Kona Ice Franchise
Join the #1 mobile business with Kona Ice! Low overhead, high margins, and a community-loved brand that brings the party to every stop.
$20,000
$15,000
1,820
2008
Florence,KY
Tony Lamb
About Kona Ice
Kona Ice is the world’s largest food truck company and an industry leader in franchisee satisfaction, ranking #1 by Franchise Business Review for over a decade. Since 2007, the brand has redefined the mobile food industry by blending a "be your own boss" business model with a deep commitment to community, donating over $200 million to local organizations. Kona Ice's success is built on a recession-proof model featuring extremely low overhead (averaging 6% food costs) and the iconic Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV). This "mobile billboard" features their patented Flavorwave for an interactive experience, creating a memorable service that appeals to schools, sports leagues, and corporate clients alike.
Franchise Unit Trends
1,820
186
-
* in 2024
Franchise Fees
$15,000
0.0%
Fixed Annual Fee
0.0%
Fixed Fee
Why Choose Kona Ice?
Choosing Kona Ice means joining a proven, award-winning system that has led the industry in franchisee satisfaction for over ten years. Kona Ice offers a unique combination of high-margin potential, low operational complexity, and a brand identity that communities genuinely love.
What Sets Kona Ice Apart:
- Industry-Leading Margins: Enjoy incredibly low overhead with food costs averaging just 6%, compared to the 32% industry average. With no real estate expenses and a fixed royalty structure, you keep more of what you earn.
- Proven Stability & Growth: Founded in 2007, Kona Ice is a well-established global brand with over 2,000 trucks on the road. The success is contagious: roughly 75% of franchisees expand to a second unit within their first two years.
- The KEV Advantage: The patented Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) is a state-of-the-art mobile billboard. With the self-serve Flavorwave, tropical music, and NSF certification, the truck practically sells itself.
- World-Class Support: From an immersive Kona Kollege training program to the full-service in-house marketing team, business owners are never alone. The Corporate office handle the digital ads, social media, and SEO so you can focus on building local relationships.
- Community Impact: Kona is more than just selling shaved ice; they give back. Having donated over $200 million to local causes, franchisees enjoy a "recession-proof" reputation as a vital community partner.
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$102,365 - $226,841
$100,000
$20,000
Training & Support
Kona Ice is built on the belief that while you are in business for yourself, you should never be by yourself. The brand’s comprehensive training and support ecosystem are designed to turn aspiring entrepreneurs into confident business owners in a matter of weeks.
Initial Training: Kona Kollege
The journey begins with Kona Kollege, an all-expenses-paid, three-day immersive training program at the corporate headquarters in Florence, Kentucky.
New franchisees receive:
- Hands-On Equipment Training: Learn every moving part of the Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV), including a guided test drive on a safety course.
- Classroom Learning: Direct access to the CEO and veteran franchisees for Q&A, plus deep dives into marketing strategies, digital setup, and day-to-day operations.
- The Success Guide: Graduation comes with a comprehensive, 300-page manual and a tailored 30-day launch plan to aid in immediate revenue generation.
Ongoing Success & Support
Support does not end at graduation; it evolves as the business grows. Kona Ice provides a "franchisee-first" support network of over 150 corporate staff members:
- Kona Coaches: New owners are assigned a veteran franchisee mentor to provide real-world advice and troubleshooting during their first year.
- Kona Resource Center: An on-demand online learning center with training videos for owners and their employees, covering everything from "Mixology" to "Truckology."
- Internal Marketing Team: A full-time creative team handles Google Ads, social media content, and SEO, ensuring the phone keeps ringing while you focus on the community.
- Annual Kona Konvention: A system-wide gathering where the "Kona family" meets to share innovative techniques, celebrate successes, and preview new product lines.
History
Founded in 2007 by Tony Lamb, Kona Ice was born from a simple yet revolutionary idea: to transform the often-unreliable ice cream truck experience into a professional, state-of-the-art mobile entertainment brand. Starting with a single truck in Florence, Kentucky, Lamb envisioned a business that focused on cleanliness, family-friendly fun, and a deep-seated commitment to community philanthropy. This vision quickly resonated, leading to the development of the patented Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV). By 2014, the brand had already expanded into international markets and established itself as a leader in the franchising world, proving that a mobile shaved ice unit could be both a high-tech marvel and a recession-proof business model.
Today, Kona Ice has grown into the world’s largest food truck company, having built over 2,000 trucks and donated more than $200 million back to local communities. The company’s trajectory is defined by constant innovation, expanding from its flagship KEV to a versatile suite of ancillary equipment including the Kona Mini, Kiosk, and Trailer. This growth is fueled by a "franchisee-first" culture that has earned the brand the #1 ranking in owner satisfaction for over a decade. As Kona Ice continues to evolve with new product lines like Kona Blended fruit smoothies, it remains dedicated to the core principle that made it a success.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal Kona Ice business owner is a community champion with a passion for people. The brand seeks energetic, hardworking individuals who are motivated to be their own boss while making a tangible, positive impact on their local communities.
Key attributes of successful operators include:
- A "Community-First" Heart: Since giving back is the core identity of the brand, successful candidates are those excited about partnering with schools, youth sports leagues, and local charities to facilitate fundraising.
- Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: Franchisees are in the business of creating "micro-vacations." A positive, outgoing personality is essential for interacting with everyone from excited children at a daycare to professional corporate event planners.
- Proactive Entrepreneurial Spirit: While Kona Ice provides a proven blueprint, the most successful owners are those who actively run the play. They are driven to book events, manage their protected territories, and build a local contact database.
- Appreciation for Operational Simplicity: This model is a perfect fit for individuals who desire a business with low complexity. Candidates who prefer minimal staffing requirements and want to avoid the overhead and headaches of traditional real estate will find this model highly rewarding.
- Growth-Oriented Vision: With a high percentage of owners expanding to multiple units within two years, the brand thrives with candidates who have the ambition to scale their business from a single truck into a fleet of KEVs, Minis, and Trailers.
Whether they are military veterans, former corporate executives, or family teams, successful Kona Ice franchisees are those dedicated to the mission of "doing good" while building a fun, sustainable business.
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