Dairy Queen Franchise Cost (2025)
Complete cost breakdown for Dairy Queen franchise: $1653K–$2782K investment, 4% royalty, franchise fee, and ongoing costs. From the official 2025 FDD.
Source: 2025 FDD filed in MN
Total Investment
$1.7M–$2.8M
Franchise Fee
$25K
Refundable (conditions apply)
Royalty
4%
Gross Sales
Ad Fund
—
Gross Sales
Ongoing Fees
Monthly and annual costs after opening.
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 4% of gross sales | |
| Ad Fund | — |
Revenue Context
Average Revenue
$1.6M
From Item 19 (2025 FDD)
Investment-to-Revenue Ratio
1.0x
Lower is better (min inv ÷ avg rev)
Annual Fee Burden
4%+
Royalty + ad fund as % of gross sales
At average revenue of $1.6M, you'd pay approximately $65K/year in royalties alone.
Other Upfront Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Management Training Readiness Assessment (MTRA) | $600 |
| Initial Training Fee | $11K |
| SERVSAFE Course | $600 |
| Prototypical Design Intent Building Plans | — |
| Construction Consultation Services | — |
| Training and Opening Inventory (DQ Grill & Chill) | $6K |
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