The Cold Stone franchise cost is $390,675 to $680,775 for a traditional shop and $255,700 to $533,275 for a non-traditional site such as an airport or campus, under the FDD issued March 27, 2026 (Item 7).
Key takeaways
- Item 7 of the Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document issued March 27, 2026 prices a traditional shop at $390,675 to $680,775 and a non-traditional shop at $255,700 to $533,275, with real estate and building construction left out.
- The initial franchise fee is $27,000 for a first traditional shop, $15,000 for each later traditional shop and $10,000 to $20,000 for a non-traditional site, with a 20% discount for eligible military and 501(c)(3) buyers (Item 5).
- Adding Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory products to an open Cold Stone costs $37,700 to $194,700, with a 9% royalty on chocolate sales, per Exhibit H-1; 103 franchised shops sold those products at November 30, 2025.
- The Tim Hortons co-brand is closed to new buyers: Item 1 says the license “has been terminated,” leaving 1 co-branded shop.
- US franchised outlets grew from 908 to 1,052 between fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2025 (Item 20, Table 1), but the printed fiscal 2023 row in Table 3 does not add up by 3 outlets.
Traditional, non-traditional or co-branded: what does each Cold Stone layout cost?
Kahala Franchising files two Item 7 tables and a co-brand table. A traditional shop in a strip center, mall or street front costs $390,675 to $680,775. A non-traditional unit inside a host venue costs $255,700 to $533,275. A Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory corner inside an existing shop adds $37,700 to $194,700 (Exhibit H-1, Item 7).
The Item 7 notes build the traditional estimate on a 1,200 square foot vanilla shell and the non-traditional estimate on a 500 square foot vanilla shell, at a national average labor rate. Item 1 defines a non-traditional site by venue type: airports, amusement parks, train stations, toll roads, hospitals, military bases, casinos, kiosks, carts and high school or college campuses. Those units “generally” sell a limited version of the menu.
| Format | Where it sits | Initial fee | Item 7 total | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional, first shop | Free-standing, inline, mall or street front; full menu | $27,000 | $390,675 to $680,775 | Items 1, 5, 7 |
| Traditional, second and later shops | Same as above | $15,000 ($12,000 with the 20% discount) | Low end of $390,675 uses the $12,000 fee | Items 5, 7 |
| Non-traditional | Airport, venue, campus, store, kiosk or cart; limited menu | $10,000 to $20,000 | $255,700 to $533,275 | Items 1, 5, 7 |
| Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory add-on | About 200 square feet inside an existing Cold Stone | $6,000 (traditional line) or $24,500 (full line) | $37,700 to $194,700 on top of the shop | Exhibit H-1, Items 5, 7 |
| Tim Hortons co-brand | Not offered | None | None | Item 1 |
The full line-by-line file for all three tables is in cold-stone-item7-by-format.csv, with 20 rows and a Source column naming the FDD item for each figure.
Traditional $390,675 to $680,775, non-traditional $255,700 to $533,275, RMCF add-on $37,700 to $194,700. Cold Stone Creamery FDD issued March 27, 2026, Item 7 and Exhibit H-1.
Which Item 7 lines drive a traditional Cold Stone estimate?
Build-out and equipment carry the estimate. Leasehold improvements of $157,000 to $299,000 and equipment of $135,000 to $233,000 add up to $292,000 to $532,000, or about three quarters of the $390,675 to $680,775 traditional total. The fee, deposits and three months of operating cash make up most of the rest (Item 7).
