Cold Stone Franchise Expectations

Since 1988, Cold Stone Creamery has been providing delicious cool treats to the world. If you have been looking for a franchise opportunity, you can definitely benefit from choosing Cold Stone Creamery. If you happen to be first-time franchise owner, you may be wondering what you can expect by becoming part of a brand that already has instant name recognition. Franchise ownership, in general, is less risky than starting an entirely new business from scratch. Still, it helps to know what you can expect from being the owner of a Cold Stone Creamery franchise.

Multiple Location Possibilities

Cold Stone Creamery stores can be found in more than a thousand locations throughout the United States and in 30 international markets. Even so, there are still plenty of places where customers don’t have convenient access to Cold Stone’s delicious frozen treats and premium ice cream. However, your territory will not be exclusive to you. This means it’s possible for another franchisee to operate in the same area. With physical locations, options include:

• Buying an existing Cold Stone Creamery restaurant from another franchisee
• Converting an existing business location that previously served another purpose into a Cold Stone Creamery
• Constructing an entirely new Cold Stone Creamery restaurant

You’ll primarily be selling ice cream treats, an assortment of frozen products made with the company’s proprietary recipes, and beverages. You can also opt to include a yogurt bar in your restaurant to sell Cold Stone’s yogurt bar products. If you choose to operate a traditional restaurant, you’ll have to offer the full menu of items normally available at such locations. You can also opt to run a non-traditional restaurant with limited menu items.

Reasonable Investment Costs

Cold Stone Creamery franchise fees are reasonable and in line with what’s typical with other franchise businesses. Total investment costs range from around $50,000 to just under $470,000. The liquid cash requirement is $100,000, and the net worth requirement is $250,000. According to data reported by Franchise Business Review, more than half of all food-related franchises earn profits of $50,000 or less. Nearly 10 percent of the franchises of this nature, however, bring in $200,000 or more in profits.

Financing Options

Concerned you may not have the initial funds to purchase a franchise? Cold Stone Creamery offers financing options. The company has relationships with various third-party lenders. Many of these lenders offer financing to cover start-up costs, initial and ongoing franchise fees, and equipment purchases. Cold Stone also offers a 20% discount on its franchise fees for veterans.

Franchise Owner Training

It’s perfectly fine not have to any franchise ownership experience when deciding to invest in a Cold Stone Creamery franchise. This is why the company offers access to a training program for franchisees. The company offers a comprehensive training platform that includes approximately 80 hours of training in operating stores. You’ll also have 40 hours of classroom training.
For the classroom part of the training, you’ll need to go to KTEC, which is located within the company’s corporate facilities in Scottsdale, AZ. Participation in the training program is mandatory. Your on-the-job training will take place at a Cold Stone Creamery location within the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Training includes learning:

• Daily management techniques
• Crew/staff management
• How to manage inventory

The company also provides franchise owners with ongoing support. This support continues for as long as you continue to run your Cold Stone Creamery franchise. Marketing support to help promote your business and attract customers is provided as well. Visit Cold Stone Creamery’s website to request additional franchise information, or call (877) 948-1853.

Cold Stone Creamery® Headquarters

Think you’ve considered everything in your search for a great franchising opportunity? Before you write the check for that franchise fee, consider this: have you investigated corporate headquarters?

It’s a mistake that many novice franchisees make all too often. They think that all corporate offices are created equal. They don’t realize that, if you pick the wrong franchise, you could get a headquarters that:

• Is extremely distant, basically abandoning you to sink or swim on your own
• Is detached from the day-to-day reality of running a store, so their expertise may be dated and useless
• Cares only about the bottom line, constantly squeezing you to make more money without a care for your business

As you can see, the stakes can be pretty high with this decision. This is why Cold Stone Creamery headquarters gives the company one of the biggest selling points in franchising.

When you look at the world-class support and education their corporate office provides, it’s no wonder so many potential franchisees are clamoring to become a part of their business.

 There When You Need Them.

