Ice Cream Truck Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Ice Cream Truck Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Ice Cream Truck 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 Truck businesses.

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

Executive Summary

Business Overview

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is a startup ice cream truck business located in Spokane, Washington. The company is founded by Perry Jackson, a meal-delivery company driver who has been delivering meals to residents for over ten years. He started with twenty customers and, over time and with great attention to marketing, has increased his delivery route to over one hundred customers. He is the Senior Driver for the meal-delivery company and has amassed rewards from his employer for his singular efforts that have made Perry the region’s top-delivery person every year for the past five years.

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck business will provide an exciting selection of frozen goods, including multiple flavors of popsicles, ice cream fancies, sugar-free ice pops, and 100% all-fruit, all-natural frozen delicacies. This will create a one-stop shop offering ice cream or frozen goods for everyone who visits Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck. Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be the only full-service ice cream truck offering naturally delicious sugar-free and 100% all-fruit frozen treats in Spokane, Washington.

 

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will provide:

  • Comprehensive selection of frozen ice treats
  • Comprehensive selection of ice cream treats and fancies
  • All-natural 100% fruit juice frozen treats
  • Sugar-free frozen treats
  • Mobile food ice cream service 7 days per week
  • Food truck service in city center on a 5-day per week schedule
  • Mobile ice cream service for themed events and parties

 

Customer Focus

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will target three customer segments: First, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will maintain a presence in the busiest commercial district of central Spokane, offering a wide variety of ice cream and frozen treats to fans and ice cream aficionados. Second, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will target event planners and coordinators who may hire the truck for themed events or parties. Third, all residents within the east and south suburban areas of Spokane will be targeted. These are newer neighborhoods with proportionately younger residents, as well as those with greater discretionary funds. No matter the customer, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will deliver the best ice cream and frozen treats in the greater Spokane area.

 

Management Team

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be owned and operated by Perry Jackson. He has recruited an associate, Jack Stinson, to be the manager. Jack was Perry’s associate for several years in the same meal-delivery business and is skilled in strategic marketing, management, and inventory control.

Perry Jackson has over ten years of experience in the meal-delivery service, which encompassed both residential and commercial areas of Spokane. During that time, he developed an efficient and high-quality system for delivering meals on time, every time. This garnered a delivery success rate of 100% and customers who applauded him for his service. Over 93% of Perry’s customers wrote positive reviews on the company’s website about Perry’s outstanding service. Perry has extensive experience with residential deliveries and sales; equally important, he has the skills to effectively engage, market and sell-through food very successfully.

 

Success Factors

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck
  • Comprehensive menu of ice cream and frozen goods, including all-natural fruit frozen goods and sugar-free frozen pops, along with ice cream fancies and delicacies, all targeted to busy professionals in central Spokane, parties and themed events, and children in regional Spokane whose parents want wholesome sweet treats and natural foods for their children.
  • Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is the only ice cream truck in Spokane to offer sugar-free and all-natural fruit frozen treats.
  • Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck offers the best pricing in Spokane for food trucks, and offers competitive pricing for themed events and parties, as well as residential delivery service. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

 

Financial Highlights

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck. The funding will be dedicated toward securing office space and purchasing truck equipment and truck supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, vehicle lease costs, and costs for the launch and marketing promotions. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Office space build-out: $20,000
  • Truck equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, vehicle lease, utilities): $150,000
  • Marketing costs: $10,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the financial projections for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck.

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck Pro Forma Projections

 

Company Overview

Who is Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck?

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is a newly established full-service ice cream truck in Spokane, Washington. Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be the most reliable, cost-effective, and efficient choice for ice cream and frozen treats and specialties in Spokane and the surrounding communities in the south and east regions. Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will provide a comprehensive menu of ice cream fancies and frozen treats for any customer, young or old, to enjoy. Their full-service approach includes a comprehensive menu of sweet, all-natural, and sugar-free delights.

 
Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be able to serve three targeted customer segments: first, the ice cream truck will serve central Spokane professionals during the mid-morning through early afternoon hours. Second, the Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will service the residential areas of south and east Spokane where the younger neighborhoods have the highest proportion of younger children. Third, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will serve participants at parties and events where trucks are invited to attend. The pair of full-time employees are highly qualified and experienced in food sales and food deliveries. Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck brings pleasure and delight in a small treat for those who need a short break from the office. Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will bring sweet frozen delights to themed events and parties. Equally important, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck brings a small delight to young children who love the engagement with the “ice cream salepeople” onboard the truck. This comprehensive targeted approach ensures satisfied customers and speedy delivery service.

