the mall entrance to the food court of Davis Plaza, a successful, dominant, super regional shopping center in metropolitan Woodland - Sacramento.

Davis Plaza's management company, Martin Richardson and the franchisor, the Fran's Ice Shoppe Company, Inc., are optimistic and enthusiastic about locating a high-volume shop within Davis Plaza.

Martin Richardson, The Fran's Ice Shoppe Company, Inc., and the franchisees, Augustus and Cheryl Dwyer, are all confident that this Fran's shop will be successful among the other national stores already committed to doing business in Davis Plaza.

The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis (franchisee), will construct, develop and operate a licensed franchised ice cream dipping shop of The Fran's Ice Shoppe Company, Inc. (franchisor). This single retail dipping shop will sell Fran's ice cream and related products, all manufactured by the franchisor under its name.

Revenue will be primarily from the sale of hand-dipped ice cream and related products consumed within Davis Plaza. Franchisees will also sell ice cream cakes, traditional gourmet cakes, birthday cakes and Cola products. Sales are anticipated to be $360,000 in the first year and to increase at an average annual rate of 4% per year in the first five years of operation.

The franchise will be located in Davis Plaza in Davis, California. Because of its location in the center of the Woodland - Sacramento areas, Davis Plaza serves many communities and is commonly considered the Tri-Cities' premier retail facility. Davis Plaza, which opened in 1968, is a two-level, enclosed regional shopping center containing a total of 1.2 million square feet and 200 stores, shops and food service establishments. The Plaza is anchored by Hank's, B.P.'s, and Westbury's. Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis will be located in "The Outdoorum" which is Davis Plaza's 40,000 square foot food court containing 17 food service establishments including Cheese Pleese, Beefeaters, and Sweet Dreams.

Franchisee's primary customers will be drawn from Davis Plaza's 1994 trade area population of over 853,000 people, which is projected to reach 940,000 people by 1999. Customers shopping The Plaza will purchase Fran's handdipped ice cream and other products on an impulse basis during their shopping trip, or as a dessert treat upon completing a meal at The Outdoorum. Franchisee also anticipates that many patrons will make the shop their primary destination due to name recognition and product quality. Except for a small Earl's Ice Cream Shop and a Frozen Treat selling soft serve vanilla only, there is no other competition within Davis Plaza, and no outside competition within 2 miles of The Plaza.

The principals will be managing their own shop. Augustus Dwyer will be the hands-on manager for daily operations. Cheryl Dwyer will retain her present position as a nurse clinician for J. Landers, but will assist with her employee management and accounting skills. In addition, approximately six to ten school and/or college students will be hired to work shifts during peak sales periods. Other part-time employees may be hired on an "as needed" basis for special projects such as cake decorating, preparing large orders for caterers and servicing of other special functions.

Project costs are projected to be $250,000 which includes leasehold improvements (build out of the shop), equipment purchases, opening inventory, and working capital needs. This amount does not include the $35,000 franchise fee, $3500 Fran's grand opening contribution, or $7870 cost of architect's plans for the store which Gus and Cheryl Dwyer have already invested in this business from their own funds. The principals are seeking to finance the remainder of this project through a local lending institution using the assistance of a Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantee, with an agreement that allows for loan repayment over 10 years.

Based on a preliminary timetable it is anticipated that the shop will be operational for business no later than April, 1, 1996.

Other Noteworthy Facts:

• A 2.5 gallon tub of ice cream from Fran's costs $29.00 ($11.60 gal.)
• From a 2.5 gallon tub come 724 oz. scoops which sell for from $1.50 to $l.95 a scoop. Therefore a tub will sell for $108 to $140.
• Average ticket for a Fran's shop runs around $2.30.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS/OBJECTIVES

The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Montclair (Shoppe), will be a franchised operation of The Fran's Ice Shoppe Company, Inc. licensed to sell Fran's ice cream and related products. The Fran's name has been associated with the ice cream business since 1961. The Company manufactures a large and growing volume of Fran's products which it distributes through a variety of channels. The ice cream ordinarily is not sold for retail dipping except to franchised dipping shops.

The Franchisor is Connecticut Corporation, with principal offices in New Haven, C.T. The ultimate parent of the company is Drake PLC, a public corporation listed on the London Stock Exchange, via ownership of The Harley Company.

Franchisees have been granted a license to sell certain ice cream products under the Fran's name since 1977, although the franchisor has been conducting a business of the type operated by the franchisee since 1983. Affiliates of the franchisor are actively engaged in various other sectors of the food service industry, including fast service restaurants, theme restaurants, food service supply business, institutional and retail food production, distribution and sales and food commodity transactions.

The main items for sale will be hand dipped ice cream and yogurt cups/cones, sundaes finished with a variety of toppings such as hot fudge, caramel, butterscotch or fruit, banana splits shakes malts, and ice cream sodas and floats. Most of these items will be consumed immediately on the premises. Davis Plaza provides extensive indoor seating for the food court customers.

