Home›Dessert & Ice Cream›Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery FDD Analysis · 2026

Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Cost (2026 FDD)

Inside the Cold Stone Creamery franchise disclosure

You searched the right thing. The FDD is the document that spells out what a Cold Stone Creamery franchise is really about — what you're committing to, and what they're committing to you. Here's a sampling of what their 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document reveals:

Investment to open
$391K–$681K
System size
1,0541,052 franchised
Financial perf. (Item 19)
Included
Year
2026analyzed Apr 24

§What changed — in 2025, Cold Stone Creamery grew from 994 to 1,054 locations. (Item 20.)

§Already a Cold Stone Creamery franchisee? See everything that changed since you signed →

01 · From the filing

Here's what their franchise disclosure tells you

Six of the items Cold Stone Creamery's 2026 FDD has to answer, drawn straight from the filing. The rest of the document — and the figures behind these — open in the Workspace. See what that looks like →

§
Item 7
·

Estimated Initial Investment

The full cost to open, low to high, including working capital.
$390,675–$680,775
§
Item 19
·

Financial Performance

Reports average and median gross sales.
Ask Clara what the figures mean →
§
Item 20
·

Outlets & Franchisees

Outlet counts, openings and closures, turnover.
1,054 locations
In 2025, opened 63 new locations and closed 3.
§
Item 6
·

Other Fees

The recurring fees — royalty, brand fund, and the rest.
6% royalty · 3% brand fund
See the full fee schedule with Clara →
§
Item 5
·

Initial Fees

The upfront fees due before opening.
$27,000 franchise fee
§
Item 12
·

Territory

Does not give you a protected area of your own.
Ask Clara what the terms mean →

Cold Stone Creamery's $390K–$681K sits against a median of $467,000 across the 61 dessert & ice cream franchises on file that disclose an investment range.

02 · Read it with Clara

Open Cold Stone Creamery's FDD in the Clearly Workspace — with Clara beside you.

Cold Stone Creamery's franchise agreement is a 10-year commitment — and the FDD spells out exactly what you're signing up for. You cannot change the FDD, and that's not the point. The point is to walk into your attorney conversation already knowing the document, so you ask the questions that matter most to you.

Clara is an expert FDD assistant. Ask her anything about Cold Stone Creamery's filing and she answers from the document itself, with the item and page she read it in — so you can check her.

People ask Clara —

  • What does it actually cost to open?
  • What fees come after the franchise fee?
  • How do their locations perform?
  • Do I get a protected territory?
  • What happens if I want out?

The Cold Stone Creamery Workspace

$49

Intro price · one-time · yours to keep

Open the FDD in the Workspace →Explore a live Workspace →

The full FDD · Clara beside you · saved to your Clearly Library. We're not paid if you sign — we're here to help you understand it before you do.

§Evaluating more than a couple of brands? Professional gives you unlimited access from $158/mo.

03 · Common questions

Common questions

How much does it cost to open a Cold Stone Creamery franchise?

Cold Stone Creamery's 2026 FDD estimates a total initial investment of $390,675 to $680,775, including the $27,000 franchise fee. (Item 7.)

What are the ongoing fees for a Cold Stone Creamery franchise?

Cold Stone Creamery reports a royalty of 6%, plus a 3% brand-fund contribution; the rest of the recurring fees are itemized in Item 6 of the 2026 FDD.

Does Cold Stone Creamery share how its franchises perform financially?

Yes — Cold Stone Creamery's 2026 FDD reports average and median gross sales. The figures themselves are in your Clearly Workspace.

How many Cold Stone Creamery locations are there?

Cold Stone Creamery's 2026 FDD reports 1,054 locations — 1,052 franchised and 2 company-owned (Item 20).

Drawn from Cold Stone Creamery's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document · last updated April 24, 2026.

Keep reading

Other dessert & ice cream franchises

§Ready when you are — open the Cold Stone Creamery Workspace, $49 →