7-Eleven vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
7-Eleven runs $37K–$1.6M. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $331K.
7-Eleven
$37K–$1.6M
total investment
Investment Difference
$331K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | 7-Eleven | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $37K–$1.6M | $370K–$640K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $27,000 | 7-Eleven |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | 7-Eleven |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 3.0% | 7-Eleven |
| Net Worth Required | $150K | $250K | 7-Eleven |
| Liquid Capital | $50K | $100K | 7-Eleven |
| Est. Break-Even | 6.1 yr | 39.1 yr | 7-Eleven |
7-Eleven Profile
- Category
- retail
- Total Investment
- $37K–$1.6M
- Franchise Fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.7M
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $331K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. 7-Eleven also wins on royalty rate.