The Original Rainbow Cone is a beloved ice cream franchise that began in 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Joe and Katherine Sapp, the brand has become an iconic name known for its one-of-a-kind, layered ice cream cone.
The company is currently headquartered in Berwyn, Illinois, and has remained a staple in the Chicago area for decades. In 2021, The Original Rainbow Cone began franchising, offering entrepreneurs the chance to bring this unique dessert concept to new markets.
The franchise features a signature five-flavor ice cream cone—Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer House (vanilla with cherries and walnuts), Pistachio, and Orange Sherbet—sliced rather than scooped. This visually striking and flavorful presentation stands out in the competitive ice cream industry.
The brand also offers traditional scoop cones, sundaes, shakes, ice cream cakes, and mini donuts, providing a full dessert experience. Its retro charm and colorful products attract both loyal locals and new visitors alike.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
The Original Rainbow Cone offers 5 types of franchises:
We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a The Original Rainbow Cone Free Standing franchise.
For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).
The Original Rainbow Cone franchise provides a comprehensive suite of training programs to ensure the franchisee’s preparedness and success. These programs are structured to support both initial setup and ongoing operational excellence:
The Original Rainbow Cone provides limited territory protection to its franchisees under specific conditions. For Free Standing and In-Line franchises, the franchisee is granted a “Protected Area,” which typically includes either a one-half mile radius in urban locations or a minimum population-based boundary in non-urban settings.
Within this area, the franchisor agrees not to open or franchise another store under the same brand, so long as the franchisee remains in good standing with the agreement.
However, this protection is not absolute. The franchisor retains the right to operate or franchise businesses at captive locations such as airports, colleges, and stadiums, even within a franchisee’s Protected Area.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
All you need to know about this franchise
?
?
?
?
?
?
Below are some of
The Original Rainbow Cone
key competitors in the
Ice Cream
sector.
6
$40,000
$138,000
$3,214,000
n.a.
$219,000
$xxx,xxx
79.7%
n.a.
28.3%
n.a.
The Dolly Llama is a dessert franchise offering Belgian waffles, waffle cones, and artisan ice cream, serving families, students, and social media–savvy dessert lovers, and known for over-the-top creations, Instagram-ready presentation, and a fun, modern café environment.
?
?
I Scream Gelato is a gelato-and-dessert franchise offering artisan gelato, sorbets and Italian-style sweets, serving families and dessert fans, and known for handcrafted product, high-quality ingredients and upscale café ambience.
?
?
Tipsy Scoop is a dessert-bar franchise offering alcohol-infused ice creams and boozy creations in a social lounge setting, serving young adults and nightlife patrons, and known for inventive flavors, trendy atmosphere, and strong franchise growth opportunities.
?
?
Yogurtland is a self-serve frozen-yogurt franchise offering premium flavors, toppings, customization and café environment, serving dessert lovers and families, and known for global reach, brand strength and franchisee-friendly model.
?
?
MILLIE’S HOMEMADE is a bakery-café franchise offering cookies, brownies, desserts and café beverages, serving family-friendly shoppers and gift buyers, and known for made-from-scratch recipes, warm ambiance and scalable franchise design.
?
?
Winchell's Donut House is a bakery-café franchise offering donuts, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee, serving morning commuters and late-night guests, and known for classic selections, fresh bakes, and neighborhood convenience.
?
?
.png)
