How To Start An Online Ice Cream Business: An Ultimate Guide

Selling ice cream businesses through trucks or on-site stores is common. But what if we tell you to start an online ice cream business?

In the era where everything can be digitalized, selling ice cream online doesn’t sound so bad, right?

In fact, it is quite considerable due to the potential profits generated from the business. Yes, only if you know how to overcome the challenge, like the melting issue.

Read this article to learn why an online ice cream store is practical and the step-by-step on how to open it.

Why An Online Ice Cream Business Can Be Profitable

Ice cream can get easily melted, especially when staying outside in hot weather. That’s why most ice cream businesses are only operated on-site. 

However, the concept of online food business ideas, specifically the ice cream business, has risen in recent years because many have discovered ways to protect their product and maintain their consistency when delivering to customers. 

But besides that, here are why selling an online ice cream business can be profitable: 

• Reach More Ice Cream Lovers: Unlike a regular shop that relies on walk-ins, an online business can serve customers all over your town, state, or even further, depending on how you deliver. That’s a much bigger audience to enjoy your ice cream!

• Save on Costs: You don’t need to rent an expensive storefront or hire a big team to run your shop. You can start from a small kitchen or team up with local producers, keeping expenses low while focusing on creating amazing ice cream.

• Showcase Your Flavors: eCommerce platforms like Shopify let you create a website that displays not only your beautiful brand story but also attractive and ‘yummy’ ice cream photos and videos. Imagine someone seeing a mouthwatering shot of your chocolate fudge swirl or watching a clip of your mango sorbet being scooped. Well, it is hard to resist, isn’t it?

• Offer Convenience: People, and probably you do, too, choose the most convenient options, like same-day delivery, scheduled pickups, or even subscriptions for regular deliveries. Your online shop can make buying ice cream as simple and flexible as possible.

• Easy to Expand: As your business grows, you can add new flavors and seasonal specials or even sell ice cream-related products like branded cones, coolers, or merchandise. Since you’re online, you can test and grow your offerings without needing to expand a physical location.

Steps to Start Your Ice Cream Business Online

Now that you know why opening an online ice cream business is worth considering let’s see the detailed roadmap on how to start an ice cream business, from ideation to launch:

Create a Business Plan

Always start with a plan - a foundation for the success of any business, whether online or on-site. 

Yes, your business plan must act as a roadmap to guide every step of your journey, from setting goals and planning finances to marketing and growth strategies. 

A well-written business plan keeps you focused, helps you understand your financial needs, and makes it easier to attract investors or lenders. With a clear vision and actionable steps, you’ll be better prepared to launch your online ice cream shop and achieve long-term success.

 Whether for the ice cream business, a detailed business plan must include these important parts. Source: HubSpot Blog

Here’s how to create a business plan tailored to your ice cream business:

1. Define Your Goals

A goal is not exclusively applicable to the ice cream business. It defines your motivation and the reason you start something. 

So, with this ice cream business, the first step is to get started by outlining clear, achievable goals. 

Ask yourself: Why do you want to open an ice cream business? Are you aware of the challenges, even financial ones, that you will need to face and overcome? What do you expect from this business? 

Those types of questions are what will help you dive deep into the motivation behind your needs to open an ice cream business, hence establishing clear and specific goals, such as:

• Achieve a particular monthly sales target within 6 months.

• Build a loyal customer base by offering unique flavors.

• Expand to include subscriptions or gift packages in the future.
  Setting measurable goals will give your business a sense of direction and help you make smart decisions.

2. Establish A Financial Plan 

After defining your goals, here's the part about starting an ice cream business process that every store owner wants to avoid, yet it's impossible to…

The financial plan.

Your financial plan should cover everything from start-up costs to daily operations. For an online ice cream shop, consider:

• Start-up Costs: Website creation, branding, ice cream production equipment, and packaging materials.

• Operating Costs: Ingredient costs, cold storage, shipping supplies, and delivery logistics.

• Revenue Projections: Estimate your potential income based on market research, pricing strategies, and expected sales volume.

Follow the 6 steps of the financial planning process to best avoid unexpected costs in the future. Source: FPSB | Financial Planning Standards Board

While establishing a complete financial plan involves many expenses, costs, and small details, these are the costs that a business owner will mostly incur. 

Remember, there is no such thing as 100% accuracy when it comes to financial planning, whether for an online ice cream business or any store. Yet, your plan must still be detailed as much as possible to avoid unexpected future expenses. 

If you are looking for an investment, a detailed financial plan will also help you pitch to investors or secure funding.

See more: How To Start a Lingerie Business in 2025 (Tips + Examples Included)

3. Choose a Name for Your Shop

Let the creativity begin: choosing your ice cream business names.

Pick a catchy and memorable name that reflects your brand’s identity and is easy to remember for your audience to search online. Ideas for an online ice cream shop could include:

• “Frozen Bliss” for a fun, indulgent vibe.

• “Scoop & Smile” to highlight joy and flavor.

• “The Flavor Lab” if you specialize in creative or experimental flavors.

