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Ice Cream Nachos

Ice Cream Nachos

A dessert nobody's seen before, built with equipment you can actually run from home or a booth — instant scroll-stopper, instant sell-out.

Bizzy Moms

Jul 22, 2026

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5 min read

1. What Is This Business?

Ice Cream Nachos take crispy waffle cone chips and pile them "nacho style" in a tray, then load them up with warm chocolate drizzle, a swirl of soft serve, and a rainbow of sprinkles. It's playful, shareable, and completely different from anything else on a dessert table or at a local event — which is exactly why it stops people mid-scroll and mid-walk. You're not just selling ice cream, you're selling a moment people want to film and share.

2. Startup Costs & Budget

Because this concept runs on a soft serve machine, it's a bigger investment than most of my home-based ideas — but it's also a built-in "wow" that lets you charge a fair price for something people can't get anywhere else. Here's what I'd budget to get started:

Countertop soft serve/dip machine: starting around $750, though many run closer to $1,300 depending on features🔗countertop soft serve machine
Waffle cone chips (pre-made): ~$40–$150🔗waffle cone chips
Chocolate sauce warmer/dispenser: ~$30–$60🔗chocolate sauce warmer
Compartment serving trays (the 3-section ones): ~$20–$40 for a pack🔗compartment serving trays
Toppings starter kit (sprinkles, syrups, extra drizzles): ~$25–$40🔗ice cream sprinkles
Folding table + tablecloth for events (if you don't already have one): ~$40–$70
Business cards / simple menu signage: ~$20–$30

Estimated Total Startup Cost: $925–$1,890

I know that machine is the big number here. If it feels like a stretch, look for a gently used soft serve machine on Facebook Marketplace or restaurant equipment resale groups — I've seen them go for half the retail price. You can also start by testing the concept at one or two events with a rented or borrowed machine before you commit to buying your own.

3. Supply List & Where to Buy

Soft serve machine — Amazon, Webstaurant Store, or restaurant supply resellers. Look for one designed for events/small batches, not full commercial volume, to start.🔗soft serve machine
Soft serve mix — Sam's Club, Restaurant Depot, or Webstaurant Store carry bulk mix that keeps your per-serving cost low.🔗soft serve mix
Waffle cone chips — Buy pre-made waffle cone chips online or through a restaurant supply store; buying in bulk brings your cost per tray down.🔗waffle cone chips
Chocolate drizzle — A squeeze-bottle magic shell or warmed chocolate sauce works great; find both at Sam's Club or Amazon.🔗chocolate sauce
Sprinkles & mix-ins — Dollar Tree and Walmart both have great bulk sprinkle options for cheap; buy the big jars, not the small jars, for cost per serving.
Compartment trays & napkins/spoons — Restaurant Depot or Amazon for trays in bulk; Sam's Club for napkins and spoons.🔗disposable compartment trays
Cooler/ice for transport — Any large cooler you already own works; add extra ice packs to keep your mix cold on the way to events.

My biggest money-saving tip: buy your soft serve mix and waffle cones in bulk from a wholesale club. The cost per tray drops fast once you're not buying small quantities, and that's where your profit margin really shows up.

4. Pricing Strategy

At $5–$8 per single-serve tray, you're in a great spot — that's an approachable, impulse-buy price at an event, but still leaves solid margin once you factor in mix, cones, and toppings.

$5: A smaller tray, good for kids or a lighter portion at busy events where you want fast turnover.
$7–$8: A fuller tray like the one in my photos — generous chips, full drizzle, and a real swirl of soft serve. This is the price point I'd lead with.
Catering/party add-on: For birthday parties, consider a flat "nacho bar" package price where you bring the machine and set up a self-serve station for a set number of guests — price it based on guest count, event length, and what other mobile dessert vendors in your area are charging.

A Simple Rule of Thumb

Aim to charge at least 3–4x your ingredient cost per tray. If a tray costs you about $2 in chips, mix, and toppings, a $6–$8 price point keeps you profitable even after factoring in propane, ice, or event booth fees.

5. How to Find Customers

Your Best First Customers

Local event organizers: Reach out to farmers market managers, school festivals, and church events — a totally new dessert booth is an easy yes for them.
Birthday party moms: Post in local mom Facebook groups offering an "ice cream nacho bar" as a party add-on — it's a much more memorable option than a regular ice cream cart.
Word of mouth: Once one family books you for a party, ask if you can leave a stack of business cards or a QR code sign at the event for other guests.

Where to Advertise

Instagram/TikTok: Video content is everything here — a slow-motion drizzle pour or the reveal of the tray gets watched and shared. This concept is basically made for video.
Facebook local groups & Nextdoor: Post about upcoming markets you'll be at, and take pre-orders for parties.
Farmers markets & fall festivals: These are goldmine locations for a new dessert concept — people come ready to spend on food and are looking for something they haven't tried.

