Franopolis
    KIvsWC

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Kona Ice Business(es) vs Waffle Cabin

    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.

    KIKona Ice Business(es)2026 FDDWCWaffle Cabin2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $114,730 – $228,601

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Waffle Cabin

    $91,000 – $189,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $3,000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Waffle Cabin

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Waffle Cabin discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Waffle Cabin has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $114,730 – $228,601
    Total estimated initial investment range
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Waffle Cabin

    $91,000 – $189,000
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $15,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $3,000
    Royalty — years one and two
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Waffle Cabin

    5%
    Royaltygrosssales
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    $1,000
    Brand Fund contribution
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    1,933
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59

    Waffle Cabin

    58
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    +263
    Calculated: 1,670 at end of 2023 → 1,933 at end of 2025

    Waffle Cabin

    +6
    Calculated: 52 at end of 2023 → 58 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Kona Ice Business(es)

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Waffle Cabin

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    KIKona Ice Business(es)

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    WCWaffle Cabin
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Holiday Valley, NY; 1 Cabin
    1 units
    other Holiday Valley, NY
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Okemo Mountain, VT; 2 Cabin
    2 units
    other Okemo Mountain, VT
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Killington Resort, VT; 4 Cabin
    $612,929
    other Killington Resort, VT
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    +43 more groups in the full report

    Item 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 Business(es) vs Waffle Cabin: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Kona Ice Business(es) or Waffle Cabin?
    Kona Ice Business(es): $114,730 – $228,601 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27); Waffle Cabin: $91,000 – $189,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Waffle Cabin. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Kona Ice Business(es) and Waffle Cabin royalties compare?
    Kona Ice Business(es): $3,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); Waffle Cabin: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Kona Ice Business(es) or Waffle Cabin?
    Kona Ice Business(es): 1,933 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 59); Waffle Cabin: 58 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Kona Ice Business(es) and Waffle Cabin disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Kona Ice Business(es) has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file; Waffle Cabin has reviewed Item 19 figures for 46 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    KI

    Full Kona Ice Business(es) report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    WC

    Full Waffle Cabin report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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