In much the same way the swallows return each year to Mission San Juan Capistrano, these fixtures are now returning to Grand Junction. Have you seen them? Would you like to "be" them?

You can set your watch by these. We've passed the first day of spring and they've returned.

I'm referring, of course, to the diverse group of ice cream trucks combing the streets of Grand Junction. They haven't hit my neighborhood yet, but they've been close. I can hear "Music Box Dancer" in the distance. Last weekend I spotted one right next to the Dairy Queen on Orchard Mesa. Turf war?!

To date, I've never made a purchase from one of these trucks. That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it. From time to time one passes by the station. I've seen grown men in their fifties launch themselves out the door, frantically chasing after one of these trucks in hope of securing an ice cream cone.

Have you ever considered purchasing an ice cream truck? Hey, who hasn't? The website profitableventure.com offers a list of reasons why you should. Their list including six reasons. I personally felt one of them a bit silly, so I reduced it down to five. In no particular order, they are:

  • Ice cream as a product has a wide target market, as everybody likes ice cream; irrespective of age, race, religious beliefs, culture, etc. (wow... that's profound)
  • Ice cream is nutritious (debatable) and a source of energy to humans; and as a result of this, people will always be in demand for it.
  • The startup capital required to establish an ice cream truck business is not much and the raw materials needed to make ice cream is readily available locally.
  • The profit margin for each ice cream you sell is high, as the raw materials needed are cheap and the ice cream production process is almost entirely automated.
  • There is no need to rent a shop or store, thus eliminating the recurring monthly rental bill. All you need is to make a one-time investment in buying a truck and branding it. You can even reduce your overhead cost by either buying a used ice cream truck or building a custom-made truck.

Make it, and they will come. Check out these satisfied customers.

I don't know about those visiting your neighborhood, the one in my area plays "Music Box Dancer" ... constantly ... endlessly. I love that song, but even I can't listen to it for eight hours a day.

One came by last summer playing Christmas Music. Nothing hits the spot like "Here Comes Santa Claus" in the middle of the day with a temperature of 101 on the blacktop.

So, are you ready to buy an ice cream truck? I found this one on eBay for the low, low price of $105,000.00. Like the web article said, starting an ice cream truck business has very little overhead.

Keep an eye out. This is small business at its finest. We're talking "small" business. Show your support for local ice cream entrepreneur. Better yet, become an ice cream mogul.

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