§1What this business is
A 500 sq ft parlour with a shake machine, thick-shake machine, slush machine and a portable freezer, serving drinks and ice cream cones. The KVIC profile calls the technology simple and the machines easy to find and handle.
Capacity: 7,633 units a year at a cost of ₹30 each (cost of production ₹2.29 L); projected sales ₹3.89 L at full capacity.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone with a shop on a busy street who wants a small first business.
Who it is not for
Quiet locations or places with long power cuts.
Advantages
- Very small start (₹3.10 lakh)
- Simple machines, little training
- Cash sales every day
- Good in markets, colleges and bus stands
Drawbacks
- Small income at the profile's scale
- Sales fall in winter
- Location decides everything
- Many competitors copy easily
Skills you need
- Hygiene and food handling
- Menu and pricing
- Customer service
- Stock control of milk and mixes
Why difficulty 1/5: Small, simple set-up; success depends on location.
§3Market
Who buys
- Walk-in customers: students, families, shoppers
How it sells
- Counter sales
- Party and event orders
Good to know
- The profile notes ice cream is popular everywhere and in demand at parties.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shake machine, thick-shake machine, slush machine, portable freezer, SS-top working table, SS vessels and small utensils | 1 set | ₹1,50,000 |
From: KVIC Project Profile — Ice-Cream Parlour (PMEGP)
- Milk, ice cream, syrups, cones and fruit₹40,000 a year in the profile
- Labels and packing material₹10,000 a year
§5Licences & registration
- FSSAI licence or registration
- Udyam registration
- Trade licence from the local body
- GST registration if turnover crosses the limit
§6Schemes & subsidies
KVIC model profile for PMEGP; a MUDRA Shishu or Kishore loan covers this size.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Building shed (500 sq ft) ₹1.00 L + equipment ₹1.50 L + working capital ₹0.60 L = ₹3.10 L. The PMEGP list also shows a ₹5.24 L entry, but it opens the same ₹3.10 L profile.
Working capital: Working capital ₹60,000; the profile works out ₹57,200 per cycle.
Year not printed on the KVIC profile — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
A local service business; it has no goods to export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Weak location
- Food safety complaints
- Power cuts
- Seasonal drop
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working ice cream and shake parlour unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (FSSAI licence or registration, Udyam registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Ice Cream and Shake Parlour?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.