| Item 7 line | Traditional | Non-traditional | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $12,000 to $27,000 | $8,000 to $20,000 | Kahala Franchising |
| Rent and security deposit, 3 months | $9,750 to $19,500 | $0 to $19,500 | Landlord |
| Architectural fees | $15,000 to $21,500 | $5,000 to $20,000 | Approved architect |
| Leasehold improvements | $157,000 to $299,000 | $100,000 to $206,500 | Approved contractors |
| Exterior signage | $10,500 to $17,000 | $8,000 to $17,000 | Approved sign company |
| Equipment | $135,000 to $233,000 | $100,000 to $191,500 | Approved vendors |
| Opening inventory | $8,000 | $1,000 to $8,000 | Vendors |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $10,000 | $5,000 | Kahala Franchising |
| Travel and living for 2 trainees | $3,000 to $7,500 | $3,000 to $7,500 | Airlines, hotels |
| Depository account | $3,000 | $3,000 | Your bank |
| Additional funds, first 3 months | $20,000 | $20,000 | Various |
| Eight smaller lines (lease review, PCI, uniforms, insurance, permits, utilities, courses, miscellaneous) | $7,425 to $15,275 | $2,700 to $15,275 | Various |
| Total | $390,675 to $680,775 | $255,700 to $533,275 | Item 7 |
Three costs sit outside both totals. The Item 7 total line excludes “real estate costs, construction of the building or rent for the business location except for the initial security deposit.” Item 8 adds digital menu boards estimated at $7,000 to $20,000 plus about $100 per display per year in software. Note 2 says a landlord deposit can run from one to six months of rent, while Item 7 budgets three.
How much of the opening money goes to Kahala and its affiliates?
The cover page puts the amount paid to the franchisor or an affiliate at $27,300 to $59,300 for a traditional shop and $18,300 to $47,300 for a non-traditional one. The five Item 5 charges below rebuild both ranges exactly, which shows where each dollar lands before opening day.
| Item 5 charge | Traditional low | Traditional high | Non-traditional low | Non-traditional high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $12,000 | $27,000 | $8,000 | $20,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $10,000 | $10,000 | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Lease review fee (optional) | $0 | $2,500 | $0 | $2,500 |
| Equipment, millwork, menu boards, smallwares from Neptune Equipment | $5,300 | $9,800 | $5,300 | $9,800 |
| Lease guarantee fee (optional, 10% of amount guaranteed, cap) | $0 | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 |
| Sum, matches cover page | $27,300 | $59,300 | $18,300 | $47,300 |
Item 1 traces the ownership chain. Kahala Franchising, L.L.C., an Arizona company formed December 29, 2008, is owned by Kahala Brands, Inc., which merged into MTY Food Group on July 26, 2016; MTY Franchising USA, Inc. is now the direct parent. Neptune Equipment Services sells equipment and signage, Kahala Management runs the POS help desk, and CSC Leasing can sign a master lease and sublease the shop back to you. None of the Item 5 money is refundable “under any circumstances” (Item 5, note 1).
What does the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory add-on cost, and what happened to Tim Hortons?
Exhibit H-1 lets an approved Cold Stone sell Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory candy under a master license dated August 17, 2009. The full product line carries a $24,500 fee and the traditional line $6,000, with no military discount. Chocolate sales pay a 9% royalty, and the add-on build costs $37,700 to $194,700. Tim Hortons is closed: Item 1 says that license has been terminated.
| Co-brand term | Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory | Tim Hortons | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status for new buyers | Offered to selected franchisees by amendment | License terminated; no new amendments | Item 1 |
| Co-branded shops, November 30, 2025 | 103 | 1 | Item 1 |
| Initial fee | $6,000 traditional line; $24,500 full line | Not offered | Exhibit H-1, Item 5 |
| Royalty | 9% of RMCF Gross Sales plus up to $10 per week surcharge | Not offered | Exhibit H-1, Item 6 |
| Transfer fee | $2,500 for the chocolate portion | Not offered | Exhibit H-1, Item 6 |
| Build basis | About 200 sq ft; 200 amps 3-phase; 1 ton HVAC per 150 sq ft | Not offered | Exhibit H-1, Item 7 note |
| Product supply | Factory Candy bought from the RMCF factory in Durango, Colorado | Not offered | Exhibit H-1, Item 1 |
The add-on table prices a conversion inside an existing shop, so it assumes no new rent or utility deposits “unless required by the landlord.” The largest add-on lines are equipment and fixtures at $16,000 to $73,000 and leasehold work at $5,000 to $52,000. Kahala collects the 9% royalty and pays Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. from it (Exhibit H-1, Item 6 note 1). Readers comparing the coffee co-brand can see the standalone Tim Hortons franchise costs under its 2026 US FDD.
