Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery: Blimpie costs $242K to $564K to open; Cold Stone Creamery costs $121K to $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, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Blimpie vs Cold Stone Creamery: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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 7(a) approvals compared with 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 SBA loss record 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 to $564K | $121K to $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 SBA 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.
Blimpie has 658 SBA loans on record and Cold Stone Creamery has 1,219. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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
Which is a better franchise investment, Blimpie or Cold Stone Creamery?
How much does a Blimpie franchise cost compared to Cold Stone Creamery?
Can I finance Blimpie or Cold Stone Creamery with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Blimpie or Cold Stone Creamery?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman