SHAVED ICE ENTERPRISES

How much will it cost to get started as a Sno Biz dealer?

Depending on the type of operation you plan to work from, your start up costs can range from $1895 to $4995.   Click here to determine which start-up package works for you.

 

How do I get cleared by my county health department to start operating my business?

Call your county health department and ask to speak with a food safety inspector within the Environmental Health division of the department.  Tell the inspector that you are planning to start up a shaved ice business.   Be prepared to tell them the type of setup you are planning (i.e. a pop-up tent at special events, a concession trailer for special events, or a more permanent setup in a building or trailer). As health code requirements vary slightly from county to county, they will provide you with guidance for their county’s specific health code requirements.

 

Follow the link for your state below and select the county in which you want to get started.

 

For Indiana: https://www.in.gov/health/lhd/local-health-department-map/

For Kentucky: https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/dafm/Pages/lhd.aspx

For Ohio: https://odh.ohio.gov/find-local-health-districts

 

Do you offer financing?

YES!  We have financing available for orders of $500 or more. That includes any of the Shaved Ice Enterprises Start-Up Packages, Sno Biz equipment purchases, new Sno Biz trailers, Sno Biz tents or Sno Biz carts. We do not offer financing for purchases of used trailers or equipment.   Click here to learn more about financing through Sno Biz.

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Where can I find nutritional information?

Nutritional information about every food product we sell can be found in our catalog under the description of the product.

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Is Sno Biz a franchise?

Sno Biz operations can be found in all 50 states and internationally.  Although Sno Biz operates just like a franchise with all the benefits of branding, marketing, name recognition and support, YOU are the sole owner of your business and you will pay NO royalties or franchise fees. You keep all the profit and do not have to share any of the earnings as with most franchises.

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Where can I purchase a new or used trailer?

Click here for information on purchasing trailers.

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Do you have a minimum order?

We do not have a minimum order, you can order as much or as little as you need.

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What shipping method do you use?

We ship either USPS Priority Mail or UPS. All orders shipped come with a tracking number. Orders can also be picked up in Columbus, IN with no additional shipping charges.

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How do I place an order and what payment methods do you accept?

Currently, orders are placed via phone, text, or email. Payments are made at the time of order with a credit or debit card if the order is to be shipped.  If you choose to pick up your order in Columbus, IN, you may pay with cash or by credit/debit card. 

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What makes your flavors better than flavors from other shave ice companies?

FRESHNESS:   Our vibrant, true-to-life flavors are made in small batches to ensure freshness. All Sno Biz flavoring is manufactured in-house at our Minnesota headquarters.  Many others offer flavors that taste very artificial or weak.  Sno Biz is careful to package each sealed powder flavoring packet in a foil lining to maintain freshness. The foil lining provides a complete barrier to light, oxygen, moisture, and bacteria. Others that package their flavoring without a foil lining may compromise the quality, flavor strength, and shelf life. Over the years, our flavorings have been perfected to mimic true-to-life flavors and truly are superior in taste.  All flavorings are NOT created equal!  Rest assured that Sno Biz only offers the highest quality flavorings. 

 

EASE OF USE: Our flavors are easier to prepare and use. Unlike other flavor manufacturers, the preservatives citric acid and sodium benzoate are already added in. This makes mixing our flavors a shorter process. All you need to do is add the sugar, flavor powder, and water, and then shake, instead of having to add the preservatives and shake multiple times.

Many other flavor manufacturers ship you bottles of liquid concentrate and bottles of citric acid preservative AND bottles of sodium benzoate preservative that all have to be measured and mixed together.  We simply ship you packets of flavor in pre-measured powder form that include all the ingredients.  Just add water, sugar and shake!   Save time and eliminate worries about measurement mistakes.

 

LOWER SHIPPING COSTS:   Why pay for a bunch of liquid weight?  All Sno Biz flavors are shipped in powder form in small packets.  The packet dimensions are 4” x 6” and weigh 4 ounces or less.  Others ship everything in heavy liquid form.

 

MINIMAL STORAGE SPACE REQUIREMENTS:   You can store 10 gallons worth of Sno Biz flavors in the 4.5” x 6.5” carton we ship them in.  You can’t store even 1 gallon’s worth of liquid concentrate along with liquid preservatives you need from other flavor companies in that space.

 

LOWER START UP COSTS:  To enable you to start up your Sno Biz business or add Sno Biz to your existing business, we have customized affordable start-up packages. These packages give you everything you need for success.  They include a commercial grade shaver, flavorings, menu boards, marketing materials and all the accessories needed to start your business.  Click here to determine which start up package works for you.

 Our flavor pricing is also more cost effective than other companies.  With Sno Biz, you only purchase what you need.  Our one gallon packets allow you more flexibility to offer a wider variety of flavors at a lower cost.  Other companies selling liquid concentrates sell a minimum quart of concentrate that makes 8 gallons of syrup.  That’s a lot of syrup for just one flavor.

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​How many servings can I shave with a block of ice from your Ice Form Buckets?

Each block of ice is usually good for about 10-15 servings, depending on factors such as the size of the shave ice and how you shave.

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What are your top flavors?

Our top 12 flavors are Banana, Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Coconut, Grape, Green Apple, Peach, Pineapple, Pink Bubblegum, Strawberry, Vanilla, and Watermelon.

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How much money can I make in this business?

Profit margins are very high - around 90%. The table below reflects gross profit made at different sales levels:

 

Figures are based on 12 oz cup size selling at $3/cup.  Includes cost of flavor, sugar, ice, logo cup, spoon & logo napkin.