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Message
Is There Money in A Snowball Stand if Not in Louisiana?
Posted on 7/18/13 at 2:39 pm
Posted on 7/18/13 at 2:39 pm
I'm currently living in Dallas area and the GF and I are always wishing that we could quit our jobs and start a business. On several occasions, we've had relatives tell us to open a snowball stand up here b/c it would make a fortune. I question that though b/c I'm not sure it really would.
For the most part, a snowball stand should have fairly low overhead. The ice machine is like $4K I think, but ice and making syrups shouldn't be too expensive. I think location would be important, but I've been told to do a mobile snowball truck and bring it to baseball fields, events etc.
I've heard the stories growing up about how the family that owns Sal's Snowballs on Met. Rd only open the stand for 6 months out of the year and live off the profit the other 6 months and they make enough to go to Europe, have a nice house, etc., but I wonder how much of this is true.
If I opened a stand, I figure I'm looking at maybe a $20K investment? I wonder if I could hope to bring in about $100K a year? You'd think everyone would be doing it if you could and who's to say that the people of North Texas even want real New Orleans style snowballs. Maybe they like that snow cone stuff.
Just wondering aloud. What does the money board think? I think a lot of people think running something as simple as a snowball stand is a lot easier than it would be in actuality.
For the most part, a snowball stand should have fairly low overhead. The ice machine is like $4K I think, but ice and making syrups shouldn't be too expensive. I think location would be important, but I've been told to do a mobile snowball truck and bring it to baseball fields, events etc.
I've heard the stories growing up about how the family that owns Sal's Snowballs on Met. Rd only open the stand for 6 months out of the year and live off the profit the other 6 months and they make enough to go to Europe, have a nice house, etc., but I wonder how much of this is true.
If I opened a stand, I figure I'm looking at maybe a $20K investment? I wonder if I could hope to bring in about $100K a year? You'd think everyone would be doing it if you could and who's to say that the people of North Texas even want real New Orleans style snowballs. Maybe they like that snow cone stuff.
Just wondering aloud. What does the money board think? I think a lot of people think running something as simple as a snowball stand is a lot easier than it would be in actuality.
11
Posted on 7/18/13 at 2:44 pm to nikki6
Not sure. But there's always money in the banana stand.
Posted on 7/18/13 at 2:57 pm to nikki6
I own one myself in a suburban area. I don't actually manage it, if I did, I'd save a little on labor, bit $100k would be killing it.
Here's my year so far:
March: $3000
April: $3800
May: $6000
June: $7800
July: looks on pace for about $7000 (lots of rain has slowed it down)
August will be in the $6500 range and September will be in the $4000. We stay open the first couple of weeks of October, which we made about $2500 in last year. Then we shut her down. Somewhere around $35,000 profit every summer has been consistent, we may creep toward $40,000 this summer.
Overhead is cheap. We do frozen yogurt as well - high profit margins. I'd figure closer to $40k for your initial investment though.
Mobile is the way to go, but go with a good looking outfit, don't look creepy. Hire decent high school kids. Its an easy operation, but you don't get rich doing it.
That being said, if you owned 3-4 mobile units, you could do pretty well.
Here's my year so far:
March: $3000
April: $3800
May: $6000
June: $7800
July: looks on pace for about $7000 (lots of rain has slowed it down)
August will be in the $6500 range and September will be in the $4000. We stay open the first couple of weeks of October, which we made about $2500 in last year. Then we shut her down. Somewhere around $35,000 profit every summer has been consistent, we may creep toward $40,000 this summer.
Overhead is cheap. We do frozen yogurt as well - high profit margins. I'd figure closer to $40k for your initial investment though.
Mobile is the way to go, but go with a good looking outfit, don't look creepy. Hire decent high school kids. Its an easy operation, but you don't get rich doing it.
That being said, if you owned 3-4 mobile units, you could do pretty well.
This post was edited on 7/18/13 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 7/18/13 at 2:59 pm to lnomm34
quote:
Not sure. But there's always money in the banana stand.
Beat me to it
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:03 pm to anc
Thanks for the breakdown and that's about what I figured. It's not a bad pull considering you're closed 4 months out of the year, but by no means is it a "fortune".
I think people in Nola have this idea that anything Nola related will sell well.
Btw, the $20K startup didn't include the actual truck.
Also, I've been told that if I can get a State Fair of Texas Vendor License, I'd only have to work 1 month out of the year, but apparently those are extremely hard to come by. Not sure if Nola myth, but I've also heard stories about the guy with the lemonade stand at Jazz Fest. He supposedly only works 2 weeks out of the year
I think people in Nola have this idea that anything Nola related will sell well.
Btw, the $20K startup didn't include the actual truck.
