Cold Stone Creamery vs Planet Fitness Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Planet Fitness runs $1.6M–$4.5M. The gap at midpoint: $2.5M.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$2.5M
Cold Stone Creamery costs less
Planet Fitness
$1.6M–$4.5M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Planet Fitness | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $1.6M–$4.5M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $20,000 | Planet Fitness |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 7.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 7.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $3.0M | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $800K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | 72.1 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
Planet Fitness Profile
- Category
- fitness
- Total Investment
- $1.6M–$4.5M
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 7.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $4.2M
Bottom Line
Cold Stone Creamery costs $2.5M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cold Stone Creamery also wins on royalty rate.