Startup costs for a shave ice/ snow cone business

How much does it cost to start a shaved ice business?
This video shows the start up costs.

[@evilgabe666]

I bought a hatsuyuki, I paid 900 for. It's hand crank. It works great. You don't need power. Here in Los Angeles the county wants your life just to get permits. They say if you are mobile in some citys you don't need any. I'm gonna give it a go this summer. All together you will need about 2 grand. You need a table maybe a chair, umbrella if you want to post up. Dewalt makes a great fold table That's about what I spent, with a generator I bought just because it was a good deal. Maybe if I blow up I'll get an electric machine.

[@thehaddocks]

That’s awesome. Bigger cities are probably more difficult/expensive to get permits and licensing. Good luck with your business!

[@ursulaschaefer1747]

How quickly can you fill a cone? I wanted to go this route too. I love the low tech manual style just don’t want it to take too long…

[@evilgabe666]

@@ursulaschaefer1747 i can make a large cup in under a minute. I had a gig a few weeks ago and everybody was fascinated by the machine. They liked seeing it done by hand. Its not a cheap machine, it's made of iron and the blade is so sharp. I can make snow on a hot day like nothing. Its very easy to use. If you get enough practice at making them you can crank them out no problem for a small group of 30 people anything over 50 you might want a helper maybe. I go to a place where they got a cube ice shaver and its all electric, I think its the same amount of time. Not much of a time difference, you got to remember a little skill goes into making them. Its not all about how fast you can crank one out.

[@oceandreams97]

Starting this year, I created a new dream of mine. And its precisely this! Now i have more confidence about me proceeding with my goal! Iam currently looking at little trailers, and shave ice machines. I am a stay at home mom, and havnt brought an income in, in more than 4 years! Currently going through the worst we've experienced yet in our lives, and i NEED to help and get us out of the hole we are in! I dont want to worry about how iam going to buy diapers or food for my family ever again! My fiance has been working tirelessly, and with the economy now its just not enough! We seem to be going backwards instead of forward! So with that being said, iam literally starting at NOTHING with huge dreams and the best intentions! I already created my own logo and brand! So hopefully someday soon i can come back, and tell everyone my name, and that i made it!🎉❤❤ iam so so glad, this momma of 2 littles came across your video today! This is what i needed! 🙏🙌🌠💐

[@McK2Official]

My first year too. It's gonna be extremely hot. So that just means more $$$😊

[@oceandreams97]

@McK2Official heck yes. That's what I need! Would $400 be enough to start at base level? Machine and flavors and ice? Even if I start with a canopy by a lake or beach?

[@McK2Official]

@@oceandreams97 you need more than that to start Must get your licenses together. Business and Food Handler. Then materials for operation. (SUPPLIES). Then you have staff.. If any... Style of service, Shop Rental, or on a Cart or a Trailer...Plus Uniforns or Shirts with your comapny on it..Or you can just do it for your neighborhood...Sit outside your house🐖

[@oceandreams97]

@McK2Official okay so, maybe more like around $1,200 for base minimum! I'd start out with a canopy stand, and work my way up to a trailer. If I bought a machine for even $200, a canopy for another $200 and the licenses...I think I could still make this happen, I really have faith in this and need to prove to myself and my fiance it's truly possible! Thank you for responding to me, it definitely helped figure numbers a bit better!😊

[@BrotherBen1988]

Keep pushing 💯. God is faithful 🙏🏽

[@spaghettimeatball]

I just bought everything to get going and I have been watching your videos for a few weeks, by far the best ones on the subject. I just want to let you know I appreciate you.

[@thehaddocks]

Awesome, thank you!

[@theperceivingeye3388]

Any updates?

[@spaghettimeatball]

@@theperceivingeye3388 updates on me? sure. I kinda lost interest after trump is not coming to iowa, that was my whole thing to sell to the people in the line, i kinda lost interest but idk. still want to make it work somehow. but it needs to be the right situation with enough people. thanks for asking!

[@jesusiscurtis]

How’d it go dude?

[@secondcitysurvival8404]

Just came across your channel. I am in the inflatable business. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your videos. Also a buddy of mine and I always wanted to start a shaved ice trailer! Thanks man

[@lariiac7167]

Where do you purchase your syrups

[@thehaddocks]

This video shows where I buy everything for my shave ice business: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3KqnX-Yg7lrobM

[@SWEETSTOP2023]

Love your videos! I am starting a snow cone and soft serve ice cream shop. I have gotten a lot of good info from you. Thanks! I am documenting everything from day 1. I am not open yet but in process of getting building ready. Already purchased most everything just waiting for building to get finished! wish me luck.

[@thehaddocks]

Thank you! Good luck in your new endeavor!

[@jesusiscurtis]

Hey! Any update?

[@SWEETSTOP2023]

@@jesusiscurtis opening day tomorrow

[@DavidLopez-bs9it]

Where did you buy your shavers? Im looking to upgrade to block shavers i currently have a ice cube shaver.

[@thehaddocks]

Shaveicesupples.com

[@Newchannel9o6]

@@thehaddocks this link is dead

[@warriorwoman336]

When you were first starting out how long did it take you to get everything and start the business up?

[@thehaddocks]

If I recall correctly it took me 2 months to build it and open.

[@TallMichelleWithTheLongHair]

I am getting ready to start. I am going to do pop-ups until I can find the best spot. How do you recommend storing ice until I get a permanent spot? Everything will be transported to and from the sites daily until then.

[@thehaddocks]

I would buy a new small freezer to store it in.

[@DriveFastTakeChancez]

I am starting my own snow cone stand for my business class. The ice blocks you put in your shaver is that just frozen filtered water or frozen Sugar water?

[@thehaddocks]

Yes just frozen filtered water.

[@MrBdevon85]

Thanks for the knowledge..

[@mariawong9585]

How many cubic feet is your deep chest freezers that can hold 30-40 molds? Thank you. God bless your business and endeavors.

[@thehaddocks]

I believe they are 5-7 square feet somewhere in there.

[@bloodlove93]

hatsuyuki also sells machines that use cubes vs huge blocks that take days to freeze

[@sherrysunshine6986]

How long does it take to freeze ice and also do you need a specific freezer? Thanks so much for sharing I love to own a company like this making people happy with sweats all day..heck yeah.

[@thehaddocks]

It depends. The initial freeze of all 120 blocks in the freezer takes 3-5 days. Once I have some frozen blocks and I just take and use 20-40 blocks and replace those they freeze faster because of the mass of the other ice blocks. They freeze in 2-3 days.

[@thehaddocks]

I use a standard deep freezer

[@sherrysunshine6986]

@@thehaddocks Wow, that was fast, and thanks so much for those answers. They helped me a lot. Have a great week and thanks for sharing so much!!

[@bloodlove93]

if you've yet to buy,fyi hatsuyuki sells machines that work with ice cubes.

[@CijiCloud]

What syrups do u use? Where do u buy? Are they ready to use or do u have to make them?

[@thehaddocks]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3KqnX-Yg7lrobM This video shows where I buy everything

[@SomisArt]

Do you need a 3 compartment sink?

[@thehaddocks]

Yes and a hand washing sink.

[@davidbogan3573]

what flavors do you say to start out with and then what flavors to add later?

[@bigcussin5950]

How much shave ice does 1 block of ice make on average?

[@thehaddocks]

Probably 5-6 smalls

[@mandyk310]

How many blocks would you say you go through on a busy day?

[@Charleypopcorn]

Have you used sno wizard or southern snow shavers? These are costly

[@thehaddocks]

I haven’t used them before. With my setup and freezing my own blocks I prefer a vertical block shaver

[@EP-ly2nh]

I just went to both Snowizard and Southern Snow two days ago. Looking to start up next year.

[@noecasucci5164]

hello. I make a query. we're on a shaved ice project. But when the ice is passed through the machine and we pour the syrup on it, it melts very quickly. Do you have a way to prevent that from happening?

[@thehaddocks]

Some things you can try: Pack the ice a little more, cool your syrups, let the blocks melt a little before shaving

[@cdnsilverdaddy]

Which city are you in?

[@thehaddocks]

Brigham City

[@TheRealJustinAlvizo]

Can you show us how to make sugar free flavors?

[@thehaddocks]

Yes I just use a cup for cup sweetener. I’ll make a video

[@TheRealJustinAlvizo]

Thanks

[@tammyloftin9036]

Do you have a item# for the ice containers

[@thehaddocks]

I don’t have the item number. They are just 1/2gallon containers.

[@reviewstrials6785]

Where would you buy the ice blocks?

[@thehaddocks]

We make our own: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKDRh2mQe7Z6l5o

[@BustedKnuckles69]

i saw in another video you made that you installed a reverse osmosis system , we are opening a brick and morter shaved ice in Bradenton fl , but have no idea how big of a system we would need , we will be making our own ice with an ice block machine , what do you have in your business ? Great videos by the way ...thank you

[@thehaddocks]

Yes I have a reverse osmosis system. J upgraded the tank to a 14 gallon tank to keep up with demand. We just freeze our blocks in a standard freezer. Here is a video of how we make our blocks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKDRh2mQe7Z6l5o

[@BustedKnuckles69]

@@thehaddocks can i ask what size and how much it cost? we have no clue about these things

[@cassietheboss9211]

Where do you get the containers to make your ice?

[@thehaddocks]

Price container, a local company. I’ve seen them on eBay and Amazon as well.