Cold Stone Creamery vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Cold Stone Creamery runs $370K–$640K. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $129K.
Cold Stone Creamery
$370K–$640K
total investment
Investment Difference
$129K
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cold Stone Creamery | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $370K–$640K | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $27,000 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 8.0% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Ad Fund Fee | 3.0% | 4.5% | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Net Worth Required | $250K | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $100K | $100K | Cold Stone Creamery |
| Est. Break-Even | 39.1 yr | N/A | — |
Cold Stone Creamery Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $370K–$640K
- Franchise Fee
- $27,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $129K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cold Stone Creamery also wins on royalty rate.