In addition to hand-dipped ice cream sales, the Shoppe anticipates doing a material business in the sale of both ice cream cakes and gourmet traditional cakes and birthday cakes. These cakes will be displayed for immediate sale at all times during business hours and can also be produced in quantity on a special order basis for caterers and parties. Phenomenal foot traffic in the plaza and employees from the 200 shops in the mall can support a lucrative cake business for the Shoppe.

The goals and objectives of The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis are as follows:

"To deliver a quality product in a consistent, courteous and timely manner in order to have the customer return again for another satisfying, flavorsome treat, while at the same time earning a reasonable return on the initial investment"

The principals believe that for an organization to be successful, the organization must ensure that the customer continues to return to purchase the product, again and again. One way to ensure repeat business is to provide consistency in both the product and service. Fran's product speaks for itself; the service our Shoppe provides will be a function of training, evaluation, and retraining in order to deliver it courteously and in a timely manner.

In order to earn a reasonable return on the investment, along with the ability to repay debt, strict cost-control measures will be implemented. These measures will include, among others, proper and prudent purchasing practices, maximization of product distribution through strict adherence to weights, amounts and recipes (portion control), effective utilization of personnel, and the constant search for ways to reduce the cost of sales of our products without sacrificing quality and service.

In summary, the principals are committed to ensuring that this operation is successful.

The purchase of hand-dipped ice cream and related products is basically an impulse-type purchase by a consumer relating to one of the following stimuli:

• Passing by the Shoppe on the way to another destination,
• Visual contact with the Shoppe's signs,
• Observing someone else consuming one of the Shoppe's products,
• The final course (dessert) after a meal has been consumed elsewhere.

Locating the Shoppe in Davis Plaza gives the business the opportunity to take advantage of all of the above mentioned ways which motivate the consumer to purchase the products offered.

Passing by on the Way to Another Destination

Davis Plaza is comprised of the best known, nationally recognized retail stores and outlets. The unique blend of these operations draws a large cross section of the population to the Plaza to shop for a variety of goods and services. The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis will be a 556 square foot store located at the entrance to the food court of the mall. It is on the second level, right across from the main escalators carrying shoppers from the lower to the second level. It is between the main parking structure and B.P.'s, requiring all B.P.'s patrons entering from the main parking structure to pass directly in from of the Shoppe on their way to B.P.'s. The Shoppe is well within walking distance from anywhere in Davis Plaza in five minutes or less. Because of its location, many patrons of the Plaza will pass by the Shoppe on the way to and from another store, making it convenient for an impulse purchase.

Visual Contact from the Shoppe's Sign

Signage is planned for the Shoppe in two locations. Large, colorful neon signs will be located over the dipping cabinets, making them visible from both the food court and from down the mall. Since the Shoppe will be in a corner location, the Shoppe will be visible from several directions in the "I" shaped mall. There is also an opening to below directly in front of the Shoppe, allowing visibility to patrons on the lower level. The location for the Shoppe has the greatest amount of foot traffic in front of it than any other food service in Davis Plaza.

Observing Someone Else Consuming One of the Products

As previously mentioned, the Shop's products more than likely will be consumed on or nearby the premises. The fact that Davis Plaza is enclosed and self-contained will make Fran's products very visible to many shoppers, particularly since all products will be served in containers that display the Fran's logo.

The Final Course (Dessert) After a Meal has been Consumed Elsewhere

In addition to the tremendous foot traffic generated by the major department stores and numerous nationally renowned shops surrounding The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis, the Shoppe is to be located at die entrance to The Outdoorum, the Plaza's food court. The food court houses 17 places to eat. The Shoppe can be seen from anywhere in the food court, making it a likely destination for a dessert treat following a meal for the entire family. The Shoppe will have two 3-foot wide, 4-shelf display cases for cakes. One 3-foot display will be for frozen ice cream cakes, and the other will be refrigerated for display of traditional gourmet cakes and gourmet birthday cakes. The principals believe that tremendous potential exists for the sale of birthday cakes in the Plaza since many gifts are purchased there and no competition exists for these items in the Plaza.

An additional marketing strategy of the Shoppe will be sales generated from freezer carts bearing the Fran's logo and colors off site from Davis Plaza. There are many fairs, festivals and parties within the Shoppe's geographic service area (including the Sacramento County Fair, and Renaissance Days) where significant additional sales may be generated on ice cream bars and other novelties. Most importantly, these outside sales will give the Shoppe name recognition which will help make it a primary destination for an expanded segment of the market.

Additional methods of enhancing the Shoppe's name recognition will be local newspaper advertising with coupons, special promotions and discounts to employees of Davis Plaza, companion promotions and discounts with other merchants in the Plaza, and offers to local schools for discounts to students with good grades.

Lastly, additional sales revenue and name recognition for the Shoppe will be generated by sponsoring sports, social, educational and fund-raising activities within the communities served by Davis Plaza. The principals have numerous fund-raising idea and plans for community involvement that will help make the Shoppe a money-maker.