Which weekly and monthly charges start once the shop opens?
Item 6 takes 6% of Gross Sales as royalty and 3% as advertising each week by electronic draft, so 9% of sales leaves before rent and payroll. Kahala may raise advertising to 4% on 30 days notice. Fixed charges are small: data fees up to $75 a month, POS help desk up to $60 a month and an annual meeting fee up to $1,000.
| Item 6 charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of Gross Sales, plus up to $10 per week surcharge (New York only today) | Weekly |
| Advertising | 3% of weekly Gross Sales: 2% National Fund, 1% Regional Fund; cap 4% | Weekly |
| Data fees | Up to $75 per month | From opening |
| POS Help Desk Phone Support | Up to $60 per month | Monthly |
| Annual Meeting Registration | Up to $1,000, charged even if you do not attend | 60 to 90 days before the meeting |
| Gift card redemption | 11% of the redeemed amount | Monthly |
| Additional training | $1,750 per extra trainee; $300 per person per day later | As used |
| Transfer | $17,500 traditional; $5,000 non-traditional | On a sale of 50% or more |
| Renewal | 50% of the then-current initial fee | At the 5-year renewal |
| Royalty while in default | Up to 18% of Gross Sales, minimum 14 days | During a breach |
At their caps, the two monthly fees come to $135 a month, or $1,620 a year, and the meeting fee lifts fixed Kahala charges to $2,620 a year (our arithmetic from Item 6). Early closing has a formula: average monthly royalty and advertising over any 12 months in the prior 48, times the months left in the term, divided by 2. The franchise royalty rates report shows where a 6% royalty sits among coded FDDs.
Who controls the ice cream supply chain and the equipment orders?
Item 8 says items bought to Kahala specifications will be over 90% of what you spend to open and over 80% of yearly spending on raw materials, products and supplies. All food products and ingredients must come from approved distributors and suppliers. Item 8 does not name a dairy maker; the distributor list arrives during pre-opening.
- Vendor allowances: Kahala or affiliates may receive “usually ranging between 1% and 5%” from suppliers, counted per unit, case, gallon or pound of dairy products, paper, smallwares, beverages and apparel (Item 8).
- Scale: for the year ended November 30, 2025, MTY Franchising USA and subsidiaries earned $47,054,607 from product sales, services and vendor allowances, about 7.8% of $604,239,000 consolidated revenue; Neptune Equipment earned $1,849,497 of it from franchisee purchases (Item 8).
- Drinks: Coca-Cola products are the only approved carbonated fountain soft drinks under a master beverage agreement (Item 8).
- Design: you must use Kahala’s designated design architect for initial drawings, plus your own licensed architect of record (Item 8).
- Payments and ordering: the approved card processor adds a markup of $0.0175 per transaction for some card brands, and Olo is the approved online ordering vendor (Item 8).
- Insurance: $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate general liability, $5,000 spoilage cover and $1,000,000 hired and non-owned auto (Item 8).
Production model, freezer bills and dairy rules across several scoop-shop systems are covered on our ice cream franchise comparison of four FDDs.
How fast has the US Cold Stone system grown, and does Item 20 add up?
Item 20, Table 1 counts 908 US franchised shops at the start of fiscal 2023 and 1,052 at November 30, 2025, a net gain of 144 over three years. Openings ran 49, 52 and 63. Company-owned shops fell to 2. Item 1 adds 449 international franchises, 8 US licensed outlets and 273 signed agreements not yet open.
US franchised shops rose from 908 to 1,052 between the start of fiscal 2023 and November 30, 2025. Cold Stone Creamery FDD issued March 27, 2026, Item 20, Table 1.
| Fiscal year (ends Nov 30) | Start | Opened | Non-renewals | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End as printed | End by arithmetic | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 908 | 49 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 952 | 949 | 79 |
| 2024 | 952 | 52 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 992 | 992 | 62 |
| 2025 | 992 | 63 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1,052 | 1,052 | 79 |
Terminations were 0 in each year. The fiscal 2023 row does not sum: 908 plus 49, less 5 and 3, is 949, not the printed 952. Table 4 has the same year off the other way: 4 company shops plus 3 reacquired would be 7, yet it prints 1 at year end. The fiscal 2025 footnote says the 1,052 includes one shop sold by Kahala to a franchisee, and Table 4 shows 1 reacquisition in Montana that Table 3 does not list. The data is in cold-stone-item20-outlets.csv.
