Franchise opportunities compared
Kona Ice vs Milkshake Factory
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
Kona Ice
$114,730 – $228,601
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27Milkshake Factory
$510,492 – $772,548
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Kona Ice
$15,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12Milkshake Factory
$60,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8Royalty · Item 6
Kona Ice
$3,000
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14Milkshake Factory
6% · percentage of Adjusted Gross Sales; second year minimum $1,200 per month; third and subsequent years minimum $1,500 per month
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10Before you compare
- Kona Ice figures come from its 2026 FDD and Milkshake Factory figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- Only Milkshake Factory has reviewed Item 19 figures here.
Financial commitment
Milkshake FactoryKona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
System scale & health
Milkshake FactoryKona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Kona Ice
Milkshake Factory
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
No reviewed Item 19 figures
Milkshake FactoryItem 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
Kona Ice vs Milkshake Factory: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Kona Ice or Milkshake Factory?
- Kona Ice: $114,730 – $228,601 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27); Milkshake Factory: $510,492 – $772,548 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 18). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Kona Ice. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Kona Ice and Milkshake Factory royalties compare?
- Kona Ice: $3,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); Milkshake Factory: 6% · percentage of Adjusted Gross Sales; second year minimum $1,200 per month; third and subsequent years minimum $1,500 per month (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Kona Ice or Milkshake Factory?
- Kona Ice: 1,933 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59); Milkshake Factory: 14 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 56). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Kona Ice and Milkshake Factory disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Kona Ice has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; Milkshake Factory has reviewed Item 19 figures for 5 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full Kona Ice report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Milkshake Factory report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
