Dairy Queen Treat franchise
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Dairy Queen Treat franchise franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Dairy Queen Treat is the Dairy Queen format focused on frozen desserts, including Blizzard treats, cones, shakes and sundaes. Treat locations also offer cakes, with ordering options and amenities varying by store.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Dairy Queen Treat franchise franchise?
- The Dairy Queen Treat franchise Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $548,700–$1,049,350 for total initial investment, captive-venue: $548,700–$1,049,350 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 27); $848,700–$1,595,350 for total initial investment, street: $848,700–$1,595,350 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 27). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Dairy Queen Treat franchise initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $25,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 20). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Dairy Queen Treat franchise charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $5 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 22). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Dairy Queen Treat franchise disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Dairy Queen Treat franchise FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Dairy Queen Treat franchise locations are there?
- The FDD reports 1,055 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 58). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $548,700 – $1,049,350 (Total Initial Investment, Captive-Venue: $548,700–$1,049,350); $848,700 – $1,595,350 (Total Initial Investment, Street: $848,700–$1,595,350); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets declined by 30 in 2025, to 1,055 (United States; direct-licensed or subfranchised population identified in label, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total Initial Investment, Captive-Venue: $548,700–$1,049,350PDF p. 27$548,700 – $1,049,350
- Total Initial Investment, Street: $848,700–$1,595,350PDF p. 27$848,700 – $1,595,350
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 20
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Continuing license feeMain ongoing fee
18 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Dairy Queen Treat franchise has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States; direct-licensed or subfranchised population identified in label, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2023–2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 58
Net −67 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($548,700 – $1,595,350) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Dairy Queen Treat franchise reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units decreased from 1,085 to 1,055 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 20
- [2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 58
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
1,057 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.