6. Step-by-Step Launch Guide

Source your machine — Compare a few countertop soft serve models to find the best fit for your budget and event volume (prices typically start around $750 and go up from there).🔗soft serve machine
Test your recipe — Practice your tray build (chip amount, drizzle pattern, swirl size) until you have a consistent, photogenic portion you can replicate quickly.
Price out your ingredient cost per tray — Track exactly what mix, cones, and toppings cost you so your $5–$8 pricing stays profitable.
Design your menu/signage — Create a simple sign with your business name, tray options, and price using
Check local health guidelines — Look into your county's requirements for selling food at events (many areas have a simple temporary event permit process).
Book your first event — Reach out to one farmers market or local festival and ask about booth fees and availability.
Film your first setup — Post a video of the tray being built with a caption like the "whoever sent you this" hook — that style of content performs really well for this concept.
Offer a party package — Post in local mom groups offering a flat-rate ice cream nacho bar for birthday parties.
Collect reviews and photos — Ask happy customers to tag you or leave a review; social proof sells this concept fast.
Book your next 2–3 events — Once you've got your systems down, start filling your calendar a few weeks out.

7. Income Potential

Starter (1 event/month, 40 trays sold): 40 × $7 = ~$280/month

Growing (2 events/month + 1 party booking): 80 trays × $7 = ~$560/month from events, plus your party package fee on top

Full Roster (weekly events + 2 parties/month): 200 trays × $7 = ~$1,400/month from events, plus 2 party package fees on top

Because this business needs a bigger upfront investment than most of my ideas, it may take a few solid events to recoup your machine cost — but once you're past that, your margins per tray are strong. Parties and catering packages are where a lot of moms doing this concept see their income really grow, since you can charge more for a flat-rate experience.

8. You've Got This

This is such a fun, memorable idea — you're not just selling dessert, you're selling an experience people want to record and share. Start with one event, get your system down, and let the videos do the marketing for you. I'm cheering you on!

The business ideas and income figures shared in this plan are for informational and inspirational purposes only. Results will vary based on your location, effort, experience, and market. I do not guarantee that you will earn any specific amount of money. Always do your own research before investing time or money into any business. Additionally, laws and regulations vary by city, county, and state — please research and follow all local rules, permits, and licensing requirements that may apply to your business before getting started (especially for food handling and mobile food sales). I also strongly recommend looking into business insurance — many home-based businesses can get affordable coverage to protect themselves and their customers. Once you start earning income, consult a local accountant to understand your tax responsibilities.

Affiliate Disclosure: Some links in this plan may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I believe in and think could genuinely help you build your business. Thank you for supporting me!

The Porch Bakery Blueprint

Turn your oven into a side hustle — right from your front porch.

What Is This Business?

A porch bakery (sometimes called a cottage bakery) is exactly what it sounds like: you bake from your home kitchen, set up a little display on your porch or driveway, and sell directly to your neighbors and community — usually on weekend mornings. No storefront, no commercial kitchen required in most areas, and no complicated setup. Just you, your oven, and your talent.The key to a porch bakery that actually gets talked about? Make it yours. Whether that's naturally leavened sourdough loaves, dot cakes with stunning designs, brownie flight boxes with wild flavor combos, or sweet rolls in flavors no one else is doing — your signature item is what makes people set an alarm and show up early. Pick something you love making, make it beautifully, and own it.

Startup Costs & Budget

Estimated startup range: $75–$200 (and much of this you may already own!)

Baking supplies (pans, tools, ingredients for your first batches) — $30–$80
Packaging (boxes, bags, clamshells, tissue paper) — $20–$50
Branded stickers to seal your packaging — $15–$30 for a starter pack
Signs for item names, flavors, and prices — $10–$25 (design free in Canva, print at home or Walmart)
Payment sign with your Venmo/CashApp QR code — free to print
Lock box for cash (optional but smart) — $15–$25

📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Branded stickers — Sticker Mule or Canva Print]📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Bakery boxes/bags on Amazon]📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Lock box on Amazon]I always recommend sealing your packaging with a sticker that has your brand on it — it makes everything look polished and professional, and it's a little piece of marketing that walks away with every customer. Make sure it's as airtight as possible to keep your baked goods fresh!

