Burger King vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
Burger King runs $1.9M–$3.3M. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $2.1M.
Burger King
$1.9M–$3.3M
total investment
Investment Difference
$2.1M
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Burger King | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.9M–$3.3M | $370K–$640K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $27,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 4.5% | 6.0% | Burger King |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.0% | 3.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $1.5M | $250K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $100K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 52.4 yr | 39.1 yr | Cold Stone Creamery |
Burger King Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.9M–$3.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 4.5%
- 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 $2.1M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Burger King also wins on royalty rate.