Dairy Queen vs Subway Franchise Cost 2026
Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. Subway runs $229K–$522K. The gap at midpoint: $1.1M.
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.1M
Subway costs less
Subway
$229K–$522K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dairy Queen | Subway | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.1M–$1.9M | $229K–$522K | Subway |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $15,000 | Subway |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 8.0% | Dairy Queen |
| Ad Fund Fee | 6.0% | 4.5% | Subway |
| Net Worth Required | $750K | $100K | Subway |
| Liquid Capital | $400K | $100K | Subway |
| Est. Break-Even | 77.3 yr | N/A | — |
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Subway Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $229K–$522K
- Franchise Fee
- $15,000
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $430K
Bottom Line
Subway costs $1.1M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dairy Queen also wins on royalty rate.