Also, I've been told that if I can get a State Fair of Texas Vendor License, I'd only have to work 1 month out of the year, but apparently those are extremely hard to come by. Not sure if Nola myth, but I've also heard stories about the guy with the lemonade stand at Jazz Fest. He supposedly only works 2 weeks out of the year
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:09 pm to nikki6
There are more state fairs than in Texas, my friend. Mississippi and Tennessee have really high grossing state fairs. I can't take the time off, but if it were my full time gig, I would certainly do it.
A vendor told me that another customer told him that he made $30k in MS and $35k in TN in October - that's running it himself for 12 hour days/10 days.
I figure you could do twice that in Texas, but much easier to get a stand in smaller state's state fair. South Carolina has a state fair that coincides with a USCe home SEC game as well. That's the route that I would be looking.
FYI: Here's where you need to start for a good mobile opportunity.
LINK /
A vendor told me that another customer told him that he made $30k in MS and $35k in TN in October - that's running it himself for 12 hour days/10 days.
I figure you could do twice that in Texas, but much easier to get a stand in smaller state's state fair. South Carolina has a state fair that coincides with a USCe home SEC game as well. That's the route that I would be looking.
FYI: Here's where you need to start for a good mobile opportunity.
LINK /
This post was edited on 7/18/13 at 3:11 pm
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:12 pm to nikki6
One of my college buddies has a stand in Pigeon Forge, TN and he claims he makes pretty good side-money. There's not much in terms of expenses except for wages. The only thing he ever complains about are the kids he hires to run it. I think he said he profits about 20k during the peak tourist months (May to early Aug).
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:13 pm to DontTazeMeBro
quote:
The only thing he ever complains about are the kids he hires to run it.
This. High school kids are stupid and lazy.
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:39 pm to anc
quote:
This. High school kids are stupid and lazy.
And will probably steal and give shite away
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:52 pm to nikki6
quote:
And will probably steal and give shite away
Yep. I was at the place one time when a group of one of my employee's friends (4 or so) came up, ordered, and my employee did everything right - but the friends asked "since when do we have to pay?"
Posted on 7/18/13 at 3:54 pm to nikki6
Go do some scouting at Doc's in Dallas. That place is always packed. The snow is the finest poweder I have seen.
He is not giving shite away either.
He is not giving shite away either.
Posted on 7/20/13 at 4:27 pm to StrangeBrew
I know the guy that owns Rainbow Delights here in BR. That place consistently has a line of 7+ cars it seems like. He told me he clears about 75K being open half the year and running it absentee pretty much.
Posted on 7/20/13 at 5:17 pm to nikki6
Jan - may crawfish
June - oct snowballs
Nov-dec relax
June - oct snowballs
Nov-dec relax
Posted on 7/20/13 at 9:14 pm to nikki6
April-September: Snoballs
Middle of November-February: hot chocolate and coffee
Fish the whole month of march. Travel in October.
Make about 35k first year off Snoballs.
10k off of hot chocolate and Snoballs. Cheap labor during summer using high school or college kids.
Add a mobile van for you to take to ballparks or other events/large neighborhoods. Donate % to ballpark.
Middle of November-February: hot chocolate and coffee
Fish the whole month of march. Travel in October.
Make about 35k first year off Snoballs.
10k off of hot chocolate and Snoballs. Cheap labor during summer using high school or college kids.
Add a mobile van for you to take to ballparks or other events/large neighborhoods. Donate % to ballpark.
Posted on 7/20/13 at 9:24 pm to nikki6
Interesting thread.
Posted on 7/21/13 at 3:12 pm to nikki6
My boss knows a guy that was doing physical therapy in NO. Moved with his wife to Nashville for her work and had trouble finding work in the recession in 2010. He set up a mobile NO style snowball stand and designed it to look like a Roman candy buggy. Said he made a killing (don't know exactly how much) last summer and was hoping to open a second one this year. He hangs out downtown and tourist area during work hours and hits where the kids play in the afternoon.
Posted on 7/21/13 at 3:32 pm to nikki6
I always thought you could do well with a Sno Ball stand at a big league ballpark. You will be open for anywhere from 80 to 90 days if your team goes to the World Series from April through October. You have to expect the team will draw at least 1 million fans for the home games and if the team is any good you can expect more than 3 million fans. Keeping up with demand could be an issue at times.
Posted on 7/21/13 at 7:05 pm to Libertariantiger
I know this is bull crap because physical therapy is a very good field. There are jobs all over the place and shortages everywhere. Especially if looking in a good size area.
Posted on 7/21/13 at 7:20 pm to nikki6
I would think so because sno balls blow sno cones away.
Posted on 7/22/13 at 1:19 am to Dupont3
Boiled peanuts also
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