Franchise opportunities compared

    Duck Donuts vs Kona Ice

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Duck Donuts

    $394,150 – $628,700

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Kona Ice

    $114,730 – $228,601

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Duck Donuts

    $40,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Kona Ice

    $15,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Royalty · Item 6

    Duck Donuts

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Kona Ice

    $3,000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Duck Donuts discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Duck Donuts has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Duck Donuts

    $394,150 – $628,700
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Kona Ice

    $114,730 – $228,601
    Total estimated initial investment range
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Duck Donuts

    $40,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Kona Ice

    $15,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Duck Donuts

    6%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Kona Ice

    $3,000
    Royalty — years one and two
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Duck Donuts

    2%
    Brand Fund contribution rate — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Kona Ice

    $1,000
    Brand Fund contribution
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 15

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Duck Donuts

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts

    Kona Ice

    1,933
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Duck Donuts

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    Kona Ice

    +449
    Calculated: 1,484 at end of 2022 → 1,933 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Duck Donuts

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Kona Ice

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Duck Donuts

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Kona Ice

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Duck Donuts

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Kona Ice

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    DDDuck Donuts
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised outlets
    $306,498
    other gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 48
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Affiliate-owned outlet
    $798,793
    other gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 48
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised outlets
    $466,950
    other gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 48
    +1 more groups in the full report
    Kona Ice

    No reviewed Item 19 figures

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Duck Donuts vs Kona Ice: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Duck Donuts or Kona Ice?
    Duck Donuts: $394,150 – $628,700 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Kona Ice: $114,730 – $228,601 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 27). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Kona Ice. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Duck Donuts and Kona Ice royalties compare?
    Duck Donuts: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13); Kona Ice: $3,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Duck Donuts and Kona Ice disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Duck Donuts has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups; Kona Ice has no reviewed Item 19 figures on file. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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