Dunkin' vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
Dunkin' runs $526K–$1.8M. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $642K.
Dunkin'
$526K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$642K
Dunkin' costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Dunkin' | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $526K–$1.8M | $1.3M–$2.3M | Dunkin' |
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $45,000 | Dunkin' |
| Royalty Rate | 5.9% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 5.0% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $500K | Dunkin' |
| Liquid Capital | $250K | $500K | Dunkin' |
| Est. Break-Even | 96.5 yr | 14.1 yr | McDonald's |
Dunkin' Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $526K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.9%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.1M
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
Dunkin' costs $642K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. McDonald's also wins on royalty rate.