2026 FDD Issued Mar 26, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Dunkin' Franchise Cost (2026)
A Dunkin' franchise costs an estimated $532,400 – $1,832,500 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $40,000 – $90,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Freestanding Restaurant. Item 6 lists continuing franchise fee: 5.9% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally before independent verification was complete.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $532K – $1.83MItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $40K – $90KItem 5 source and terms
- Continuing Franchise Fee
- 5.9% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 5% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Liquid capital
- $250KFranchisor website, checked October 29, 2026
- Net worth
- $500KFranchisor website, checked October 29, 2026
What stands out about Dunkin'
Lower building costs can mean a landlord-funded build-to-suit lease rather than less development work. Item 7 leaves real estate unestimated, excludes required delivery vehicles and warns that unusual site conditions can add costs. Its freestanding range is therefore not a complete property-and-delivery budget. The training line also excludes wages, although miscellaneous opening costs includes some pre-opening training payroll.
The Center has separate initial access and annual continuing-training charges, while restaurant technology creates additional maintenance obligations. Menu-board subscriptions are priced by panel and security patching by endpoint. Item 11's service-desk price also overlaps the description of included POS maintenance, so counting every listed amount as an independent flat subscription would misstate the disclosed cost structure.
The reported $1,372,069 average covers an eligible group mixing traditional and nontraditional restaurants. Newly opened outlets, extended closures and several atypical formats are excluded. Item 19 separately reports freestanding-pad/building sales, but neither sample subtracts operating costs. Pairing a new freestanding startup budget with the broader average does not produce a matched earnings forecast.
Adding Baskin-Robbins can move an existing restaurant out of the standalone Dunkin' count; closing the accompanying brand can move it back. Item 20 also records only the last event when an outlet has multiple changes. These conventions distinguish reported stock changes from physical openings, but do not supply the missing amounts needed to reconcile the later national movement totals.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Dunkin'?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $40,000 – $90,000 for Dunkin'. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
These minimums come from the franchisor’s website, not from the FDD, and can change: Dunkin' franchise page (checked October 29, 2026).
Item 5 on PDF pages 32-35 sets the standard fee by Development Area Type within Designated Market Areas (DMAs). Gas/convenience fees are prorated by agreement term; self-service gas/convenience and SDO fees use 50% of the applicable standard fee, then term proration. A Combo adds Baskin-Robbins' $10,000 initial fee and its separate costs. The $0-$90,000 historical fees paid in 2025 are not the current standard offer. Development-agreement payments are installments of the same initial fee: 25% at signing and the balance six months before the required opening or actual opening, whichever comes first. Pages 40-44 also describe training, opening marketing, optional design and condition-dependent incentives. VetFran is a continuing-franchise-fee credit of $10,000 per qualifying restaurant, up to $100,000, not an initial-fee discount; prior-owner/affiliate, veteran status, opening, cost-report and compliance conditions apply. Campus, Standard, Strategic and Pacific Northwest programs have market, signing/opening and eligibility limits; availability is not assumed. Initial payments are generally nonrefundable unless the FDD states otherwise.
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 32.
How much does it cost to open a Dunkin' franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 52.
Item 7 of Dunkin’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one freestanding restaurant at $532,400 – $1,832,500. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $90,000 |
| Building Costs | $180,000 | $600,000 |
| Site Development Costs | $13,000 | $350,000 |
| Additional Development Costs | $12,000 | $90,000 |
| Equipment, Fixtures & Signs | $189,000 | $300,000 |
| Restaurant Technology System | $65,000 | $118,000 |
| Licenses, Permits, Fees and Deposits | $3,500 | $7,500 |
| Opening Inventory | $8,000 | $20,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $9,500 | $70,000 |
| Uniforms | $400 | $3,000 |
| Insurance | $10,000 | $16,000 |
| Training Related Expenses | $2,000 | $50,000 |
| Marketing Start-Up Fee | $0 | $10,000 |
| Additional Funds for First 3 Months of Operation | $0 | $108,000 |
| Total | $532,400 | $1,832,500 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Shopping Center/Storefront Restaurant | $443,000 – $1,333,500 |
| Gas & Convenience Restaurant | $216,400 – $1,065,500 |
| SDO (Non-Traditional) | $142,000 – $862,500 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 25 restaurants & food records without a source-review hold is $1,297,100.
