Kona Ice Franchisor Profile

We have a question for you. What determines the success of a franchise? Is it luck? Coincidence? Here at Kona Ice, we know why we’ve succeeded and reached these ranks of the #1 New Franchise (Entrepreneur Magazine 2013), top in Franchisee Satisfaction (Franchise Business Review and Franchise Update), #1 in Category (Dessert Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine) and made the Fastest Growing List for the past five years. We don’t think it’s luck at all. It’s the combination of a fresh concept, strong corporate support with a vision, a desire to make the world a better place and some shaved ice along the way. 

Kona Ice by the numbers: $20,000 initial investment, $114,225 - $139,025 total investment with in-house financing available. 

REASONS WHY KONA ICE IS DIFFERENT
1 Proprietary Nutritional Product: Through Kreations Flavoring, we provide a product that meets all of the federal nutritional standards for schools.
2 Ancillary Equipment: You can customize your business model with the four additional products we offer - the Kona Kiosk, the Kona Mini, the Kona Trailer and the KEV 2.0.
3 Patented Flavorwave: With our patented Flavorwave, we provide a unique, self-service experience.
4 Unmatched Corporate Support: You want proof? Highest in franchisee satisfaction with two different agencies since we’ve started. Hear it from our franchisees with testimonials on our website.
5 Established Brand: With eight years in the industry and representation all across the country, and even internationally, Kona Ice is a well-developed and respected brand.
6 Extremely Quick Startup: We’ll have you up and running in 30-60 days, guaranteed.
7 Fixed Royalty: No penalties for succeeding.
8 Incredibly Low Overhead: Approximately 6% food cost in an industry with an average of 32%.
9 Community Involvement: With over $40 million given back, our communities have embraced us as the best fundraising tool around.

 

Are you a good fit for Kona Ice? The odds are in your favor. We are proud of our diversity and our over 500 franchisees come from various professional backgrounds - from school teachers to corporate public relations. The age range is vast too - we have some franchisees fresh out of college, while others use this as something to do in their retirement stage of life. There is no "normal" franchisee in the Kona Ice business, but there are certain qualities we look for.

We're looking for people who love their communities and want to get involved. Someone who is engaging and shows that they care about our brand. But mostly, we're looking for someone who truly wants to work for themselves. You are required to start as an owner/operator in the Kona Ice business. You'll do most of your networking from the window of your truck or out in front of your truck. So be ready to sell some shaved ice!

We sell shaved ice, but that’s not what we’re all about. Company-wide, we’ve given back and raised over $40 million dollars to communities and organizations all across the country since our inception in 2007. It’s more a part of who we are than any other aspect of our brand. It is how we operate. To put it simply, giving back is who we are, selling the world’s most incredible shaved ice is what we do. 

One of the best things about Kona Ice is that the business model is simple. The brand works for you, not the other way around. Our goal at corporate is to make your Kona Ice experience as enjoyable and stress-free as eating a cup of shaved ice! 

MEET THE KEV: The Kona Entertainment Vehicle
Having built 800 of these wonderful trucks, Kona Ice has perfected the KEV. This state-of-the-art truck is literally a mobile billboard for your business - it sells itself!

- Drives in anywhere, anytime, fully equipped to serve thousands per day
- Patented Flavorwave for self-serve flavor dispensing
- Choose from an endless variety of exotic flavor combinations
- Tropical music rocks from the BOSE enhanced sound system
- First mobile food truck to be completely NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) approved

ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT: Year Round Opportunities
We’re not just a shaved ice truck - we have units of every size for any venue. Once you own a Kona truck, you will have access to:

- The Kona Mini: The most popular ancillary unit is a smaller, more agile version of the KEV. It’s designed for indoor events and smaller outdoor venues. It’s a low-risk, high-reward investment that can truly make your business last all year.
- The Kona Kiosk: The Kona Kiosk hit the streets in 2015 and has been a huge success. Perfect for semi-permanent venues or large events, the Kona Kiosk can serve the same amount of people as the truck. It’s smaller than a truck, but it has the same visibility and could be the perfect supplement to your Kona business. 
- The Kona Trailer: Sometimes you only need the back half of the KEV - and that’s exactly what you’ll get with the Kona Trailer. It’s perfect for large venues where you’ll be established for the majority of your season.
- And coming in 2017, a new unit! Keep an eye out for this brand new addition to the Kona Ice family of equipment. It’s called the KEV 2.0.

