Cold Stone Creamery Franchise: Cost, Fees & Earnings
1,054 locations (2025), +6% YoY(Item 20)
A Cold Stone Creamery franchise requires an estimated total investment of $255,700 to $680,775, including a $10,000 initial franchise fee (2026 FDD, Item 7). Franchisees pay an ongoing royalty of 6% (Item 6). The 2026 FDD reports a median unit revenue of $573,674 for FY2025 (Item 19).
Thinking about financing a Cold Stone Creamery franchise?
See what you'd qualify for — free SBA prequalification in minutes.
Prefer to hear from Cold Stone Creamery directly?
Median Revenue (AUV)
$573,674
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 19
Initial Investment
$255,700 – $680,775
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7
Franchise Fee
$10,000
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5
Royalty
6%
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6
Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Key Facts
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment | $255,700 – $680,775Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7 | |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $10,000 – $27,000Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5 | |
| Royalty | 6%Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6 | |
| Median Revenue (AUV) | $573,674Source: 2026 FDD, Item 19 | |
| Total Locations | 1,054 (2025)Source: Item 20 |
Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Fees
Initial franchise fee(Item 5)
$10,000 – $27,000
Ongoing royalty(Item 6)
6%
National ad / brand fund(Item 6)
2%
Local marketing spend(Item 6)
1%
Buildout / construction(Item 7)
$157,000 – $299,000
Additional Item 5–6 fees (transfer, renewal, area development, and any veteran discounts) are not yet parsed on Franchable — see the brand's FDD for the full fee schedule.
About Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in super-premium fresh-made ice cream, cakes, pies, smoothies, shakes, and other frozen dessert products prepared using proprietary recipes. The franchise operates both traditional locations (retail shops, malls, storefronts) and non-traditional venues (airports, amusement parks, sports venues, kiosks) serving customers on a take-out, delivery, or eat-in basis.
What Cold Stone Creamery's FDD Discloses
In 2025, Cold Stone Creamery's franchised system recorded 63 franchised openings, 3 closures (Item 20).
Gross Sales by Performance TierSource: 2026 FDD Item 19
Cold Stone Creamery is one of 1,600+ brands on Franchable — search, filter & compare the full directory in Discover.
Explore all brands →AUV Trend — Multi-Year Median Revenue
Additional Item 19 Analysis
Deeper Item 19 Analysis (Charts 3–6)
Openings & Closings, Transfer Rates, Franchise vs Corporate Mix
Cold Stone Creamery vs Competitors
Explore 1,600+ franchise brands in Discover
Search, filter & sort the full directory — Cold Stone Creamery is just one of them. Deep per-brand data unlocks with Pro.
Similar Food & Beverage franchises
Comparable alternatives to Cold Stone Creamery by industry and investment size.
Thinking about financing a Cold Stone Creamery franchise?
See what you'd qualify for — free SBA prequalification in minutes.
Prefer to hear from Cold Stone Creamery directly?
Financing a franchise? Start here
- How SBA Loans Actually Work
- Why SBA Loans Get Denied
- Getting an SBA Loan With Bad Credit
- SBA Loans With No Money Down
- Documents Needed for an SBA Loan
Comparing options? Browse all franchise brands on Franchable →
Cold Stone Creamery Franchise FAQ
How much does a Cold Stone Creamery franchise cost?
Per Item 7 of the 2026 FDD Franchise Disclosure Document, the estimated initial investment ranges from $255,700 to $680,775.
What is the Cold Stone Creamery franchise fee?
The FDD reports an initial franchise fee of $10,000 to $27,000.
What royalty does Cold Stone Creamery charge?
The FDD reports an ongoing royalty of 6%.
How much revenue does a Cold Stone Creamery franchise generate?
The 2026 FDD reports a median revenue per unit of $573,674 for fiscal year 2025. Individual results vary.
How much does a Cold Stone Creamery franchise owner make?
Cold Stone Creamery disclosed median unit revenue of $573,674 in FY2025 (Item 19). It does not disclose unit-level profit, so a reliable owner-income figure can't be drawn from its FDD. Individual results vary.
Can I finance a Cold Stone Creamery franchise with an SBA loan?
Many franchise purchases are financed with SBA 7(a) loans covering a large share of the total project cost. You can check what you'd qualify for with Franchable's free SBA prequalification.
Data sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document. Franchable is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cold Stone Creamery. This is not an offer to sell a franchise. Individual results vary.