Table A on PDF pages 52-53 provides the numeric freestanding lines and total; its separate Real Estate Costs row is Variable, not zero, and is not included in the bounded numeric sum. Building costs exclude land purchase; a low build-to-suit estimate assumes the landlord bears much of development, potentially raising rent instead. Notes 1-6 on pages 56-58 exclude unusual utility connections, governmental impact fees, performance bonds and extraordinary redesign/permitting/environmental/legal costs. Equipment includes estimated tax/delivery; technology includes required configurations/installation but not optional equipment, and monthly/yearly maintenance and user fees continue. Note 8 includes pre-opening employee training payroll in Miscellaneous Opening Costs, while Note 10 excludes wages/salaries from the Training Related Expenses estimate; do not treat these as the same scope or assume no payroll is budgeted anywhere. Training assumes two attendees for four-eight weeks; more attendees/repeats add costs. Note 10 says tuition for the first two-four people is included, but Items 5 and 11 on pages 40/82 include only two for the first five restaurants and charge the larger-network required attendees; this scope difference needs confirmation. Insurance premiums/coverage and payment timing vary, including required workers' compensation. The printed Marketing Start-Up Fee low is $0, whereas Items 5 and 11 require at least $10,000 for a standard restaurant; the difference remains unresolved, not changed to force a match. First-three-month Additional Funds are an estimate, not a guarantee against negative cash flow or later expenses. Note 12 on page 60 excludes required delivery vehicles from the estimated total; costs are not stated. Combo/other-brand costs come from their separate disclosures and may overlap, not equal the freestanding Dunkin' estimate. Alternative totals are printed on pages 54, 55 and 56 and also leave real estate unestimated.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Dunkin' charge? (Item 6)
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 44.
Item 6 of Dunkin’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing Franchise Fee | 5.9% of Gross Sales | Every period | Standard new-restaurant weekly royalty, the percentage of Gross Sales paid to the franchisor. PDF pages 46-48 describe conditional credits: $125,000 Standard, $225,000 Strategic, and separate Pacific Northwest credits tied to first/subsequent restaurant and opening year. Credits apply to continuing fees during the term, without interest, not to the initial franchise fee. Qualifying early openings can have a 0% rate until the required opening date, up to six months; VetFran has separate eligibility and credit limits. Gross Sales includes approved delivery/catering services but excludes specified stored-value deposits, collected government taxes and approved resale to another licensed entity. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Continuing Advertising Fee | 5% of Gross Sales | Every period | Standard new-restaurant weekly contribution; SDO rate is 2.5%. PDF pages 48-49 set qualified Standard rates of 2% in year one, 3% in year two, 4% in year three and 5% thereafter. Qualified Strategic rates are 2.4% through year five, 3.4% in years six-eight and 5% from year nine. Item 5's incentive eligibility must be satisfied; these are not rates available to every franchise. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| The Center Annual Subscription Fee | $340 per year | When it applies | Mandatory annual continuing-training fee, currently $340 per restaurant; Item 11 on PDF page 82 identifies it as training. Classified outside the simplified recurring fee model under the site's training-fee rule, not described as optional. Separate from the $340 initial access fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Additional Training Fee | $4,000 | When it applies | Initial or repeat training, currently $4,000 per person. PDF pages 40 and 82 include only the first two attendees for the owner's/affiliate's first five restaurants; the table requires three paid attendees for six-nineteen restaurants and four for twenty or more. Additional attendees/repeats cost extra. Item 7 Note 10's different 'first 2 to 4' inclusion wording needs confirmation; no broader waiver is assumed. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Training Cancellation Fee | Varies | When it applies | $1,000 per person if eight to fourteen days before training; $2,000 if seven days or less. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Site Design and Kitchen Layout Design Fee | Varies | When it applies | Optional affiliate remodel/refurbishment work: current PSL $1,200 and PKL $750; costs may increase. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Inspire Payment Services | Varies | When it applies | Variable collections for vendor hardware, software and services, plus possible billing/administration service fees. PDF page 77 describes franchisor income of 0%-6% of vendor invoice amounts; it does not establish an additional 0%-6% all-sales charge on the owner. (Item 6, PDF p. 44) |
