Dairy Queen vs Windmill Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Dairy Queen vs Windmill including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Dairy Queen Franchise
Windmill Franchise
Investment $1,151,135 - $1,936,655$127,500 - $322,500
Franchise Fee $45,000$27,500
Royalty Fee 4%5%
Advertising Fee 5-6%4%
Year Founded 1940-
Year Franchised 1944-
Term Of Agreement Varies10 years
Term Of Agreement Varies10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Dairy Queen Franchise
Windmill Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Dairy Queen Franchise
    Windmill Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/Yes-/-
    Payroll No/Yes-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Dairy Queen Franchise
    Windmill Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 376 hours Classroom Training: 32 hours Additional Training: At existing DQ storeThe WindMill training program is designed to take you from the ground up. Each individual franchisee will receive a hand-tailored program based upon their prior knowledge. Training is conducted in a corporate-owned restaurant and a minimum of eighty hours is required.
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform-
    Marketing Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Email marketing Loyalty program/app-
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 - 100

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Dairy Queen Franchise
    Windmill Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Dairy Queen

    Frozen yogurt producer J.F. McCullough was trying different things with a formula for another solidified dairy item, originating from his conviction that dessert tasted better when it was delicate and served straight from the cooler, not solidified strong. With his formula culminated, McCullough and his child, Alex, persuaded one regarding their clients to hold a starting offer of the new delicate frozen yogurt, and more than 1,600 individuals appeared to attempt it. In light of that underlying achievement, the McCulloughs opened the primary Dairy Queen area in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois. The main stores sold just delicate serve frozen yogurt - in sundaes, bring home pints and quarts, and cones- - however throughout the years, an assortment of dessert treats were added to the menu, for example, banana parts and Dilly Bars. In the 1950s, some Dairy Queens started serving hot sustenance things. Today, stores framework wide have menus that incorporate franks, cheeseburgers and chicken tenders through Dairy Queen's Grill and Chill idea. The organization likewise offers a DQ Treat idea that offers both Dairy Queen's solidified treats and the sister organization's natural product beverages and smoothies.

    International Dairy Queen, Inc., (IDQ) has been creating “smiles and stories” for more than 70 years. Tracing its roots back to 1940, the company, is a leading quick service restaurant franchisor of delicious frozen treats and mouth-watering hot food items. The company is corporately based in Minneapolis, MN, is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation, Orange Julius of America and Karmelkorn Shoppes Inc., which develops, licenses and services a system of more than 6,400 Dairy Queen® Orange Julius® and Karmelkorn® stores in the United States, Canada and over 25 other countries. All are part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a single DQ Grill & Chill® franchise is $1,151,135-$1,936,655.
    This includes the $45,555 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. In addition, if you enter into a multiple trade area reservation agreement, you will pay an initial franchise fee deposit determined by multiplying the number of restaurants you are granted the right to develop by $10,000.

    ""   "Entrepreneur

    #16 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #42 in Franchise 500 for 2021.






    About Windmill

    Your Own WindMill Franchise! Call 800-558-3608 for Franchise Information
    Nothing compares to the WindMill food experience and nothing will compare with the satisfaction that you will derive from being an owner of a WindMill franchise.
    Totally Committed to YOUR Success... The WindMill team is totally committed to your success and to the success of your restaurant. Our experts will be able to take you from beginner to expert in just thirty days! They will also be able to provide you with just the right amount of support during each phase of the opening. They are prepared to offer comprehensive support to those new to the industry, and to the more experienced franchisee, just the guidance and support unique to the WindMill operation.
    WindMill Gourmet Fast Food is simply that; "food that is of the highest quality and perfectly prepared. "WindMill private label Bigger! Better! Hot Dogs are prepared in a northern New Jersey plant and shipped to the WindMill Distribution Center. WindMill Fresh Meat 100% Beef Burgers are ground by local butchers and delivered directly to the stores on a day-to-day basis. The entree menu is rounded out by Charbroiled Gourmet Chicken Breasts, second to none; custom-cut Rib-Eye Steak Sandwiches; a limited variety of other tasty entree sandwiches and in some locations, fresh salads.
    Boasting almost as much popularity as the WindMill Hot Dogs are the WindMill French Fries. Our golden crinkle-cut fries smothered with savory cheese sauce (a tradition developed in the original WindMill over thirty years ago) has helped to put the WindMills in a fast food category all by themselves!