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QSRRevenue OnlyItem 19: ✓ DisclosedHigh Confidence · 100/100

Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Cold Stone Creamery.

Based on 2025 FDD · 7 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
63
C
Moderate Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
B
77/100
6/7 metrics · High confidence
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
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Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Cold Stone Creamery franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Cold Stone Creamery franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $336K – $655K. Reported owner economics show $23K. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$336K – $655K
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
$23K
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
21.1 years
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
3.0%
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costs →Estimate franchise ROI →Check SBA default rates →Browse QSR franchises →Compare similar franchises →

Quick fee read: $27K franchise fee · 9% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

Free decision snapshot

Before you talk to Cold Stone Creamery, check the numbers buyers usually miss.

The unlocked report ties this brand's FDD disclosures to SBA outcomes, Item 20 movement, fee load, missing-data labels, and buyer assumptions — so you can decide whether this is worth deeper diligence.

FDD disclosure qualitySBA default outcomesItem 20 unit movementFee/cost stressComparable brands
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Total Investment Range$336K – $655K
MinMid: $495KMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$27K
Royalty Rate
6%
Ad Fund Rate
3%
Total Burden
9.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
44
Net Unit Growth
→ -
Year over year
Cash-on-Cash Return
4.7%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
21.1 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
3.0%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
$587K
Item 19 disclosed
Premium Data

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Get cash-on-cash return, payback period, SBA default rate, and red flag details for Cold Stone Creamery.

CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
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Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Cold Stone Creamery vs. QSR Average

MetricCold Stone CreameryQSR Avg
SBA Default Rate3.0%▲9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return4.7%▼14.2%
Total Investment$495K$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

SBA Loan Performance

Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2010-2013). 33 loans across 16 states.

Default Rate
3.0%
Low Risk
Total SBA Loans
33
16 states
Total Loan Volume
$4.7M
SBA 7(a) approved
Avg Loan Size
$142K
Per franchisee
Loan Status Breakdown
28
Paid in Full (85%)
0
Currently Active
1
Charged Off (1.3% by $)
$61K
Total Charged Off ($)
● Paid● Active● Charged Off

Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.

Compare

Cold Stone Creamery vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Cold Stone Creamery vs Loving CupCold Stone Creamery vs Donut King

Similar Franchises · QSR

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Revenue Only
$427K–$2.3M
Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
$427K – $2.3M
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K

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Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Cold Stone Creamery franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Cold Stone Creamery's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Cold Stone Creamery disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Cold Stone Creamery →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

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