Dairy Queen Cost Comparisons

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.






Hamburgers/Hot Dogs Franchise Opportunities

Below is a quick comparison of Dairy Queen against other Hamburgers/Hot Dogs franchises and business opportunities. For an in depth comparison of Dairy Queen with another opportunity including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options click on the name of the company to view the detailed comparison.

Franchise Franchise Fee Royalty Advertising Fee Development Costs
A & W Restaurants $15,000-$30,000 5% 5% $269,000-$1,213,000
All American Hot Dog Carts N/A $1,700-$5,999
America's Dog & Burger $30,000 $298,800-$694,050
Back Yard Burgers $35,000 5% 3% $465,000-$1,680,000
Bareburger N/A $987,000-And Up
Burger Hut N/A 4.5% $376,092-And Up
Burger Joint, The $40,000 5.5% 1%Nat'l + 1%Local $195,800-$589,800
Burger King $50,000 4.5% 4% $333,100-$3,398,600
BurgerFi $37,500 5.5% 1.5% $613,600-$987,250
BurgerFuel $35,000 6% of net 4% of net $510,500-$864,500
Burgerim N/A $150,000-$400,000
Carl's Jr $25,000-$35,000 4% 6% $1,603,000-$2,168,000
Carla's Sandwiches & Burgers $8,500 $850/mo. $125/mo. $81,000-$2,400,000
Carts of America N/A $3,299-$6,999
Char-Hut $30,000 $250,000-$500,000
Checkers Drive-In $30,000 4% 4.5% $259,000-$1,431,000
Cheeburger Cheeburger $24,500-$35,000 4.5% $322,500-$603,000
Cheese Curds Gourmet Burgers + Poutinerie $35,000 5% 1% Nat'l + 1% local $475,000-$650,000
Coney Beach $25,000 6% $279,000-$493,000
Coneys Frozen Custard $19,500 6% 4% $129,250-$194,500
Counter, The $35,000 6% 2% $711,133-$1,939,750
Culver $55,000 4% 2.5% $2,349,000-$5,356,000
Dog Haus $35,000 6% 2% $378,000-$949,100
Dogfather, The $25,000-$35,000 6.5% $179,300-$263,000
Dogout, The $25,000 $204,000-$474,000
Dream Maker Hot Dog Carts N/A $2,899-$15,999
Drifter's Hamburgers $25,000 5% 2% local $113,500-$501,000
Elevation Burger N/A $338,500-$599,500
Farmer Boys $45,000 5% 3% $1,042,500-$2,486,500
Fat Patty's $40,000 $627,533-$1,048,500
Fatburger $50,000 6% 2% $498,100-$850,600
Five Guys Burgers & Fries $50,000-$125,000 6% 2% $306,200-$716,250
Flamer's Grill $30,000 5% 2% $171,500-$345,500
Foster's Grille $35,000 5% $291,700-$538,100
Frankie's N/A $200,000-And Up
Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers $40,000 4% 1% $307,850-$696,000
Fuddruckers $35,000 5% .25% $495,000-$1,565,000
Fulton Market Burger Company $15,000 4% 2% $275,000-$405,000
Gino's Burgers & Chicken N/A $500,000-$700,000
Glory Days Grill $50,000 3% 1% $1,696,500-$2,526,500
Good Times Burgers N/A 4% up to 5.5% $750,000-And Up
Grill'd Burger N/A 8% 2% $555,590-$885,700
Ground Pat'i Grille & Bar, The $22,000-$35,000 4% $359,800-$1,600,000
Habit Burger $35,000 $1,231,000-$1,654,000
Hamburger Mary's $50,000 4% (on first $150K monthly gross), 3% (on monthly gross above $150K) $417,150-$955,500
Hardee's $25,000-$35,000 4% 5.5% $1,454,000-$2,046,000
Hero Certified Burgers $25,000 $60,000-$80,000
Hot Dog On A Stick $15,000-$25,000 6% 2% $338,200-$556,000
Hot Fries $30,000 $166,997-$374,900
Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries $25,000 5% 1% $153,925-$249,925
Jack in the Box $50,000 5% 5% $1,651,500-$2,638,600
Jake's Over the Top $29,000-$40,000 5% 3% $150,000-$350,000
Jerry's Curb Service $40,000 4% $959,000-$1,600,000
JL Beers $40,000 4% $857,200-$2,222,500
Johnnie's Dog House $25,000 6% $82,600-$355,750
Johnny Rockets $49,000 5% $581,000-$877,000
Juicy Burgers N/A $50,414-$150,265
Krystal Restaurants $32,500 4.5% $900,000-$1,300,000
Lick's $45,000 $495,000-$595,000
Locos Grill & Pub $35,000 4% $575,400-$1,960,000
McDonald's $45,000 4% 4%+ $1,314,500-$2,306,500
Meaty Burger & Hotdogs $1,350 0 0 $1,500
Mooyah $40,000 6% 3% $403,750-$639,100
Mr. Goodburger's $25,000 6-8% $155,000-$210,000
Nathan's Famous $30,000 5.5% 2% $43,000-$1,071,360
O'Burger $30,000-$40,000 $175,000-$500,000
Original Hot Dog Factory, The $20,000 5.5% 1% $97,500-$517,887
Philly Dawgz $30,000 3.5% 3% local +1% Nat'l $77,000-$135,000
Rally's Hamburgers $30,000 4% 4.5% $254,000-$1,431,000
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers $35,000 4% $1,865,000-$4,115,000
Runza Restaurants $30,000 5% 1%+up to 4% locally $1,250,000-$2,720,000
Smashburger $40,000 5 - 6% 2% $743,130-$1,404,535
Sonic Drive In $45,000 2.45-5% 3% $1,242,000-$3,523,300
Steak n Shake $25,000-$40,000 5.5% $672,000-$1,835,000
Steaks To Go $24,500 $250/wk. or 3% $110,000-$150,000
Wahlburgers $40,000 6% $1,680,000-$2,885,000
Wayback Burgers $35,000 5% 2% $209,000,524,500
Wendy's $40,000 4% 3.5%Nat'l +0.5% Local $318,850-$3,689,350
Whataburger N/A $1,200,000
Wienerschnitzel $10,000-$32,000 5% 1% $303,600-$1,443,000
Willy Dog N/A $599-$8,999
Windmill $27,500 5% 4% $127,500-$322,500
Woody's Chicago Style N/A 6% $58,600-$394,000
WORKS Gourmet Burger Bistro, The $45,000 6% 2%-2.5% $650,000-$850,000

Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies Franchise Opportunities

Below is a quick comparison of Dairy Queen against other Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies franchises and business opportunities. For an in depth comparison of Dairy Queen with another opportunity including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options click on the name of the company to view the detailed comparison.

Franchise Franchise Fee Royalty Advertising Fee Development Costs
16 Handles $30,000 6% 2% $274,500-$735,000
2 Scoops Cafe $28,000 6% $99,000-$175,000
32Degrees A Yogurt Bar $25,000 6 1 $275,000-$473,000
Abbott's Frozen Custard $37,000 5.5% 0.19Cents/Gal. $332,254-$571,634
All American Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shops $35,000 $208,950-$288,625
All American Specialty Restaurants $25,000 3% 1% $195,000-$265,000
Andy's Frozen Custard $32,000 6% 1% $528,500-$1,387,500
Angel Berry $45,900 6% 2% $128,000-$200,000
Annie's Old Fashioned Ice Cream and Lemonade $25,000 6% 2% $69,500-$372,800
Applegate Farm $25,000 5% 2%local+2% Nat'l $137,650-$322,000
Aspen Leaf Yogurt $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Bahama Buck's Original Shaved Ice Company $29,500 6% 2% $233,326-$770,532
Bambu Desserts & Drinks $40,000-$80,000 $141,500-$304,200
Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt $22,000-$37,200 5% 1% $224,500-$457,000
Baskin-Robbins $12,500-$25,000 5.9% 5% $123,952-$558,830
Ben & Jerry's $16,000-$37,000 3% 4% $152,200-$546,800
Berry Blendz $25,000 3%-6% $144,500-$354,750
BerryLicious Frozen Yogurt $25,000 $100,000-And Up
Blue Sky Creamery $25,000-$35,000 $138,750-$401,000
Boloco Inspired Burritos $25,000 6% $190,000-$400,000
Boost Juice $41,000 8% 3% $337,000-$507,000
Booster Juice $20,000 6% $153,000-$240,000
Bowl of Heaven $30,000 6% 3% Local 2%Nat'l $135,500-$328,500
Breeze Freeze $5,000-$40,000 0 $9,200-$94,300
Bruster's Real Ice Cream $35,000 5% 3% $229,200-$1,315,000
California Quivers $22,500 6% $45,000-$149,300
Carvel $30,000 $2.44/gal. $2.13/gallon $250,600-$415,500
Cefiore N/A $200,000-$350,000
CherryBerry $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Cianci European Eatery $25,000 5% $356,000-$508,000
Cold Stone Creamery $15,000-$27,000 6% 3% $50,200-$467,525
Comfy Cow, The $30,000 5% 2% $259,499-$422,260
Cool Factory N/A $142,300-$387,200
Country Style Ice Cream N/A $240,000-$265,000
Cream & Fudge Factory, The $25,000 6% 2%local +2%Nat'l $85,000-$250,000
Creamistry $40,000 6% 1.5% $224,500-$576,500
Cups Frozen Yogurt $35,000 $399,800-$850,800
di'lishi frozen yogurt bar $25,000 4% 4% $285,700-$512,500
Dippin' Dots $15,000 Varies Varies $112,204-$366,950
EarthFruits Yogurt $40,000 6% 2% local +2% Nat'l $256,405-$438,878
Emerald City Smoothie $15,000-$25,000 6% 2% $75,250-$286,900
