You've made an investment in snow cone equipment, and now you need to make it work for you. Whether it is a battery-operated, gas-powered or electric snow cone maker, you need to have the supplies on hand in order to serve your customers.

Many supplies for snow cone machines and ice shavers are cross-functional, however some items might be specific to the type of machine you are operating. Always refer to an owner's manual, if you have one, for the correct type of supplies for use with your specific brand or type of equipment.

1. Used snow cone machines for sale may come with some left over supplies, but most likely you will have to stock up on everything.

2. New ice shaving machines typically come with start-up supplies, but make sure you know what you are getting at time of purchase to avoid surprises.

3. Supplies for a commercial snow cone machine will vary greatly in quantity to smaller machines, but you may be able to get a discounted package deal.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know what supplies you need to keep your sno cone machines operational

Snow cone makers and shave ice machines can share similar supplies such as scoops and gloves to operative the machines. You'll also need cups, bottles, dispensers and syrups to prepare the treats, and sometimes straws and spoons.

I recommend: Take advantage of the discounts offered by SnowBall Supply for every five items purchased. The company offers numerous sweetened and sugar-free snow cone syrup flavors in concentrated or ready-to-use varieties. HawaiianShavedIce.com has various shaved ice and snow cone machine supplies including ice molds, pourer kits, spoon straws, and drip pans.

Make sure you have the required ice shaving machine start up supplies on hand

There are several items needed to get started with a snow cone machine. At a minimum, you should have the following on hand: various syrup flavors, syrup containers with spouts and caps, spoon straws, a spare machine blade, serving cups, a funnel, and a scoop. Small electric snow cone maker kits usual contain enough supplies for about two dozen snow cones.

I recommend: Choose from a selection of snow cone cups with pointed or flat bottoms through MyPopcornMachine. Compare various complete shaved ice start up packages from Snow Wizard. Their prices include the machine, but you can use their lists to make your own.

Tantalize your customers with various snow cone syrup flavors

A large part of the enjoyment of a snow cone is its flavor. Popular flavors vary by region, so where pineapple may be the best seller in one location, bubble gum or blackberry will be popular somewhere else. It's important to know your market so you don't purchase flavors that won't sell.

I recommend: Select from the long alphabetical list of delectable flavors offered by Supreme, from almond to watermelon. If you're targeting a special market, check out the large variety of organic snow cone syrups from Nature's Flavors.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If your budget allows, a good rule of thumb in purchasing shaved ice machine supplies is to take what you think you'll need and double the order. It's always better to pack up unused material at the end of the day than to run out mid-stream.

Snow cone machines are a wise choice for any type of concessions stand or as a stand-alone small business venture during the summer or at the beach. Kids love them and that makes snow cone machines a hit for entertaining at family-friendly events. Snow cone makers are easy to come by and come in a number of types to fit your needs.

Snow cone makers are basically just ice shaving machines. You use the machine to shave the ice, add flavored syrup and serve.

When looking for your first snow cone machine, remember the following:

1. Compare prices and styles to determine the type of ice shaving machine you want to buy.
2. Consider smaller machines or hand crank machines for special uses.
3. Shop used if you're not sure about longevity and whether you want to commit to an expensive new machine.
4. Plan for buying syrups and accessories such as carts, stands, dispensers and cups.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Shop for different types of ice shavers

Many different types of shave ice machines exist for making snow cones. If you're shopping for a commercial snow cone machine, most are electric or battery operated machines for shaving a block of ice.

I recommend: You can either shop for a simple ice shaving machine at Concessionstands.com that you use with a block of ice and that electrically shaves the ice into a cup, or you can shop for a snow cone machine that creates a flurry of shaved ice in a box. Boxed snow cone machines also can store a pile of shaved ice for you to scoop as needed. Snowizard also offers ice makers for making block ice to shave.

Look for small or hand-cranked ice shavers

If you need to make snow cones for a smaller event, for home use, or want to get an old-fashioned feel, try a smaller model or a hand-cranked ice shaving machine.

I recommend: Many snow cone makers come in a smaller model designed to shave just a single serving at a time. You also can find good hand-cranked machines at 1-800-Shaved-Ice--tiresome for a concessions venture but a nice old-time aesthetic for summer events.

Shop used for a more affordable snow cone machine

Snow cone machines aren't a great short-term investment because of the high cost and short season of usability, but if you just want to try one out for the summer, shop for a used snow cone machine.

I recommend: ACityDiscount offers new and used options for a number of restaurant and catering supplies, and you can narrow your search for snow cone machines to just the used options that are available. Or, if you just need the machine for a few days, you can rent the machine and all of the materials from Air Castles and Slides.

Stock up on snow cone syrups and accessories

After you've bought a snow cone machine, you'll need supplies such as cups, spoons and syrups to serve the icy treats to your customers. A wheeled-cart will ease moving the snow cone machine from place to place.

I recommend: If you're buying a box snow cone machine, you'll need a cart to transport and set up the ice shaving machine. Many makers of snow cone machines also sell advertising signs, scoops and gloves for operating the machine. You'll also want to shop for a variety of syrups, as well as bottles and dispensers for the syrups, cups to put the snow cones in, and special straws and spoons.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider sugar-free syrup options or sugar-free mixes for snow cone flavoring, especially if you're competing with other snow cone stands. Sugar-free options can set your snow cone business apart from others.

