Chick-fil-A vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $781K.
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$781K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Chick-fil-A | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $342K–$2.2M | $370K–$640K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $10,000 | $27,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 6.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 3.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $0 | $250K | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $10K | $100K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 1.3 yr | 39.1 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
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 $781K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.