Baskin-Robbins vs Cold Stone Creamery
See which one brings in more, and what it costs to get there, read straight from the filings. Independent: no commissions, no franchisor revenue.
Baskin-Robbins lists an Item 7 opening range of $307,400 to $626,700, compared with $390,675 to $680,775 for Cold Stone Creamery. Baskin-Robbins reports an Item 19 average of $526,669 and median of $503,430; Cold Stone Creamery reports an average of $604,392 and median of $573,674, with Cold Stone Creamery higher on average by 15%. Cold Stone Creamery has the larger Item 20 system, 1,054 units versus 967 for Baskin-Robbins; Cold Stone Creamery has fewer Item 3 actions, 2 versus 8 for Baskin-Robbins. Both averages sit above their medians, so model the median for your own location. Independent analysis, no commissions, no franchisor revenue.
One of These Numbers Decides Whether the Next Ten Years Work
Everything that decides it, side by side: cost to open, ongoing fees, what a location actually brings in, system size, and lawsuits on record, straight from each filing.
| Metric | Baskin-Robbins | Cold Stone Creamery |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to openFDD Item 7 | $307,400 to $626,700 | $390,675 to $680,775Item 7 TOTAL row (PDF p42) = $390,675 low / $680,775 high (excludes real estate/construction/rent). Matches existing brand JSON item7_investment_low/high. Confirmed. |
| Total ongoing feesFDD Item 6 | 10.9% | 9% |
| Average unit revenueFDD Item 19 | $526,669 | $604,392 |
| Median unit revenueFDD Item 19 | $503,430 | $573,674 |
| System sizeFDD Item 20 | 967 | 1,054 |
| LitigationFDD Item 3 | 8 actions | 2 actions |
Item 19 reports historical gross revenue, not profit. It does not include your labor, rent, debt service, or owner pay.
Some Signals Are Real Strengths. Others Hinge on Your Deal
Five signals, scored the same way for both, so you see at a glance where a brand is a disclosed strength and where the number is only a starting point for your own deal.
| Signal | Baskin-Robbins | Cold Stone Creamery |
|---|---|---|
| Fee Structure(Item 6) | ||
| Unit Economics(Item 19) | ||
| Litigation History(Item 3) | ||
| Operator Validation(Item 20) | ||
| Term & Exit Terms(Item 17) |
The Numbers Don't Tell You Which One to Buy.
The Read Does
How the revenue and cost gaps net out on your own P&L, what the litigation record signals, and the questions to take into validation. That read is Zorzee Pro.
- The head-to-head read
- The payback math
- What the litigation record signals
- The diligence questions to take to validation
- The Zorzee Report Pro every Tuesday, one franchise decoded each week
- The full Signal Tracker across the portal
- 10% off the Zorzee Files: FDD guides, DCF templates, and more
An Investment, a Job, or a Lemon?
Which one you get comes down to the operator behind the brand, your market, and how you'd run it. Telling those apart takes someone who's read hundreds of them, before it's your money on the line.
Four months of research and more confused than when you started?
You've seen the filings and the numbers. What none of it tells you is whether this is a business that fits your money and your life. That is what fifteen minutes with a Zorzee-approved independent Franchise Consultant is for: whether this brand belongs on your shortlist, and what to validate before it does. Working with one costs you nothing and carries no obligation. Your franchise fee is the same whether you use one or not.
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Every Number Names Its Source
Every figure traces to the exact FDD item behind it, laid out in full in each brand's dossier. We can show you all of it because no franchisor pays us to hide any of it. Open either one and see for yourself.
Questions Buyers Ask About Baskin-Robbins vs Cold Stone Creamery
Short, sourced answers to what buyers actually search.
Does Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery cost more to open?
Baskin-Robbins costs less to open, $307,400 to $626,700 under Item 7, versus $390,675 to $680,775 for Cold Stone Creamery.
Which makes more money, Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery?
Cold Stone Creamery reports higher revenue, an Item 19 average of $604,392 versus $526,669 for Baskin-Robbins. Item 19 is gross sales, not profit.
Which has more litigation, Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery?
Baskin-Robbins discloses more, 8 Item 3 actions versus 2 for Cold Stone Creamery.
Which is bigger, Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery?
Cold Stone Creamery is larger, 1,054 Item 20 units versus 967 for Baskin-Robbins.
Which is the better franchise, Baskin-Robbins or Cold Stone Creamery?
Zorzee doesn't rate franchises good or bad; it depends on your capital, your market, and how you'd run it. Baskin-Robbins has the lower entry cost, and Cold Stone Creamery reports the higher Item 19 average.
Ever Wondered Which One's Actually Better?
The filings can't tell you. Neither can 10 more comparisons. "Better" comes down to your money, your market, and how you'd run it, which is exactly what the clarity call is for. Or keep exploring the matchups below.
More Ice Cream Matchups
The favorite on paper isn't always the one to own. See how the rest of the field really stacks up.
Independent analysis, no commissions, no franchisor revenue.