How Much Profit Can a Soft Serve Machine Make Per Month? (Costs & ROI Breakdown)

In this blog, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about the profitability of soft serve machines. We'll break down the revenue potential, initial investment, operating costs, and showcase scenarios, giving you a full understanding of the return on investment (ROI) you can expect.

For the examples in this article, we’ll use Taylor commercial soft serve machines as our reference point. Taylor machines are widely recognized as an industry standard, and TFI Canada is Canada’s largest distributor of Taylor® equipment.

Serving Capacity and Daily Revenue Potential of an Ice Cream Machine

So, what kind of revenue can you expect once a Taylor machine is up and running in your restaurant, café, or shop? To start, commercial soft serve machines are high-output devices – capacity won’t be a limiting factor for most operators.

Depending on the model, a Taylor soft serve freezer can dispense anywhere from 100 to over 400 servings per hour in peak conditions. In practice, your sales volume will depend more on foot traffic and demand than the machine’s speed. Even a single Taylor machine can handle the dessert needs of a busy QSR, café, or ice cream shop.

Profit Case Study

Let’s look at a hypothetical scenario for daily sales and revenue:

Now let's breakdown this table to get a better understanding.

Daily Servings

Say you serve around 80 cones or cups per day (which is feasible for a café or fast-food location during summer months). This averages to only 8 cones an hour over a 10-hour day – well within a Taylor machine’s capacity. Many businesses see even higher volumes (100+ servings on hot days), while smaller operations or off-season days might do a few dozen. Even a modest 50–60 servings/day can be very profitable, as we’ll see.

Average Price per Serving

Soft serve prices vary by location and portion size. In Canada, a plain soft serve cone might be around $2.00–$3.50 CAD, while sundaes or premium creations can fetch $4–$5+. Operators typically charge within the $2 to $5 range per serving.

For our scenario, let’s use $3.00 as the average selling price for a basic serving (some will be higher with toppings, some lower as kiddie cones or promos). This price is competitive for a treat and still leaves plenty of margin.

Gross Revenue

At 80 servings/day × $3 each, that’s $240 in daily gross revenue. Over a month (30 days), the gross revenue is about $7,200 per month from one machine.

Many Canadian operators easily achieve this level or more in summer, and even year-round soft serve sales remain strong due to the product’s nostalgic, impulsive appeal (some quick-service restaurants report dessert attachment rates boosting lunchtime sales in winter too). Higher volume sites (e.g. at a busy tourist spot or a multi-flavour frozen yogurt bar) could double these numbers.

But even at a conservative 50 servings/day at $3, you’d see ~$4,500 in monthly revenue, which is substantial for an add-on menu item.

Crucially, most of that revenue is profit. Soft serve is regarded as one of the highest-margin offerings in foodservice. To understand why, we need to break down the operating costs, which are remarkably low relative to the selling price.

Initial Investment for a Soft Serve Machine

The upfront cost of a soft serve machine can vary greatly depending on the brand, capacity, and features. Although its not about the cost of the machine, but how it can help generate more revenue for your business. Expect to spend:

Brands like Taylor dominate the market with durable, commercial-grade machines that are standard in the frozen dessert industry. For example, Taylor machines can range from $15,000 to $60,000+, especially if they include advanced features like self-pasteurization or digital controls.

Buying used equipment can lower the cost by 30–50%, but this comes with risks. You’ll need to consider the condition of internal components, warranty coverage, and service availability.

Ongoing Operating Costs of Running a Soft Serve Machine

Just like any vending or food service equipment, a soft serve machine comes with recurring costs that impact your bottom line. Running a Taylor soft serve machine involves a few ongoing costs, but together they usually only account for 20–30% of the sales. That means 70–80% gross profit margin is typical on soft serve.

Ingredients

The primary ingredient is the soft serve ice cream mix (plus cones, cups, and optional toppings). Soft serve mix is relatively inexpensive – around $0.15 to $0.50 CAD per serving on average.