There are several options you can consider when shopping for a snow cone makers, which grind ice into small coarse pellets. Syrup is then poured on top and sinks to the bottom creating a cold, refreshing drink. Shave ice machines are more expensive than sno cone machines because the process includes shaving ice from blocks or cubes to create a fine, light snow-like consistency that adheres to syrup. The product is then eaten with a spoon.

Determine whether you want a shaved ice machine or snow cone machine and the size and number your business needs. Then, set your budget for the equipment with the following information in mind:

1. Go with a brand new machine with available warranty to feel at ease if any issues should arise early on.

2. Consider a smaller machine if larger ones are out of your price range and if your usage will be special occasions instead of full-time.

3. Consider used or refurbished ice shaving machines to get started.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Research ice shavers and snow cone equipment to know your options

There are several kinds of sno cone machines you can consider for your business. A commercial snow cone machine will be electric-, gas- or battery-operated. Automatic snow cone machines focus on high production. Hand cranked snow cone machines are great for small venues, or for showing off how ice shaving used to be done.

I recommend: For some assistance on deciding which type of machine is best suited for your needs, read up at the 1-800-Shaved-Ice Machine Help Center. They walk you through the options and show you what they have available in all categories and price ranges. Jarco offers a variety of solid snow cone and ice shaving machines ranging from the mid-$300 to $2000 price range.

Find snow cone machines for sale, rent, or lease

Size matters when investigating pricing and costs of snow cone machines. A small electric snow cone maker can be well under one hundred dollars, while a large commercial machine can cost thousands. Knowing how much use the machine will get and how often the machine will be used should come into play when budgeting for your ice shaving machine. Depending on where you live, snow cone machines or ice shaving equipment is available for lease or rent for as little as $20 per day.

I recommend: Paragon offers several types of snow cone machines, along with replacement parts. Atlanta Concessions rents machines and offers the necessary supplies for your snow cone machine needs. Contact Valley-Popcorn.com to find out their rates and availability for leasing snow cone machines.

Keep maintenance costs of sno cone machines in mind

New isn't always the best route when considering equipment for a start-up company, but it is tempting due to the peace of mind you get when purchasing never-before-used equipment. If purchasing new equipment, you can wrap a maintenance agreement into the costs. But if you are purchasing used equipment, make sure to budget for unexpected maintenance costs for the type of equipment you buy. Service plans can run from $12 per year and up, where fix-as-you-go repairs can easily run hundreds of dollars.

I recommend: Festivals-and-Shows.com offers a classified section on used snow cone machines for sale. Scroll to the bottom of the page and search by location. Popcorn Popper Direct offers a variety of sno cone machines for sale. Also, browse shaved ice machines for sale through Popcorn Popper Direct.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't be overly concerned about the cosmetic beauty of a snow cone machine. You should focus on a machine crafted for its utility and ability to withstand use, instead of how pretty it looks.
• •  You can find seldom-used snow cone and ice shaving equipment for sale on Internet auction sites, and in your local newspaper's classified ads.

Snow cones are fairly simple to make. All you need is ice, flavoring and a snow cone machine to create a delicious treat. But if you want to succeed in the snow cone business, you should really understand some of the industry's key terms. For example, snow cone machine recipes will call for simple syrup and flavor concentrates. Your job can be made easier with a stirring paddle and mixing container. And the proper use of a drip pan and shaver blades can help keep your machine running well.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Simple syrup

Simple syrup is a mixture of water, sugar and preservatives. It is the base for all snow cone flavors. The preservative is usually sodium benzoate or citric acid.

I recommend: To learn more about simple syrup and to view a simple syrup recipe chart, visit 1 800-Shaved-Ice.

Flavor concentrates

Flavor concentrates are mixed with simple syrup to produce various flavors of snow cones. Typically, a few ounces of concentrate will flavor one gallon of simple syrup.

I recommend: Snow Cone Supply has more information about flavor concentrates, as well as examples of some of the flavors.

Stirring paddle

A stirring paddle is a heavy-duty paddle that mixes simple syrup and flavoring to use in your snow cone machine. It is usually made of stainless steel or wood and is about 36 inches long.

I recommend: Cookware & Coupons provides examples of stirring paddles. Click the pictures for more information.

Mixing container

A specialized mixing container will make it easier to make your simple syrup. The container is essentially a large bucket with a spout on the bottom for bottling the syrup.

I recommend: Pictures of mixing containers and more information is available from SnoWizard.

Drip pan

Most operators of snow cone machines place a drip pan, also known as a drip tray, underneath the machine as a way to contain condensation. Some snow cone machines have a built-in drip pan. A hose, known as a drain tube, can be connected to the pan to assist in draining the water.

I recommend: Visit Hawaiian Shaved Ice to see a picture of a drip pan, in place under a snow cone machine.

Shaver blades

Shaver blades are used to make the shaved ice that becomes the snow cone. You should keep your shaver blades as sharp as possible by using a shaver blade sharpener. The colder you keep the ice, the more frequently you will have to sharpen the blades. Periodically, you will have to replace the blades in your snow cone machine.

I recommend: Jarco Industries is an excellent resource for information about when snow cone machine shaver blades need to be changed and how to change them.