 

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck History

Since incorporation, Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck has achieved the following milestones:

  • Registered Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck, LLC to transact business in the state of Washington.
  • Has a contract in place at one of the small office locations. The space will house the truck, equipment and supplies, in addition to a small office within the 10,000 square foot space.
  • Reached out to numerous contacts to include former meal delivery customers and those known in the central city professional areas of Spokane.
  • Began recruiting a staff of 5 drivers and 1 business manager.

 

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck Services

The following will be the products and services Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will provide:

  • Comprehensive selection of frozen ice treats
  • Comprehensive selection of ice cream treats and fancies
  • All-natural 100% fruit juice frozen treats
  • Sugar-free frozen treats
  • Mobile food ice cream service 7 days per week
  • Truck presence at themed events and parties

 

Industry Analysis

The ice cream and frozen treat truck industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $3,004 million by 2029.
The growth will be driven by an increased population of children as birth rates rise.
The increased seasonal warming of the Spokane, Washington regional area during the past twenty years will also encourage sales of frozen goods.
The younger demographic of professionals are willing to spend discretionary funds on personal treats, such as ice cream and frozen goods.
Supply chain issues will dissipate during the next year, resulting in a greater supply of inventory, a larger inventory.
Changes to ice cream and frozen treat ingredients toward more healthful choices may reduce costs proportionally.
Costs will also likely be reduced as supply chain issues are solved and quantities are again available.
Costs will also be reduced as more flavors of ice cream and frozen treats are introduced, thus increasing the consumer target audience.

 

Customer Analysis

Demographic Profile of Target Market

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will target the professionals in central Spokane and the residents in south and east Spokane, Washington. They will target walk-up pedestrians in central Spokane and residential neighborhoods in south and east Spokane. They will target party planners and event coordinators for events.

The precise demographics for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck are:

TotalPercent
    Total population1,680,988100%
        Male838,67549.9%
        Female842,31350.1%
        20 to 24 years114,8726.8%
        25 to 34 years273,58816.3%
        35 to 44 years235,94614.0%
        45 to 54 years210,25612.5%
        55 to 59 years105,0576.2%
        60 to 64 years87,4845.2%
        65 to 74 years116,8787.0%
        75 to 84 years52,5243.1%

 

Customer Segmentation

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will primarily target the following customer profiles:

  • Professionals in central Spokane (food truck presence in city square)
  • Residents/families in southeast Spokane (mobile truck route)
  • Event planners and coordinators (themed events and parties)

 

Competitive Analysis

Direct and Indirect Competitors

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

 

Premium Ice Cream Company

Premium Ice Cream Company is located in northeast Spokane and regions nearby. The company owns two ice cream trucks that deliver premium ice cream to residences by pre-purchased orders. The company, founded in 1998, is owned by a husband and wife team, Don and Margo Liden, who drive the trucks and make deliveries. This direct competitor delivers one-half gallon cartons of ice cream in a wide variety of flavors and is known for the rich butterfat content of their ice creams. The pricing, as a result of the premium ingredients used, is at the top of the scale in cost. The added cost of residential delivery creates an additional factor in pricing, resulting in prices that are 30-40% higher than those of their nearest competitors. The customer base is around 4,800 ice cream purchasers, most of whom purchase ice cream on a regular bi-monthly basis.

The greatest challenge for Premium Ice Cream Company is the lack of a creamery or local outlet for customers who want to walk-in, such as chain companies provide, meaning that the only avenues of purchase are via phone or online purchases at least one week in advance. This eliminates the opportunity to engage the spontaneous urge of customers who desire premium ice cream on an in-the-moment decision.

 

Hausen’s Creamery & Pastry Shop

Hausen’s Creamery & Pastry Shop is located in central Spokane, Washington. It is owned by the Swenson Family Trust and is operated by Lars and Jenson Hausen, brothers who emigrated from Sweden in 2002 and set up the family trust in 2003. The shop serves the highest grade of ice cream made in the adjacent dairy and pairs most ice cream treats with pastries such as eclairs, molded cakes, Swiss chocolate mousse, and other delicacies.

As direct competitors, Hausen’s Creamery & Pastry Shop provides an inviting atmosphere and “family” friendliness, which is welcoming to families of all ages and groups of all sizes. The motto for Hausen’s is “Butter & Cream Make Your Dreams Come True.” The selection of ice cream depends on the dairy production each week. There are no frozen ices or natural fruit selections; the ice cream has a 30% butterfat content, which is both highly flavorful and highly concentrated with cholesterol and fat.

