Thought of an idea to sell ice cream?

Question

I'm already working full time but need extra cash!!! Can get off my butt and put in the hours. Does anyone know the regulations around setting up an ice cream round and what a van should cost that is kitted out? Do you have to have permission or a licence if you own the van and where would you source the ice cream. I know of a few places you could source it from but is there a reasonable rate/percentage you would expect to pay? for the ice cream? What wouldyou pay for an ice cream by the way?

Answer 1

You'd need to do the legal paperwork to set yourself up as a business (set up a corporation).  I have no idea what it would cost to buy an ice cream truck set up with freezers and so forth; maybe you can find a used one somewhere.  You'd invest money in the corporation to buy the ice cream truck and the truck would be in the corporation's name.

As for licenses and permits to operate an ice cream route, you'd need to check with your local town or municipality. I'm assuming you're British (based on your spelling and vocabulary), I have NO idea what the laws are there, so check with your local authorities.  

You'd have to find a local ice cream manufacturer and set up an account with them to buy their products on credit.  There are no rates or percentages.  You buy the ice cream for so much per gallon (or liter or whatever unit of measure) and sell it for so much per cone or cup or scoop or whatever. Its up to you to figure out how much you need to sell your ice cream for in order to cover not only the cost of the ice cream but the cost of owning and operating the truck (gasoline, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, etc), and paying yourself a salary.  Do some research and find out what local ice cream shops and restaurants in your area charge for ice cream.  You might be able to set your prices a bit lower since you don't have all the expenses of maintaining a building and paying multiple employees.

Everything is done through the corporation, recording and tracking the sales revenues, paying the operating expenses of the business, and you pay yourself a salary or wage as the corporation's employee (so you'll have to be sure to pay all legally required payroll taxes like Social Security and so on).  The idea is that at the end of the year, the corporation's legitimate expenses should more or less equal the income, so that there is little or no profit to report and pay corporate income taxes on.

Of course, you as the corporation's employee would be responsible for paying personal income tax on your earnings as an ice cream sales person.

Answer 2

You will need a license and permit from your local council and if you think they will be difficult wait till the local Mafia want their slice.