FranchiseBudget

Arby's vs Dave & Buster's Franchise Cost 2026

Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Dave & Buster's runs $5.7M–$15.6M. The gap at midpoint: $9.6M.

Arby's

$314K–$1.8M

total investment

Investment Difference

$9.6M

Arby's costs less

Dave & Buster's

$5.7M–$15.6M

total investment

Cost Breakdown

Category Arby's Dave & Buster's Lower Cost
Total Investment $314K–$1.8M $5.7M–$15.6M Arby's
Franchise Fee $37,500 $50,000 Arby's
Royalty Rate 4.0% 5.0% Arby's
Ad Fund Fee 4.2% 1.0% Dave & Buster's
Net Worth Required $1.0M $5.0M Arby's
Liquid Capital $500K $2.5M Arby's
Est. Break-Even 20.5 yr 20.9 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
Full Arby's Cost Breakdown →

Dave & Buster's Profile

Category
food
Total Investment
$5.7M–$15.6M
Franchise Fee
$50,000
Royalty
5.0%
Est. Annual Revenue
$8.5M
Full Dave & Buster's Cost Breakdown →

Bottom Line

Arby's costs $9.6M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.