How to Start a Gelato Business

Start a gelato business by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Gelato Business
2. Form your Gelato Business into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Gelato Business for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Gelato Business
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Gelato Business
7. Get Gelato Business Insurance
8. Define your Gelato Business Brand
9. Create your Gelato Business Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your gelato business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Gelato Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a gelato business?

Besides rent and employee salaries, owners will need to register their business and obtain all permits from both the state and local government. A health inspector will need to visit before approving the business, too. The total for these fees vary widely based on where you are and how much profit you expect to make, so the range can be anywhere from a several hundred dollars to up to $8,000 or more. Typically, you can expect to pay less if you're in a less desirable area.

Owners will need commercial insurance for things like workers' compensation and liability protection. Average annual commercial insurance costs for food-service small businesses are around $3,000, but each business is judged individually. Initial supplies are the gelato-making equipment (freezers, mixers, etc.), disposable plasticware, cash register and a display case. An attractive display case will cost between $5,000 to $7,000, and a 6-quart mixer will run you about $5,000. A basic cash register will only cost a few hundred, but you may want to invest in better technology which will put you closer to $1,000. Owners will need a computer to keep track of finances and schedules as well as tables and chairs. A nice table/chair set may be around $250.

Total you can expect to spend between $15,000 to $25,000 in start up costs.

What are the ongoing expenses for a gelato business?

Typically, an owner will have the following ongoing expenses:

• Equipment maintenance
• Employee salaries
• Ordering expenses
• Permit renewals

Who is the target market?

Owners need to attract a crowd who is willing to pay for a premium experience when they want a fast but delicious dessert. The ideal customer would be someone who lives near the store who will consistently look to your business as their go-to for quality treats. You may also want to attract those who primarily want a coffee shop, but with a bit of a twist.

How does a gelato business make money?

A gelato bar serves Italian-style ice cream to paying clients in a variety of forms (e.g., in shakes, cones, cups, etc.) Gelato bars may also offer other products, such as specialty coffee.

As owner, you will need to account for location costs (rent, inflation, etc.), employee salaries, and the cost of ingredients. They will then have to determine a price for each individual menu item that will cover these costs and allow for a profit. It is not recommended that a gelato bar try for a budget angle due to the cost and effort to make the products.

How much can you charge customers?

One general rule of thumb (which differs for each owner depending on where they operate) is to charge 3 to 4 times the cost of the raw ingredients. So if one scoop of gelato costs $.75, then the appropriate cost for a customer to pay might be around $3. The same can be said for specialty coffee drinks as well. A well-maintained shop with fancy amenities can allow you to charge even more.

How much profit can a gelato business make?

It's difficult to estimate as it really does depend on location and price points. In general, you can expect about a third of the budget to go towards raw ingredients and a third to go to employees. The rest will typically go toward equipment and rent costs.

How can you make your business more profitable?

One easy way is to upsell your customers to larger portion sizes, specialty flavors, extra espresso shots, etc. However, you can also expand into offering better coffee or more coffee options, as well as cakes, pastries, and other treats. Get more people hooked by opening up local stands at major events.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC), and corporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your gelato business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

A gelato bar will need licensing from a local health department, which will vary from town to town. This is because ice cream parlors sell food; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection.

FDA Requirements

Furthermore, any business which sells food prepared on site may be randomly inspected by the local health department on a regular basis. These inspections will check for compliance with local health laws, typically related to prevention of food contamination.

• Tips for faring well on a health inspections can be found here.

Music Licensing

In order to play music in a business setting, permission must be acquired from the composer or license holder. Typically, it is possible to obtain a “blanket” license allowing a businesses to play music owned by a large catalog of artists and recording studios. Such licenses can be obtained from Performance Rights Organizations, such as ASCAP or BMI.

• Learn more about music licensing requirements

Certificate of Occupancy

Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a gelato bar
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a location:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your gelato bar will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

 

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

Gelato started getting more attention in the late 1990s and really started to pick up steam in the early 2000s. It falls under the $14.3 billion a year ice cream industry, and recently experienced an uptick in sales. There is a distinct market trend showing customers want to pay more for premium ice cream treats like gelato.

What happens during a typical day at a gelato business?

Owners must hire the right staff, advertise their business, and find the best location to attract hungry crowds. A typical day may have the following to-do list:

• Order supplies
• Create a budget
• Perform hands-on customer service
• Schedule employee shifts
• Commission work for the company website
• Respond to customer concerns on feedback sites like Yelp
• Ensure all food and beverages are being made responsibly and up to company standards

Ordering must anticipate higher volumes of customers without wasting too much product. To a certain extent, an owner may be able to distance themselves from the actual production of the gelato, but it helps to have a full understanding of all sides of the business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful gelato business?

Owners should have a lot experience in the food service industry, including customer service, production, and management. They should have a good understanding of what it takes to give customers a consistent experience no matter when they walk through the door. A formal education such as an MBA or culinary school will certainly help, but the real value lies in having a thorough understanding of how each employee works together to form a cohesive team that can produce and serve superior tasting gelato.

What is the growth potential for a gelato business?

From 2013 to 2014, the amount of people purchasing gelato increased by 247%, and has achieved modest gains since then. The amount of gelato purchased in stores and from neighborhood businesses is predicted to remain strong, however the overall trends do not necessarily point to growth spikes as high as were seen a few years ago.

The most successful shops are rooted in innovative flavors (e.g., toast and jam, olive oil) and standard dessert menu items (e.g., cakes, pies, specialty sundaes.) Gelato bars are most likely to do well in large cities where residents are always looking for a little novelty. As long as the business can change with the times, there should be plenty of room for growth.