Essential equipment frozen yogurt shops need for opening day

Frozen yogurt shops are among the most profitable businesses to start in 2024. If you’re thinking of opening a frozen yogurt shop, we’ve created a go-to checklist of essential frozen yogurt equipment you’ll need as you launch your frozen yogurt business.

READ: How to write a restaurant business plan

Essential equipment for your frozen yogurt shop

When planning for the equipment you’ll need for your business, consider two main areas:

1. Back of house where you store and prep your product

2. Front of house where you engage with customers

Back-of-house equipment

1. Refrigerator and freezer

Although it may seem like it’s stating the obvious, one of the first things you’ll need for your shop is space to safely store the cold products and ingredients needed for frozen yogurt and toppings. A refrigerator and freezer–especially reach-in freezers–are crucial for storing your yogurt inventory and the cold ingredients to ensure nothing spoils before it’s prepared and served to customers.

2. Storage containers, utensils, and labels

Your frozen yogurt shop will need to store a variety of toppings and ingredients. This could mean candies, sprinkles, and chopped nuts to scatter on frozen yogurt. So, separate storage containers or bins to keep toppings individually labeled and organized are crucial. Remember, too, that customers may have food allergies or sensitivities–think gluten, nuts, and dairy–and need to avoid certain ingredients due to lifestyle choices. Keeping ingredients separate and clearly labeled is a must. And, you’ll need a variety of utensils–spoons, bowls, knives- food-grade buckets–to help prep ingredients.

3. Sinks and cleaning supplies

A kitchen isn’t really a kitchen without a sink. Be sure to plan on a basin for staff to wash their hands, and an industrial sink for washing, rinsing, and sanitizing all utensils, dishes, and containers.To keep things clean and sanitary, you’ll also need a supply of safe, non-toxic cleaning supplies–think buckets, mops, cleaning cloths, and floor and surface cleaners.

READ: Restaurant cleanliness: Importance of cleaning & sanitation in food industry

Front-of-house equipment

4. Frozen yogurt machines

Of course, the most important ingredient of your frozen yogurt business is often the yogurt itself. Depending on how you intend to serve up your yogurt–whether it’s self-serve or whether your staff serves it–and on the number of yogurt flavors you’ll launch your business with, your shop will likely need multiple frozen yogurt machines. To figure out how many you’ll need, consider how many frozen yogurt options you’d like to offer–basic vanilla and chocolate or multiple flavors–and purchase your machines from there. Also consider that some of these machines offer swirl options, so it’s also a great idea to think through the flavors you’ll offer and which ones pair best together if they’re swirled.

5. Toppings bars and dispensers

To edge out the competition, your frozen yogurt shop may need to offer a selection of toppings–think dry, cold, and hot–and those toppings, whether nuts, fruits, or candy, must be presented to customers in a way that also keeps the toppings fresh. That means you’ll likely need a refrigerated toppings bar, a dry toppings bar, and hot topping dispensers. Investing in the right equipment to keep toppings fresh and safe from spoilage can save the business money, too. And, be sure to label all toppings you place out for customers–or for your staff if your shop is a full-service frozen yogurt shop.

6. Refrigerator

Having a fridge available front of house could give you the option to upsell other cold items–bottles of water, other drinks, or even pre-packaged frozen yogurt.

7. Cups, napkins, bowls, and utensils

Cups, bowls, and utensils are a must in any eatery–especially in a frozen yogurt shop.

Consider offering a range of cup sizes that customers can use to dispense their frozen yogurt into–or that staff can offer to customers if your shop is full service. If the shop is being opened in an area with families or near younger school children, try to have a range of small cups for smaller kids. Also be sure to offer medium and large sized cups for dedicated yogurt lovers. For customers on the go, offer a range of cup cover sizes that will stop the yogurt from melting right away. If the shop also offers drinks, consider having straws on hand, too. You can make the customer experience even more special and build your unique brand by branding your napkins and cups.

READ: How to write a marketing plan

8. Hand sanitizer dispensers

Since self-service is typically a big selling point for frozen yogurt businesses, customers and staff will be handling various items in your shop–think self-serve machines, topping scoops, spoons, and just about every other surface in your shop. So, be sure to place hand sanitizer dispensers with easy access in your shop.

9. Seating

Whether your shop is an indoor or outdoor establishment, you’ll likely need to offer customers a convenient place to sit and enjoy your goods. That could mean indoor tables and chairs or outdoor seating like benches of picnic tables. Factor in the space you have available inside for seating and any city ordinances that restrict the number of people you can safely seat inside your business.

10. Payments processing system

To take customers payments, your business will need a POS system. Clover point of sale (POS) system for frozen yogurt businesses accept payments, including cash, debit cards, credit cards, mobile wallets, and more. Even better, it can help you manage employees, customers, and reporting. What’s more, a Clover POS can help you track inventory and even create low stock alerts that notify staff to order supplies before they completely run out.

And, as your business expands, your Clover POS can grow with you and help get by the more of your delicious frozen dessert into the hands of more people with online orders. You can even entice customers to keep coming back–even during colder months of the year with Clover Customer Engagement–that gives you the option to send promos, announce new yogurt flavors or toppings, and even build a robust loyalty program, offering points towards freebies or discounts.

Learn how a Clover POS system can jumpstart your frozen yogurt business. Speak to a Clover Consultant today.

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Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Editorial Team

Topics: Insights, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Run your business

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Essential equipment frozen yogurt shops need for opening day

Editorial Team