Franchise financing
Cold Stone Creamery franchise financing
What it costs to finance a Cold Stone Creamery franchise and how buyers fund it. The real numbers: how much gets borrowed, which lenders fund it, and the track record.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, as of 2026-03-31
- SBA loans
- 299
- Total funded
- $98.1M
- Median loan
- $319K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 0.7%
What financing a Cold Stone Creamery franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a Cold Stone Creamery franchisee is $319K, and the middle half of Cold Stone Creamery's 299 loans run $130K to $458K (average $328K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. Cold Stone Creamery buyers borrow less than the typical franchisee.
These are loan amounts, not the brand's total startup cost. Buyers also put in equity (the SBA generally wants at least 10% down on a new franchise), and the brand's own investment estimate is Item 7 of its franchise disclosure document (FDD). The median Cold Stone Creamery loan runs 10 years. Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 294 Cold Stone Creamery loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 51.7% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery franchisees have financed with 299 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $328K each. The 7(a) program is the usual route: it covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital (298 of the 299 loans). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
Cold Stone Creamery's 7(a) charge-off rate is 0.7% across 298 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance Cold Stone Creamery
By SBA loan count
Where Cold Stone Creamery gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. California 75
- 2. Florida 23
- 3. Texas 18
- 4. Ohio 23
- 5. New York 11
- 6. Colorado 9
- 7. Arizona 8
- 8. North Carolina 11
Financing a Cold Stone Creamery?
Get matched with the SBA lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, ranked on real loan data by state, industry, and size. Independent: your details go only to the lenders we match you to, never to data brokers.
Cold Stone Creamery SBA financing FAQ
How much does a Cold Stone Creamery franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a Cold Stone Creamery franchisee is $319K, and the middle half of Cold Stone Creamery's 299 loans run $130K to $458K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of Cold Stone Creamery's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for Cold Stone Creamery?
Yes. Lenders have funded 299 SBA loans to Cold Stone Creamery franchisees, worth $98.1M in all, so Cold Stone Creamery is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for Cold Stone Creamery?
The data says yes: of Cold Stone Creamery's 294 SBA loans that record a business age, 51.7% went to new businesses two years old or younger. Expect the lender to look harder at your experience, business plan, and equity injection.
Which lenders finance Cold Stone Creamery?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for Cold Stone Creamery are The Huntington National Bank, Citizens Bank, Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is Cold Stone Creamery's SBA charge-off rate?
Across Cold Stone Creamery's 298 SBA 7(a) loans, 0.7% have charged off. Read it as a relative track-record signal, not a prediction. It is not a lifetime default rate.
Which SBA program fits Cold Stone Creamery?
Mostly 7(a): 298 of Cold Stone Creamery's 299 SBA loans. The 7(a) program covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital. The median Cold Stone Creamery loan term is 10 years.