This range accounts for different mix types (basic dairy mix vs. premium custard or non-dairy oatmilk mix) and includes the cost of a cone or cup. For example, a typical liquid dairy mix might be ~$6–$10 per gallon; since a gallon of mix makes ~35–40 soft serve servings, that’s roughly $0.20–$0.30 per 5oz serving.

Even adding the cone and a napkin, your total product cost per cone might be well under $0.50. In our scenario of 80 servings/day (2400 servings/month), you’d spend roughly $500–$800/month on mix and cones. If you offer sprinkles or sauces, factor in a bit more, but often those are only a few cents per serving. This low cost-of-goods is why each sale carries such high profit.

Electricity

Soft serve freezers do consume power since they run refrigeration compressors and auger motors to keep the ice cream mix frozen and flowing. The electricity cost, however, is fairly modest in the context of your sales. A larger floor model Taylor might use on the order of a few kilowatts when actively freezing; smaller countertop units use less.

For estimation, if a machine consumes ~10 kWh of energy per day, and electricity costs (in Ontario, for example) ~$0.13/kWh, that’s about $1.30 per day, or roughly $40 per month in electricity. Even heavy use machines might be double or triple that, so perhaps $50–$100 CAD/month for power.

Cleaning & Sanitizing

All commercial soft serve machines require daily cleaning and sanitizing of the food contact parts per health regulations and manufacturer guidelines. This involves flushing mix out, disassembling certain parts (like the valves and o-rings), washing, sanitizing, and re-lubricating them each day.

Cleaning supplies needed include food-safe sanitizer concentrate, brushes, and lubricant – these are low-cost consumables. For example, sanitizer packets might cost $0.50 each; you’ll use one per day, so ~$15 per month. You’ll periodically replace rubber seals, gaskets, and scraper blades to maintain performance (Taylor “Tune-Up” kits with seals and springs might be ~$50, and you might use a couple per year). All told, cleaning supplies and minor replacement parts could run about $20–$30 per month.

The labour cost of cleaning is something to consider as well – however, it generally takes under 30 minutes for a trained staff member to clean a single-barrel machine. Many operators fold this into the closing duties for staff. Taylor does offer heat-treatment models that reduce cleaning frequency by heat pasteurizing the mix overnight; those machines cost more upfront but can be cleaned weekly instead of daily, saving labour. Still, daily basic cleaning is the norm for most machines.

Maintenance & Service

One reason Taylor machines are premium is their reliability, but preventative maintenance is still important. You should plan for routine servicing at least annually by a certified technician – this might include checking refrigerant levels, inspecting beater motors, and replacing wear-and-tear parts like belts or gears.

Typical annual service costs range from about $500 to $1,000 per year for a Taylor machine depending on the model and local service rates. That’s roughly $40–$80 per month when budgeted out. Some businesses opt for a preventative maintenance plan with their distributor, which can be monthly or quarterly check-ups.

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Aside from maintenance, occasional repairs (e.g. replacing a worn beater motor in year 5, or a thermostat) might incur additional costs, but Taylor parts are widely available in Canada and the machines are built to last 10+ years with proper care.

Here’s a breakdown of the estimated monthly expenses:

Bottom Line:

Adding up the above, a typical monthly operating cost for one machine might look like: ingredients $600 + utilities $75 + cleaning supplies $25 + maintenance reserve $75 = around $775. On $7,200 gross revenue, that’s about 10.7% of sales. Even if we assume higher ingredient usage or other overhead, it’s rare for total direct costs to exceed 20-30% of revenue. This means you retain roughly 70–80% as gross profit.

Monthly Profit and ROI (Return on Investment)

With revenues and costs established, we can determine the monthly profit from a Taylor soft serve machine. Using our scenario (80 servings/day at $3 each):

Monthly Gross Profit (Revenue – Cost)

If gross revenue is ~$7,200 and operating costs are, say, $1,500 (approximately 20% of revenue), the gross profit would be around $5,700 per month for a single machine. That represents a healthy ~79% margin.

Even under more conservative assumptions (e.g. 70% profit margin), $7,200 revenue would yield about $5,000/month in profit. This is the cash generated after paying for mix, utilities, and routine upkeep.

ROI and Payback Period

ROI (return on investment) measures how quickly the machine “pays for itself.” Taylor soft serve machines typically achieve payback within 6 to 18 months of operation. The exact timeline depends on your upfront cost and sales volume.

In our example, let’s assume the machine costs $40,000. If you're earning around $5,700 per month in net profit (based on 80 servings/day at $3), you'd recoup your investment in approximately 7 months—an excellent ROI for foodservice equipment.

But what if your location is more moderate?

Even in lower-traffic scenarios, a Taylor machine can still achieve ROI within a small timeframe, especially when you factor in upselling opportunities, off-season marketing, and special events.

Single vs. Multiple Soft Serve Machines – Monthly Profit Potential

Below is a comparison table illustrating the potential revenue, costs, and profit for a single Taylor soft serve machine versus a multi-machine setup. If you’re working with a $40,000 soft serve machine, the table also outlines the estimated payback periods based on daily sales volumes of 40 and 80 servings per machine.

Soft Serve Machine ROI Table– 80 Servings Per Day @ $3/serving

Soft Serve Machine ROI Table – 40 Servings Per Day @ $3/serving

Average Selling Price Points for Soft Serve in Canada

Soft serve pricing in Canada varies widely depending on the setting—from fast-food counters to boutique ice cream parlors. While quick-service restaurants typically keep prices low to drive volume and impulse purchases, independent shops and seasonal stands often offer more elaborate, higher-ticket cones.

Average Soft Serve Cone Prices in Canadian Ice Cream Parlors

In Canadian ice cream parlors, the price of a soft serve cone varies based on factors like location, ingredients, type of business, and presentation. Here's a general overview:

For instance, establishments like Kem CoBa in Montréal and Moo Shu Ice Cream in Ottawa offer innovative flavors such as salted butter and Hong Kong milk tea, often priced in the higher range due to their artisanal nature.

Soft Serve Cone Prices in Canada QSRs

Based on current data from major Canadian fast-food chains, the average price of a soft serve cone in Canada ranges from $1.00 to $2.69, depending on the establishment and cone

Choosing the Right Soft Serve Machine for Your Business

Several factors influence your initial investment and long-term profitability:

Gravity-Fed vs. Pressurized Machines

FAQs About Soft Serve Machine Profitability

How much does it cost to get started?

Expect to invest $15,000–$40,000+ for a good-quality commercial machine, plus installation and site prep costs if needed.

What are the average monthly operating costs?

Depending on your usage, plan for $600–$1,700/month in soft serve mix, utilities, maintenance, and cleaning.

How much can a soft serve machine make?

Revenue varies by location and pricing. A well-performing machine can earn $6,000–$10,000+ monthly, with net profits around $4,000–$8,000.

Is a soft serve machine a good investment?

Yes, soft serve has a strong ROI, especially in warm climates and family-friendly venues. Low labor needs and high markup make it an attractive addition for many businesses. In foodservice, its known as one of the most profitable sectors.

Conclusion

Soft serve machines offer an exciting business opportunity with high margins, low overhead, and strong customer appeal. The key to success lies in choosing the right machine, understanding your customer base, and smart marketing tactics. With the right strategy, your soft serve machine can become a reliable monthly profit engine.

Ready to Add a Taylor® Soft Serve Machine to Your Operation?

TFI Food Equipment Solutions has helped hundreds of Canadian restaurants and QSRs boost profits with premium Taylor® soft serve machines. Whether you're looking to buy, lease, or rent, our team provides expert guidance, flexible options, and support across Ontario and Atlantic Canada.

Get in touch with us today to explore the best equipment for your menu, your space, and your bottom line.