Step 1
Decide whether to invest in a successful or up-and-coming franchise or start your own independent ice cream shop. The benefit to starting a franchise is that you will have built-in help to guide you through the process of starting your business. Franchises typically provide the store layout and design, ingredients, supplies and employee training. However, they can require significant upfront capital. Starting your own business allows you the freedom to determine exactly how much money you can afford to invest.