The reasons that you cite about utilities are only part of the problem. There is an underlying and fundamental reason these shops fail and shrinking the size of the shop only adds to it.

Americans have their own freezers at their ever-larger homes. People don't need to go out for ice cream, and especially won't if it is a party for a lot of kids. The ice cream franchise shop is just too expensive, especially compared to doing it in your own kitchen or yard. You as a small franchisee are competing with global gorcery giants on price for ice cream. You will always lose that fight.

Sure, it can be a fun "experience" with mix ins in a shop, but you can do it at home, too. Most foks just won't spend the money more than a few times a year, and generally never in the winter. That's why te independents that hang around for years close their doors for the winter. They figured all of this out decades ago.

Don't buy an ice cream franchise until any of these factors change.