How do I check an ice cream shop’s waffle cone and topping suppliers?

Start with a list of every supplier of cones, toppings, sauces, cups and spoons, with what is bought, how often and on what terms. Ask for recent invoices and delivery slips, and check them against what the shop actually uses. If a cone batter mix or a particular topping is bought from only one place, note it.

Then ask about the busy weeks. Did the supplier deliver on time when the line ran out the door? Were there short orders, late deliveries or substitutions? Ask what the owner does when stock runs low, and whether a backup source has ever been used. Talk to the supplier if the seller agrees.

Look at the cash side. Do suppliers give the shop time to pay, or does the owner pay up front? Are there unpaid invoices? A quiet season can strain cash, so ask how the shop buys ahead for summer and how it pays for that. Finally, ask which relationships depend on the owner personally. A supplier who gives special terms may not give them to you. Keep a short list of questions for each supplier call, so the answers can be compared afterward.

Key takeaways

• List every cone and topping supplier with terms and how often they deliver.
• Ask how each performed during the busiest weeks.
• Note items with only one source and ask about a backup.
• Check whether special terms depend on the current owner.