A young entrepreneur turns a humble dessert shop into a fast-growing empire
Neil Hershman is a self-proclaimed dessert lover, and when he was 23, he didn’t mind “sitting in front of a computer all day” in his logistics job. So he bought a 16 Handles frozen yogurt shop. Then he bought two more.
Now in his early 30s, he is the chief executive of 16 Handles, overseeing about 40 franchises and six of his own, Reuters reported.
16 Handles was New York City’s first self-serve frozen yogurt store when founder Solomon Choi opened the first in 2008. Hershman found the brand in 2022.
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Hershman said her passion for handmade work and willingness to learn from experience have been keys to her success. As a new business owner, she performs all the tasks required to run a frozen yogurt shop, including working as a cashier and even cleaning the restrooms.
“The biggest thing that made me successful [that] I like to do things, not just sit and talk,” Hershman told Reuters.
“You only know (business) by taking it and doing it.”
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Another immediate step Hershman said he has taken to grow his businesses is connecting with the local community, such as sports teams and school teams. He is also willing to promote even his company’s less popular frozen yogurt flavors.
The “French frozen yogurt” flowed, Hershman said, but added, “It’s free marketing to have someone come in, try a taste, spit it out and go home and tell their family and friends about what they tried at 16 Handles.”
The 16 handles feature 16 flavors in each store, along with a variety of toppings.
“Our Artisan flavor library includes better-for-you frozen yogurt, natural organic ice cream and the best vegan options on the market — like oatmilk soft serve and real fruit sorbets,” says the 16 Handles website.
Mike’s Hot Honey frozen yogurt with a “kick of heat,” Butter Beer, Tiger Blood and Dune Spice are some of the company’s other unique flavor offerings.
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They also sell high protein, gluten free and low fat yogurts.
Startup costs for franchise centers “can range from $10,000 to more than $5 million, depending on the industry, equipment and real estate requirements,” according to Reuters.
When Hershman bought his first 16 Handles store in New York City, he used $160,000 in savings and a $300,000 loan from the US Small Business Administration.
Then he started doing development work.
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“Very quickly, I doubled the store’s profits, and our reviews were much better,” Hershman told Reuters. “Revenue is up. We got more customers.”
Hershman’s frozen yogurt empire shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The global frozen yogurt market size was estimated at $1.93 billion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $2.65 billion by 2034, Fortune Business Insights reports.
16 Handles stores can be found in Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina and Texas.
Hershman has plans to lead the national and international growth of the popular Northeast brand, according to the 16 Handles website.
