How to Start a Kona Ice Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

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OPENING PATH

How long does it take to open a Kona Ice franchise?

2–12 weeks FDD opening estimate

Kona Ice, Inc. estimates two to 12 weeks from signing the Franchise Agreement to opening a new single-KEV business. This is an estimate, not the contractual limit. The Franchise Agreement separately requires public opening within three months of its Effective Date, after required training, insurance, permits, payments, technology setup, and written opening approval are complete.

Data basis. Legal franchisor: Kona Ice, Inc. Current offer reviewed: one mobile Kona Ice Business operating one Kona Entertainment Vehicle (KEV) under one Franchise Agreement and a Protected Territory. Timeline mode: official total estimate, with a separate contractual deadline. Primary evidence: 2026 Kona Ice Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 20, 2026, Items 1, 5–12 and 15–17; Franchise Agreement Sections 2–10 and 13–14; checked July 16, 2026. Public context: official application sequence, franchise FAQs, official franchise figures, and the FTC buyer guide.

3 months Contractual opening deadline From the Franchise Agreement Effective Date.

14 days Federal review period Calendar days before signing or payment.

56 hours Estimated RBU instruction 26 classroom plus 30 on-the-job hours.

51% Managing Owner control Minimum ownership interest and voting power.

60 days Active owner period Before manager delegation may be allowed.

QUALIFICATION

What must a Kona Ice applicant qualify for?

The current FDD discloses no universal minimum credit score, education requirement, food-service background, or mandatory net-worth threshold. The official FAQ describes $25,000 as recommended liquidity and says prior food-service experience is unnecessary; neither statement guarantees approval. Kona Ice retains award discretion.

Ownership requirements

Form a legal entity whose sole purpose is developing and operating the Kona Ice Franchise.

Identify a natural-person Managing Owner with at least 51% ownership and voting power.

Plan for the Managing Owner to supervise day-to-day operations and operate actively for the first 60 days.

Have every direct and indirect owner, plus each owner’s spouse, sign the Franchise Owner Agreement.

Application evidence to prepare

Complete the application accurately; the franchise grant relies on its representations.

Identify the requested ZIP-code market and confirm an acceptable Protected Territory is available.

Show resources for the required vehicle, insurance, permits, inventory, technology, and startup obligations.

Confirm the Managing Owner and any required manager can complete Roll Brands University before opening.

Sources: 2026 Kona Ice FDD, Item 15, pages 47–48; Franchise Agreement Sections 2, 3 and 10, pages C-1–C-16; official qualifications FAQ.

APPLICATION TO OPENING

What is the verified Kona Ice opening sequence?

The sequence separates inquiry, disclosure, award, mobile setup, training, and written authorization. Territory agreement precedes the award; training and KEV delivery do not authorize opening by themselves.

Evaluate and qualify

Submit the interest form

Action: Provide contact details and the preferred-market ZIP code.

Actor: Applicant.

Timing: Initial inquiry; no award or territory right yet.

Blocker: No available or mutually workable territory.

Complete the application and introductory review

Action: Supply requested ownership, financial, experience, and market information.

Actor: Applicant; Kona Ice evaluates suitability.

Timing: Before approval or award.

Blocker: Incomplete, inaccurate, or unacceptable application information.

Receive and review the FDD

Action: Review all 23 Items, exhibits, state addenda, and agreements.

Actor: Franchisor discloses; applicant reviews.

Timing: At least 14 calendar days before signing or paying the franchisor or an affiliate.

Blocker: Missing updates or unresolved agreement terms.

Complete brand and franchisee diligence

Action: Speak with the franchisor and owners; verify training, KEV availability, territory boundaries, and local constraints.

Actor: Applicant.

Timing: Before signing.

Next dependency: Applicant and Kona Ice must agree on the Protected Territory.

Agree on the Protected Territory

Action: Finalize ZIP-code boundaries and place them in Attachment A to the Franchise Agreement.

Actor: Applicant and Kona Ice jointly.

Timing: Before the franchise is purchased.

Blocker: If the parties cannot agree, Kona Ice will not award the franchise.

Contract and establish the mobile business

Form the entity and sign the agreements

Action: Deliver entity records; sign the Franchise Agreement, owner and spouse documents, and ACH authorization. Pay the $15,000 Initial Franchise Fee and, for a new KEV, the $5,000 deposit.

Actor: Franchisee entity, owners, spouses, and franchisor.

Timing: Effective Date starts the three-month opening deadline.

Blocker: Missing signatures or funds.

Secure the KEV and operating prerequisites

Action: Order an approved new or used KEV; arrange storage, insurance, title, registration, permits, inventory, KonaOS, designated POS, internet, and staffing.

Actor: Franchisee, suppliers, insurer, and government authorities.

Timing: Before opening; insurance is required before KEV pickup.

Blocker: Vehicle availability or local approvals.

Complete Roll Brands University

Action: Complete On-Ramp, On-Campus, and Post Grad to Kona Ice’s satisfaction; train launch staff.

Actor: Managing Owner and any required Designated Manager or representative.

Timing: Before opening; Kona Ice controls the schedule and exact duration.

Blocker: Unsatisfactory completion can prevent opening or lead to termination under the agreement.

Authorize and open

Submit readiness evidence and obtain written approval

Action: Provide insurance certificates and confirm training, approvals, payments, inventory, KEV readiness, technology, and standards.

Actor: Franchisee submits; Kona Ice grants or withholds written opening approval.

Timing: Open within three months of the Effective Date.

Blocker: Any unmet condition or lack of written approval.

Sequence evidence: 2026 Kona Ice FDD, Items 5, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 15; Franchise Agreement Sections 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 14; official “What Happens Next?” process; FTC Franchise Rule.

CONTRACTUAL DEADLINE The two-to-12-week period is an estimate; the binding requirement is opening within three months of the Effective Date. The opening clause states no automatic extension right, so resolve KEV, training, and permit timing before signing.

TERRITORY AND MOBILE SETUP

Does Kona Ice require a site, lease, or buildout?

The standard mobile offer requires no traditional storefront. Most franchisees operate administratively from home, but must secure lawful KEV storage. An optional office needs no Kona Ice approval; the franchisee remains responsible for applicable zoning, building, health, sign, and storage rules.

The Protected Territory is distinct from storage and event locations. Item 12 generally defines it through adjacent ZIP codes and population characteristics, commonly up to 100,000 people. The parties agree on it before purchase and record it in Attachment A. Protection does not eliminate reserved distribution channels or all affiliate competition.

SITE APPROVAL IS NOT TERRITORY PROTECTION Kona Ice does not select a conventional retail site. Before signing, verify lawful, practical home or third-party storage and confirm the ZIP-code Protected Territory in Attachment A.

TRAINING

What must be completed at Roll Brands University?

The Managing Owner and any manager or representative Kona Ice requires must finish all three RBU components to the franchisor’s reasonable satisfaction before opening. The FDD estimates 56 instructional hours: 26 classroom and 30 on-the-job. Kona Ice may vary the content and length based on attendee experience and controls the class schedule, which can affect the opening date.

Estimated RBU hours by component

Each bar combines classroom and on-the-job hours disclosed for the same RBU component.

Interpretation: On-Campus carries the largest disclosed hour block, but all three components are mandatory. Source: 2026 Kona Ice FDD, Item 11, training table, pages 38–40. Component totals are arithmetic sums of the disclosed subject hours.

TRAINING SCHEDULE TO VERIFY The official system page uses simplified training descriptions, while the FDD discloses 56 estimated hours across three components. Verify delivery method, Florence dates, KEV availability, and whether every attendee can finish before the three-month deadline.

OPENING READINESS

Who is responsible for each opening dependency?

Kona Ice supplies the System, standards, training, and KEV. The franchisee remains responsible for entity formation, local compliance, storage, staffing, insurance, and setup. Authorities, insurers, lenders, vehicle suppliers, and storage providers can still delay readiness.

Opening responsibility matrix

Responsibility is allocated by the current FDD and Franchise Agreement; assistance does not shift legal responsibility.

Applicant / franchisee

Application accuracy, entity formation, owner and spouse signatures.

Territory preference, lawful KEV storage, permits, licenses, title and registration.

Insurance, inventory, technology, staffing, training attendance and readiness evidence.

Kona Ice, Inc.

Candidate evaluation and franchise award decision.

Joint territory agreement, System Standards, approved suppliers, Brand Manual and KEV.

RBU delivery and final written opening approval.

Third parties

Government permits, food-service approvals, inspections, vehicle title and registration.

Insurance underwriting, financing decisions, vehicle manufacture or delivery.

