Ice Cream Van Idea!?

[hjb_1990]

I am a 21 year old male and i am the sort of person who cannot live a life of working for someone else forever more and being happy with the monthly age packet. I have always wanted to set up and run my own business. For about 6 months now i have been fixated on the idea of setting up my first business: an ice cream van.

Some people may laugh or say it wont work but i know i can make it work. I have made a business plan, found sources to buy a van, found a supplier to get all the stock i would need, premises to store the van and stock, info on doing a round and where to get a pitch at shows and fetes etc... contacted the council regarding laws and legislation i would need to follow and know everything i would need to get it going. Of course there would be things i dont/didnt know as i set it up but thats business in my opinion. You will never know everything and its how you overcome those things that will make or break you.

The only thing is stumping up the cash to get it going. I am currently working not earning a massive amount.

What are peoples general opinions on my ideas and does anyone know if i would ever be lent any money from banks etc... as a business loan?

Regards,
Harry.

 

[tony84]

Do you really need that much?

£3-4k maybe should do this for you.

Ive just done a quick search on ebay. You should be able to pick up an ice cream van for a few £k - Heres one and another.

The second is £5k buy it now.

The first is £1200. Put down £2k on a van and then maybe £1k in stock and your ready to go arnt you? It shouldnt be too hard to get a loan or credit card to cover that. Maybe go and rub up a student, theyve just got their grants through

 

[bobbyparker]

It's how Duncan Banatyne started

 

[Mpg]

Did he start at the end of summer though

 

[impreza280]

I admire your motivation to better yourself.

A member above has hinted that selling ice cream is not a year round business. So why not get yourself a vehicle that can sell a wider range of products which people may need. Think about the demise of the milkman, whose product range could be counted on one hand. They expanded into ... yogurts! Only now are they expanding into grocery deliveries but they missed a massive opportunity.

Take a tour of a rural area and work out what you could offer with your vehicle. Here's a starter ... delivering heavy/bulk items such as bottled water, petfood etc.

 

[matt seymour]

If you want a business like this you would be far better off considering a burger van rather than selling ice creams.

Get a good regular pitch and a few fetes etc and you will make a good living from it - particularly if your burgers are half decent. People will go out of their way for a burger van with a good reputation.

Why limit yourself and sell something you can only shift in the summer months?

I'm not an expert on this, but many ice cream vans are operated by fairly large companies who sell ice cream wholesale as well and not just through their vans in order to make it pay.

 

[Scousejock]

Lots of very successful people started their business life with ice creams. So there must be something to it.

But the fact that it is not really an all year business is not ideal and starting it at the end of the summer seems a big no go.

If you really think you can make a go of it you are more likely to get the money from the bank as a personal loan than as a business loan.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Why not do something different? I mentioned on here a while back how a chain of taco vans in the US was using converted ambulances for taco vans. Making themselves an "emergency" source of fast food.

Second hand ambulances (even the US style ones) are available on ebay for similar prices to the ice cream vans you are looking at. Although they will need equiping and converting you will get some instant branding

 

[dvdocon]

Love the above idea, I have seen a crepe van in my area recently, selling pancakes, drinks etc.
As someone who has been self employed for 22 yrs. I would say, go for it. There will always be those who dismiss your ideas, but they are usually the ones who do not have the cojones to go it alone.
Who knows, you may start a new craze for Mexican food. Good luck to you, whatever you decide.

 

[clairebear2892]

I've been looking into young persons business grants, definitely worth trying for!

 

[hjb_1990]

Thanks for your replies. Im not really looking to set up now at the end of Summer (in not that stupid ) i am trying to plan it and set it up over the next 6 months (Winter) to be ready to operate at the start of spring/summer next year.

I have heard of some ice cream van traders making enough money from April-Sept to not even need to work the Winter months! I really think it is a good idea but i have been interested by the ideas to do something different and offer something unique.

Its just getting some cash. I cant see my bank lending a 21 year old male £3000-£4000. I have no savings, nothing to offer as collateral... But i have never borrowed a penny in my life!

Maybe the young persons business grant is also another idea. Ill look into it

 

[davidgilham]

Thanks for your replies. Im not really looking to set up now at the end of Summer (in not that stupid ) i am trying to plan it and set it up over the next 6 months (Winter) to be ready to operate at the start of spring/summer next year.

I have heard of some ice cream van traders making enough money from April-Sept to not even need to work the Winter months! I really think it is a good idea but i have been interested by the ideas to do something different and offer something unique.

Its just getting some cash. I cant see my bank lending a 21 year old male £3000-£4000. I have no savings, nothing to offer as collateral... But i have never borrowed a penny in my life!

Maybe the young persons business grant is also another idea. Ill look into it

I'm 22 and I have a credit card with a £7000 limit, if you think you can make this work then take a look at this option!

Dave

 

[Malchy Dorris]

I'm 22 and I have a credit card with a £7000 limit, if you think you can make this work then take a look at this option!

Dave

A young dragon in the making maybe Duncan also maxed out several credit cards in order to get enough cash to pay the builders to start (or finish - can't remember) building his first nursing home.

I'd definately look at what else you could do with the ice cream van model. Hot food for the cold months and ice cream for the warm months.

Stand out from the crowd

Go talk to the banks and see what they say.

Good luck.

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

Thanks for your replies. Im not really looking to set up now at the end of Summer (in not that stupid ) i am trying to plan it and set it up over the next 6 months (Winter) to be ready to operate at the start of spring/summer next year.

I have heard of some ice cream van traders making enough money from April-Sept to not even need to work the Winter months! I really think it is a good idea but i have been interested by the ideas to do something different and offer something unique.

Its just getting some cash. I cant see my bank lending a 21 year old male £3000-£4000. I have no savings, nothing to offer as collateral... But i have never borrowed a penny in my life!

Maybe the young persons business grant is also another idea. Ill look into it

Maybe you should look at a multi-purpose vehicle - One you could take the ice cream machines and freezers out of and replace with cookers and fryers so you can do hot food in the winter.

Or kit it out so you could also sell sandwiches etc and go around the estates at lunch times

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Deja Vu

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=220132

 

[LouisNC]

where do your live?~~ Waitting for your ice cream

 

[James Greg]

Deja Vu

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=220132

That's really interesting once you post as ice cream bikes and then create a new account and create a thread for a van. The poster who started this thread has not given a single comment/reply after his question and we have reached page 2

 

[hjb_1990]

I think its definately good advice for me to get a multi use van for the winter months as well. Maybe i can get the girlfriend to make fresh sandwich's as also suggested!

I have applied for the business loan and had a call from the bank already so need to phone them back!

And im down near Brighton so also a great spot for selling ice cream!!

Thanks again for the suggestions.