Cold Stone Creamery vs Dairy Queen Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. The gap at midpoint: $995K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$995K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Dairy Queen | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $1.1M–$1.9M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $35,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.0% | Dairy Queen |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 6.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $750K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $400K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 77.3 yr | Cold Stone Creamery |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $995K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dairy Queen also wins on royalty rate.