Cold Stone Creamery vs Dunkin' Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. The gap at midpoint: $663K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$663K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Dunkin' | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $526K–$1.8M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $40,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 5.9% | Dunkin' |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 5.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $500K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $250K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 96.5 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
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $663K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dunkin' also wins on royalty rate.