Cold Stone Creamery vs Great Clips Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Great Clips runs $183K–$382K. The gap at midpoint: $222K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$222K
Great Clips costs less
Great Clips
$183K–$382K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Great Clips | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $183K–$382K | Great Clips |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $20,000 | Great Clips |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 5.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $300K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $75K | Great Clips |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 20.2 yr | Great Clips |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Great Clips Profile
- Category
- beauty
- Total Investment
- $183K–$382K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $350K
Bottom Line
Great Clips costs $222K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cold Stone Creamery also wins on royalty rate.