How to Build an Ice Cream Cart

An ice cream pushcart is defined as a nonmotorized, wheeled vehicle that can be towed from one location to another. An ice cream pushcart is a welcome sight on a warm summer day. A DIY ice cream cart can get you started in a business of your own with a relatively small investment.

Restaurant supply stores such as the online retailer Webstaurantstore.com sell a variety of ice cream carts ranging in price from about $2,000 to nearly $8,000. The differences in price reflect the overall size of the unit as well as shelving, drawer space, the number of wells for ice cream flavors and canopy options.

Look at various options in person or online and find the specifications of the cart models that appeal to you. Using the specifications, you can begin to calculate the cost of building a cart similar to one you can purchase.

Depending on the size of the pushcart, ice cream vendors usually offer one, two, four or six flavors. It pays to do some market research to determine which flavors to offer customers. You'll need one compartment, or well, per flavor.

According to the Food Network, residents of 14 states named cookies 'n' cream as a favorite. Ice cream eaters in Alaska, Idaho, Wisconsin and Wyoming prefer chocolate, while people in Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire and North Dakota most often opted for vanilla. You may want to fill your ice cream wells with local and regional favorites.

On the other hand, is there a market in your area for nondairy options such as ice cream made with soy or coconut milk? Do you hope to attract customers with unique creations? Some unexpected flavors include trail mix, curry and mint, goat cheese, cilantro lime and brown-butter bacon. You may want to build a business by offering flavors that customers cannot find anywhere else.

Requirements can vary depending on your location, so start at your town or city office to find out what's required. Documentation needed for operating a food cart typically includes the following:

• Business license
• Approvals, inspections and certificates required by your state's department of health
  
• Proof of general liability insurance
• A photo of the pushcart with dimensions
• An occupational permit

Choosing a location to site your DIY ice cream cart can affect your design decisions. If you'll be situated in a park, for example, and surrounded by lots of greenery, you may want to go with a red and white color scheme to stand out. Bright yellow can be a good choice for a busy street corner.

Local regulations will dictate where you can site your DIY ice cream cart. In Boston, for example, carts are allowed in only some of the public parks, in Downtown Crossing (a pedestrian mall) and in several business improvement districts. Some municipalities such as New Orleans limit the total number of pushcarts that can vend in the city at any one time.

In addition to refrigerated storage areas for ice cream, you'll need storage areas for equipment and supplies such as scoops, plastic food handlers' gloves, napkins, cones, dishes and spoons. You'll need a secure way to store money that also provides easy access for making change. Consider how and where you'll clean and store the pushcart at the end of the day and, if applicable, during the off season.

Build your own ice cream pushcart after thoroughly researching local regulations to be sure your cart will be in compliance with business and food-safety requirements. Register your business name, secure your location and get ready to supply customers with a favorite warm-weather treat.