| Loyalty Program Contribution Payment | 1.4% of Loyalty Program Sales | Every period | Mandatory weekly contribution on eligible in-store purchases by loyalty-program members, not all Gross Sales. Current 1.4%; Note 4 on PDF pages 49-50 caps the rate at 1.4% for fiscal 2025-2026 and 1.2% for fiscal 2027 onward, not an assumed current future rate. Reward redemptions are reimbursed at National Average Product Cost, including packaging and paper, not retail value; taxes on reimbursements remain payable. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Taxes | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement of applicable tax/fee on franchisor receipts. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Late Fee and Interest | Varies | When it applies | Lesser of 1.5% monthly or maximum legal rate. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | When it applies | Then-current amount if contractual renewal conditions satisfied. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Relocation Fee | Varies | When it applies | DMA initial fee reduced for remaining original-agreement term under Note 5. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Cost of obtaining missing coverage. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Indemnification | Varies | When it applies | Covered restaurant/premises claims, liabilities and obligations. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Transfer Fee – Within First Three Years | Varies | When it applies | Table describes a trailing-sales-based amount plus $12,500 Dunkin' / $20,000 Combo. Note 6 on PDF page 51 describes a different timing/formula. Both source provisions must be clarified; no single flat total is substituted. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Transfer Fee – After First Three Years | Varies | When it applies | Table describes a trailing-sales-based amount. Note 6 adds $12,500 for Dunkin' and includes $5,000/$6,000/$8,000/$12,000/$20,000 sales-tier amounts; its next paragraph repeats 'Dunkin' with a $20,000 base and a different tier table. Source wording is inconsistent and requires clarification. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Fixed Documentation Fee | $2,000 | When it applies | Per transferee, in lieu of transfer fee for specified non-control, family and estate transactions. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Development Agreement Transfer Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | For majority-interest transfer. (Item 6, PDF p. 45) |
| Enforcement Expenses | Varies | When it applies | Costs and expenses of successful agreement enforcement. (Item 6, PDF p. 46) |
| Additional Supplier Sample Testing Reimbursement | Varies | When it applies | Actual testing costs for proposed additional suppliers, typically $1,000-$10,000; this is not a guaranteed maximum. (Item 6, PDF p. 46) |
| Lease Costs | Varies | When it applies | Only if leasing from an affiliate: monthly fixed rent, possible percentage rent and net-net-net occupancy obligations including taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities and common-area charges. The lease determines amounts; this is not a universal flat restaurant fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 46) |
| The Center Initial Access Fee (Items 5 and 11) | $340 | When it applies | Due at agreement signing. Separate from the annual continuing-training subscription; PDF page 82 repeats both obligations. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Marketing Start-Up Obligation (Items 5 and 11) | Varies | When it applies | At least $10,000 for standard/Combo/gas-convenience and $5,000 for SDO at opening, reopening or remodeling; payable to approved vendors/franchisor if promotional programs are not administered. Opening spending is already a separate Item 7 line, not added again. Its printed $0 low conflicts with this minimum and needs confirmation. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| Unprepared Meeting Reimbursement (Item 5) | Varies | When it applies | Reimburse specified out-of-pocket expenses if the owner or architect is not prepared for a scheduled meeting. (Item 6, PDF p. 40) |
