We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Ice Cream Startups

Launch Your Ice Cream Shop Successfully (Beginner Course)

*Includes a Fully Editable Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template + Exercise Worksheets.

Every day, aspiring ice cream business owners like you take their first big step toward opening their dream business. And we're right there with them.

If you want to learn how to open an ice cream business, you're at the right place.

We've seen strong growth in the demand for authentic and artisanal ice cream throughout the country. This means that opening an ice cream shop can be profitable when it is planned right.

Read more

Launch Your Ice Cream Shop Successfully (Beginner Course)

*Includes a Fully Editable Ice Cream Shop Business Plan Template + Exercise Worksheets.

Every day, aspiring ice cream business owners like you take their first big step toward opening their dream business. And we're right there with them.

If you want to learn how to open an ice cream business, you're at the right place.

We've seen strong growth in the demand for authentic and artisanal ice cream throughout the country. This means that opening an ice cream shop can be profitable when it is planned right.

You'll Gain the Confidence to Move Forward with Your Dream Business

We aim to help every aspiring ice cream business owner open a successful business with this exclusive Udemy course.

Being an ice cream business owner can be challenging. Beyond prepping and serving delicious ice cream (or yogurt. ), you must think about managing people and inventory, understanding budgets, hiring and firing employees, and training employees.

There is never a dull moment – and you need to be prepared.

Unfortunately, many ice cream business owners fail because they ignore or underestimate the demand of their business. As a result, they fall victim to being overwhelmed.

If you plan to open an ice cream business, you will want to be better prepared to negotiate a good property lease and be ready for when things go wrong. And you will need to be smart about your price points and how you manage customers. Finally, you must do everything possible to avoid making the biggest, most common mistakes that can bleed money and doom your business.

By taking this exclusive course, you'll become familiar with essential topics necessary for your ice cream business' success.

30 Must-Watch Lectures

  • Topics covered in this course include:

  • How to Prepare to Open Your Ice Cream Business

  • How to Develop Your Ice Cream Shop Concept

  • Choosing Your Unique Sales Proposition

  • Determine Your Target Market

  • How to Determine Your Ice Cream Shop Menu

  • Choosing Your Ice Cream Shop Business Structure

  • Determining Your Ice Cream Shop Costs

  • Paying for Your Ice Cream Shop

  • Accounting Methods

  • Setting up Your Financial Projections and Estimates

  • Exploring Buying an Existing Ice Cream Business Shop or Starting From Scratch

  • Searching for an Ice Cream Shop for Sale

  • Should you open an Ice Cream franchise?

  • Choosing the Best Location to Open an Ice Cream Shop

  • Elements of Your Property Lease You Need to Know

  • How Much Should You Pay in Rent?

  • Navigating Your Health Department

  • Working With Vendors

  • Hiring and Training Your Employees

  • How to Prepare for Your Grand Opening

  • How to be a Successful Ice Cream Business Shop Owner

Your Ice Cream Shop Business Plan: We offer an ice cream shop business plan template and spend two lessons covering what is typically in most ice cream shop business plans. Our template is an excellent guide to creating your personalized business plan and should save you dozens of hours.

A Truly In-Depth Beginner's Course.

Note: This is an in-depth beginner's course. We primarily focus on brick-and-mortar ice cream businesses. However, you can apply much of the information to mobile ice cream businesses.

This course is in American English and is typically for the U.S. market.

What We Don't Cover In this Business Course:

  • How to Make Ice Cream

  • How to Write a Business Plan

  • How to Create a Logo

Enroll now

Here's a deal for you

We found an offer that may be relevant to this course.
Save money when you learn. All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Developing your ice cream business concept
  • Determining your ice cream business costs
  • Identifying your customers (target market)
  • Determining your ice cream shop budget
  • Your ice cream shop property lease
  • Working with your local health department
  • How to be a profitable ice cream business
  • How to manage an ice cream shop
  • + worksheets, bonus guides, & templates

