Dairy Queen vs Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026
Dairy Queen runs $1.1M–$1.9M. Wingstop runs $389K–$902K. The gap at midpoint: $854K.
Dairy Queen
$1.1M–$1.9M
total investment
Investment Difference
$854K
Wingstop costs less
Wingstop
$389K–$902K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dairy Queen | Wingstop | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.1M–$1.9M | $389K–$902K | Wingstop |
| Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $20,000 | Wingstop |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% | Dairy Queen |
| Ad Fund Fee | 6.0% | 4.0% | Wingstop |
| Net Worth Required | $750K | $1.2M | Dairy Queen |
| Liquid Capital | $400K | $600K | Dairy Queen |
| Est. Break-Even | 77.3 yr | 20.2 yr | Wingstop |
Dairy Queen Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.1M–$1.9M
- Franchise Fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $970K
Wingstop Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $389K–$902K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.6M
Bottom Line
Wingstop costs $854K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Dairy Queen also wins on royalty rate.