Dunkin' vs IHOP Franchise Cost 2026
Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. IHOP runs $1.7M–$4.0M. The gap at midpoint: $1.7M.
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.7M
Dunkin' costs less
IHOP
$1.7M–$4.0M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dunkin' | IHOP | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $526K–$1.8M | $1.7M–$4.0M | Dunkin' |
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 | Dunkin' |
| Royalty Rate | 5.9% | 4.5% | IHOP |
| Ad Fund Fee | 5.0% | 3.5% | IHOP |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $1.0M | Dunkin' |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $500K | Dunkin' |
| Est. Break-Even | 96.5 yr | 33.9 yr | IHOP |
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
IHOP Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.7M–$4.0M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 4.5%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.1M
Bottom Line
Dunkin' costs $1.7M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. IHOP also wins on royalty rate.