The ice cream business names should connect with your target audience and give them a hint of what makes your ice cream special. Remember, it’s all about the creativity for this step.

4. Outline Your Business Plan

It’s time to finalize your business plan on how to start an ice cream business online process. Here are the general sections you should include:

• Executive Summary: Write this last as it’s a brief overview of your entire business plan.

• Company Description: Expand on your goals, strategies, and what makes your shop unique.

• Concept and Menu: Detail the type of ice cream you’ll offer (e.g., vegan options, exotic flavors) and your plans for customization or seasonal specials.

• Management and Ownership: Explain your ownership structure and how your team will be managed.

• Staffing Needs: If you plan to hire, outline the roles and responsibilities for customer service, production, and delivery.

• Marketing and Competitor Analysis: Identify your target market and research competitors. Highlight what sets you apart, like exclusive flavors or sustainable packaging.

• Advertising and Marketing Strategies: List methods to attract customers, such as social media ads, influencer collaborations, or special discounts for first-time buyers.

• Financial Projection and Summary: Include projected revenue, a break-even analysis, and estimated costs to show how your business can become profitable.

Develop Your Ice Cream Product Line

You are selling ice cream, which means your products are the magnet that attracts customers. Therefore, developing an irresistible product line is key to getting and retaining customers.

In fact, your menu should balance familiar favorites with unique offerings that set your shop apart. Pricing is also important as your ice cream needs to be affordable enough to attract customers but profitable enough to sustain your business, especially in the competitive eCommerce market.

Let’s first start with the basics, deciding the ice cream flavors. You should include customer favorites and should be staples in your shop like:

• Vanilla

• Chocolate

• Strawberry

• Cookies and Cream

• Mint Chocolate Chip

These flavors are widely loved and expected, so they’ll ensure you approach a broad audience.

 Include these top-ordered ice cream flavors in your product line for easy selection. Source: AARP

Next, to stand out from competitors and make your ice cream products more personalized, like ordering a customized drink at Starbucks, include specialty options such as:

• Lactose-Free Ice Cream: This option is ideal for customers with lactose intolerance. It uses lactose-free milk or enzymes to remove lactose.

• Dairy-free ice Cream: Made with almond milk, coconut milk, or other substitutes, this product is perfect for vegan and health-conscious customers.

• Unique Flavors: Experiment with diverse or trendy flavors like matcha, lavender honey, or s'mores to differentiate your shop.

While ice cream is the star, it’s always a good idea to diversify your product line beyond ice cream. And remember, diversifying uniquely makes your ice cream business stand out from competitors.

Here are some common drink options that can be mixed with ice cream:

• Milkshakes: Blend ice cream, milk, and flavors for a classic treat that’s always a hit. Offer malted options for a nostalgic touch.

• Floats: Pair scoops of ice cream with root beer or other sodas for a fun, fizzy experience.

• Gelato: A rich and creamy alternative to ice cream with a slightly different texture and flavor profile.

• Italian Ice: A fruity, dairy-free frozen dessert perfect for hot summer days.

• Mangonadas: A tangy and spicy Mexican-inspired treat made with mango, lime, chamoy, and chili-lime seasoning.

• Frozen Yogurt: A tangy, lower-fat option for customers looking for something a little lighter.

Lastly, don’t forget to run promotions, especially seasonal drinks or limited ice cream flavors. 

Adding seasonal or limited-time flavors keeps your menu fresh and exciting. For example, you can consider pumpkin spice in the fall, peppermint in the winter, or tropical fruit sorbets in the summer. These options also create urgency for customers to try something new.

Packaging and Delivery Logistics

Once your ice cream products are listed on your e-commerce site, packaging and delivery logistics become key to your business's success. However, delivering ice cream is one of the biggest concerns among business owners due to its easy-to-get-melted consistency. 

We have a solution for you!

You need a reliable courier service to ensure your products stay fresh and in good condition when they arrive. The key is to look for couriers with experience shipping perishable goods, such as UPS, FedEx, or specialized refrigerated delivery services.

Once you choose your shipping partner, start planning your shipment to minimize delays and ensure a smooth delivery process by considering these factors:

• Shipping Days: Decide the specific days you'll ship orders (e.g., Monday to Thursday) to avoid products sitting in transit over weekends.

• Cutoff Times: Set a clear deadline for same-day processing, like orders placed before noon.

• Order Preparation Time: Ensure you can pack and prepare orders promptly, ideally within a few hours after receipt.

• Tracking Codes: Provide tracking numbers so customers can monitor their delivery status. This feature increases transparency and reduces customer inquiries.

Yum ice cream brand designs cute packaging for their product that impresses guests right at first sight. Source: Behance

Although, be aware that the shipping costs can be high due to the advanced requirements. 

The way you package your products is also another important part of maintaining the ice cream in the best consistency during transit. This used to be the biggest hesitation keeping business owners from opening an ice cream business online. 

However, here are some tips to add to your packaging to avoid the products from melting:

• Insulated Containers: To maintain low temperatures, use insulated shipping boxes or coolers with materials like Styrofoam or thermal liners.