When you invest in Cold Stone Creamery, you’re not just getting a business in a box. You’re getting a business partner, one that knows the ins and outs of the industry and can help you succeed.

Facing a problem you don’t know how to deal with? Not sure what the next step for your business should be? Regardless of whether you have these or other questions, Cold Stone Creamery headquarters is never more than a phone call away.

The peace of mind that can accompany something as simple as this is incredible.

 Been There, Done That.

Do you know how to grow a company from one single location to an international brand in just a few years? No? Well, the good news is, the pros at Cold Stone Creamery headquarters know how to do exactly that.

That’s how the whole chain began, as a matter of fact. A single store in Tempe, AZ, blossomed into 1000+ domestic locations and another 400+ worldwide. They know the business, because they built the business – and they can help you build yours, too.

 All About Balance.

At the end of the day, there’s only one reason to get into franchising: to build a better, more enjoyable life for you and your family. You can’t do that if you’re working 80+ hours a week.

Fortunately, at Cold Stone Creamery headquarters are well aware of this. Each store is designed to give you the perfect work/life balance. You can come in, work hard, make money, and then go home to your family. No slaving for 12+ hours a day. It’s your business – you should run it, not the other way around.

 Make the Right Choice.

If you’re looking for the perfect investment to grow your assets without sacrificing your sanity, then Cold Stone Creamery may be exactly what you’ve been looking for. With top-notch corporate support and a rosy economic outlook, it’s perfectly geared towards helping you succeed from Day One.

 

Cold Stone® Franchise Cost

For many would-be business owners, the world of franchising is very attractive, as it offers ready-made businesses with proven profit potential. Many of these same prospects, however, are shocked when they discover the “true” cost of owning a franchise.

It’s not hard to see where the sticker shock comes in. Consider all of the things that factor into how much a franchise will cost you:

• The franchise fee (a set, non-refundable fee the corporate office charges you)
• Startup costs (including finding and leasing a space, building a store, buying equipment and supplies, and more)
• Marketing fees (and with most franchises, you’re on your own in terms of marketing your specific store)
• Employee costs (including pay – and some franchises need a small army of employees, insurance, and training)

 Is There A Better Way?

There are franchises that can offer a ROI comparable to McDonald’s – maybe even superior – without requiring you to take a huge risk upfront. Consider the Cold Stone Creamery® franchise cost, for example.

They also require a franchise fee, but it’s only $27k – just over half of McDonald’s. At most, they estimate it will cost $464k to start up your location, meaning you can save over a million dollars right off the bat. This gives your business a much higher chance of success, as you won’t be trying to dig yourself out of a huge hole from Day One.

Not only do you start off on firmer financial footing, but the savings can add up over the life of the business.

Compare the menus, for example – a typical burger chain has dozens of options, from cheeseburgers and fries to dessert to a dedicated breakfast menu. This means you need a ton of dedicated equipment for every item, not to mention storage for the ingredients. It adds up fast.

At Cold Stone, you have an ice cream product line. This means less equipment, less expensive storage, and less manpower. That’s a lot of savings – which can translate directly into money in your pocket.

 Count the Cost

Before you jump into the franchise game, be sure the numbers add up. The Cold Stone Creamery franchise cost is so much lower than many competing options that it makes it one of the strongest plays on the market today.

Who would’ve guessed that a little ice cream shop could make for the perfect dragon slayer?

Cold Stone Creamery® Franchise

Looking for the next big thing in franchising? The answer might be closer than you think.

For many business owners, a Cold Stone Creamery franchise represents one of the best opportunities for making a low-risk, high-reward investment – without chaining yourself to your business for 80+ hours a week.

Below are just a few of the reasons why you should consider investing in Cold Stone: 

Cold Stone® Is Growing.

The birth of the Cold Stone Creamery franchise occurred in Arizona in 1988. The founders, Donald and Susan Sutherland, grew that one small Tempe store into a few hundred before merging with food giant Kahala Corp. in 2007.

