If you’ve got a taste for the sweeter things in life and a desire to own your own business then investing in a dessert business could be just the thing.

Dessert House offers ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt and sorbet as well as truffles and chocolates, cakes, waffles and other sweet treats.

MD Sean Corbin says the brand aims to be the go-to destination where consumers can create what they crave and indulge in what they love. The target consumers are women looking to socialise or indulge in “me-time.”

“Being a premium dessert offering, Dessert House is positioned at a different end of the market to street-food vendors and cheap grab-and-go options,” says Corbin.

The Dessert House concept brand itself is an innovative twist on classic offerings.

“Our Construction Zone puts customers in charge of their own experiences in store, so we’ve essentially taken a traditional model and loaded it with all the trimmings. In a sense then, we are continually conducting customer research simply through having customers concoct the dessert combinations they want,” Corbin says.

“Dessert House is driven by quality and offers an indulgent experience, so we don’t jump on every trending bandwagon – but if something fits our philosophy, then we are open to adapting our range.”

As part of the Franchise Retail Brands (FRB) network, which is the parent company of a variety of food concepts, Dessert House offers franchisees the opportunity to leverage enterprise arrangements and investments in technology. FRB has established supply chains with trusted partners, 24-hour distribution and quality-control measures to ensure standards are maintained across the group.

Corbin says that changing trends and the cyclical nature of the food and beverage industry are challenges prospective business owners need to be aware of. He advises having a solid plan to boost performance in the lower trading periods and amplify the opportunities during peak periods.

Turnkey investment starts from $320,000, and FRB is in the process of becoming accredited. “Until we do receive full accreditation, we will help with arranging finance from external vendors,” says Corbin.

Franchisees receive help with site selection and lease negotiations, store fit-out and workflow planning, training, recruitment and staff management, occupational health and safety, financials, point of sale and marketing.