Farr's Fresh $20,000-$30,000 6% 2% $285,000-And Up
Forever Yogurt $40,000 6% 2% $240,000-$478,450
FreshBerry $25,000 6% $170,750-$392,200
fro.zen.yo $25,000 5.5% $354,700-$588,200
FROOTS Fresh Smoothies Salads & Wraps $20,000 6% 2% $87,600-$316,750
FroyoWorld $15,000 6% $250,000-$340,000
Fruitfull $21,000 0 $30,362-$85,670
Fruti N/A 0 $75,000-$130,000
Fuzzy Peach $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Fuzzy Peach Frozen Yogurt Bar, The $25,000 $128,500-$334,000
Haagen-Dazs Shoppe, The $30,000 4% $5.3K/yr. $164,518-$542,768
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream $50,000 6% $234,500-$814,500
Happy & Healthy $25,000 0 $600/year $53,206-$92,936
Happy Joe's $15,000-$17,000 4.5%-5% 1.5% $24,470-$1,030,625
Heidi's Brooklyn Deli $35,000 6% $300,000-$400,000
Herrell's $40,000 6% $251,000-$367,000
HipPOPs $25,000 $245,175-$351,450
Hokulia Shave Ice $27,900-$50,000 6% 2% $81,500-$133,500
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt $15,000 0 2.3% $110,000-$203,000
I-CE-NY $25,000 4% $146,400-$404,300
Ice Cream Churn $30,000 7% 1.5% $180,000-$350,000
Icebox/Soupbox $14,000-$20,000 4% $69,500-$174,500
Indigos Fruit Smoothies $25,000 6% $89,000-$270,000
Inta Juice $25,000 $163,100-$373,500
Jake's Over the Top $29,000-$40,000 5% 3% $150,000-$350,000
Jamba $35,000 6% 3% $164,750-$563,100
Jo to Go $25,000 7% $82,500-$786,000
Josie's Frozen Yogurt $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Jreck Subs $10,000 6% $49,800-$254,000
JUGO JUICE N/A $173,000-$233,000
Juice It Up! $25,000 6% 2% $214,375-$390,475
Juice Stop Smoothie $20,000 $166,500-$216,000
Juice Zone $20,000 6% 2% local 1% national $140,000-$217,000
JUICEBLENDZ $50,000 6% 1% $101,500-$481,000
Junga Juice $25,000 $180,000-$249,000
Kilwin's Chocolates $20,000-$40,000 5% 1% $177,534-$937,415
Kona Ice $15,000 $3K-$4K/yr. $500/yr. $145,600-$169,200
La Cremiere $25,000 $175,000-$500,000
La Paloma $25,000 5% $326,000-$535,000
Let's Yo Yogurt $45,000 6% $355,800-$548,500
Let's Yo! $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Little Scoops $20,000 $350/wk $87,000-$152,000
LOCO JUICE $10,000 >$200 or 5% weekly $200/ month local $56,800-$99,500
Lovin' Spoons $25,000 6% $385,000-$493,000
MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery $33,000 6% $225,000-$375,000
Marble Slab Creamery $15,000-$25,000 6% 2% $316,085-$409,135
Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies $25,000-$65,000 0 $31,100-$394,000
Mayan Jamma Juice $29,000-$40,000 5% 3% $150,000-$350,000
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, USA $25,000-$40,000 6% $218,325-$385,158
Morrone's Treat Centers $20,000 5% 0% $75,000-$150,000
Mr Whippy $35,000 5% 2% $35,000-$50,000
Mr. Smoothie $20,000 5% to 2% $87,650-$377,400
Nekter Juice Bars Inc. $45,000 6% 2% $224,500-$584,100