Now there are over a thousand Cold Stones® locations in the U.S. – pretty incredible growth for a 25 year period. That’s not even counting the 400+ worldwide, either – and the international market promises to be fertile for continued growth in the years to come, as well.

Many other fast food franchises, have reached the limit of their feasible growth – and in many cases, they’re contracting. Cold Stone has barely scratched the surface of profitable locations, meaning there’s still big money that can be made for new investors.

Cold Stone Offers Huge Potential for Significant ROI.

One of the great things about the franchise is they have a low barrier for entry. The company estimates that it will cost between $277k and $464k to get up and running – compare that to a million plus for some other franchises.

Not only is it less expensive to get in, but staying in business is cheaper than other options:

• Rent on your location is cheaper than you’ll find for other franchises, since each store is relatively small.
• You don’t need a lot of equipment or storage space for ingredients, since you’re not responsible for making dozens of different menu items.
• Each store requires little manpower, with a staff of about 10-15 people. Not only does this save on payroll costs, but fewer employees means fewer potential headaches for you.

If this was all a Cold Stone Creamery franchise offered – lower overhead – it would still make it a front runner as a strong business to own. However, each store also represents an incredible opportunity for profit.

The ice cream itself is premium, which means you can justify a higher price point. Consumers have shown a willingness to pay more for higher quality, and this willingness isn’t dependent on the health of the economy.

All of this adds up to big profits for store owners – and fast. Once you see the lines of customers around a Cold Stone Creamery franchise, you’ll quickly realize why the chain is growing so quickly. The simple fact is, people have discovered the difference that quality makes – and they’re willing to pay for it.

Join the Cold Stone Craze Now!

If you want to get in on the incredible growth this ice cream retailer is experiencing, you should act quickly. New stores are springing up every day – you don’t want to wake up one day to discover that your dream location has a bright, new (and busy) Cold Stone standing there.

Cold Stone®: A delicious franchise

Ice cream: Chances are, you love it as much as everybody else does. But did you ever stop to think about the fact that there is the possibility of big bucks hidden inside every cone?

If you owned a Cold Stone franchise, you would. Recently, these small ice cream shops have been one of the hottest tickets around for small business owners, and it’s not hard to see why:

• Cold Stone franchises are popping up all over the globe, with over 1000 in the U.S. and another 400 or so worldwide
• Ice cream has proven to be “recession proof,” and it isn’t extremely vulnerable to changes in season
• Consumers have shown they’re willing to pay more for premium ice cream
• Ice cream franchises represent low-risk, and potentially high reward investments without making huge demands on your time and energy

The popularity of the brand has been surging and shows no signs of letting up any time soon. The company started in Arizona in the late ‘80s and has skyrocketed into a fast food juggernaut.

To find out why the franchise is so popular, all you have to do is step into one of their many locations. The first thing you’ll notice – likely before you even get in the door – is how many other people had the exact same idea you did.

Once inside, you’ll see the typical Cold Stone furnishings – a few small tables and chairs, signature Cold Stone red wall paper  and some pictures on the walls. Clean, utilitarian, but nothing elaborate. This gives the store a cozy, comfortable feel, rather than distracting with a bunch of knick-knacks or flashy signs. The upside to this for the franchise owner is also clear – no fancy decorations means less money upfront, and less time on maintenance over the long term.

This is all to direct you to the main attraction: the seemingly never-ending ice cream bar. You get to the front of the line, pick your Creation™ cup size (or cone material, smoothie or shake) and then you try to settle on a single flavor. Good luck.

After that tough decision is  made, the fun really begins. You get to select from a wide assortment of toppings, fillings, and sauces. The huge variety of ice cream and mix-in combinations to make for a virtually limitless amount of flavor options, so customers can keep on coming back without ever running the risk of getting bored.

Once your ice cream has been personalized to your delight and you’re ready to enjoy, you head to the check out. Despite the premium product, this comes with minimal sticker shock. Cold Stone’s prices (in the $5-10 range) are incredibly reasonable, and this is a big reason why the company seems able to weather economic downturns rather easily.

All of this combines to make a Cold Stone franchise one of the most attractive business opportunities for both novices and experienced franchisees alike. If you’ve been thinking about making an investment in the fast food industry but you don’t know where to begin, Cold Stone Creamery might be just what the doctor ordered.

Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Information

Premium ice cream has been a booming industry for quite a few years now, and that fact is not going unnoticed by investors. Many would-be franchisees, both novices and experts alike, are lining up to get into the premium ice cream game.

If you’re one of these people, or even if you’re just now considering the franchise, this guide was designed to give you all the Cold Stone Creamery franchise information you need.

About the Company

Despite only being around for a short time, Cold Stone Creamery has already established itself as a leader in premium ice cream. The chain is known for its wide array of mix-ins, which allow for thousands of flavor combinations.

The franchise started in Tempe, AZ, in 1988. Opened by Donald and Susan Sutherland, it soon spread across Arizona, and later, the rest of the United States and across the world. The chain merged with Kahala Corp. in 2007.

Currently, there are approximately 1,400 Cold Stone franchises in operation domestically and abroad.

Costs of Cold Stone Franchising

In order to become a franchisee, you must submit an application and be approved by the company. They require $250k net worth with at least $100k in liquid (non-debt) assets.

The franchise fee is $27k, and the company estimates that startup costs can range from $277k-464k. Once operational, the company takes 6% of gross profits, plus an additional 3% that goes towards marketing initiatives.

Many other fast food franchises have startup costs that are at least double that of opening a Cold Stone, making it one of the more inexpensive franchising options.

Corporate Support

Cold Stone prides itself on providing franchisees with top-level support, both before and after opening.

Before you open your store, you are invited to “Cold Stone University” at the corporate office in Scottsdale, AZ. Here, you will be shown the ins and outs of running your location. The company requires 40 hours of classroom training and 80 hours of in-store training before you open your doors to customers. You will learn about the brand, corporate support, marketing, operations, and you’ll be shown how to operate a successful franchise during this week.

You are also eligible to have a Cold Stone expert come to your location for personalized training. There, they will cover any and all issues specific to your restaurant. If you require further assistance, the company offers a support hotline for franchisees.

Time Commitment

Cold Stone’s hours of operation varyby location, but can be from 11:00 am to 11:0 pm. This favorable schedule allows franchisees to attain a rewarding work/life balance, and is one of the primary selling points for many franchisees.

Because each store only has about a dozen employees and limited equipment, the demands on the franchisee are less than comparative franchises.

Summary

This Cold Stone Creamery franchise information was intended to help you make a decision about investing in the corporation. Now is an ideal time to join the Cold Stone team, as they are currently expanding their operations at home and overseas.

If you’re looking for a fairly low-risk, high-reward franchise that offers fantastic corporate support and won’t demand all of your free time, Cold Stone Creamery may just be what you’ve been searching for.

Cold Stone For Sale

If you’ve been thinking about owning and operating your own fast food franchise, the first place you should start is looking for a Cold Stone Creamery for sale.

Many people overlook this booming franchise because they think they can’t make as much money selling ice cream as they could with hamburgers, sandwiches, or other food choices. However, this line of thinking runs contrary to the respectable profits enjoyed by many Cold Stone owners – which is why the company has grown so quickly at home and abroad.

The fact is, Cold Stone offers one of the lower-risk, higher-reward investment opportunities available in the franchise world. Thanks to the high profit margin, you don’t need to invest a ton of capital to see a substantial return on your investment.

An ice cream parlor is a very low-cost business. Ice cream is not expensive to make or preserve, and the fact that Cold Stone doesn’t have thousands of menu items means you won’t have to spend a fortune on a lot of equipment and raw materials.

In addition, because you won’t have to store all of this extra stuff, you won’t need to pay an arm and a leg leasing a gigantic store, either. All you really need is a space big enough for your counter and stone, your limited amount of equipment, and a few tables for your customers (most of whom will be taking their ice cream to go, anyway).

That’s it – no need for a giant storeroom or fancy decoration. Your customers come mainly for the super premium ice cream, and superior service, which can save you a fortune over the life of your business.

Another reason why Cold Stone represents such a solid investment opportunity is the level of training and support the company provides franchisees. Every owner is given a solid base education on how to run their business, so you don’t have to worry about being left to fend for yourself from day one.

It’s one thing to be offered the chance to own your own franchise. It’s quite another to be taught how to run it by experts who have been there themselves. This is the Cold Stone difference, and it will definitely show up on your balance sheet.

Of course, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of opening up your own brand-new location, the company also offers you the chance to buy one of the existing Cold Stone locations for sale.

These are stores that are already up and running (and turning a profit). They’re under corporate control, and the company is just waiting for the right investor to come along so that they can turn the keys over.

Where else are you going to get the chance to buy a bustling business without paying through the nose for it?

If you’re looking for a thriving franchise to invest in, do yourself a favor and find a Cold Stone for sale. The chain has strong customer loyalty and brand awareness, and you won’t find a better chance to make money without spending every waking minute slaving over the business.

Who knew ice cream could be such a sweet business?

Cold Stone Creamery Corporate Office

Many franchise owners have tunnel vision. They think the chain begins and ends with their specific location, and they never give a second thought to things that might be happening at other branches, even though these events can affect their business as well.

This is understandable – after all, you went into business to benefit yourself, not other owners. However, to be a successful franchisee, you need to at least have a strong understanding of what’s happening with your fellow franchise locations and corporate office. Doing so will put you in prime position to succeed, no matter what other owners are doing.

At the Cold Stone Creamery corporate office in Scottsdale, AZ, company execs are continually strategizing new ways to help franchisees succeed. Whether in the form of increased training or additional marketing support, they realize that their success is inextricably tied to that of their franchisees.

This may seem like common sense, but it’s actually a rare perspective in the world of franchising. Most corporate parents merely demand that their franchisees succeed, with little concern about actually helping do so.If a franchisee struggles or goes under, they have a long list of replacements ready to fill the location and resume business in no time

The Cold Stone Creamery corporate office, actually doubles as a training ground for new franchisees. It’s also known as “Cold Stone University,” because it’s where new owners go to learn everything they need to know about running their own business.

Need to know how to spot and secure a great location? The corporate office can help you with that. Not sure how to negotiate a fair price on equipment? It’s all covered at Cold Stone U. Want help hiring employees, running your business more efficiently, or figuring out new marketing angles? The corporate office is here to help.

It’s hard to overstate just how helpful this support is. For many franchisees, especially inexperienced ones, it can literally make the difference between success and failure.

After all, one of the most powerful assets a new businessperson can have is an experienced mentor. At the Cold Stone Creamery corporate office, you have a whole team of experienced businesspeople ready to guide you through every step of the process.

The support doesn’t end once your doors are open, either. Thanks to a toll-free support hotline they offer every franchisee, you can get help with whatever you need, whenever you need it. You also will have designated contacts in operations, marketing and so forth ready for your every need, questions or concern. You needn’t worry about bugging them – as far as they’re concerned, this is the most important job they have.

If you’re thinking about getting into the franchising game, be sure to pick a chain that will have your back when you need it most.

At Cold Stone Creamery, the road to success is paved through teamwork. The franchise communicate and corporate teams work hand in hand to get there, with support at every single level– and this will show in the level of support they provide every step of the way.

Cold Stone® Hours of Operation

When looking to invest in a franchise opportunity, many investors focus almost entirely on the financial side of the ledger: what are the costs going to be? How much can I make?

This is completely understandable. After all, that’s the whole point of owning your own business – to make money. However, this approach is somewhat short-sighted, which is a fact that many franchisees learn the hard way.

You see, being your own boss isn’t just about giving yourself a raise whenever you want one. It’s also about freeing yourself to enjoy the new life you’ve created (and the money you’ve made). If having your own business means you just slave away on your own payroll as opposed to someone else’s, then what’s the point?

That’s why one of the most critical questions you can ask yourself when researching your options is how much of a work/life balance your new business will allow. Is it going to be non-time intensive, or is it going to overwhelm every waking minute with drama and stress?

One of the best ways to determine this is simply to look at the franchise’s hours of operation. This will give you a quick idea of how much time you’ll have to take out of your week to spend on daily operations at your location.

Of course, your time at the store will be limited by the presence of managers and other employees, but at the end of the day you’re still going to want to be there often. Being involved can save you money in all sorts of ways, so ask yourself how much you will absolutely have to be there.

For example, hours of operation for Cold Stone locations vary from 11:00 am to 11:00 pm. That’s half a day, giving you plenty of time to focus on other things. Better still, clean up and setup won’t add many hours to your day.

Also, because Cold Stone is such a high-traffic business with fairly defined demand times, you don’t have to worry about missing out on revenue during the hours you’re not open.

Compare this to many fast food burger franchises. It’s quite common for them to be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – meaning you’ll never get a break from the worries and demands of your business.

After all, as the head honcho, you’ll ultimately be the one “on-call” when something goes wrong. If you own a Cold Stone, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get a call in the middle of the night about a problem at the store.

Opening your own franchise location is a weighty, potentially lucrative, decision. It may seem like there’s an endless amount of decisions to be made, and that’s not far from the truth. However, this continues even after the store is up and running, so it’s important to find a business that will allow you to enjoy your life away from work.

Thanks to the hours of operation for Cold Stone locations, which are quite friendly to franchisees, you can own a business that actually lets you live a life, too.

Cold Stone Creamery® Franchise Problems

Anyone with experience owning their own franchise store will tell you, it’s not always smooth sailing. In fact, sometimes it seems like there are days when nothing can go right.

As strange as it may seem, however, these are some of the most important days you’ll face as a franchisee. That’s because how things go when things aren’t going well may be the best determination of a franchise’s overall worth.

That’s when you learn things like:

• The true downside to owning and operating your own business
• The amount of support you can count on from the corporate office
• How much you really enjoy being your own boss

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what a “bad” day looks like for one of the most popular franchise opportunities on the market: Cold Stone Creamery.

First, however, let’s examine a few of the problems you likely most likely won’t have to deal with as a Cold Stone® franchise owner:

• No problem attracting clients, as the brand is strong with tremendous customer loyalty
• No headaches advertising your location, as the company has co-op marketing support from professionals
• No hassle with pre-opening problems, as the corporate staff trains you on every aspect of the process, from finding a location to hiring a crew

One of the biggest Cold Stone Creamery® franchise problems you could face is that you find yourself getting behind when there’s a long line of customers. This can happen fairly easily, given the wide array of options available to every customer, and sometimes it will just seem like you can never get ahead of the rush.

All in all, though, that’s a good problem to have. Also, since the company will help guide you through the hiring process, you should have a good crew backing you up and helping you through the crunch.

It also helps that it’s hard to be angry when you’re waiting for ice cream.

Another potential problem – and one that can affect any business – is equipment failure. What do you do if your freezer breaks, ruining all the ice cream?

Luckily, if this were to happen at a Cold Stone®, as opposed to other franchises, it would be significantly less devastating for two reasons. First, ice cream represents a small investment with a significant profit margin. If, worst-case scenario, you lose all your ice cream, you really won’t be out that much, dollar-wise.

Second, whenever things go wrong in ways you don’t know how to handle, the corporate office provides franchisees with a toll-free help hotline. This means that, when things are falling down all around you, a helpful, experienced friend is just a phone call away.

Like any other business opportunity, there are some Cold Stone Creamery franchise problems. However, many of them are few and far between, and they’re not as likely to be huge blowups like you may experience with other franchises.

This is just one of the reasons why Cold Stone is becoming one of the most popular investment opportunities in franchising today. It’s a lower cost, low-drama investment that has potential for a serious ROI…and that’s a good problem to have.