Carousel’s Soft Serve

Carousel’s Soft Serve Icery is a mobile food truck franchise serving premium gourmet soft serve. Founded in 1996 and franchising since 2021, the brand cracked the profitability code by adding B2B fundraising partnerships to the traditional B2C event model. Strategic partnerships with Disney, IHG Hotels, Wyndham, Tampa Bay Rays, and Levy validate the product and brand experience.

At a Glance

Minimum Liquid Capital Required: $60,000

Ownership Model: Owner-operator

Location Type: Mobile food truck

Time Commitment: Flexible, event-based scheduling

Experience Required: None; sales and community engagement helpful

Top 5 Reasons to Invest

1. B2B fundraising model creates predictable monthly recurring revenue beyond random events
2. 6% food costs and 10% COGS deliver exceptional margins in the food category
3. Mobile truck is a capitalized asset generating revenue 10+ years — not a sunk buildout
4. One pallet of inventory produces $35,000 in revenue — simple distribution
5. Strategic partnerships with Disney, Wyndham, Levy prove brand credibility

Carousel’s Soft Serve ICERY Franchise

Most food trucks chase random events and hope for foot traffic. Carousel’s solved the unpredictability problem by building a B2B fundraising engine alongside the B2C model.

The Fundraising Advantage:

Through Carousel’s Cares, franchisees partner with schools, businesses, hospitals, and churches on monthly fundraising events. You bring the truck and product, do all the work, and donate a portion of profits. These relationships become recurring — monthly events with the same partners, predictable scheduling, and built-in revenue.

The Economics:

Food costs run 6%, total COGS 10%. One pallet of inventory produces $35,000 in revenue. The truck generates $2,000+ before needing product refills. No restaurant equipment, no prep work, minimal waste, minimal to no payroll. The mobile truck is a capitalized asset — payments complete after 6 years while equipment generates revenue for 10+ years.

Why Franchise With Carousel’s?

• B2B + B2C revenue streams — Monthly fundraising partnerships with schools, hospitals, churches create predictable recurring revenue that random B2C events can’t match.
• Exceptional unit economics — 6% food costs, 10% COGS mean you keep more of every dollar, with one inventory pallet producing $35,000 in revenue.
• Capitalized asset ownership — The mobile truck is an asset you own, not a lease liability — payments complete in 6 years while equipment generates revenue for 10+ years.
• Enterprise-level validation — Strategic partnerships with Disney, IHG Hotels, Wyndham, Tampa Bay Rays, and Levy prove the product meets institutional standards.
• Protected territories at scale — Each territory covers 100,000-150,000 population with rights to expand through additional trucks, pop-ups, and wholesale.

ABF Exclusive Insights

Market Analysis: Mobile food franchises typically struggle with revenue unpredictability — weather, event availability, and location variance create cash flow volatility. Carousel’s B2B fundraising model directly addresses this by building monthly recurring relationships that don’t depend on foot traffic or perfect weather.

Competitive Advantage: The fundraising partnership program is a business development system competitors don’t have. Schools and churches need fundraising partners. Carousel’s makes it turnkey — show up, serve, donate, repeat monthly. Customer acquisition through community integration rather than advertising spend.

ABF Timing Insight: Carousel’s has operated since 1996 but only began franchising in 2021. Franchisees entering now get a 25+ year refined operation with early-stage territory availability. The model is proven but not yet saturated in most markets.

Training & Support

Carousel’s University: 12-week Countdown To Opening (CTO) process covers legal, financial, permitting, licensing, sales, marketing, EOS, insurance, HR, and operations — everything required before your truck hits the street.

In-Truck Training (ITT): Hands-on training for you and all staff covers equipment operation, product preparation, truck procedures, and event scheduling — you’re running real events before grand opening.

Business Systems: Complete operations manual, sales playbook, POS system, inventory management, and accounting systems provided — the back-office infrastructure is built for you.

Ongoing Development: Monthly franchisee Facebook group, vendor partnerships, R&D, marketing resources, and brand development support continue after launch — you’re not on your own after opening.

SBA Approved: Carousel’s is an approved SBA franchisor with third-party financing available for the entire food truck buildout — capital access is structured, not improvised.

Franchise Owners That Thrive

Carousel’s franchisees are community connectors who see fundraising as a business development advantage. You’re comfortable building relationships with school principals, church administrators, and corporate event planners. No food experience needed — sales instincts and follow-through matter more.

If you want predictable monthly revenue over chasing random events, and see community partnerships as a competitive moat, this model fits.

Franchise Fit & Capital Readiness

Who Is NOT A Good Fit for This Franchise

• Are you uncomfortable with proactive B2B sales? The fundraising model requires you to initiate and maintain partnerships with schools, churches, and businesses — it doesn’t happen passively.
• Do you expect immediate high-volume revenue? The recurring model takes 6-12 months to mature as you establish monthly partners.
• Are you unwilling to work weekends and evenings? This is event-based — peak demand is when people gather.
• Do you have less than $60,000 in liquid capital? SBA financing is available, but you need cash for the investment portion plus working capital.

If you answered yes to any of these, this franchise may not be the right fit.

Investment Readiness Check

• Minimum Liquid Capital: $60,000 — required for consideration
• Total cash investment: $70,000 – $200,000 plus truck financing
• Ownership timeline: 3-6 months from signing to grand opening
• Credit and financial history reviewed during qualification

All financial thresholds are set by the franchisor and are non-negotiable during approval.

Franchisor Authority Disclosure

America’s Best Franchises provides guidance and introductions. Final approval criteria, financial thresholds, and territory decisions are determined exclusively by the franchisor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How does the fundraising model work? A. Through Carousel’s Cares, you partner with schools, churches, hospitals, and businesses for fundraising events. You bring the truck, serve customers, donate a portion of profits. These become monthly recurring relationships — same partners, predictable scheduling, built-in revenue.

Q. What are the actual food costs? A. 6% food costs, 10% total COGS. One pallet of inventory produces $35,000 in revenue. The truck holds $2,000+ in product before refills. Exceptional margins for any food business.

Q. Do I need food service experience? A. No. No restaurant equipment, no prep work, minimal waste. The system is designed for simplicity. What matters is your ability to build relationships and manage an event calendar.

Q. How is the truck financed? A. Carousel’s is SBA approved with third-party financing available for the entire truck buildout. You need liquid capital for the cash investment portion ($75,750-$99,750) plus working capital.

Next Steps

Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for Carousel’s Soft Serve Icery.

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This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.