 

Terri’s Ice Cream Trailer

Terri’s Ice Cream Trailer is a popular sight at sporting events throughout the Spokane region. Terri Halter, the owner of the company, is a former snack shack operator who has developed a traveling snack bar contained within a small trailer. The direct competitor is typically located at junior league baseball, football and soccer games, where permanent snack shacks are not allowed or available. The target audience is sport attendees who want candy, gum, coffee, sodas or frozen ice cream treats. The items for sale come prepackaged from a local distributor.

Terri’s Ice Cream Trailer is known for the vibrant personality of Terri, who is warm and engaging with children, and for the pricing on snacks that is higher than those of the grocery or convenience stores. There are no “healthful” snacks included in the selection of candy, ice cream, or sodas offered.

 

Competitive Advantage

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

  • Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly qualified team of Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck.
  • Comprehensive menu of ice cream and frozen goods, including all-natural fruit frozen goods and sugar-free frozen pops, along with ice cream fancies and delicacies, all targeted to busy professionals in central Spokane, parties and themed event attendees, and children in regional Spokane whose parents want sweet treats and natural foods for their children.
  • Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is the only ice cream truck in Spokane to offer sugar-free and all-natural fruit frozen treats.
  • Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck offers the best pricing in Spokane for food trucks, and offers competitive pricing for themed events and parties, as well as residential delivery service. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective when compared to the competition.

 

Marketing Plan

Brand & Value Proposition

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

  • Highly-qualified team of skilled employees that is able to provide high-quality ice cream treats, all natural frozen fruit treats and sugar-free pops to customers via local truck delivery.
  • Food truck walk-up window service for busy professionals in central Spokane. Extensive list of ice cream flavors and treats, along with all-natural ingredients and sugar-free offerings.
  • Food truck attendance at themed events and parties, offering pre-selected treats for partygoers, in conjunction with party planners or event coordinators.
  • Modest pricing on all selections coupled with delivery service; most comprehensive and least expensive when compared to competitors.

 

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck has built up an extensive list of contacts due to the popularity of the delivery service of the owners over the years. Providing exceptional service and high-quality ice cream and other delicacies will be an additional service for their former clients who are eagerly awaiting the launch of the business. The customers of Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will spread the word and offer referrals to new customers along the route, in the central city, and at themed events or parties.

Professional Associations and Networking

There are multiple community associations that will be joined by Perry Jackson and Jack Stinson. The networking opportunities within the associations will set up future business and secure new customer attention for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck.

Print Advertising

Direct mail advertising will be sent via mail to all residents in the south and east portions of Spokane. The flyers will advertise the service routes and introductory discounts will be offered. In addition, the professional workers within the central city of Spokane will see similar advertisements in the newspapers and flyers distributed throughout the offices in the area. Finally, direct mail advertising will also reach party planners and event coordinators through the mail.

Website/SEO Marketing

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will utilize social media to advise customers of their daily schedules with timed attendance in the city center and timed delivery routes throughout the southeast Spokane area. Social media updates will inform customers of any changes and a countdown clock will estimate the length of time Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be in the city center. This outreach will be most helpful for customers who only need to step outside to find the ice cream truck. Residents in the southeast Spokane area will also receive alerts regarding the truck’s timing for delivery through their neighborhoods.
The Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is able to provide. The website will also list contact information and the “favorite flavors of the day.” The website will include SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “ice cream truck” or “ice cream truck near me,” Chilly’s Ice CreamTruck will be listed at the top of the search results.

 

Pricing

The pricing of Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck 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 Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck.
Operation Functions:

  • Perry Jackson will be the Owner and President of the company. He will oversee the truck staff and manage client relations. Jay has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
  • Jack Stinsonwill be the Business Manager, overseeing operations and truck maintenance and inventory. Jack is skilled in strategic marketing, management, and inventory control.
  • Kelly Parton will be the Administrative Assistant for both Perry and Jack. She will provide assistance with all areas of the company and place product orders when needed.

 

Milestones:

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

  • 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease office space
  • 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel employment contracts for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck
  • 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck event coordinator clients
  • 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
  • 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck office
  • 7/1/202X – Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck opens for business

 

Management Team

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck will be owned and operated by Perry Jackson. He has recruited an associate, Jack Stinson, to be the manager. Jack was Perry’s associate for several years in the same meal-delivery business and is skilled in strategic marketing, management, and inventory control.

