Arby's vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $548K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$548K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $370K–$640K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $27,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% | Arby's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 3.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $250K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $100K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 39.1 yr | Arby's |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
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 $548K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.