The primary competitors of The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis are within the Davis Plaza itself. The principals have done a detailed analysis of the existing ice cream and yogurt shops outside Davis Plaza, and this study is available upon request. The principals believe that the two ice cream and yogurt related businesses inside Davis Plaza are the Shoppe's main competition. They are:

Frozen Treat

Located across The Outdoorum from the Shoppe. Frozen Treat does not serve real ice cream at all. They serve only one flavor of soft serve, vanilla. They make cones, cups, sundaes and shakes and, according to Davis Plaza management, enjoyed $550,000 in sales volume in 1994 and approximately the same sales volume in 1995.

Earl's Ice Cream and Yogurt

Located in the Westbury wing of Davis Plaza. This is a small shop with extremely limited visibility. It is not located in The Outdoorum but is on the outskirts of the heavy traffic area of the Plaza. Earl's serves 24 flavors of real ice cream and 2 flavors of frozen yogurt. No cakes are offered for sale. According to Davis Plaza management Earl's enjoyed $303,000 in sales volume in 1994 and approximately the same sales volume in 1995.

The principals believe that there is outstanding potential for the sale of Fran's super premium quality ice cream, yogurt and related products in Davis Plaza. As just noted, in 1994 and 1995 the sales volume generated for ice cream, frozen yogurt and soft serve in Montclair Plaza was $852,000. The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis will be located in the most visible food service location in Davis Plaza. The principals feel that Frozen Treat will not hinder the Shoppe's sales because Frozen Treat serves only average quality soft serve vanilla products. The Shoppe will have 32 flavors of the finest quality ice cream and 6 flavors of frozen yogurt and sorbet ready for sale at all times…as well as ice cream cakes, birthday cakes, gourmet traditional cakes by the slice or whole, and shakes, malts, sundaes, ice cream bars, frozen yogurt and sorbet bars, and sodas.

Other ice cream and frozen yogurt stores exist within a three-mile radius of Davis Plaza. There are four small independent stores and three Scoops stores in this three-mile circle. The closest independent to the Plaza is approximately 2 miles away. As stated previously the principals strongly believe that the Shop's main and most important competitors are inside Davis Plaza. The principals also firmly believe that the quality and selection of Fran's products they will offer, coupled with a superior location within the Davis Plaza, will help them achieve the success they anticipate and will work toward. The principals are also actively engaged in negotiations with the landlord to exclude any new competition from The Plaza during the term of their lease.

The principals, themselves, will manage this business. Augustus Dwyer will be the hands-on manager for the daily operation of the Shoppe, assisted by Cheryl Dwyer. Gus Dwyer shall have the following responsibilities and perform the following duties:

• Oversee the design, development and construction of the Shoppe
• Collect competitive bids for the build out of the Shoppe and for the equipment needed for the Shoppe. Select contractors and equipment suppliers to complete the Shoppe.
• Seek and obtain the necessary financing for this project.
• Attend and successfully complete Fran's Ice Basic Management Training Course # 318 at The Fran's Ice Shoppe Company, Inc. corporate offices in New Haven Connecticut. This is an eleven day training course which will prepare Gus to successfully operate a Fran's ice cream shop. Gus is registered to attend this course from 1 -16-96 to 1 -26-96.
• Plan, coordinate and execute merchandising and promotion of the Shoppe, including Grand Opening activities, and a year round calendar of holidays, special events and numerous other promotional activities.
• Prepare all products to be sold, sourcing the most cost effective suppliers on goods not purchased from Fran's directly. Maintain adequate levels of inventory, while maximizing inventory turns and losing no sales due to out-of-stocks.
• Ensure that standards of product quality control and shop cleanliness required by the franchisor are maintained on a daily basis.
• Recruit, select, interview and hire all Shoppe personnel.
• Perform orientation, training and re-training of all Shoppe personnel.
• Perform all required accounting functions for the Shoppe.
• Personally make a commitment to give 100% best effort and a personal full-time commitment to operating the Shoppe to its greatest potential. Gus will demonstrate the leadership necessary to operate the Shoppe successfully on a daily basis, and to ensure an acceptable return on the initial investment and repayment of debt.

The principals will designate certain properly trained personnel who will coordinate the activities of the other employees during periods when Augustus Dwyer is not on the premises. Those employees will be trained to make prudent decisions in the absence of Gus Dwyer and to carry out the duties of the Manager on an as-needed basis. In the event of an emergency, the principals can be contacted by phone or paged by remote pager and be on-site within 15 minutes.

Six to eight high school and/or college students will be hired to work at the Shoppe on a part-time basis. There will be no full-time employees of the Shoppe other than management.

The principals are developing a program of orientation and training which all Shoppe employees must complete prior to starting work. A written policies and procedures manual will be the foundation for that that training. All Shoppe employees will be trained to perform all customer service, quality control, and cleanliness and sanitation procedures utilized by the Shoppe, and will know exactly what is expected of them as a Fran's Ice Shoppe employee.

The principals have worked for many different supervisors in their 37 years of combined work experience, and have seen many different management techniques and styles. Augustus Dwyer has extensive management experience in both retail and wholesale sales and customer service. Cheryl Dwyer brings to Fran's a wealth of experience as house supervisor in a 205 bed J. Landers Hospital, supervising 60 or more nurses at a time. The combined management experience which the principals have will be an asset to them in training and managing a productive team of Shoppe employees.

