Dairy Queen Franchise: Cost, Fees & Availability
Dairy Queen Franchise Facts
| Total Investment | $1.5M–$2.6M |
|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $45K |
| Royalty | 4% |
| Avg. Unit Revenue (Item 19) | $1.4M |
| Total Units | 1971 |
| Founded | 1940 |
| Liquid Capital Required | $400K |
| Category | Food & Beverage |
12 data points independently verified by FranchiseKI with per-field sources (last verified 2026-06-11).
Where Is Dairy Queen Available?
Dairy Queen is open for new franchisees in 9 states: Alabama, California, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington.
Risk Flags From Market Research
- Red flag: Franchisee litigation over remodels / terminated agreements (Project Lonestar) (source: KWTX / WFAA)
- Red flag: Franchisee Vasari LLC bankruptcy — 23 units closed (source: Nation's Restaurant News)
- Caution: High capital requirement for full Grill & Chill format (source: Dairy Queen Franchising (official))
Every flag is sourced from public market research — never editorial opinion. Brands can claim their listing to respond.
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Data is compiled from public sources (FDDs, franchisor disclosures, franchise directories) and verified where possible. Always confirm details against the brand's current FDD before investing.