A Smile and A Story®

Few brands achieve iconic status, but DQ® is one of them.  As caretakers of this brand for over 80 years, we feel proud to see it continue to grow and prosper around the world.

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  • 1927
    The Homemade Ice Cream Company is established and run by the McCullough family in Green River, Illinois.
  • 1938
    The McCulloughs develop the soft-serve concept and the name Dairy Queen® is introduced. The product is first served at an "All You Can Eat" sale in Kanakee, Illinois.
  • 1939
    Harry Oltz advertises his invention of a frozen custard dispenser. The McCulloughs and Oltz sign an agreement that launches the Dairy Queen® industry.
  • 1940
    The first Dairy Queen® store opens in Joliet, Illinois. Menu items were limited to soft serve cones, pints, quarts, and sundaes.
  • 1943
    Harry Axene introduces franchising territories and selling Dairy Queen® licensing rights for royalties. He had the vision of putting together a national franchising system.
  • 1948
    The first meeting of Dairy Queen® National Trade Association happens in Davenport, IL. The group developed standardized cones, paper, plastic goods, food products, and advertising.
  • 1955
    The number of Dairy Queen® locations grew from 100 in 1947 to 2,600 by 1955.
  • 1953
    The first international Dairy Queen® location opens in Winnipeg, Western Canada.
  • 1956
    The Dilly Bar® debuts among other new products like the banana split, the Maltie, flavored sundaes, and DQ® sandwiches.
  • 1961
    As popularity of charcoal broiling grows, the Brazier® program is introduced at a Georgia location. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, and French fries. In Georgia, sales were 70% Brazier® and 30% soft serve.
  • 1962
    International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ) is established, becoming a leadership entity for developing effective advertising, branding, merchandising, and expansion of Dairy Queen® foreign presence.
  • 1970
    Dairy Queen® products continue to develop. The system becomes one of the largest fast-food chains in the United States with gross sales reaching approximately $450 million.
  • 1976
    Seventy-five Dairy Queen® stores operate outside of the United States and Canada. By the end of the decade, the Dairy Queen®  system had 154 stores outside of the United States and Canada.
  • 1977
    Public trading of company stock begins for the first time and corporate stock increases dramatically. IDQ was quoted among the top fourteen hundred companies in the Nasdaq.
  • 1980
    Food sales continue to grow in popularity. Stores begin offering drive-thru window experiences. By 1981, 40 percent of the stores worldwide sold Brazier® food products.
  • 1984
    Dairy Queen® franchise operators around the country raise $30,000 for local children's hospitals.
  • 1985
    Blizzard® Flavor Treat is introduced to the menu and purchases were at 75 million treats during its first year on the menu.
  • 1992
    Dairy Queen® Value meals are introduced as food becomes a hot commodity for the DQ® system. Super Value Meals featured a Homestyle Burger and a variety of basket meals.
  • 1998
    International Dairy Queen, Inc. is acquired by Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.
  • 2001
    The first DQ Grill & Chill® restaurant opens in Chattanooga, TN. With an evolved menu and branding, the Grill & Chill® concept continues to be the strongest investment in DQ® history.
  • 2006

    First Miracle Treat Day in Canada and the U.S. with donations going to Children's Miracle Network Hospitals®.

  • 2010

    Mini Blizzard® Treats are introduced to the Dairy Queen® menu, adding more ways to enjoy a DQ® classic treat.

  • 2015

    The DQ® system celebrated 75 years of Fans, Franchisees, and Fun!

  • 2018
    DQ® mobile app launches. It's never been easier for fans to order their favorites and be rewarded for their loyalty.
  • 2019
    First DQ Grill & Chill® restaurant with the Next Gen design opens.
  • 2020

    The Non-Dairy Dilly® Bar debuts as a gluten free, dairy-free, and plant-based, vanilla coconut cream frozen dessert option.

  • 2022
    DQ Grill & Chill® launches delicious new Signature Stackburgers™.
Investment Information We’ve crunched some numbers for you. Here’s a snapshot of the investment figures:

Franchise Fee

$45,000

Royalty Fee

4%

Marketing Fee

5 - 6%

Term

20 years

Investment Range

$800,000 - $1.2 million or more

Liquid Capital Requirement

$400,000

Net Worth Requirement

$750,000 (for a single unit)

Certified DQ Managers

3

More detailed information about Dairy Queen® franchise costs is available in our Franchise Disclosure Document.
Learn More About Our Available Markets

Our Dairy Queen® franchise support team is here to help you through every step of your journey. Whether you’re looking to franchise in the United States, Canada, or international locations, there’s a lot you can look forward to with a Dairy Queen® franchise.