Ask Kahala to reconcile the 2023 rows in writing before you rely on the totals. The tables follow the format in 16 CFR 436.5(t), which requires start, opened, terminated, non-renewed, reacquired and ceased columns for each state. Across coded systems, our franchise closure rates report sets outlet exits against system size.
From signing to opening day: how long, and in what order?
Item 11 gives 4 to 12 months from signing, or first payment, to opening for both formats. The site must be approved within 9 months of signing or Kahala may terminate. Grand Opening Marketing is due before the lease or construction, and the 40 classroom and 80 in-store training hours must end no more than three months before opening.
- Day 0: sign the Franchise Agreement, pay the $27,000 fee and fund the $3,000 depository account (Items 5, 6).
- Before the lease or construction, whichever comes first: pay the $10,000 Grand Opening Marketing fee (Item 5).
- By month 9: secure an approved site; Kahala approves or rejects within 30 days of receiving the site package (Item 11).
- Within 3 months before opening: complete 40 hours of New Owner Training online or at KTEC in Scottsdale and 80 hours of in-store training in Arizona (Item 11).
- Months 4 to 12: open, with a Kahala representative on site for up to 5 days (Item 11).
- Year 10: the term ends; one renewal of 5 years is available with 210 days notice and a fee of 50% of the then-current initial fee (Items 6, 17).
Decision table: which Cold Stone route matches your capital and site?
The route follows the site and what you already own. A venue host points to the $255,700 to $533,275 non-traditional table, an open shop to the $37,700 to $194,700 chocolate add-on, and a resale to the $17,500 transfer fee without a new initial fee. A new strip-center or mall shop uses the $390,675 to $680,775 traditional estimate.
| If this is your situation | Route | Figure to plan around | FDD reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your site is inside an airport, venue, campus, store or kiosk | Non-traditional | $255,700 to $533,275; fee $10,000 to $20,000 | Items 1, 5, 7 |
| You already run an open Cold Stone and want chocolate | RMCF add-on | $37,700 to $194,700; 9% royalty on RMCF sales | Exhibit H-1 |
| You are buying an operating shop from a franchisee or from Kahala | Resale | $17,500 transfer fee (traditional), no initial fee; Kahala may finance up to 100% of an “as-is” corporate shop | Items 5, 6, 10 |
| None of the above: a new strip-center, mall or street-front shop | Traditional new build | $390,675 to $680,775; fee $27,000 for a first shop | Items 5, 7 |
| You are an eligible veteran or a 501(c)(3) | Any new shop | 20% off the initial fee: $21,600 first traditional | Item 5 |
| You want protection from a nearby Cold Stone | None available | No exclusive territory; Kahala may place a shop “across the street” | Item 12 |
Resale buyers should check Table 2: 79 shops changed franchisee hands in fiscal 2025. Listings and transfer mechanics are covered on our franchise for sale guide, and the franchise transfer fees report sets the $17,500 Cold Stone charge against other filings.
Cost figures online versus the March 2026 filing
Several top-ranking pages still quote figures that differ from the current FDD. The 2026 filing has one traditional total, one non-traditional total and a $27,000 first-shop fee, so the comparison below uses those as the reference. Each claim is described without naming the page.
| Claim found online | What the March 27, 2026 FDD says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A lender cost page updated July 2026: franchise fee $42,000 | $27,000 first traditional; $15,000 later; $10,000 to $20,000 non-traditional | Item 5 |
| Same page: total $307,000 to $522,000 | $390,675 to $680,775 traditional; $255,700 to $533,275 non-traditional | Item 7 |
| A how-to page last modified November 2022: total $53,200 to $580,650 | Older filing; no current Item 7 line starts near $53,200 | Item 7 |
| Same page: liquid capital stated as both $120,000 and $250,000 | Not an FDD figure; the franchisor FAQ states a $125,000 minimum | Franchisor FAQ |
| Franchisor FAQ: $255,700 to $680,775 | Correct, but it joins the non-traditional low to the traditional high | Cover page, Item 7 |
The Cold Stone Creamery franchise FAQ also lists a $250,000 minimum net worth; that requirement is not an Item 7 line. Readers new to reading Item 7 tables can start with our guide to franchise costs.