• Dry Ice or Gel Packs: Include enough dry ice or gel packs to keep the ice cream frozen for the expected shipping duration. Follow safety guidelines for handling dry ice.

• Sealed Protection: To prevent leaks, ensure the ice cream containers are tightly sealed. Wrap each container in plastic for added protection.

• Void Fillers: Fill empty spaces in the box with materials like bubble wrap or packing peanuts to prevent movement and protect against damage.

• Personal Touch: To build customer loyalty, add a thank-you note or a small surprise, like a discount code for their next purchase.

And don’t forget to print your packaging design beautifully; a good first impression can never go wrong!

The last factor, and probably the one that many store owners will oversee, is incorporating exchange guarantee policies into your shipment. 

It is difficult to ensure that every product, especially a unique product like ice cream, is delivered in the best quality. Delays in shipping can easily ruin the products!

Yet, this is an unavoidable problem that might occur in perishable foods like ice cream. So, what do you do?

Comply with certain regulations to protect customers, such as:

• Local Health and Safety Standards for shipping frozen foods.

• Courier-Specific Guidelines for packaging and transporting items with dry ice.

• State and Federal Licensing for food businesses, if applicable.

In fact, notify on your products page or when communicating with customers that your ice cream business is strictly following these regulations and customers have the right to file a return or exchange in case they are not satisfied with the products. 

Build Your Online Store 

You are operating online; therefore, an online store for your ice cream shop is a must. 

But trust us, it is not that hard, especially if you choose to operate your store through an eCommerce platform like Shopify. It already has a built-up system for you, so all you need to do is select your preferred themes, pay, craft landing pages, and be ready to live. 

Jude’s is one of the outstanding online ice cream shops with an impressive web design. Source: Muffin Group

Here is the step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Always start with creating a website.

Your website is the heart of your online business, and its design should reflect the joy and deliciousness of your ice cream. 

If you are using Shopify, try landing-page builder apps like GemPages make it easy to create a professional, visually stunning, and functional online store without needing coding skills. With drag-and-drop tools, you can customize your store to showcase your brand’s personality and provide a seamless shopping experience.

Here are some key sections to include on your website:

• A homepage that grabs attention with vibrant images of your ice cream and clear navigation.

• Flavor descriptions that make customers crave your products. For example: "Our Salted Caramel Swirl is a creamy blend of rich caramel and just the right touch of sea salt."

• Use product pages to list your products. You can divide them into categories based on flavors, such as berries or collections. Of course, you should attach beautiful design pictures and a description for each product. 

• A user-friendly shopping cart and checkout process.

• Mobile responsiveness so customers can shop from any device.

• Blog pages introducing tips & recipes section with fun ways to enjoy your ice cream.

• An ‘About us’ page to display your beautiful brand story. 

For easy navigation, add on:

• Categories: Group flavors into sections like "Classics," "Vegan Options," or "Seasonal Favorites."

• Search Bar: Add a search feature so customers can quickly find their favorite flavor.

• Filters: Let customers sort by dietary preferences, price, or popularity.

Market Your Ice Cream Business

Starting your ice cream business online requires not just a functional e-commerce platform but also a strong online marketing strategy to attract customers and keep them coming back. 

We have some suggestions tailored to the ice cream business so you can get started immediately on your marketing strategy, especially as a new business:

• Register your business on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor to improve visibility and credibility, especially for local searches. 

• Social media advertising, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, targets ads based on interests. For instance, if you sell vegan ice cream, target ads to people who follow vegan or plant-based content.

• Email marketing is another essential component. Send emails regularly with special offers, discounts, or news about your products and business. Informative newsletters that share tips, recipes, or updates about your brand can keep your audience engaged. 

• To draw in new customers, consider offering free samples, either at local events or through online promotions like “Buy 1, Get 1 Free” or free shipping for first-time buyers. 

• Write blogs to share valuable content like recipes, pairing tips, or behind-the-scenes stories about your business, subtly promoting your products and establishing your expertise.

• Launch seasonal deals or host contests that encourage customers to engage with your brand, like sharing photos of your ice cream on social media for a chance to win free products. 

• Implementing a loyalty program is also an effective way to encourage repeat purchases. To build customer loyalty, offer digital punch cards, exclusive member benefits, or discounts for frequent buyers.

• Monitor the results of your efforts regularly using tools like Google Analytics or social media insights. Understanding what works and making data-driven adjustments will help refine your strategy over time.

Social media channels are one of the common and most effective approaches to marketing an ice cream business. Source: Facebook

Conclusion

In your opinion, is it hard to open an online ice cream business?

Depending on your target audiences and specialty, your business model can differ. Yet, an online ice cream business is still worth considering, as long as you can manage its biggest issue: melting. 

Although we have provided expert solutions to help you overcome this challenge and order steps to open an ice cream business, it is best for store owners to do thorough market research on whether this model favors their surrounding areas and how their competitors are performing, both online and offline. 

Good luck!