Our Owners Have a Lot to Say Reviews & Testimonials
  • There is no better feeling than flipping a Blizzard® treat for someone who is reliving a childhood memory or serving the...

    - Blake, Arkansas Dairy Queen® Franchisee
Quotes
WORLD FAMOUS

World famous DQ® Treats and tasty food offerings.

A SMILE AND A STORY®
We have a strong customer base with a loyal relationship with the brand.
BRAND IDENTITY
Strong brand presence with over 4,000 domestic locations and 7,000 worldwide.
INDUSTRY LEADERS
Including franchise support, supply chain, development, operations, marketing, and training.
Our FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

We're confident we can help you reach your goals. Our Dairy Queen® franchise support team is prepared to address all your inquiries before you move forward. Below you'll find answers to our most frequently asked questions.

  • How much is the Dairy Queen® franchise fee?
    The franchise fee for a DQ Grill & Chill® location is $45,000. Explore our website for more franchise investment information.
  • What kind of support can I expect from the Dairy Queen® brand?
    Our specialized teams can help you through every step of the development process, from the first conversation to your grand opening and beyond.  After opening, we'll continue to help you market your restaurant and support you as you grow your business.  Learn more about how we support our franchisees.
  • Do I need previous franchising or restaurant experience to become a Dairy Queen® franchisee?
    Excellent franchise candidates come from a wide variety of backgrounds, including franchisees of (non-competitive) QSR brands and successful business people from outside of the industry.
  • When can I expect my DQ Grill & Chill® restaurant to open?
    The average timeline from applying to opening a DQ Grill & Chill® franchise is about 18 months; however, local requirements may decrease or increase this timeline. Learn more about the steps to ownership.
  • How do I get started with opening a Dairy Queen® franchise?
    Simply fill out our request form. We invite you to reach out to us or explore our website for more information about the steps to owning a DQ Grill & Chill® franchise.
  • What are the qualifications to become an owner?
    We require certain basic qualifications o become a DQ Grill & Chill® franchise owner, including minimum financial qualifications of $400,000 liquid capital and $750,000 net worth, with or without prior experience in quick service restaurants or franchising.
  • What does your ideal candidate look like?
    An ideal DQ Grill & Chill® franchise candidate can come from a wide range of backgrounds. We look for successful business people who are leaders in their communities and who meet or exceed our minimum financial qualifications. Candidates will also need to find a qualified operating partner with QSR drive-thru experience and build, retain, and maintain a successful management team.
  • Do you require the location owner to live in the market where they would open a location?
    It is preferred that owners live in the market where they want to open a DQ Grill & Chill® franchise.
  • How do I go about getting financing?
    We can refer you to financial institutions that have previous experience with DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants and franchise concepts. For Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, choose lenders who have national Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status which helps streamline the financing process. PLP Lenders and Express Lenders have approval authority, which significantly improves timelines for review and approval. If you choose to work with local or state lenders, be certain to verify that they have PLP or Express status.
  • What is involved in the initial pre-approval process?

    Here's what you can expect from the DQ® franchise pre-approval process:

    1. Financial review, cash verification, and background checks
    2. Field meetings with our Franchise Development team
    3. Interviews with our Operations leadership team
  • What kind of training is offered?
    There are three required components to training: (1) the MTRA (Management Training Readiness Assessment); (2) SERVSAFE certification; and (3) ADQ’s training program, which takes place in certified training restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada. Included in the initial franchise fee are the training program costs for three people to attend ADQ’s training program. Additional candidates can attend for an additional fee.
  • What is the initial investment range to open a location?
    For more information about the initial investment, check out our Investment Opportunity page, or contact us directly and we can provide you with a direct link to our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
  • How many team members do I need to run the business?
    Our operations consulting team will work with you to determine the management and staff necessary to support your business needs.
  • What are the royalty fees and marketing fees?
    DQ Grill & Chill® restaurants: 4% continuing license fees and 5-6% sales promotion program fee. Check out Item 6 from our FDD for additional information.
YOUR DQ® Story BEGINS TODAY START A CONVERSATION WITH OUR TEAM