Cookout vs Dave & Buster's Franchise Cost 2026
Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. Dave & Buster's runs $5.7M–$15.6M. The gap at midpoint: $9.8M.
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Investment Difference
$9.8M
Cookout costs less
Dave & Buster's
$5.7M–$15.6M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Cookout | Dave & Buster's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $500K–$1.2M | $5.7M–$15.6M | Cookout |
| Franchise Fee | $0 | $50,000 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 5.0% | Cookout |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 1.0% | Cookout |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $5.0M | Cookout |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $2.5M | Cookout |
| Est. Break-Even | 2.8 yr | 20.9 yr | Cookout |
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
Dave & Buster's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $5.7M–$15.6M
- Franchise Fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.5M
Bottom Line
Cookout costs $9.8M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cookout also wins on royalty rate.