Syllabus

Section 1: Introduction: Starting Your Ice Cream Business Successfully
Introduction: How to Open an Ice Cream Business
Lecture 2: Market Trends in Retail Ice Cream
Read more
Lecture 3: Prepare to Open Your Ice Cream Business
Your Ice Cream Shop Concept to Planning
Section 2: Developing Your Ice Cream Business
Choose Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
Determine Your Customer (Target Market)
Lecture 7: Developing Your Ice Cream Shop Business Plan
Lecture 8: Develop Your Ice Cream Shop Menu
Section 3: Setting Up Your Ice Cream Shop Business
Lecture 9: Your Ice Cream Business Structure
Lecture 10: Determine Your Ice Cream Business Costs (Budget)
Lecture 11: Ice Cream Shop Cost Considerations
Lecture 12: Paying for Your Ice Cream Shop Business
Lecture 13: Accounting for Your Ice Cream Business
Section 4: Ice Cream Business Financial Assessment
Lecture 14: Setting Up Your Financial Projections
Lecture 15: Developing Your Financial Estimates
Section 5: Buying Your Ice Cream Shop Business
Lecture 16: Buy an Existing Ice Cream Shop From Scratch?
Lecture 17: Searching for an Ice Cream Shop for Sale
Lecture 18: Pros and Cons of a Franchise Ice Cream Shop
Section 6: Your Ice Cream Business Location
Lecture 19: Finding the Best Location to Open an Ice Cream Shop
Lecture 20: Your Ice Cream Property Lease
Lecture 21: How Much Should You Pay for Rent
Section 7: Ice Cream Shop Design and Layout
Lecture 22: Ice Cream Shop Design and Layout
Lecture 23: Navigating Your Health Department
Section 8: Hiring Your Staff
Lecture 24: Hiring Your Staff
Section 9: Your Ice Cream Shop Brand
Lecture 25: Build a Memorable Ice Cream Shop Brand
Lecture 26: Preparing for Your Grand Opening
Section 10: Ice Cream Shop Management
Lecture 27: Traits of a Successful Ice Cream Business Owner
Lecture 28: How to Win in a Competitive Environment
Lecture 29: How to be a More Profitable Ice Cream Shop
Conclusion: You've Got This!

Save this course

Save How to Open an Ice Cream Business (BEGINNER COURSE) to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Open an Ice Cream Business (BEGINNER COURSE) with these activities:
Review Basic Accounting Principles
Reinforce your understanding of basic accounting principles to better manage your ice cream shop's finances.
Browse courses on Accounting Principles
Show steps
  • Review key accounting terms and definitions.
  • Practice creating basic financial statements.
  • Take a practice quiz on accounting principles.
Read 'Setting Up a Restaurant for Dummies'
Gain a broader understanding of the restaurant industry to improve your ice cream shop's operations.
View Millennial Movements on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters about location, staffing, and finances.
  • Take notes on key takeaways and apply them to your ice cream shop plan.
Develop a Preliminary Marketing Plan
Create a marketing plan to attract customers to your ice cream shop.
Show steps
  • Identify your target customer and their preferences.
  • Research local competitors and their marketing strategies.
  • Develop a marketing budget and timeline.
  • Outline specific marketing activities, such as social media campaigns and local partnerships.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Design a Sample Menu
Design a visually appealing and informative menu to showcase your ice cream offerings.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a list of ice cream flavors and toppings.
  • Research menu design best practices.
  • Create a digital or physical menu mockup.
  • Get feedback on your menu design from potential customers.
Attend Local Business Meetups
Connect with other business owners in your community to learn from their experiences and build relationships.
Show steps
  • Research local business networking events.
  • Prepare a brief introduction about your ice cream shop concept.
  • Attend the event and network with other attendees.
  • Follow up with contacts you made at the event.
Create a Financial Model
Build a financial model to project your ice cream shop's revenue, expenses, and profitability.
Show steps
  • Gather data on startup costs, operating expenses, and sales projections.
  • Use a spreadsheet program to create a financial model.
  • Analyze your financial model to identify potential risks and opportunities.
  • Refine your business plan based on your financial model.
Read 'Start Your Own Ice Cream Business'
Gain in-depth knowledge of the ice cream business to improve your chances of success.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on chapters relevant to your business plan.
  • Take notes on key takeaways and apply them to your ice cream shop plan.

