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Dairy Queen Franchise

Quick-service restaurant serving ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken

Ice cream manufacturer JF McCullough was experimenting with a recipe for a new frozen dairy product, stemming from his belief that ice cream tasted better when it was soft and served fresh from the freezer, not frozen solid. With his recipe perfected, McCullough and his son Alex approached one of their customers about holding an introductory sale of the new soft ice cream. At the first sale, more than 1,600 people lined up to try the new ice cream.

Based on that initial success, the McCulloughs opened the first Dairy Queen location in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois. The first stores sold only soft-serve ice cream--in sundaes, take-home pints and quarts, and cones--but over the years, a variety of ice cream treats were added to the menu, such as banana splits and Dilly Bars.

In the 1950s, some Dairy Queens began serving hot food items. Today, stores systemwide have menus that include hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken strips through Dairy Queen's Brazier concept. Franchisees can operate a Dairy Queen with or without a Brazier. The company also offers its Treat Center concept, a store that sells items from the three franchise companies it owns--Dairy Queen, Orange Julius and Karmelkorn.

Please Note: The operators of Dairy Queen, may not have verified the accuracy of the franchise information contained within this website. For accurate up-to-date information, customers are strongly recommended to visit the official Dairy Queen website.

Start-up Costs & Franchise Fees

How much does it cost to open a Dairy Queen franchise?

Total Investment: $655,000-$1,300,000
Initial Franchise Fee: $20,000-$35,000
Royalty Fee: 4-5%
Advertising Fee:
Term of Agreement: Varies

How to contact Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen News

Franchise Rules Could Be A Business-buster
The world's richest man is making Mohammad Dar miserable. Dar, who 18 years ago paid $125,000 for a Dairy Queen franchise in Kemah, has never met Warren Buffett. It's a safe bet that Buffett, whose fortune recently was pegged at $62 billion, has never heard of Mohammad Dar but, in a wa... more

Dairy Queen® Says "Aloha" To The New Year
In January, Dairy Queen® will offer a “retro” Blizzard with a twist, combining the cool taste of DQ® soft serve and tropical fruit flavors. The international retail treat-category leader will usher in the New Year with the Hawaiian Blizzard, which debuted in 1985 as one of 16 original ... more

You're Hired!
Jackie Preston, a resident of Eden Prairie, now personally has heard the famous Donald Trump phrase, "You’re hired!" She has been voted the first-ever Dairy Queen® Blizzard® apprentice. As the new Blizzard apprentice, Preston receives a $50,000 cash signing bonus, an appearance in a n... more

Dairy Queen® Celebrates The Holidays With A Very Merry Twist
Dairy Queen® celebrates the holiday season with a very merry twist on a Blizzard® favorite, offering the Merry Mint Chip Blizzard as December’s featured Blizzard of the Month. The Merry Mint Chip Blizzard, which was first introduced during the holidays last year, will be available at all Dai... more

Dairy Queen® Bracelets Promote Kids Helping Kids
Dairy Queen® has teamed up with Children’s Miracle Network to encourage customers to wear their hearts on their sleeves - or in this case, their wrists. Beginning Oct. 1, participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants nationwide will offer "Kids Helping Kids" glow-in-th... more

View all Dairy Queen Press Releases

Franchise History

When did the first Dairy Queen open? 1940
When did Dairy Queen start franchising? 1944

Year	U.S.A.	Canada	International	Corporate
2004	4803	570	327	65
2003	4839	564	326	66
2002	4912	546	281	65
2001	4947	544	313	62
2000	5042	538	333	59

Expansion Plans

International:

Financing Options

Expense	In-House	Third Party
Franchise Fee	No	No
Startup Costs	No	No
Equipment	No	No
Inventory	No	No
Accounts Receivable	No	No
Payroll	No	No

Training & Support

Support
Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing
Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising

Business Operations

International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 - 40

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed.

Qualifications & Business Experience

Business Experience:

Industry experience

General business experience

• Hamburgers/Hot Dogs Franchise Opportunities
• Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies Franchise Opportunities
• Franchises $500K to $1 Million

Listing Tags

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Legal Disclaimer: This information is not a franchise offering for Dairy Queen and should not be construed as such. TheFranchiseMall.com makes every effort to maintain accurate franchise data but does not guarantee nor assume liability for incorrect data. We recommend that anyone seriously interested in pursuing a Dairy Queen franchise opportunity, review that franchise's Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC) with an attorney and accountant.