Frozen yogurt businesses can offer anything from smoothies to parfaits with an infinite amount of toppings and flavor combinations. A frozen yogurt business may also offer specialty drinks, such as gourmet coffee or Italian sodas.
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We have put together this simple guide to starting your frozen yogurt 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.
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:
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
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 Frozen Yogurt 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:
It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
When it comes to equipment, you’ll need an industrial mixer, which can cost up to $15,000. A cash register can cost up to $1,000, and a display case can cost up to $7,000. A set of tables and chairs can run anywhere from $200 to $800. If you choose to franchise a company, such as Menchie's, you can expect to pay about $375,000 total. This covers everything though, and includes ongoing advertising benefits from the parent company for as long as you're open.
Those opening their own frozen yogurt business may have to budget for the following expenses:
The best client is someone who lives close to you, so you can develop a core base of customers who come to depend on your menu. Your clientele don’t necessarily need to be health nuts, but they may be people who are either watching their weight or looking to make more conscientious choices about their eating habits.
Owners must set the prices for each menu item to cover business expenses and create a profit margin. People who are looking for fancy frozen yogurt are willing to pay a little more for quality flavors. Your prices will have to factor in all of the costs of the business (not just the cost of the ingredients.)
Typically, you can charge customers about three or four times the cost of the ingredients. So if one frozen yogurt serving costs $0.50, then you can charge the buyer around $2. If you’re in the major cities like LA or NYC, then you can likely charge closer to $4 or $5. You can also charge by the weight, which will include both the frozen yogurt and the toppings.
Frozen yogurt had a revenue of $1.8 billion in 2014, and many people actually prefer this product over ice cream or gelato. Your profits are made up of the costs left over after you purchase ingredients and pay your employees. The exact amount you make will have to do with how well your run your business. Normally, about ⅔ of the revenue you make will be spent on ingredients and wages. Your leftover funds will be put toward rent costs and purchasing new equipment. If you sell 50,000 servings of frozen yogurt throughout the year at $3, then you can expect there to be about $50,000 to go towards rent and equipment.
Consider offering gourmet coffee to your customers, or setting up your own stand or food truck at different events (e.g., farmers markets, sports games, etc.) You can also offer specialty cakes, smoothies or pastries as well. Also, plenty of kids would love to use your space for their birthday party, so consider offering packages for parents looking for a unique gift for their children.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your frozen yogurt business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your frozen yogurt business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
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!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
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.
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.
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
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.
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a Eco tour business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
A frozen yogurt business is generally run out of a storefront. 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.
When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections
There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business
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.
FInd out what types of insurance your Frozen Yogurt Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Frozen Yogurt Business.
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners, we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.
Recommended: Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
Word of mouth will definitely be a major factor in how successful you are, but part of your success is also tied up in the location you choose. Being in a heavily trafficked part of the neighborhood will help immensely. Hold a major party for your Grand Opening, and take the time to get to know the people around you. Their requests will determine how you conduct your promotions and marketing.
You can also do standard advertising, such as internet, print, or television advertising. Keep your social media pages up to date, and give people incentives for following you on Facebook or Instagram. Post fun pictures, and keep people updated about any specials and discounts you're offering.
Attracting people is rooted in just how delicious your product is. Check out your competition and determine what you can do differently to keep people coming back. Constantly seek customer feedback, and respond to the most pressing concerns — whether they’re about the food or not. Terrible or even inconsistent service from employees will kill a new business quickly.
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.
Owners should have experience both with making and selling frozen yogurt. A specialty recipe and production methods ensure customers get a quality product. Owners should also have a good idea of the specialty flavors and toppings customers want. One neighborhood may want the classics, such as strawberry, cherry, and chocolate. Other neighborhoods may want to see more inventive flavors, such as bacon or churro.
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
To entice customers and keep them coming back, an owner should focus on the following daily activities:
Anyone hoping to get started in this business should have a decent amount of experience working in different positions in food service. This should include both customer service roles, as well as management. Entrepreneurs should also have a good idea of what their competitors are offerings, so they can highlight exactly why potential customers should switch their allegiance.
A frozen yogurt business has a lot of room for growth, but certain areas may be difficult to expand in. For example, a market like Los Angeles is saturated with a variety of specialty frozen yogurt businesses. However, businesses can penetrate even the most saturated market by offering an experience customers can’t find anywhere else. This may be through new flavors, incredible customer service, or even through fun decorations.
For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
Consistency is one of the first things to master when it comes to frozen yogurt. Your menu items should taste exactly the same no matter when they're ordered. Liquid mix (as opposed to dry) is generally the best way to ensure consistency.
Innovation is normally the second thing to consider. You’re looking at the popular flavors of today, and how you can incorporate them into your business. For example, when Starbucks introduces a new product like the Unicorn Frappucino, you should look for ways to work in your own similar offering to capitalize on the craze. Consider offering unlimited free samples as a way to get people interested in your flavors, and never let a customer complaint go unanswered (either in person or online).
You’ll want to build a team well before you’ve opened the store. Ideally, you’ll want employees who can stick with you for the long-term, but depending on where you are and the wages you offer, this can be a tall order. Look for people who genuinely enjoy customer service, and who want to make each visit a special experience.