How we compiled this
We read one primary document in full for the cost items: the Kahala Franchising Cold Stone Creamery FDD issued March 27, 2026, downloaded from Minnesota CARDS, including Items 1, 5 to 12, 17, 19, 20 and Exhibit H-1, and re-added every Item 7 column by hand. We also opened 16 CFR 436.5 and the franchisor FAQ in November 2026. Item 19 contains sales data that we left out under this site’s no-earnings rule. This page is not legal, financial or investment advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cold Stone franchise cost?
Item 7 of the Cold Stone Creamery FDD issued March 27, 2026 puts a traditional shop at $390,675 to $680,775 and a non-traditional shop, such as an airport or campus unit, at $255,700 to $533,275. Both totals leave out land and building construction. A Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory add-on costs another $37,700 to $194,700 (Exhibit H-1).
What is the Cold Stone franchise fee?
The initial franchise fee is $27,000 for a first traditional shop and $15,000 for each later traditional shop. A non-traditional site costs $10,000 to $20,000. Eligible military buyers and 501(c)(3) organizations get 20% off, which makes a first traditional fee $21,600 (Item 5). The fee is not refundable under any circumstances.
How much does a Cold Stone franchise owner make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Item 19 of the March 2026 FDD reports average and median gross sales for US franchised shops open the full year from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2025. Owner income then depends on the 6% royalty, 3% advertising fee, rent and payroll, so ask current franchisees listed in Exhibit U about their costs.
Does Cold Stone Creamery offer financing?
Item 10 says Kahala Franchising does not offer direct financing and does not finance the initial fee. In limited cases it may finance up to 100% of the price of a company-owned shop sold “as-is,” and it may guarantee a lease for a fee of 10% of the guaranteed amount, capped at $10,000 (Items 5, 6 and 10).
What are the Cold Stone royalty and advertising fees?
Royalty is 6% of Gross Sales plus a surcharge of up to $10 per week, charged today only in New York. Advertising is 3% of weekly Gross Sales, split 2% National Fund and 1% Regional Fund, and Kahala can raise it to 4% on 30 days notice (Item 6). The chocolate co-brand pays 9% on RMCF sales.
Is there a Cold Stone franchise for sale?
Existing shops change hands often: Item 20, Table 2 counts 79 transfers in fiscal 2025 and 62 in fiscal 2024. A buyer pays a $17,500 transfer fee for a traditional shop or $5,000 for a non-traditional one instead of a new initial fee, and Kahala holds a right of first refusal on any sale of 50% or more (Item 6).
Who owns Cold Stone Creamery?
The franchisor is Kahala Franchising, L.L.C. of Scottsdale, Arizona. Its parent, Kahala Brands, Inc., merged with an MTY Food Group subsidiary on July 26, 2016, and MTY Franchising USA, Inc. is now Kahala Brands’ parent. MTY Food Group is a publicly traded company based in Montreal (Item 1 of the March 2026 FDD).
Can another Cold Stone open near my shop?
Yes. Item 12 says a Cold Stone franchise has no exclusive territory, and Kahala or its affiliates may open franchised or company-owned shops that compete with yours, “including across the street from your location or in the same venue.” Kahala can also sell Cold Stone products through grocery stores and other channels.
Sources
- Kahala Franchising, L.L.C., Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026 (CARDS 35603-202603-14), cover, Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19, 20 and Exhibit H-1, accessed November 10, 2026
- 16 CFR 436.5, Disclosure items (Items 7, 19, 20), Legal Information Institute copy, accessed November 10, 2026
- Kahala Franchising, Cold Stone Creamery FAQs (franchise site), accessed November 10, 2026