FranchiseBudget
Food & Beverage

Dairy Queen Franchise Cost 2026

Total investment: $1,100,000–$1,900,000. Franchise fee: $35,000. Royalty: 4.0% + 6.0% ad fee. Based on FDD disclosure data.

$35,000
Franchise Fee
One-time brand license
$1,100,000–$1,900,000
Total Investment
Full startup range
4.0% + 6.0% ad
Royalty Rate
Monthly % of gross revenue
$970K
Est. Annual Revenue
Per unit estimate

Startup Cost Breakdown

Item 7 FDD disclosure categories for Dairy Queen

Real Estate & Buildout $700,000
Equipment & Fixtures $300,000
Initial Inventory $15,000
Initial Marketing $30,000
Working Capital Reserve $150,000

Qualification Requirements

Net Worth Required
$750,000
Liquid Capital Required
$400,000

vs. Food & Beverage Average

Investment vs. Category Avg
+26% vs. avg ($1190K)
Royalty vs. Category Avg
-1.4% vs. avg (5.4%)

Break-Even Estimate

Rough estimate based on industry-average net margins for Food & Beverage franchises. Actual results vary.

~77.3 years

Based on $970K estimated annual revenue, 12% net margin, and 4.0+6.0% royalty burden.

This is an estimate only. Call current franchisees (listed in FDD Item 20) for real-world data.

Other Food & Beverage Franchises

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$618,000–$1,686,000 · 4.0% royalty

Baskin-Robbins

$97,000–$394,000 · 5.9% royalty

Buffalo Wild Wings

$1,621,000–$3,933,000 · 5.0% royalty

Burger King

$1,865,000–$3,270,000 · 4.5% royalty

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Data Sources

Investment ranges, royalty rates, and fee structures: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436). Revenue estimates: Item 19 Financial Performance Representations where available. Updated March 2026.