The proposed timetable for the project is as follows:

Augustus Herman Dwyer

A strong, responsible businessman and manager, Augustus Dwyer has over 21 years experience in retailing, wholesaling and customer service Gus' roots are in the grocery industry, where he was employed for 14 years. The first 5 years Gus spent working at store level as a box boy, grocery clerk, produce clerk, and produce department manager. He was elevated by Division Corporate Personnel who felt that his talents would be best utilized at the division level and promoted to Division Produce and Floral Buyer.

During this 9 year period, Gus' hands-on approach to his work greatly benefitted his company. Gus planned, researched and implemented a program of fresh fruit, soup and salad bars for the company and personally assisted in the set-up of 41 new salad bars divisionwide.

Gus was also responsible for planning the division's floral program and purchased cut flowers and plants for 110 stores for 4 years.

Utilizing his knowledge and experience in the floral trade, Gus now works as National Sales Manager for a flower wholesaling company in San Francisco. He has an outstanding record in high volume sales and increasing sales revenues. He has expanded the customer base, sourced new suppliers, and increased the variety of product his company sells, resulting in a 30% increase in sales since coming on board with the company.

Gus' strengths include the ability to plan, organize, achieve results quickly, and evaluate and implement winning marketing strategies. He has significant influence with other employees and positively motivates his subordinated and peers. He is an experienced buyer, merchandiser, salesman, and customer satisfaction specialist.

Cheryl Lynn Dwyer

An experienced nurse manager, Cheryl's nursing background involves a total of 10 years as a Registered Nurse, all employed with J. Landers. Seven of the years have been dedicated towards the Management Of Medical-Surgical And Maternal Child Health Nursing Services. Accountabilities include yearly performance evaluations of approximately 45 employees and the general supervision of J. Landers Florin on the evening shift of the entire hospital, which averages 120 employees. All problems unresolved are directed to her for her successful resolution and followup.

Cheryl is responsible for the successful planning and implementation of the Medical-Surgical Department Quality Management Program, which encompasses directing nurses in data collection, action plans and evaluation on a monthly basis. She has completed a 12 week, total quality management course and participated in two task forces utilizing Total Quality Management (TQM).

Cheryl's strengths include effective organization and leadership abilities and extensive interpersonal skills. Cheryl has seven years experience hiring successful employees, coaching, counseling and motivating them to deliver the best nursing care to J. Landers members.

Note: Please see attached career/work histories of Augustus and Cheryl for details.

Sales Break-Even Point

A common question business owners have when considering new business opportunities is this: "How much do I have to sell just to break even?" In other words, "How much revenue do I need to pay all my expenses?"

The question is not as difficult to answer as it might seem. Only three pieces of information is needed to make the calculation.

• The average price of whatever you sell.
• The average cost of whatever you sell.
• The total fixed costs your have to pay no matter what you sell.

or to state it another way…

In the case of The Fran's Ice Shoppe of Davis the Sales break-even is computed as follows:

Summary of Build-Out and Start-Up Costs

• Principal reduction on the SBA loan (in the amount of approx. $24,000 is not shown as an expense on the Inc. & Exp. Statement.
• Payroll expenses are listed under "Labor" under cost of goods sold.

Proforma Balance Sheet

Proforma Statements

Financial Summary

Equipment Schedule

User Contributions:

Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:.

How to write a business plan for an ice cream manufacturer?

Creating a business plan for an ice cream manufacturer is an essential process for any entrepreneur. It serves as a roadmap that outlines the necessary steps to be taken to start or grow the business, the resources required, and the anticipated financial outcomes. It should be crafted with method and confidence.

This guide is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge necessary for creating an ice cream manufacturer business plan, covering why it is so important both when starting up and running an established business, what should be included in your plan, how it should be structured, what tools should be used to save time and avoid errors, and other helpful tips.

We have a lot to cover, so let's get to it!

In this guide:

Why write a business plan for an ice cream manufacturer?

• What information is needed to create a business plan for an ice cream manufacturer?
• What goes in the financial forecast for an ice cream manufacturer?
• What goes in the written part of an ice cream manufacturer business plan?
• What tool can I use to write my ice cream manufacturer business plan?

Understanding the document's scope and goals will help you easily grasp its structure and content. Before diving into the specifics of the plan, let's take a moment to explore the key reasons why having an ice cream manufacturer business plan is so crucial.

To have a clear roadmap to grow the business

Small businesses rarely experience a constant and predictable environment. Economic cycles go up and down, while the business landscape is mutating constantly with new regulations, technologies, competitors, and consumer behaviours emerging when we least expect it.

In this dynamic context, it's essential to have a clear roadmap for your ice cream manufacturer. Otherwise, you are navigating in the dark which is dangerous given that - as a business owner - your capital is at risk.

That's why crafting a well-thought-out business plan is crucial to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your venture.

To create an effective business plan, you'll need to take a step-by-step approach. First, you'll have to assess your current position (if you're already in business), and then identify where you'd like your ice cream manufacturer to be in the next three to five years.

