Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery: Blimpie costs $242K–$564K to open; Cold Stone Creamery costs $121K–$655K. Blimpie has 582 units, Cold Stone Creamery has 945. SBA loan history: Blimpie = 658 loans (24.3% default); Cold Stone Creamery = 1,219 loans (23.5% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet, see the comparison below.
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Cold Stone Creamery requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($121K vs $242K for Blimpie), a 101% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $12K for Blimpie versus $25K for Cold Stone Creamery, Blimpie has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Blimpie and 6% for Cold Stone Creamery, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Cold Stone Creamery operates 945 units to Blimpie's 582. Blimpie has been operating 62 years (founded 1964) versus 38 for Cold Stone Creamery (founded 1988), a 24-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Cold Stone Creamery has the deeper SBA lending track record with 1,219 historical 7(a) approvals versus 658 for Blimpie.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 24.3% for Blimpie and 23.5% for Cold Stone Creamery, Cold Stone Creamery has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 30 (Fair) for Blimpie and 49 (Fair) for Cold Stone Creamery, giving Cold Stone Creamery the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 30/100 | 49/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 658 | 1,219 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 24.3% | 23.5% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $242K – $564K | $121K – $655K |
Franchise Fee | $12K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 3% |
Liquid Capital | $125K | $100K |
Net Worth Required | $250K | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 582 | 945 |
Franchised Units | 582 | 945 |
Company-Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1964 | 1988 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1994 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 32 yrs |
Headquarters | Scottsdale, AZ | Scottsdale, AZ |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2023 |
Which Is Better, Blimpie or Cold Stone Creamery?
Lower upfront capital required
Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie: $242K starting · Cold Stone Creamery: $121K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie: 658 SBA loans · Cold Stone Creamery: 1,219 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie: 24.3% · Cold Stone Creamery: 23.5%
Larger system & brand presence
Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie: 582 units · Cold Stone Creamery: 945 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Blimpie: 6% · Cold Stone Creamery: 6%
More lender financing options
Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie: 197 unique lenders · Cold Stone Creamery: 220 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Blimpie and Cold Stone Creamery is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $121K to $655K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories, Blimpie with 658 SBA loans and Cold Stone Creamery with 1,219. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery, Frequently Asked Questions
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