Ace Hardware vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
Ace Hardware runs $286K–$2.1M. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $681K.
Ace Hardware
$286K–$2.1M
total investment
Investment Difference
$681K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Ace Hardware | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $286K–$2.1M | $370K–$640K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $5,000 | $27,000 | Ace Hardware |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 3.0% | Ace Hardware |
| Net Worth Required | $400K | $250K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $100K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 5.3 yr | 39.1 yr | Ace Hardware |
Ace Hardware Profile
- Category
- retail
- Total Investment
- $286K–$2.1M
- Franchise Fee
- $5,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.8M
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 $681K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Ace Hardware also wins on royalty rate.