Cold Stone Creamery vs Home Instead Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Home Instead runs $115K–$125K. The gap at midpoint: $385K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$385K
Home Instead costs less
Home Instead
$115K–$125K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Home Instead | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $115K–$125K | Home Instead |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $59,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 5.0% | Home Instead |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 1.0% | Home Instead |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $200K | Home Instead |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $100K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 0.8 yr | Home Instead |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Home Instead Profile
- Category
- senior care
- Total Investment
- $115K–$125K
- Franchise Fee
- $59,000
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.5M
Bottom Line
Home Instead costs $385K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Home Instead also wins on royalty rate.