Arby's vs Dairy Queen Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. The gap at midpoint: $446K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$446K
Arby's costs less
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Dairy Queen | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $1.1M–$1.9M | Arby's |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $35,000 | Dairy Queen |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 4.0% | Arby's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 6.0% | Arby's |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $750K | Dairy Queen |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $400K | Dairy Queen |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 77.3 yr | Arby's |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Bottom Line
Arby's costs $446K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.