Perry Jackson has over ten years of experience in the meal-delivery service, which encompassed both residential and commercial areas of Spokane. During that time, he developed an efficient and high-quality system for delivering meals on time, every time. This garnered a delivery success rate of 100% and customers who applauded him for his service. Perry has extensive experience with residential deliveries and sales; equally important, he has the skills to effectively engage, market and sell-through food very successfully.

Jack Stinson will be the Business Manager of Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck. As a close associate of Perry’s for several years in the same meal-delivery service, Jack is known for his strategic marketing skills and his handling of management issues and inventory control.

 

Financial Plan

Key Revenue & Costs

The revenue drivers for Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck are the ice cream and frozen treat fees they will charge to the ice cream truck customers for their products and services. .

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff the ice cream truck business. The expenses will be the payroll cost, vehicle lease, utilities, truck equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

 

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Chilly’s Ice Cream Truck is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its ice cream truck business. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the office space and purchasing truck equipment and food supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, lease payments, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

  • Office space build-out: $20,000
  • Truck equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
  • Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, vehicle lease, utilities): $150,000
  • Marketing costs: $10,000
  • Working capital: $10,000

 

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: 2,550
  • Average fees per Month: $38,250
  • Office Lease per Year: $100,000

 

Financial Projections

Income Statement
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
Revenues
Total Revenues$360,000$793,728$875,006$964,606$1,063,382
Expenses & Costs
Cost of goods sold$64,800$142,871$157,501$173,629$191,409
Lease$50,000$51,250$52,531$53,845$55,191
Marketing$10,000$8,000$8,000$8,000$8,000
Salaries$157,015$214,030$235,968$247,766$260,155
Initial expenditure$10,000$0$0$0$0
Total Expenses & Costs$291,815$416,151$454,000$483,240$514,754
EBITDA$68,185 $377,577 $421,005 $481,366 $548,628
Depreciation$27,160$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
EBIT$41,025 $350,417 $393,845$454,206$521,468
Interest$23,462$20,529 $17,596 $14,664 $11,731
PRETAX INCOME$17,563 $329,888 $376,249 $439,543 $509,737
Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Use of Net Operating Loss$0$0$0$0$0
Taxable Income$17,563$329,888$376,249$439,543$509,737
Income Tax Expense$6,147$115,461$131,687$153,840$178,408
NET INCOME$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703 $331,329
Balance Sheet
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
ASSETS
Cash$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286
Accounts receivable$0$0$0$0$0
Inventory$30,000$33,072$36,459$40,192$44,308
Total Current Assets$184,257$381,832$609,654$878,742$1,193,594
Fixed assets$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950$180,950
Depreciation$27,160$54,320$81,480$108,640 $135,800
Net fixed assets$153,790 $126,630 $99,470 $72,310 $45,150
TOTAL ASSETS$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
LIABILITIES & EQUITY
Debt$315,831$270,713$225,594$180,475 $135,356
Accounts payable$10,800$11,906$13,125$14,469 $15,951
Total Liability$326,631 $282,618 $238,719 $194,944 $151,307
Share Capital$0$0$0$0$0
Retained earnings$11,416 $225,843 $470,405 $756,108$1,087,437
Total Equity$11,416$225,843$470,405$756,108$1,087,437
TOTAL LIABILITIES & EQUITY$338,047$508,462$709,124$951,052$1,238,744
Cash Flow Statement
FY 1FY 2FY 3FY 4FY 5
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS
Net Income (Loss)$11,416 $214,427 $244,562 $285,703$331,329
Change in working capital($19,200)($1,966)($2,167)($2,389)($2,634)
Depreciation$27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160 $27,160
Net Cash Flow from Operations$19,376 $239,621 $269,554 $310,473 $355,855
CASH FLOW FROM INVESTMENTS
Investment($180,950)$0$0$0$0
Net Cash Flow from Investments($180,950)$0$0$0$0
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING
Cash from equity$0$0$0$0$0
Cash from debt$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow from Financing$315,831 ($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)($45,119)
Net Cash Flow$154,257$194,502 $224,436 $265,355$310,736
Cash at Beginning of Period$0$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550
Cash at End of Period$154,257$348,760$573,195$838,550$1,149,286


Ice Cream Truck Business Plan FAQs

An ice cream truck business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your ice cream truck 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 Truck business plan using our Ice Cream Truck Business Plan Template here.

There are a number of different kinds of ice cream truck businesses, some examples include: Weddings & Parties, Corporate Events, and On-the-Move.

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

Starting an ice cream truck 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 Truck Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed ice cream truck 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 truck 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 truck business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Ice Cream Truck Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your ice cream truck 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 truck 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 Truck Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your ice cream truck 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 truck 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 truck business: