Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Baskin-Robbins vs Cold Stone Creamery
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #83
Baskin-Robbins
31 Flavors Ice Cream
More Flavors. More Fun.
Parent Holding:Inspire Brands (Roark Capital)
Contender 2Rank #93
Cold Stone Creamery
Granite Stone Mixed Ice Cream
The Ultimate Ice Cream Experience
Parent Holding:Independent Private
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Baskin-Robbins | Cold Stone Creamery | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.58M | $4.46M | Baskin-Robbins (+3%) |
| Active Store Locations | 2,186 | 1,054 | Baskin-Robbins (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $2.20M – $4.80M | $2.20M – $4.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $750k | $750k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 4.5% | 4.5% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.0% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $10.00B | $4.70B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Baskin-Robbins:NCR Radiant / Aloha
Cold Stone Creamery:PAR Brink POS
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Baskin-Robbins:Countertop Terminal
Cold Stone Creamery:Counter Display
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Baskin-Robbins:0% (0 stores)
Cold Stone Creamery:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Baskin-Robbins:0% (0 stores)
Cold Stone Creamery:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.