Homeowner, landlord, commissary, or storage permissions where applicable.

Source: 2026 Kona Ice FDD, Items 1, 7, 8 and 11; Franchise Agreement Sections 7, 8, 10, 13 and 14.

Opening authorization checklist

Protected Territory is accurately shown in Attachment A and storage is lawful.

Managing Owner and every required attendee completed all RBU components satisfactorily.

Required insurance is active, the correct additional insureds are named, and certificates were delivered.

KEV is paid for, delivered or ready for pickup, properly titled, registered, insured, and locally compliant.

Food, mobile-vending, health, driver, and other applicable governmental approvals are in place.

Initial inventory, KonaOS, designated POS, required email, internet, payment systems, and approved suppliers are ready.

All initial amounts owed to Kona Ice or its affiliates have been paid.

Kona Ice has issued written approval to open; training completion alone is not approval.

FORMAT DIFFERENCES

Do resale, additional-equipment, and expansion paths open the same way?

No. The 2026 offer uses one Franchise Agreement for one KEV. Transfers, Additional Equipment, and reserved territories use different documents and prerequisites; they are not one multi-unit development program.

Path	Governing document	Opening implication	What to verify
New single KEV	Franchise Agreement plus Attachments A–C	Full pre-opening sequence; two-to-12-week estimate and three-month deadline.	Territory, KEV availability, RBU calendar, permits, insurance, written approval.
Transfer / resale	Then-current agreement or transfer documents	Transferee must qualify,receive disclosure, complete training, obtain permits, and satisfy transfer conditions; full new-unit assistance may not apply.	Remaining term, vehicle updates, financial records, required licenses, training date, transfer approval.
Existing-owner expansion	Separate Franchise Agreement, Additional Equipment Amendment, or Additional Franchise Reservation Agreement	Optional Additional Equipment is unavailable until the original KEV is open, operating, and compliant. A reserved territory is not an opened unit.	Which document applies, territory availability, separate KEV requirement, reservation expiry, equipment approval.

Sources: 2026 Kona Ice FDD, Items 1, 6, 11 and 17; Franchise Agreement Sections 2, 7, 8 and 16; Additional Equipment Amendment and Additional Franchise Reservation Agreement.

DEADLINES AND APPROVALS

Which deadlines can change or block the opening?

14 calendar days

Trigger: Receipt of the FDD. The prospect cannot be asked to sign a binding agreement or pay the franchisor or an affiliate before the federal review period runs. State law may add requirements.

Before KEV pickup

Trigger: Vehicle delivery or collection. Required insurance must already be obtained; title, registration, licensing, and any local compliance work remain franchisee and government dependencies.

Before opening

Trigger: Public operation. Training, insurance certificates, licenses, permits, governmental approvals, initial payments, and Kona Ice’s written approval must all be complete.

3 months

Trigger: Franchise Agreement Effective Date. This is the contractual opening deadline, distinct from the FDD’s two-to-12-week estimate.

First 60 days

Trigger: Opening. The Managing Owner must remain the active owner-operator; an approved Designated Manager may be allowed afterward, but delegation is discretionary, not automatic.

30 / 90 days

Trigger: KEV delivery. A requested Territory Revision is discretionary, costs more after day 30, and cannot be requested after day 90 under the current agreement.

BUYER VERIFICATION

What should be confirmed before signing?

Ask Kona Ice to identify the Effective Date, KEV availability, RBU dates and delivery method, required attendees, insurance specifications, and evidence needed for written approval. Confirm the Protected Territory map and whether home, commissary, or commercial storage is allowed by authorities and private covenants.

Use Item 20 contacts to ask how long KEV delivery, permits, insurance, and training took in comparable markets. Request any updated FDD or state addendum and have qualified advisors reconcile it with the final agreement. The FTC recommends reviewing all 23 FDD Items and speaking with current and former franchisees.

Verified opening path: inquiry and application, FDD review, diligence, joint territory agreement, entity and contract execution, KEV and regulatory setup, RBU completion, readiness submission, and written opening approval. The total timeline is an official two-to-12-week estimate, with a three-month contractual deadline. The key applicant-controlled dependency is coordinating entity, permits, insurance, storage, technology, and training; the key franchisor or third-party dependency is KEV and RBU availability plus governmental approval. The unresolved issue to verify before signing is whether those schedules can fit the Effective Date deadline in the chosen market.