Selling ice, cold drinks and ice lollies
Sell bags of ice, cold drinks, water and homemade ice lollies (freezies) from home or a stand, especially in summer and on weekends.
Thin evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026
- Startup costR500 to R6 000
- First incomeabout 7 days
- Price evidenceNo reliable SA figure yet
- Commercial viability55 / 100
Who it suits
People with a working freezer or fridge, a busy street and backup for power cuts.
The customer and the problem
Typical customer: Neighbours, taverns, events, learners on hot days.
Cold drinks and ice close by.
Is there demand?
A simple, seasonal trade. We found no published SA prices or margins we trust for ice and freezies, so we do not quote any.
- Selling from your gate
- Supplying taverns and events with ice
- Freezies near schools
Getting customers
A sign at your gate, WhatsApp orders for events and regulars.
Relies on: Word of mouth and referrals, Responding to enquiries.
Money
- Revenue model: Small margin per item.
- Price evidence: We found no published South African price list we trust for this, so we do not quote a rand figure. Ask three sellers near you what they charge before you set yours.
- Gross margin: Electricity is a real cost: count it.
- Payment costs: Cash and QR.
- Operating costs: Stock, bags, electricity.
- Recurring costs: Stock, bags, electricity.
Time to first income
Sales start as soon as you have stock and a cold freezer.
Competition, risks and scale
Moderate; spazas also sell cold drinks.
- Load-shedding melts stock: keep cooler boxes and ice packs
- Hygiene for homemade lollies: clean water and sealed bags
- Seasonal: winter sales drop
Room to grow: Grows with supply deals with taverns and events.
Legal and tax in South Africa
- Homemade freezies are food: Selling food from home or a stall needs a Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality's environmental health office (food hygiene regulations R638).
- Keep food covered, hands washed, raw and cooked food apart, and cold food cold.
- If customers come to your home, check your municipality's home-business rules (Cape Town, for example, allows small home businesses with conditions).
- Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
How it fits South Africa: Strongest in hot regions and busy streets.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start selling ice, cold drinks and ice lollies in South Africa?
Our research puts start-up costs at about R500 to R6 000. Recurring costs: Stock, bags, electricity.
How long until the first income?
Typically about 7 days, and between 2 and 30 days. Sales start as soon as you have stock and a cold freezer.
Can I do it with only a phone?
Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.
What about tax and legal rules?
Homemade freezies are food: Selling food from home or a stall needs a Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality's environmental health office (food hygiene regulations R638). Keep food covered, hands washed, raw and cooked food apart, and cold food cold. If customers come to your home, check your municipality's home-business rules (Cape Town, for example, allows small home businesses with conditions). Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy