Code Ninjas vs Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026
Code Ninjas runs $169K–$339K. Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. The gap at midpoint: $250K.
Code Ninjas
$169K–$339K
total investment
Investment Difference
$250K
Code Ninjas costs less
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Code Ninjas | Cold Stone Creamery | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $169K–$339K | $370K–$640K | Code Ninjas |
| Franchise Fee | $26,000 | $27,000 | Code Ninjas |
| Royalty Rate | 8.0% | 6.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Ad Fund Fee | 2.0% | 3.0% | Code Ninjas |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $250K | Code Ninjas |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $100K | Code Ninjas |
| Est. Break-Even | 8.4 yr | 39.1 yr | Code Ninjas |
Code Ninjas Profile
- Category
- education
- Total Investment
- $169K–$339K
- Franchise Fee
- $26,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $380K
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Code Ninjas costs $250K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cold Stone Creamery also wins on royalty rate.