Once you have a clear destination for your ice cream manufacturer, you'll focus on three key areas:

• Resources: you'll determine the human, equipment, and capital resources needed to reach your goals successfully.
• Speed: you'll establish the optimal pace at which your business needs to grow if it is to meet its objectives within the desired timeframe.
• Risks: you'll identify and address potential risks you might encounter along the way.

By going through this process regularly, you'll be able to make informed decisions about resource allocation, paving the way for the long-term success of your business.

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The Business Plan Shop makes it easy to create a financial forecast to assess the potential profitability of your projects, and write a business plan that’ll wow investors.

To maintain visibility on future cash flows

Businesses can go for years without making a profit, but they go bust as soon as they run out of cash. That's why "cash is king", and maintaining visibility on your ice cream manufacturer's future cash flows is critical.

How do I do that? That's simple: you need an up-to-date financial forecast.

The good news is that your ice cream manufacturer business plan already contains a financial forecast (more on that later in this guide), so all you have to do is to keep it up-to-date.

To do this, you need to regularly compare the actual financial performance of your business to what was planned in your financial forecast, and adjust the forecast based on the current trajectory of your business.

Monitoring your ice cream manufacturer's financial health will enable you to identify potential financial problems (such as an unexpected cash shortfall) early and to put in place corrective measures. It will also allow you to detect and capitalize on potential growth opportunities (higher demand from a given segment of customers for example).

To secure financing

A detailed business plan becomes a crucial tool when seeking financing from banks or investors for your ice cream manufacturer.

Investing and lending to small businesses are very risky activities given how fragile they are. Therefore, financiers have to take extra precautions before putting their capital at risk.

At a minimum, financiers will want to ensure that you have a clear roadmap and a solid understanding of your future cash flows (like we just explained above). But they will also want to ensure that your business plan fits the risk/reward profile they seek.

This will off-course vary from bank to bank and investor to investor, but as a rule of thumb. Banks will want to see a conservative financial management style (low risk), and they will use the information in your business plan to assess your borrowing capacity — the level of debt they think your business can comfortably handle — and your ability to repay the loan. This evaluation will determine whether they'll provide credit to your ice cream manufacturer and the terms of the agreement.

Whereas investors will carefully analyze your business plan to gauge the potential return on their investment. Their focus lies on evidence indicating your ice cream manufacturer's potential for high growth, profitability, and consistent cash flow generation over time.

Now that you recognize the importance of creating a business plan for your ice cream manufacturer, let's explore what information is required to create a compelling plan.

Need inspiration for your business plan?

The Business Plan Shop has dozens of business plan templates that you can use to get a clear idea of what a complete business plan looks like.

Information needed to create a business plan for an ice cream manufacturer

You need the right data in order to project sales, investments and costs accurately in the financial forecast of your ice cream manufacturer business plan.

Below, we'll cover three key pieces of information you should gather before drafting your business plan.

Carrying out market research for an ice cream manufacturer

Before you begin writing your business plan for an ice cream manufacturer, conducting market research is a critical step in ensuring precise and realistic financial projections.

Market research grants you valuable insights into your target customer base, competitors, pricing strategies, and other crucial factors that can impact the success of your business.

In the course of this research, you may stumble upon trends that could impact your ice cream manufacturer.

You might find that consumers may be interested in a lower fat or vegan ice cream option. Additionally, research could indicate that customers may be interested in more unique flavors like lavender or beet.

Such market trends play a pivotal role in revenue forecasting, as they provide essential data regarding potential customers' spending habits and preferences.

By integrating these findings into your financial projections, you can provide investors with more accurate information, enabling them to make well-informed decisions about investing in your ice cream manufacturer.

Developing the marketing plan for an ice cream manufacturer

Before delving into your ice cream manufacturer business plan, it's imperative to budget for sales and marketing expenses.

To achieve this, a comprehensive sales and marketing plan is essential. This plan should provide an accurate projection of the necessary actions to acquire and retain customers.

Additionally, it will outline the required workforce to carry out these initiatives and the corresponding budget for promotions, advertising, and other marketing endeavours.

By budgeting accordingly, you can ensure that the right resources are allocated to these vital activities, aligning them with the sales and growth objectives outlined in your business plan.

The staffing and equipment needs of an ice cream manufacturer

As you embark on starting or expanding your ice cream manufacturer, having a clear plan for recruitment and capital expenditures (investment in equipment and real estate) is essential for ensuring your business's success.

Both the recruitment and investment plans must align with the timing and level of growth projected in your forecast, and they require appropriate funding.

A ice cream manufacturer might incur staffing costs such as wages for their production staff, as well as costs for recruitment and training. Additionally, they could incur equipment costs such as costs for machinery and other production equipment, as well as costs for materials such as containers and packaging.

To create a realistic financial forecast, you also need to consider other operating expenses associated with the day-to-day running of your business, such as insurance and bookkeeping.

With all the necessary information at hand, you are ready to begin crafting your business plan and developing your financial forecast.

