Dairy Queen vs Dunkin' Franchise Cost 2026
Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. The gap at midpoint: $331K.
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$331K
Dunkin' costs less
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dairy Queen | Dunkin' | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.1M–$1.9M | $526K–$1.8M | Dunkin' |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $40,000 | Dairy Queen |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 5.9% | Dairy Queen |
| Ad Fund Fee | 6.0% | 5.0% | Dunkin' |
| Net Worth Required | $750K | $500K | Dunkin' |
| Liquid Capital | $400K | $250K | Dunkin' |
| Est. Break-Even | 77.3 yr | 96.5 yr | Dairy Queen |
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
Bottom Line
Dunkin' costs $331K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dairy Queen also wins on royalty rate.