FranchiseBudget
Food & Beverage

Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost 2026

Total investment: $370,000–$640,000. Franchise fee: $27,000. Royalty: 6.0% + 3.0% ad fee. Based on FDD disclosure data.

$27,000
Franchise Fee
One-time brand license
$370,000–$640,000
Total Investment
Full startup range
6.0% + 3.0% ad
Royalty Rate
Monthly % of gross revenue
$430K
Est. Annual Revenue
Per unit estimate

Startup Cost Breakdown

Item 7 FDD disclosure categories for Cold Stone Creamery

Real Estate & Buildout $175,000
Equipment & Fixtures $110,000
Initial Inventory $15,000
Initial Marketing $20,000
Working Capital Reserve $65,000

Qualification Requirements

Net Worth Required
$250,000
Liquid Capital Required
$100,000

vs. Food & Beverage Average

Investment vs. Category Avg
-59% vs. avg ($1231K)
Royalty vs. Category Avg
+0.7% vs. avg (5.3%)

Break-Even Estimate

Rough estimate based on industry-average net margins for Food & Beverage franchises. Actual results vary.

~39.1 years

Based on $430K estimated annual revenue, 12% net margin, and 6.0+3.0% royalty burden.

This is an estimate only. Call current franchisees (listed in FDD Item 20) for real-world data.

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$97,000–$394,000 · 5.9% royalty

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$1,621,000–$3,933,000 · 5.0% royalty

Burger King

$1,865,000–$3,270,000 · 4.5% royalty

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Data Sources

Investment ranges, royalty rates, and fee structures: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436). Revenue estimates: Item 19 Financial Performance Representations where available. Updated March 2026.