Supply List & Where to Buy

Baking Supplies

Parchment paper, mixing bowls, sheet pans, loaf pans — check what you already have first!
Quality ingredients in bulk: Sam's Club or Costco for flour, sugar, butter, eggs
Specialty ingredients for your signature item — Amazon or a local international grocery

📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Bulk baking ingredients on Amazon]

Packaging

Window bakery boxes — Amazon, WebstaurantStore, or a local restaurant supply
Clamshell containers (great for cookies, brownies, rolls) — Sam's Club or Amazon
Tissue paper or wax paper liners — Dollar Tree or Amazon
Branded stickers — Sticker Mule, Canva Print, or Etsy

📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Bakery boxes on Amazon]📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Sticker Mule branded stickers]

Display & Setup

A small folding table — check Facebook Marketplace first
A tablecloth in your brand colors
Printed signs — design in Canva (free!) and print at home or at Walmart
A small chalkboard sign for weekly specials — Dollar Tree or Amazon

📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Mini chalkboard signs on Amazon]

Pricing Strategy

Before you set your prices, do a little homework: look up what other porch bakeries and cottage bakers in your area are charging. Local Facebook baking groups and Instagram can be goldmines for this research.My rule of thumb: charge at least 3x your ingredient cost — and don't forget to factor in your time. Your labor is real and it counts. If it takes you two hours to make a batch, that time needs to be in your price.In my area, sourdough loaves often go for $10–$12 each. Sweet rolls might be $4–$6 per roll or $20–$30 for a half dozen. Brownie flight boxes of 4 can go for $12–$18 depending on the flavors and presentation. A dot cake or designer cake slice? People happily pay $8–$12 for an experience.Adjust for your market — what's premium pricing in a rural area might be on the lower end in a larger city. Test your prices, watch what sells out fastest, and don't be afraid to raise them as your reputation grows.

How to Find Customers

Start close to home

Tell your neighbors — a knock on a few doors with a free sample goes a long way
Post in your neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor the night before you open
Share in local moms' groups, school parent groups, and church communities
Word of mouth is your #1 marketing tool — one happy customer tells five friends

Social media (this is everything)

Post every single time you're opening — usually Friday night or Saturday morning before you set up
Show what you'll have that week: photos, flavor details, pickup time, and your general address
Keep it fresh — rotate your menu seasonally or monthly to create excitement and give people a reason to come back
Use local hashtags: #[yourcity]bakery #porchbakery #cottagebakery #[yourcity]foodie
Stories and Reels showing your baking process get huge engagement — people love behind-the-scenes content

Other great channels

Facebook Marketplace — list items as available for local pickup
Farmers markets — a natural next step once you're established
School events, office gift orders, holiday pop-ups — great for larger volume
Pre-orders — so you know exactly how much to bake each week

Step-by-Step Launch Guide

Decide on your signature item. What makes your porch bakery different? Nail down 1–2 hero products you're proud of and build your menu around them.
Create your brand. Pick a name, choose 1–2 colors, and design a simple logo in Canva (free!). Order your branded stickers.
Set up your payment methods. Confirm your Venmo and CashApp and print a QR code sign for your table.
Do a test bake. Make a full batch, photograph it in good natural light, and taste-test with trusted friends or family.
Gather your supplies. Packaging, signs, a table, a tablecloth, your lock box if using cash.
Set your first date and post about it! Announce what you're selling, when you're open, and your general area or intersection.
Bake the night before (or morning of). Have everything packaged, labeled, and priced before you set up.
Set up your porch display — make it pretty! A nice setup photographs well and makes people stop.
Take photos when you open and post them immediately. Tag your location.
Ask happy customers for a tag or a review. A photo from a real customer is worth more than any ad.

📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Canva Pro — more design templates]📎 [AFFILIATE LINK: Venmo/CashApp referral links]

Income Potential

Here's what the math can look like — and these are realistic, conservative numbers:Getting started: 8–10 orders × $15 avg = $120–$150/weekendBuilding momentum: 20 orders × $20 avg = $400/weekend = ~$1,600/monthThriving porch bakery: 40+ orders × $25 avg = $1,000/weekend = $4,000+/monthThis can start as supplemental income and grow into something significant — especially if you add pre-orders, take holiday custom orders, or eventually sell at a farmers market. Many moms run porch bakeries as their primary income. The ceiling is really up to you.

You've Got This

Starting a porch bakery is one of the most approachable and rewarding businesses a mom can launch — and the fact that you're here, reading this plan, means you're already further along than most people ever get. You don't need a commercial kitchen or a business degree. You need your talent, a little prep, and the courage to open your door.Put your own spin on it, make it something your community can't get anywhere else, and share it loudly and proudly on social media. Your first Saturday might be small — and that is perfectly okay. Keep showing up, keep baking, keep posting, and watch it grow. I'm rooting for you! 🧁The business ideas and income figures shared in this plan are for informational and inspirational purposes only. Results will vary based on your location, effort, experience, and market. I do not guarantee that you will earn any specific amount of money. Always do your own research before investing time or money into any business. Additionally, laws and regulations vary by city, county, and state — please research and follow all local rules, permits, and licensing requirements that may apply to your business before getting started. Once you start earning income, we also recommend consulting a local accountant to understand your tax responsibilities.