FDD Analysis 2025 FDD

Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD): Key Facts & Financials

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a legal document that franchisors must provide to prospective franchisees at least 14 days before any agreement is signed or money changes hands.

This page summarizes the key facts and financials from Cold Stone Creamery's FDD, including franchise costs (Item 7), ongoing fees (Item 6), financial performance data (Item 19), and unit growth trends (Item 20).

What the Cold Stone Creamery FDD Covers

Required disclosure items from the franchisor

Franchisor Background

Items 1-4: Company history, litigation, bankruptcy

Fees & Costs

Items 5-7: Initial fees, ongoing fees, total investment

Obligations & Restrictions

Items 8-16: Purchasing, territory, trademarks

Financial Performance

Item 19: Revenue data provided

Franchise Costs (Item 7 Summary)

Initial investment required to open a franchise

Total Initial Investment$335,675 - $655,275
Franchise Fee$12,000

Investment Breakdown

Initial Franchise Fee (Note 1)$12,000 - $27,000
Rent/Security Deposit (for 3 months) (Note 2)$9,750 - $19,500
Travel and Living Expenses (2 persons) while training, not including salaries, if any, for you and your employees$3,000 - $7,500
Real Estate Lease Review Fee (Note 2)—
Architectural Fees$10,000 - $21,000

+ 5 more categories

Ongoing Fees (Item 6 Summary)

Recurring fees paid to the franchisor

Royalty Fee6% of gross sales
Marketing/Advertising Fee3% of gross sales

Other Ongoing Fees

Additional Persons Training FeeVaries
Additional Training FeeVaries
Annual Meeting Registration FeeVaries
Depository AccountVaries
Charitable ContributionsVaries

Item 19 Financial Performance

Revenue and financial data (if disclosed)

Median Revenue$587,242/year
Disclosure Year2025
Reporting Units—
Revenue VarianceModerate variance (typical spread)

Unit Growth & Franchisee Behavior (Item 20)

Franchise system size and trends

994

Total Units

+41

Net Growth (YoY)

+4.3%

Growth Rate

Franchised Units992
Company-Owned Units2

What the FDD Doesn't Make Obvious

Key considerations beyond the disclosure

Legal History

This FDD discloses litigation history. Review Item 3 carefully to understand the nature and outcome of any legal proceedings.

Real Estate & Location

FDDs often understate the challenge of finding suitable real estate. Site selection, lease negotiation, and buildout timelines can significantly impact your total investment and time to open.

Working Capital Needs

Initial investment ranges often assume a best-case scenario. Many franchisees need additional working capital during the ramp-up period, especially in the first 6-12 months of operation.

Related Resources

Cold Stone Creamery Overview

Full franchise profile and details

Is Cold Stone Creamery Worth It?

Investment analysis and evaluation

Food & Beverage Revenue Rankings

Compare revenue across the industry

All Food & Beverage Franchises

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