NRgize Lifestyle Cafe $7,500-$30,000 >6% or $250 weekly 0.5% $63,400-$341,050
Oberweis $40,000 $579,000-$1,699,410
Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt $15,150-$25,150 4% 1% $189,857-$417,326
Paciugo Italian Gelato $20,000-$30,000 4.5% 2.5% + 2% $248,200-$489,250
Pinkberry $45,000 6% 2% local +2%Nat'l $150,000-$500,000
Planet Smoothie $12,000-$25,000 5% 2% $190,150-$358,500
Power Smoothie Cafe N/A $92,000-$279,900
Ralph's Famous Italian Ices N/A $200,000
Red Mango $27,000-$42,000 6% 3% $194,200-$500,900
Ricky's Candy, Cones & Chaos $30,000 5% $378,500-$563,800
Rita's $10,000-$30,000 6.5% 3% $15,100-$435,000
Robeks Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats $25,000 7% $245,000-$394,500
Rollerz $30,000 6% 1% $138,900-$456,050
Rubyjuice Fruit and Smoothies $20,000 5.5% $106,000-$223,000
Rush Bowls $39,000 6% 2% $192,000-$351,000
San Gelato Cafe $25,000 $500,000-$1,400,000
Scooter's Coffeehouse $40,000 6% 2% $389,942-$860,654
Shaka Shaved Ice N/A 3% $200,000-$250,000
Shake's Frozen Custard $30,000 5% 3% $162,000-$287,000
Shakeaway $26,750 $122,800-$200,750
Shave It Inc $35,000 5% 2% $170,000-$365,000
Sloan's Ice Cream $40,000 6% 1% Nat'l $587,952-$896,600
Smoothie Factory $30,000 5% $141,500-$424,500
Smoothie King $30,000 6% 3% $269,550-$845,985
Spoon Me $25,000 6% $240,000-$533,000
Squeeze $25,000 6.3% $160,000-$244,000
Strickland's $25,000 6% $188,500-$315,000
Surf City Squeeze $30,000 6% 1% $64,600-$311,750
Sweet Nel's $35,000 5% 2% $354,000-$539,000
SweetDuet $25,000 5% 3% $104,250-$405,000
sweetFrog $15,000-$30,000 5% 1.5% $95,600-$477,500
Swirls and Twirls $30,000 6% $335,000-$664,750
Tasti D-Lite $30,000 5% 2% $234,000-$423,260
TCBY $35,000 6% 2% $330,000-$435,000
Tikiz $20,000 $132,500-$146,000
Tropical Flavored Shake $1,140 0 0 $1,300
Tropical Smoothie Cafe $30,000 6% 3% $198,500-$543,500
Tropicana Smoothies Juices & More! $75,000 6% 1% $175,000-$225,000
Twirlees N/A 5% 1.5% $75,000-$85,000
U-Swirl $25,000 4% 2%Nat'l + 1%Local $360,000-$466,000
U-Swirl-n-Go $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Uncle Louie Gs $35,000 $58,150-$235,500
Village Juice Co. $49,500 $373,000-$750,425
Vitality Bowls $39,500 6% 1.5% $170,100-$604,000
Vitality Juice $15,000-$35,000 5% $128,000-$393,500
Wendy's Milk Bar $25,000 $100,000-$210,000
Yeh! $25,000 $275,000-$425,000
Yo-Good N/A $110,000-$250,000
Yogen Fruz Worldwide $25,000 6% 3% $123,179-$459,679
Yogli Mogli $35,000 6% 2% $304,050-$390,050
Yogo Factory $25,000 6% 2% $123,200-$552,300
Yogurt Lab $35,000 6% of Gross Revenues 1% local $313,500-$557,000
Yogurtini $25,000 $360,000-$466,000
Yogurtland $35,000 6% 2% $267,820-$479,070
Yovana $40,000 5% of Gross Sales 5% of Gross Sales $225,000-$341,500
Ziiing Yogurt $25,000 6% 2% $165,636-$506,600
Zoyo Yogurt $35,000 6% 2% $150,200-$315,000