Cold Stone Creamery vs Dave & Buster's Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Dave & Buster's runs $5.7M–$15.6M. The gap at midpoint: $10.1M.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$10.1M
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Dave & Buster's
$5.7M–$15.6M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Dave & Buster's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $5.7M–$15.6M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $50,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 5.0% | Dave & Buster's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 1.0% | Dave & Buster's |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $5.0M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $2.5M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 20.9 yr | Dave & Buster's |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Dave & Buster's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $5.7M–$15.6M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.5M
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $10.1M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dave & Buster's also wins on royalty rate.