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The Business Plan Shop does the maths for you. Simply enter your revenues, costs and investments. Click save and our online tool builds a three-way forecast for you instantly.

What goes into your ice cream manufacturer's financial forecast?

The financial forecast of your ice cream manufacturer will enable you to assess the profitability potential of your business in the coming years and how much capital is required to fund the actions planned in the business plan.

The four key outputs of a financial forecast for a ice cream manufacturer are:

• The profit and loss (P&L) statement ,
• The projected balance sheet ,
• The cash flow forecast ,
• And the sources and uses table .

Let's take a closer look at each of these.

The projected P&L statement

The projected P&L statement for an ice cream manufacturer shows how much revenue and profit your business is expected to make in the future.

A healthy ice cream manufacturer's P&L statement should show:

• Sales growing at (minimum) or above (better) inflation
• Stable (minimum) or expanding (better) profit margins
• A healthy level of net profitability

This will of course depend on the stage of your business: numbers for a startup will look different than for an established ice cream manufacturer.

The projected balance sheet of your ice cream manufacturer

Your ice cream manufacturer's forecasted balance sheet enables the reader of your plan to assess your financial structure, working capital, and investment policy.

It is composed of three types of elements: assets, liabilities and equity:

• Assets: represent what the business owns and uses to produce cash flows. It includes resources such as cash, equipment, and accounts receivable (money owed by clients).
• Liabilities: represent funds advanced to the business by lenders and other creditors. It includes items such as accounts payable (money owed to suppliers), taxes due and loans.
• Equity: is the combination of what has been invested by the business owners and the cumulative profits and losses generated by the business to date (which are called retained earnings). Equity is a proxy for the value of the owner's stake in the business.

Your ice cream manufacturer's balance sheet will usually be analyzed in conjunction with the other financial statements included in your forecast.

Two key points of focus will be:

• Your ice cream manufacturer's liquidity: does your business have sufficient cash and short-term assets to pay what it owes over the next 12 months?
• And its solvency: does your business have the capacity to repay its debt over the medium-term?

The projected cash flow statement

A cash flow forecast for an ice cream manufacturer shows how much cash the business is projected to generate or consume.

The cash flow statement is divided into 3 main areas:

• The operating cash flow shows how much cash is generated or consumed by the operations (running the business)
• The investing cash flow shows how much cash is being invested in capital expenditure (equipment, real estate, etc.)
• The financing cash flow shows how much cash is raised or distributed to investors and lenders

Looking at the cash flow forecast helps you to ensure that your business has enough cash to keep running, and can help you anticipate potential cash shortfalls.

It is also a best practice to include a monthly cash flow statement in the appendices of your ice cream manufacturer business plan so that the readers can view the impact of seasonality on your business cash position and generation.

The initial financing plan

The sources and uses table or initial financing plan is a key component of your business plan when starting an ice cream manufacturer.

It shows where the capital needed to set up the business will come from (sources) and how it will be spent (uses).

This table helps size the investment required to set up the ice cream manufacturer, and understand how risks will be distributed between the business owners, and the financiers.

The sources and uses table also highlights what the starting cash position will be. This is key for startups as the business needs to have sufficient funding to sustain operations until the break-even point is reached.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what will go into the financial forecast of your ice cream manufacturer business plan, let's have a look at the written part of the plan.

The written part of an ice cream manufacturer business plan

The written part of an ice cream manufacturer business plan plays a key role: it lays out the plan of action you intend to execute to seize the commercial opportunity you've identified on the market and provides the context needed for the reader to decide if they believe your plan to be achievable and your financial forecast to be realistic.

The written part of an ice cream manufacturer business plan is composed of 7 main sections:

• The executive summary
• The presentation of the company
• The products and services
• The market analysis
• The strategy
• The operations
• The financial plan

Let's go through the content of each section in more detail!

1. The executive summary

In your ice cream manufacturer's business plan, the first section is the executive summary — a captivating overview of your plan that aims to pique the reader's interest and leave them eager to learn more about your business.

When crafting the executive summary, start with an introduction to your business, including its name, concept, location, how long it has been running, and what sets it apart. Briefly mention the products and services you plan to offer and your target customer profile.

Following that, provide an overview of the addressable market for your ice cream manufacturer, current trends, and potential growth opportunities.

Next, include a summary of key financial figures like projected revenues, profits, and cash flows.

Finally, in the "ask" section, detail any funding requirements you may have.

2. The presentation of the company

As you build your ice cream manufacturer business plan, the second section deserves attention as it delves into the structure and ownership, location, and management team of your company.

In the structure and ownership part, you'll provide valuable insights into the legal structure of the business, the identities of the owners, and their respective investments and ownership stakes. This level of transparency is vital, particularly if you're seeking financing, as it clarifies which legal entity will receive the funds and who holds the reins of the business.

Moving to the location part, you'll offer a comprehensive view of the company's premises and articulate why this specific location is strategic for the business, emphasizing factors like catchment area, accessibility, and nearby amenities.