INCREDIBLY LOW OVERHEAD
- Average of 6% food cost
- No real estate expenses
- Single person operation per unit
- Multi-unit expandability 
- Fully contained & completely mobile
- Incredible franchisee buying power
 
PROTECTED TERRITORY
- Large, protected territories
- No forced expansion
- Territory assigned by zip code(s)
- Promotes working partnerships with neighboring franchisees

ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE
Kona doesn’t just sell gourmet shaved ice, it brings an unforgettable experience that appeals to the kid in all of us! 

- Schools reward students with regular Kona visits
- Parents, kids and staff alike say Kona Day is the best day of the week at daycare
- Sports teams and leagues invite Kona to the ballpark whenever there’s a crowd
- Businesses book Kona as a special treat for employees
- Birthday parties, church festivals, block parties and company picnics can all benefit from the Kona Ice experience
- We’re mobile, so really, we can be just about anywhere!

“With Kona, I have put more smiles on kid’s faces and received more genuine thank you’s in 8 months than I ever did in my 25 years in the consumer electronic business.” - Cheri Wells, franchisee in Ventura, CA

KONA GIVES BACK
Ever wonder if you’re making a difference? With Kona Ice, you’ll see it happening right before your very eyes. With over $40 million dollars given back to local communities all across the country, Kona Ice is defined by our community involvement. Because we’re a mobile franchise, this allows you to be directly involved in your community at every touch point.

PROVEN SUCCESS
Ranked the #1 New Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2013 and Highest in Franchisee Satisfaction in 2014 and 2015 by Franchise Business Review, Kona Ice’s reputation is proclaimed as being one of the most innovative brands and “be your own boss” businesses around. In fact, we’ve made the Fastest Growing list the past five years. Kona Ice is thriving all across the map - from New Hampshire to California. And as of 2014, it’s now proven to work in three international markets as well. And in addition to that, roughly 75% of franchisees are purchasing a second unit within the first two years. 

We’ve been awarded top in Franchisee Satisfaction, but don’t take it from us, see what our franchisees are actually saying:

“I couldn’t believe how fast I was up and running with my Kona business. It felt like just weeks since my initial phone call to when I was driving my Kona Ice truck away from Kona Kollege completely ready to do business!” - Natasha Pharis

“I would have never imagined that I could practically pay off my entire year’s royalty in one weekend. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people that love coming up to the truck - there’s always a line. And I never thought I’d be able to do this full time, but after just a year in the business, I was able to make Kona my full time job.” - Megan Stevenson

“As far as Kona is concerned, what really drew me in was the low barrier of entry. There wasn’t a lot of risk, in my opinion. You know, you’re buying a truck. You actually have an asset to work with. And I appreciate that the business is built around the effort you put into it. If you want to put the effort in, you’re going to have a growing business, a profitable business.” - Garvin Wong

“The Kona Ice truck is a wonderful sales tool. It was a lot easier to sell than I had imagined it would be. I have hardly ever had anyone turn me down when I asked them for their business. The truck basically sells itself!” - Charles Love

“The way Kona operates is how every franchise should operate. It’s a truck! So I can work whenever I want to work. I get to wake up every morning and be my own boss. No more 9-5 for me! And best of all, I never have to miss my son’s basketball games ever again.” -  Jon Black

“The fact that we have a nutritious and delicious product that’s fortified with vitamins and meets all the federal guidelines for working in schools has been a game-changer for us. We’re the only vendor that’s allowed to be on school property. That’s huge!” - Lisa Quiroz

“We’ve been Kona franchisees for 6 years now and the ancillary equipment Kona provides has allowed us to expand within our territory. They provide a great return on investment while still keeping the brand.” - Ted & Sandra Andrews 

Request more information to hear over 50 franchisee testimonials. We bet you’ll find someone just like you!