Career center

Learners who complete How to Open an Ice Cream Business (BEGINNER COURSE) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Ice Cream Shop Owner
An ice cream shop owner manages all aspects of an ice cream business, and this course is directly applicable to that role. The course covers essential topics needed for success, including developing a business plan, choosing a location, managing costs, and understanding financial projections. With modules on hiring, vendor relations, and grand opening preparations, this course is designed to help an ice cream shop owner be well-equipped to manage the daily demands of the business. The course provides insight into critical areas like property leases and health department navigation that will be particularly useful to an ice cream shop owner.
Restaurant Manager
A restaurant manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of a food service establishment, and this introductory course helps those aspiring to manage a dessert business. The course lessons on managing staff, working with vendors, navigating health departments, and preparing for a grand opening are directly applicable to the role of a restaurant manager. The course includes a business plan template, which is helpful when establishing or revamping business operations. For a restaurant manager who seeks to understand and apply business and management skills, this course may be very useful.
Small Business Consultant
Small business consultants advise entrepreneurs on how to start and manage their businesses, and this course helps build a foundation in business planning and operations that is helpful to this role. The course provides details about developing a business concept, analyzing costs, and understanding financial estimates that are useful to a consultant advising clients. The course also explores the practicalities of leases and vendor relationships. This practical knowledge helps a small business consultant when they provide guidance to new business owners. This course may be helpful to a consultant looking to gain hands-on knowledge of the intricacies of a small food business.
Food Service Manager
A food service manager oversees daily operations in a food establishment, and this course introduces best practices in business management that may be useful to this role. The course includes modules on menu development, cost management, managing staff, and vendor relations. The course's focus on business structure and financial assessment are also helpful to a food service manager in understanding the overall health of the business. Because the course gives special attention to location and property leases, a food service manager may use the course to better understand the business itself. This course may be useful to a business manager.
Retail Business Owner
A retail business owner manages the operations of a retail store, and this course will help one focus on the daily operations of a small business such as an ice cream store. The course includes modules on business planning, location selection, cost management, and customer relationship management. This course introduces the financial aspects of a food-based business and includes business planning templates. The course may be useful to a retail business owner who seeks to improve their business acumen.
Franchise Owner
A franchise owner manages a business that is part of a larger franchise system, and this course introduces key concepts about costs, leases, and business management that will help with this role. The course discusses the pros and cons of franchise ownership, making it helpful for a prospective franchise owner. The course explores crucial factors like location, business structure, and operations management, which are vital for running a franchise successfully. This course may be useful if you are interested in purchasing a franchise.
Catering Business Owner
A catering business owner manages operations for a food-based business, and this course introduces crucial knowledge about managing staff, vendor relations, and grand openings. These topics can be directly applied to the role of a catering business owner, even if the focus is ice cream rather than other cuisine. The course's focus on budgeting and financial assessments can help in pricing catering services and managing expenses. This course may be useful to those interested in exploring business aspects of the catering industry.
Business Operations Specialist
A business operations specialist ensures the smooth operation of business processes, and this course presents useful knowledge about business planning and process management. The course delves into important factors, such as location selection, vendor relations, and operational costs. The course includes a business plan template, which may be useful for planning and strategy. The course may be helpful to a business operations specialist who works at a small business and wants to better understand all aspects of its daily work.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur starts and manages their own businesses, and this course helps an aspiring entrepreneur develop fundamental business skills and knowledge. The course covers a variety of topics such as market analysis, financial projections, and managing operations, providing a solid foundation for entrepreneurship. The course also provides information about business structures, lease negotiations, and grand opening strategies, which are key when starting a new venture. While this course focuses on ice cream businesses, the skills presented are applicable to many fields. This course may be helpful for an entrepreneur in the food service space.
Marketing Coordinator
A marketing coordinator is responsible for executing marketing plans, and this course helps one understand the business-side of things, especially when marketing for a small, local business. The course touches on topics such as target market analysis, brand development, and preparing for a grand opening. These topics can help a marketing coordinator better understand strategic needs. The course's focus on unique selling propositions may be particularly useful when marketing to new customers. While the course is specific to ice cream shops, its application to small business marketing may be useful to a marketing coordinator.
Customer Service Representative
A customer service representative interacts with customers, and this course helps such a role understand the business that they serve. The course delves into the customer experience, including menu development, branding, and grand openings, which helps representatives better understand their company. The course may be helpful as it teaches the importance of market research and customer preferences. While the course is specific to ice cream businesses, it provides context that is useful to any customer service representative. This course may be helpful to those who seek a more complete understanding of the business.
Accountant
An accountant manages financial records and reporting, and this course helps such a role understand the many factors involved in determining costs for a business. This course includes modules on business costs, accounting methods, and financial projections. Understanding these aspects of a business is crucial for an effective accountant. The course provides a practical look at financial management that may be absent in other courses. The course may be useful to those who intend to work with a small business.
Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent helps clients buy, sell, or lease properties, and this course exposes a real estate agent to the needs of commercial clients. The course provides insights into selecting locations and negotiating leases. These are crucial areas to understand when working with commercial clients. The course touches on typical property leases and factors to consider when choosing a location. The course may be helpful to a real estate agent who seeks to gain specific knowledge of the business needs of a food service client.
Sales Representative
A sales representative sells products or services, and this course helps such a role understand the products and services necessary to running a food business. The course covers topics such as vendor relations, target markets, and unique selling propositions. The course may help a sales representative be more effective by giving them a sense of the business's needs. Though this course focuses on ice cream businesses, it may be helpful to sales representatives who cater to this market.
Restaurant Server
A restaurant server takes customers' orders, delivers food, and ensures customer satisfaction, and this course may help by giving the server a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant and business management practices. The course touches on customer service, menu planning, and grand openings, all of which can be useful to a server. Knowing these aspects may help a restaurant server better cater to their customers. The business planning and management aspects of this course may be helpful to those who seek a deeper understanding of restaurant operations. This course may be useful to a restaurant server.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Open an Ice Cream Business (BEGINNER COURSE).
Provides a comprehensive guide to starting and running an ice cream business. It covers topics such as developing a business plan, choosing a location, and marketing your business. It is specifically tailored to the ice cream industry, making it a valuable resource for aspiring ice cream shop owners. This book adds more depth to the course by providing real-world examples and case studies.
Provides a broad overview of the restaurant business, covering topics relevant to opening any food-related establishment. It offers practical advice on everything from choosing a location to managing staff. While not specific to ice cream shops, it provides valuable foundational knowledge. It useful reference for understanding the broader context of the food service industry.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser