How to start a ice cream parlour in Delhi (2026): investment, profit and licences
A ice cream parlour in Delhi needs about ₹1.6 lakh–₹26.4 lakh to set up, depending on the format. Run well in a city like Rohini, it typically nets ₹63 lakh–₹2.2 crore a month. The numbers below are India-wide research rescaled to Delhi's own wages, shop rents, power tariffs and street prices.
How much investment do you need in Delhi?
- Cheapest start
Kulfi / softy cart
Owner-run cart with an icebox or softy machine. ₹800/month spot fee, carts sell 6 pm to midnight.
Setup cost₹1.6 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹1.9 lakh 
Brand dealer counter
Amul preferred outlet or a brand freezer cabinet in a 100–150 sq ft shop. Mostly packs, a few scoops.
Setup cost₹3.7 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹4.1 lakhScoop parlour
300 sq ft Amul-style or own-brand parlour with an 8–10 tub dipping cabinet and a 500 L chest freezer.
Setup cost₹8.4 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹9.1 lakh
Premium franchise / mall kiosk
Baskin Robbins, Giani’s or Havmor-style outlet. ₹4–6 L fee, ~6% royalty, bigger bills, mall rent.
Setup cost₹26.4 lakhSuggested budget (with working capital): ₹27.3 lakh
How much profit can you make in Delhi?
A well-run ice cream parlour in Delhi typically nets ₹63 lakh–₹2.2 crore a month in a mid-size city: about ₹1.3 lakh–₹3.2 lakh in the metro and −₹19.3 lakh–−₹84.4 lakh in a small town. A casually run one can make far less or lose money.
| City | Net profit per week | Net profit per month |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi (South/Central Delhi) | ₹29,842–₹72,948 | ₹1.3 lakh–₹3.2 lakh |
| Rohini | ₹14.5 lakh–₹50.9 lakh | ₹63 lakh–₹2.2 crore |
| Narela | −₹4.5 lakh–−₹19.5 lakh | −₹19.3 lakh–−₹84.4 lakh |
Ranges are for a well-run business of the typical format in each city size, from public sources and estimates. Your results depend on location and how you run it.
What changes in Delhi
The researched local factors that move this business’s numbers.
| Here | India | vs India | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, monthly | ₹18,456 | ₹12,500 | +48% |
| Unskilled day wage | ₹700 | ₹500 | +40% |
| Shop rent, metro (per sq ft/month) | ₹250Estimate | ₹150 | +67% |
| Shop rent, mid-size city | ₹120Estimate | ₹60 | +100% |
| Shop rent, small town | ₹60Estimate | ₹25 | +140% |
| Commercial power, per kWh | ₹10.5Estimate | ₹9.5 | +11% |
| Commercial LPG cylinder | ₹2,810 | ₹2,810 | ≈ |
| Petrol, per litre | ₹102 | ₹102 | ≈ |
| Cup of tea / coffee | ₹15Estimate | ₹12 | +25% |
| Simple meal | ₹120Estimate | ₹80 | +50% |
| Men's haircut | ₹150Estimate | ₹100 | +50% |
| Milk, 1 litre | ₹60 | ₹60 | ≈ |
| Bread loaf | ₹50Estimate | ₹45 | +11% |
| Factor | Typical value in India | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage, unskilled, shops (Delhi, all-Delhi rate) | ₹18,456/month (₹710/day), semi-skilled ₹20,371, skilled ₹22,411 | employsome.com |
| Conflicting later figure for Delhi unskilled | ₹19,846/month (₹764/day) claimed from 1 Oct 2025; WageIndicator still shows ₹18,456 as valid in June 2026. Engine uses ₹18,456; treat ₹19,846 as upside risk | zimyo.com |
| Delhi revises minimum wage twice a year (Apr and Oct DA) | April/October DA cycle; a fake Oct 2025 order circulated, so check the Labour Dept site | wageindicator.org |
| Typical shop helper pay (informal), Delhi | ₹12,000–16,000/month, often below the legal floorEstimate | Est.: national kirana presets put T1 h… |
| Casual daily labour rate (market) | ₹700/dayEstimate | Est.: ₹710/day legal floor; loaders/he… |
| High-street benchmark (Khan Market / Connaught Place) | Khan Market ₹1,700–1,800/sq ft/month; CP Inner Circle ₹1,250–1,300 (Apr–Jun 2026) | outlookbusiness.com |
| Neighbourhood market shop rent by tier | T1 (South/Central Delhi local market) ₹250; T2 (Rohini/Laxmi Nagar) ₹120; T3 (Narela/urban village) ₹60 per sq ft/monthEstimate | outlookbusiness.com |
| Commercial (non-domestic) electricity, effective rate | about ₹10.5/kWh all-in for a small shopEstimate | solarquarter.com |
| Power purchase surcharge applied monthly | PPAC 15.99% (Tata Power-DDL, from 1 May 2026); FPPAS for May 2026 17.94% BRPL / 17.43% BYPL / 12.21% TPDDL | tatapower-ddl.com |
| Commercial LPG 19 kg, Delhi | ₹2,810 (25 Oct 2026); domestic 14.2 kg ₹942 | goodreturns.in |
| Shops & Establishments registration (Delhi S&E Act 1954) | Online with Labour Dept; fee ₹200–5,000 by headcount (blog ranges; some say ₹0 for small shops); within 30 days of opening | clearlycomply.org |
| NCR is split across three laws | Delhi S&E Act 1954 vs Haryana (Gurugram/Faridabad) vs UP (Noida/Ghaziabad) acts; same 'Delhi' metro, different rules | india-briefing.com |
| MCD health trade licence (eateries) and general trade licence | Required for eating houses, sweet shops, salons; fee depends on area (about ₹1,000–5,000/yr typical for small premises), 2–6 weeksEstimate | Est.: MCD trade licence fees are sched… |
| Street vending: Certificate of Vending via Town Vending Committee | Needed for PM SVANidhi and protection from eviction; TVC surveys slow, many vendors unlistedEstimate | newsonair.gov.in |
Festivals and demand
- Karva Chauth (29 Oct 2026) · salon/mehendi and sweets spike 3–5× for women's services; evening eateries busy after moonrise
- Diwali (Dhanteras 6 Nov, Lakshmi Puja 8 Nov, Bhai Dooj 11 Nov) (6–11 Nov 2026) · sweets, gifts, clothing, salon and kirana demand 1.5–3× in the run-up; most small shops shut or half-day on Diwali itself
- Chhath Puja (about 14–15 Nov 2026) · puja items, fruit and sugarcane surge near ghats; Purvanchali workers travel home before it, labour short
- Holi (about 22 Mar 2027) · colours, sweets, thandai and snacks up the week before; most shops shut on Dhulandi morning
- Eid ul-Fitr (end of Ramzan, Ramzan from about 8 Feb) (about 9–10 Mar 2027 (moon-dependent)) · Ramzan evening iftar trade up for a month; clothing, sewai, meat and sweets demand peaks the week before Eid
- Christmas–New Year (24 Dec 2026–1 Jan 2027) · cafés, bakeries and malls 1.5–3× on NYE
Licences and rules
Rules vary by state and city: confirm with your municipal office.
- FSSAI basic registration (₹100/year up to ₹1.5 crore turnover)
- Shop & Establishment registration
- Municipal trade licence
- GST registration (5% on ice cream) once turnover crosses the threshold
- Fire NOC in a mall or above 500 sq ft
- Shop & Establishment registration (Delhi S&E Act 1954) · ₹200–5,000 by headcount (blog ranges; small shops at the bottom) · Labour Department, GNCTD
- Health trade licence for eating houses / sweet shops (MCD) · about ₹1,000–5,000/yr by area (Est.) · Municipal Corporation of Delhi
- Certificate of Vending (street vendors) · nominal; via Town Vending Committee survey · MCD / NDMC Town Vending Committee
Simulate a week before you invest
Run a ice cream parlour for a week in about 5 minutes. Choose your city, budget and location, set prices, order stock and handle real events. Then see how you compare with a skilled owner. The free simulator currently runs on India-wide numbers; a state preset is coming.
Play the simulator freeFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a ice cream parlour in Delhi?
About ₹1.6 lakh–₹26.4 lakh, depending on the format. That is the India-wide setup cost rescaled to Delhi's rents and prices.
How much profit does a ice cream parlour make in Delhi?
A well-run one typically nets ₹63 lakh–₹2.2 crore a month in a city like Rohini. Casual owners earn far less.
What licences does a ice cream parlour need in Delhi?
FSSAI basic registration (₹100/year up to ₹1.5 crore turnover), Shop & Establishment registration, Municipal trade licence, GST registration (5% on ice cream) once turnover crosses the threshold, Fire NOC in a mall or above 500 sq ft, Shop & Establishment registration (Delhi S&E Act 1954), Health trade licence for eating houses / sweet shops (MCD), Certificate of Vending (street vendors)
Which city in Delhi is best for a ice cream parlour?
Bigger cities bring more customers and higher bills but also higher rent and wages. The chart above compares metro, mid-size city and small town.