ATO benchmarks for ice cream shops
Ice cream shops sell scoops, cones and desserts over the counter, with sales rising in warm weather and holidays, and their main costs are ice cream, cones, rent, power and staff.
General information
Total expenses as a share of turnover
Low and high end of each published range
| Turnover range | Financial year | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65,000 to $275,000 | 2023-24 | 69% | 82% |
| $65,000 to $275,000 | 2022-23 | 65% | 81% |
| $275,001 to $475,000 | 2023-24 | 83% | 91% |
| $275,001 to $475,000 | 2022-23 | 83% | 91% |
| More than $475,000 | 2023-24 | 80% | 89% |
| More than $475,000 | 2022-23 | 82% | 90% |
Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Benchmarks, key ratios for 2023-24 and 2022-23 (data.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
Cost of sales as a share of turnover
Low and high end of each published range
| Turnover range | Financial year | Low end | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65,000 to $275,000 | 2023-24 | 26% | 33% |
| $65,000 to $275,000 | 2022-23 | 25% | 33% |
| $275,001 to $475,000 | 2023-24 | 28% | 34% |
| $275,001 to $475,000 | 2022-23 | 27% | 36% |
| More than $475,000 | 2023-24 | 27% | 35% |
| More than $475,000 | 2022-23 | 28% | 35% |
Australian Taxation Office, Small Business Benchmarks, key ratios for 2023-24 and 2022-23 (data.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
What sits behind these figures in the books
- Cost of sales covers the ice cream, cones, toppings and other ingredients bought to make or serve, adjusted for what is left in the freezers at the period end.
- Cups, spoons, napkins and other serving supplies go to the same account every period, so a busy summer and a quiet winter are recorded on the same basis.
- Freezer and display cabinet purchases are kept apart from stock and repairs, and the power bills that run them are entered as they arrive.
Sources
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2023-24 financial year, released 16 March 2026. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2023-24 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
- Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks (key ratios)
Australian Taxation Office. 2022-23 financial year, released 17 March 2025. Checked 15 October 2026.
Based on Australian Taxation Office data, Small Business Benchmarks, 2022-23 Benchmarks, licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU Licence: CC BY 2.5 AU.
Get your books in order
Cost of sales and total expenses are only as reliable as the books behind them. Tell us how your business runs and we will suggest a bookkeeping plan that fits.