Franchise Opportunity Rating
Review completed: October 2019
0-49
Below Average
50-69
Average
70-100
Best
$20,000
$25,000
$127,750 - $151,550
2008
1228
5945 Centennial Circle
Florence KY 41042
Sarah - 859.282.3203
We often get asked about our story – “How did Kona Ice come about?”; “Where did this idea come from?” There’s a lot to be said about the reason a company is started. It defines the purpose of the brand. It gives us our identity. This whole crazy company started with an experience – a bad experience. Born out of that bad experience was a desire to make a good experience.
An ice cream truck drove up to Tony’s house – you know the kind. It was creepy, dirty, and off-putting. So much so that his youngest daughter was hesitant to even approach it. This got his wheels turning: What if the truck was clean? What if the driver was warm, friendly, and presentable? What if the product was actually really good? What if they actually cared about the community they served?
After all, the ice cream truck driving around is a time-honored tradition. At one time, it wasn’t creepy and scary. It used to be all those things he had wondered. He thought there was a way we could get back to that place, but this time with shaved ice. And that was the beginning of Kona Ice.
Those questions that initially ran through Tony’s mind are the cornerstones of our brand: cleanliness, friendliness, a delicious product, and giving back to our community. The story of how Kona Ice started has informed who we are as a brand. Those core principles are all things that make up who we are as Kona Ice.
Actual owner reviews from our third party, independent surveys.
"The franchisee community of Kona is made up of the best people. Not just good business people, but genuinely NICE people, who care about each other."
Steve, Single Unit Owner, Large Market (250,000-499,999 population), Overall Brand Rating: 99 FSI
"Tony [Lamb] lives the values he talks about. I trust him completely. If there was something the brand could do to improve my ROI as a franchisee it would be to partner with national PTA organizations to get greater exposure with schools. Also, partner with national companies (Walmart, etc) to provide more opportunities for our trucks to be allowed to park in their lots and set up fixed locations."
Russell, Multi-Unit Owner, Small Market (50,000-99,999) and Medium Market (100,000 - 249,000), Overall Brand Rating: 97 FSI
"I think senior manegement is wonderful. They know the struggles of the business, because most of them are running their own franchises. I love this idea! When they speak, I shut up and listen. Because they know what they are talking about."
Frances, Multi-Unit Owner, (50,000-99,999), Overall Brand Rating: 96 FSI
We sell shaved ice, but that’s not what we’re all about. Company-wide, we’ve given back and raised over $60 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 over 1,000 of these wonderful trucks, Kona Ice has perfected the KEV. This state-of-the-art truck is literally a mobile billboard for your business
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:
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
PATENTED FLAVORWAVE Everyone’s favorite feature of the Kona Ice truck is the ability to load up on flavors to their heart’s content. In a day and age where self-serve dessert is all the rage, Kona has taken that step for the mobile shaved ice industry with our patented Flavorwave.
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 yous 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 $60 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 from 2014-2018 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 six years. Kona Ice is thriving all across the map - from New Hampshire to California. And as of 2014, it’s been 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.
Kona Ice has a full-time marketing team of graphic designers, digital marketers, copywriters and videographers that create content for Google AdWords campaigns, Facebook campaigns and Instagram campaigns. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on these marketing campaigns that are designed solely to make the franchisee’s phone ring and fill up their inbox. You focus on building your contact database, as corporate provides:
LOW COST INVESTMENT - $15,000 - $30,000 cost investment - Fixed royalty - a fraction of industry standard - No paralyzing build out costs
KONA KOLLEGE Your Kona Ice journey begins with an all-expense paid trip to the training program at the Kona Ice Corporate Headquarters. You’ll meet your support staff and gain firsthand knowledge in the following:
You’ll graduate from Kona Kollege with a 30-day plan that will have you primed and ready for success. On top of your startup plan, you will be set up for multiple follow up calls throughout your first year to ensure a smooth and successful start to your business!
