Kona Ice Franchise

About the Kona Ice franchise

Kona Ice — Mobile shaved ice trucks built around community giving and events. — has built its franchise system in the food service category since 2007, headquartered in Florence, KY. Truck-based shaved ice concept with low entry cost, no real estate, and strong community fundraising hooks.

As of the most recent disclosures, Kona Ice operates approximately 1,700 units worldwide. Initial investment for a single location typically falls between $149,000 to $184,000, with a franchise fee of $17,500.

Unit economics and ongoing fees

Kona Ice uses a non-traditional royalty model rather than a straight percentage of sales — read the current FDD's Item 6 carefully to understand exactly how ongoing fees are calculated, as the math materially affects multi-unit return profiles.

Why prospective franchisees consider Kona Ice

Operators considering Kona Ice typically weigh the following advantages:

• No real estate, no rent
• Flat annual fee instead of % royalty
• Strong fit for semi-absentee owners
• Built-in fundraising / community goodwill

Where Kona Ice has real trade-offs

Honest diligence also requires looking at where the system has friction. Common considerations include:

• Highly seasonal in northern climates
• Income capped by available events and trucks
• Owner has to hustle for bookings
• Truck maintenance is a real operating cost

How to evaluate the Kona Ice opportunity

Before signing any franchise agreement, request the current FDD directly from Kona Ice, talk to at least 8–10 existing franchisees (both new and mature), and build a unit-level model that stress-tests labor costs, occupancy, and Item 6 ongoing fees against realistic ramp assumptions. Pay particular attention to Item 19 (financial performance representations), Item 7 (estimated initial investment), and Item 20 (system size and turnover) for the trend over the past three years. Validation calls with existing operators are the single highest-leverage step in the process.

Figures above are seed estimates compiled from public sources and may not reflect the most recent FDD. Always verify against the current Franchise Disclosure Document before relying on any number commercially.