Dairy Queen vs Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026
Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. Firehouse Subs runs $351K–$667K. The gap at midpoint: $991K.
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$991K
Firehouse Subs costs less
Firehouse Subs
$351K–$667K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dairy Queen | Firehouse Subs | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.1M–$1.9M | $351K–$667K | Firehouse Subs |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $20,000 | Firehouse Subs |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% | Dairy Queen |
| Ad Fund Fee | 6.0% | 3.0% | Firehouse Subs |
| Net Worth Required | $750K | $300K | Firehouse Subs |
| Liquid Capital | $400K | $80K | Firehouse Subs |
| Est. Break-Even | 77.3 yr | 20.0 yr | Firehouse Subs |
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Firehouse Subs Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $351K–$667K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $850K
Bottom Line
Firehouse Subs costs $991K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dairy Queen also wins on royalty rate.