Short answer
Own a Cold Stone Creamery store? Merchant Fund Express funds it six ways, from a merchant cash advance to equipment financing, for $5,000 to $5,000,000. Owners use it for batch freezers, the frozen stone and display cases, summer staffing, cake and party stock and a winter cushion. A complete file usually gets a decision in 2–4 hours.
Every way to fund your Cold Stone Creamery location
Already running a Cold Stone Creamery location and need capital? Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with every structure below, from $5,000 to $5,000,000, on one application. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.
| Product | What it does at a Cold Stone Creamery location |
|---|---|
| Business loan | A fixed sum for a store refresh or relocation. |
| Merchant cash advance | Repaid as a share of card sales, lighter in cold months. |
| Revenue-based financing | Payments that follow the seasonal curve. |
| Line of credit | A reusable limit for mix-ins, cake and packaging stock. |
| Equipment financing | Batch freezers, the frozen stone, dipping cases and walk-ins. |
| Working capital | Summer crew and winter cash. |
What Cold Stone Creamery owners call about
Batch freezers
Ice cream is made in each store. If the batch freezer fails, there is nothing fresh to mix.
The frozen stone
The mixing slab and display cases are the show; they must hold temperature.
Seasonal swings
Warm months carry the year, so winter payroll leans on summer cash.
Cakes and parties
Cake orders and events need ingredients and labor before payment.
Fastest fit for each Cold Stone Creamery need
| The need | Usually fits | Send with the application |
|---|---|---|
| Batch freezer replacement | Equipment financing | Vendor quote |
| Winter payroll and rent | Seasonal cash flow | A note on summer sales |
| Cake and party stock | Line of credit | Supplier order |
| Store refresh | Remodel funding | Contractor bid |
| Cash now, repaid from card sales | Merchant cash advance | Processor statements |
Why a Cold Stone owner needs a quick yes
The franchisor lists a 6% royalty and a 3% weekly advertising fee, about 9% of sales before rent, dairy and labor. With ice cream made in-store, equipment is not optional, and a failed freezer stops the menu.
Merchant Fund Express reads deposits across the season, subtracts fees and current payments, and can usually size equipment financing the same day. Non-traditional stores in venues are reviewed the same way.
How fast it moves, and what to send
- Apply in about 4 minutesName Cold Stone Creamery as the brand, the amount and the job the money does.
- Send three months of statementsBusiness bank statements for the entity that owns the location, plus photo ID for each owner.
- Decision in 2–4 hoursA specialist reads deposits and current payments, then returns the fit.
- FundsSame-day funding is available; funding often lands the next business day.
A Cold Stone Creamery file, start to finish (hypothetical)
A Cold Stone owner's batch freezer fails in April, weeks before peak. They ask for $26,000: $18,000 for the freezer on a quote and $8,000 for summer crew training. A specialist could finance the freezer and cover training with working capital.
Illustration only. It shows how a request gets sized; it is not a past deal or an offer.
Cold Stone Creamery at a glance (public sources)
From Kahala Brands' Cold Stone franchising pages. Older third-party listings show a different liquidity figure; we use the franchisor's own. No dated store count was published, so none is shown.
Sources: coldstonecreameryfranchise.com · kahalamgmt.com (brands) · coldstonecreameryfranchise.com (cold stone creamery faqs). Checked Oct 2026. Figures change with each disclosure year; confirm current terms with the franchisor. Anything we could not verify is left out.
Owner questions, answered
My batch freezer failed. How fast can I get funded?
Usually a decision in 2–4 hours on a complete file, with same-day funding available.
Winter is slow. Can I still qualify?
Yes. Seasonal dips are expected; a note on summer sales helps.
I run a non-traditional store. Am I eligible?
Yes, if it is open and deposits go to your business account.
Do I need tax returns?
No. Statements and owner ID are enough, and 500+ FICO is accepted.
Are you affiliated with Cold Stone Creamery?
No. We have no business tie to Cold Stone Creamery or the company that franchises it, and neither has endorsed us. The name is on this page only so Cold Stone Creamery owners can find funding written for their locations.
Keep going
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cold Stone Creamery or its franchisor. Merchant Fund Express is a separate, independent company; the brand appears here so its owners can find this page. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.