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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Dairy Queen Franchise

Dairy Queen (DQ) is a quick-service restaurant franchise offering soft-serve ice cream, frozen treats, and a full food menu spanning burgers, chicken baskets, and beverages. Founded in 1940 and franchising from its earliest years, the brand operates as a subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), itself a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The system operates two main formats: DQ Grill & Chill, a full quick-service restaurant with dining and drive-through service, and DQ Treat, a smaller dessert-focused format suited to mall and walk-up settings. With more than 7,800 restaurants across 20 countries and over 3,200 domestic US locations, DQ carries 85% consumer brand recognition, making it one of the most recognized names in food franchising.

The brand’s signature Blizzard treats, soft-serve ice cream, and Orange Julius beverages give franchisees multiple revenue streams across day parts. DQ’s long-standing partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, through which franchisees participate in events like Miracle Treat Day, has reinforced community loyalty and customer retention across the domestic network.

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Why buy a Dairy Queen Franchise?

To buy a Dairy Queen franchise is to acquire one of the most recognized brand names in American food culture. With 85% consumer brand recognition and a multi-generational fan base built over eight decades, DQ locations benefit from immediate customer awareness that independent operators spend years building. Dual-category revenue across food and dessert sales supports more consistent daily traffic than single-menu QSR concepts.

Berkshire Hathaway ownership provides financial stability and long-term brand investment. Corporate support includes operations business consultants, a national and regional marketing infrastructure, a branded loyalty program and app, and purchasing and distribution teams that leverage DQ’s buying power. Multi-unit development paths are available for operators looking to grow.

Dairy Queen Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1940

    • Franchising Since

      1940

    • New Startup Cost

      $1,510,100 – $2,550,100

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $45,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $6,000

      +$500 every 5 years starting 2030

    • Royalty Fee

      4%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      1985

    • New Units Opened *

      38

    • Units Transferred *

      116

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $1,485,731

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Dairy Queen – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    New franchisees complete 32 hours of classroom training and 245 hours of on-the-job training across three phases: products and equipment, service and management, and financial and leadership skills. Requirements also include Management Training Readiness Assessment (MTRA) completion and ServSafe certification. Ongoing support includes operations business consultants, a purchasing and distribution team, national and regional marketing, and a branded loyalty program and app. Buyers of a DQ resale should confirm what transfer training and system access are available to incoming owners.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The ideal Dairy Queen franchisee is a hands-on operator comfortable managing a team of 20 or more hourly employees in a fast-paced food-service environment. Prior restaurant or QSR experience is expected; DQ's active ownership model requires daily involvement rather than semi-absentee management. Strong skills in staff scheduling, customer service, and local community engagement matter more than food industry technical knowledge, which the three-phase training program addresses. Multi-unit operators looking to build a portfolio of locations are also well-positioned within the DQ system.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Dairy Queen has received consistent recognition in major franchise rankings. The system ranked 45th on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 in 2026 and 40th in 2025, and was named among Entrepreneur's Top Global Franchises (#17 in 2025) and Top Food Franchises (#20 in 2025). DQ ranked 18th on the Franchise Times Top 400 in 2024 and 19th on Technomic's Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report in 2025. The brand carries 85% consumer recognition in the US. Its Children's Miracle Network Hospitals partnership, through which it has raised over $185 million since 1984, reinforces community credibility with local audiences.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US quick-service restaurant market was valued at approximately $243 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at around 3% annually, driven by consumer demand for convenience, consistent value, and broad menu variety. Frozen desserts and soft-serve hold a durable position within QSR, with seasonal peaks in warm months but year-round demand supported by drive-through and dine-in formats. For resale buyers, location quality, local traffic patterns, and community brand familiarity are the primary demand factors to evaluate at unit level.

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