Cold Stone Creamery vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. The gap at midpoint: $4K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$4K
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Firehouse Subs | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $351K–$667K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $20,000 | Firehouse Subs |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 3.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $300K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $80K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 20.0 yr | Firehouse Subs |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
Bottom Line
Investment totals are close — $4K apart at the midpoint. The deciding factors here are royalty rate, franchise support, and which category fits your market. Cold Stone Creamery has the lower royalty (6.0%).