When describing the location of your ice cream manufacturer, you may want to emphasize the potential for customer access. The area could be close to major highways and public transportation routes, providing easy access to customers. Additionally, you could mention the potential for a large customer base, as the location may be close to a variety of businesses, residential areas, and tourist destinations. Finally, you could highlight the potential for cost savings, as the area may be close to suppliers of raw materials and other resources. All of these factors could make the location an attractive option for potential financiers.

Lastly, you should introduce your esteemed management team. Provide a thorough explanation of each member's role, background, and extensive experience.

It's equally important to highlight any past successes the management team has achieved and underscore the duration they've been working together. This information will instil trust in potential lenders or investors, showcasing the strength and expertise of your leadership team and their ability to deliver the business plan.

3. The products and services section

The products and services section of your business plan should include a detailed description of what your company offers, who are the target customers, and what distribution channels are part of your go-to-market. 

For example, your ice cream manufacturer may offer a variety of flavors and textures of ice cream, such as traditional cream-based ice creams, vegan or dairy-free options, and even novelties like ice cream sandwiches and bars. It might also provide custom packaging services, allowing customers to purchase products with personalized logos or labels, or even offer gifts and catering services for special events. Finally, it could also provide nutritional information on all of its products, allowing customers to make informed decisions when purchasing.

4. The market analysis

When you present your market analysis in your ice cream manufacturer business plan, it's crucial to include detailed information about customers' demographics and segmentation, target market, competition, barriers to entry, and any relevant regulations.

The main objective of this section is to help the reader understand the size and attractiveness of the market while demonstrating your solid understanding of the industry.

Begin with the demographics and segmentation subsection, providing an overview of the addressable market for your ice cream manufacturer, the key trends in the marketplace, and introducing different customer segments along with their preferences in terms of purchasing habits and budgets.

Next, focus on your target market, zooming in on the specific customer segments your ice cream manufacturer aims to serve and explaining how your products and services fulfil their distinct needs.

For example, your target market might include young adults aged between 18-25. These individuals often have a disposable income and the freedom to enjoy an indulgent treat from time to time. They are likely to be highly engaged with social media and have an appreciation for novelty flavors and creative presentation.

Then proceed to the competition subsection, where you introduce your main competitors and highlight what sets you apart from them.

Finally, conclude your market analysis with an overview of the key regulations applicable to your ice cream manufacturer.

5. The strategy section

When you write the strategy section of your ice cream manufacturer business plan, remember to cover key elements such as your competitive edge, pricing strategy, sales & marketing plan, milestones, and risks and mitigants.

In the competitive edge subsection, elaborate on what makes your company stand out from competitors. This becomes especially important if you're a startup, aiming to carve a place for yourself amidst established players in the marketplace.

The pricing strategy subsection should demonstrate how you plan to maintain profitability while offering competitive prices to attract customers.

Outline your sales & marketing plan, detailing how you'll reach out to new customers and retain existing ones through loyalty programs or special offers.

For the milestones subsection, outline your company's achievements to date and your main objectives for the future, complete with specific dates to set clear expectations for progress.

Lastly, the risks and mitigants subsection should address the main risks that could affect your plan's execution. Explain the measures you've put in place to minimize these risks, assuring potential investors or lenders.

Your ice cream manufacturer could face the risk of a product recall due to a contamination event or a physical hazard. This could be caused by a breakdown in the production process, a lapse in food safety protocols, or the introduction of an unknown contaminant. Additionally, your ice cream manufacturer might face the risk of a lawsuit due to a customer illness or injury stemming from a contaminated product. This could be the result of a mislabeled product, a lack of proper food safety controls, or a failure to meet industry standards.

6. The operations section

The operations of your ice cream manufacturer must be presented in detail in your business plan.

The first thing you should cover in this section is your staffing team, the main roles, and the overall recruitment plan to support the growth expected in your business plan. You should also outline the qualifications and experience necessary to fulfil each role, and how you intend to recruit (using job boards, referrals, or headhunters).

You should then state the operating hours of your ice cream manufacturer - so that the reader can check the adequacy of your staffing levels - and any plans for varying opening times during peak season. Additionally, the plan should include details on how you will handle customer queries outside of normal operating hours.

The next part of this section should focus on the key assets and IP required to operate your business. If you depend on any licenses or trademarks, physical structures (equipment or property) or lease agreements, these should all go in there.

You, as an ice cream manufacturer, may have key assets such as a trademarked logo or a patented recipe. You could also have intellectual property such as the processes used to make the ice cream or a unique flavor that you have created. These assets and IP might help you to differentiate your product from others and build a strong reputation in the market.

Finally, you should include a list of suppliers that you plan to work with and a breakdown of their services and main commercial terms (price, payment terms, contract duration, etc.). Investors are always keen to know if there is a particular reason why you have chosen to work with a specific supplier (higher-quality products or past relationships for example).

7. The presentation of the financial plan

The financial plan section is where we will include the financial forecast we discussed earlier in this guide.

Now that you have a clear idea of what goes into an ice cream manufacturer business plan, let's look at some of the tools you can use to create yours efficiently.

What tool should I use to write my ice cream manufacturer's business plan?

