Cold Stone Creamery vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $1.3M.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.3M
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $1.3M–$2.3M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $45,000 | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 4.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $500K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $500K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 14.1 yr | McDonald's |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $1.3M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. McDonald's also wins on royalty rate.