Kona Ice franchise
Kona Ice runs shaved ice trucks that serve schools, sports games, festivals and private events, with a self-serve flavor station on the side of the truck. Much of the business is booked events and fundraisers that share proceeds with schools and groups. At the end of 2025 there were 1,933 Kona Ice locations in the US, 1,929 franchised and 4 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $115K–$229K
- Franchise fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- $3K–$5K/year
- Locations, 2025
- 1,933+453 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2008
- First location
- 2007
- Franchisor based in
- Florence, Kentucky
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- Introductions to lenders
From Kona Ice, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Kona Ice franchise costs
Opening one Kona Ice truck business costs an estimated $114,730 to $228,601. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Kona Ice, Inc, 2026 filing, page 27
Kona Ice franchise fee
The franchise fee is $15,000, plus the truck (currently $87,365 to $125,781 used, $151,491 to $157,491 new). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Kona Ice, Inc, 2026 filing, page 12
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | A flat yearly royalty: $3,000 in years one and two, $4,000 in years three to six and $5,000 in years seven to ten, paid in summer installments. |
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Source: Kona Ice, Inc, 2026 filing, page 14
Sales and earnings
No figures Kona Ice does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Kona Ice, Inc, 2026 filing, page 59
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,670 (+194) | 0 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1,816 (+146) | 4 | 36 |
| 2025 | 1,929 (+113) | 4 | 27 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Kona Ice, Inc, 2026 filing, page 59
How Kona Ice compares
Of the 12 ice cream franchises on this site, Kona Ice is the cheapest to open and the largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Kona Ice | Typical ice cream |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $115K | $359K |
| Closed or left per year | 1.3% | 2.8% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +30.7% | +8.6% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 11 of 12 |
Typical is the median across the 12 brands in ice cream franchises.
Other ice cream franchises
Kona Ice franchise questions
Does Kona Ice help with financing?
Not directly. Kona Ice points buyers to outside lenders it works with, but the loan is between you and the lender.
Do Kona Ice franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Kona Ice assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
Is Kona Ice growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 531 franchised locations opened and 67 closed or left, a net change of +30.7%. About 1.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 2.8% typical for ice cream franchises.
How does Kona Ice compare with other ice cream franchises?
Of the 12 ice cream franchises here, Kona Ice is the cheapest to open (low end $115K against a $359K median) and the largest by number of locations.
Does Kona Ice say how much franchisees make?
No, Kona Ice doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 11 of the 12 ice cream brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Kona Ice based?
Kona Ice, Inc is based in Florence, Kentucky and the brand has sold franchises since 2008; the first location opened in 2007.