In this section, we will be reviewing the two main solutions for creating an ice cream manufacturer business plan:

• Using specialized online business plan software,
• Outsourcing the plan to the business plan writer.

Using an online business plan software for your ice cream manufacturer's business plan

The modern and most efficient way to write an ice cream manufacturer business plan is to use business plan software .

There are several advantages to using specialized software:

• You can easily create your financial forecast by letting the software take care of the financial calculations for you without errors
• You are guided through the writing process by detailed instructions and examples for each part of the plan
• You can access a library of dozens of complete business plan samples and templates for inspiration
• You get a professional business plan, formatted and ready to be sent to your bank or investors
• You can easily track your actual financial performance against your financial forecast
• You can create scenarios to stress test your forecast's main assumptions
• You can easily update your forecast as time goes by to maintain visibility on future cash flows
• You have a friendly support team on standby to assist you when you are stuck

If you're interested in using this type of solution, you can try The Business Plan Shop for free by signing up here .

Hiring a business plan writer to write your ice cream manufacturer's business plan

Outsourcing your ice cream manufacturer business plan to a business plan writer can also be a viable option.

These writers possess valuable experience in crafting business plans and creating accurate financial forecasts. Additionally, enlisting their services can save you precious time, enabling you to concentrate on the day-to-day operations of your business.

It's important to be mindful, though, that hiring business plan writers comes with a cost. You'll be paying not just for their time but also for the software they use, and their profit margin.

Based on experience, a complete business plan usually requires a budget of at least £1.5k ($2.0k) excluding tax, and more if revisions are needed after initial meetings with lenders or investors - changes often arise following these discussions.

When seeking investment, be cautious about spending too much on consulting fees. Investors prefer their funds to contribute directly to business growth. Thus, the amount you spend on business plan writing services and other consulting services should be negligible compared to the amount you raise.

Another aspect to consider is that while you'll receive the output of the business plan, you usually won't own the actual document. It will be saved in the consultant's business plan software, which will make updating the plan challenging without retaining the consultant on a retainer.

Given these factors, it's essential to carefully weigh the pros and cons of outsourcing your ice cream manufacturer business plan to a business plan writer and decide what best suits your business's unique needs.

Why not create your ice cream manufacturer's business plan using Word or Excel?

Using Microsoft Excel and Word (or their Google, Apple, or open-source equivalents) to write an ice cream manufacturer business plan is a terrible idea.

For starters, creating an accurate and error-free financial forecast on Excel (or any spreadsheet) is very technical and requires both a strong grasp of accounting principles and solid skills in financial modelling.

As a result, it is unlikely anyone will trust your numbers unless - like us at The Business Plan Shop - you hold a degree in finance and accounting and have significant financial modelling experience in your past.

The second reason is that it is inefficient. Building forecasts on spreadsheets was the only option in the 1990s and early 2000s, nowadays technology has advanced and software can do it much faster and much more accurately.

And with the rise of AI, software is also becoming smarter at helping us detect mistakes in our forecasts and helping us analyse the numbers to make better decisions.

Also, using software makes it easy to compare actuals vs. forecasts and maintain our forecasts up to date to maintain visibility on future cash flows - as we discussed earlier in this guide - whereas this is a pain to do with a spreadsheet.

That's for the forecast, but what about the written part of my ice cream manufacturer business plan?

This part is less error-prone, but here also software brings tremendous gains in productivity:

• Word processors don't include instructions and examples for each part of your business plan
• Word processors don't update your numbers automatically when they change in your forecast
• Word processors don't handle the formatting for you

Overall, while Word or Excel may be viable options for creating an ice cream manufacturer business plan for some entrepreneurs, it is by far not the best or most efficient solution.

• Using business plan software is a modern and cost-effective way of writing and maintaining business plans.
• A business plan is not a one-shot exercise as maintaining it current is the only way to keep visibility on your future cash flows.
• A business plan has 2 main parts: a financial forecast outlining the funding requirements of your ice cream manufacturer and the expected growth, profits and cash flows for the next 3 to 5 years; and a written part which gives the reader the information needed to decide if they believe the forecast is achievable.

We hope that this in-depth guide met your expectations and that you now have a clear understanding of how to write your ice cream manufacturer business plan. Do not hesitate to contact our friendly team if you have questions additional questions we haven't addressed here.

Also on The Business Plan Shop

• How to write a business plan to secure a bank loan?
• Key steps to write a business plan?
• Top mistakes to avoid in your business plan

Do you know entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing an ice cream manufacturer? Share this article with them!

Founder & CEO at The Business Plan Shop Ltd

Guillaume Le Brouster is a seasoned entrepreneur and financier.

Guillaume has been an entrepreneur for more than a decade and has first-hand experience of starting, running, and growing a successful business.

Prior to being a business owner, Guillaume worked in investment banking and private equity, where he spent most of his time creating complex financial forecasts, writing business plans, and analysing financial statements to make financing and investment decisions.

Guillaume holds a Master's Degree in Finance from ESCP Business School and a Bachelor of Science in Business & Management from Paris Dauphine University.

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