| New-Restaurant Affiliate Design (Item 5) | Varies | When it applies | Optional requested work: preliminary site layout (PSL) $1,200 for a new/remodel restaurant with drive-thru; preliminary kitchen layout (PKL) $1,200 for a new restaurant and $750 for a remodel. Item 7 site-development estimates already include these services when requested. (Item 6, PDF p. 41) |
| POS Hardware, Software and Installation (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | Initial configurations assume two-four terminals: Dunkin' with drive-thru $32,340-$41,580; without $24,255-$31,185; Combo with $39,270-$46,200, without $28,875-$35,805; SDO with $24,255-$31,185, without $17,326-$24,225. Includes specified initial maintenance/training materials, not incidental travel. These components are part of Item 7 technology, not added again. (Item 6, PDF p. 73) |
| POS Annual Hardware and Software Maintenance (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Dunkin' with drive-thru $3,812-$3,927 per year, without $3,119-$3,465; Combo with $4,274-$4,505, without $3,465-$3,696; SDO with $3,119-$3,465, without $2,426-$2,888. Includes POS hardware/software maintenance and service desk; do not add the separately described service-desk amount without checking overlap. Configuration-specific, not a single common range. (Item 6, PDF p. 73) |
| Back of House Software (Item 11) | $51 – $70 per month | Every period | Per restaurant. Required core software is bundled with an elective labor-management module; no separate invented price is assigned to that module. (Item 6, PDF p. 74) |
| Managed Store Network (Item 11) | $225 – $400 per month | Every period | Per restaurant, including specified payment-card compliance services. Installation $500-$1,500. Optional satellite has the same monthly rate and $2,000 setup; weak cellular locations may need an approximately $500 antenna. Initial components may already be in Item 7 technology. (Item 6, PDF p. 74) |
| Digital Signage Equipment and Installation (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | Required interior signage for new/remodel restaurants; exterior signage for drive-thru new/remodel restaurants. Four-panel interior equipment $7,700-$8,600 plus installation $3,100-$4,900; allowed two-panel configuration $5,800-$6,300. PDF page 75 lists exterior equipment $13,500-$14,300 plus installation $3,600-$4,700; conditional order-status board $1,600-$2,000 plus $1,400-$1,825 installation; conditional presell panel $8,200-$8,700 plus $4,300-$4,800 installation. These are components, not automatically stacked onto the Item 7 total. (Item 6, PDF p. 74) |
| Digital Menu Board Managed Services (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Required monthly managed services currently $13-$17 per panel per restaurant. Each additional panel increases the charge; panel counts are not priced as a single flat store subscription. (Item 6, PDF p. 75) |
| Service Desk Contract (Item 11) | $570 – $825 per year | Every period | Required per restaurant. PDF page 73 already includes service desk in annual POS hardware/software maintenance; this is not certified as a second nonoverlapping charge. (Item 6, PDF p. 75) |
| Drive-Thru Monitoring Maintenance (Item 11) | $400 – $600 per year | When it applies | Drive-thru system, not every format. Purchase/installation $2,500-$5,000; annual fee varies with installed system. (Item 6, PDF p. 75) |
| Drive-Thru Audio Equipment (Item 11) | $4,500 – $9,000 | When it applies | Drive-thru formats only; required purchase, installation and maintenance. No separate recurring maintenance tariff is stated. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Credit Card Processing (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Required approved program with monthly bank/service charges and fixed/variable transaction processing fees. Amounts are not supplied; not zero and not a stated universal sales percentage. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Payment Terminal Hardware and Installation (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | Hardware/accessories $500-$700 per unit and installation $175-$500 per restaurant. Terminal-count basis differs from store installation; opening technology components are not charged twice. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Payment Terminal Maintenance (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Hardware/software maintenance $320-$400 per year, with variable costs depending on the number of payment terminals. The passage does not supply one all-store amount or an explicit per-terminal multiplier. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Exception or Additional Payment Terminals (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | If an exception POS system is approved, external equipment $500-$1,250 per POS terminal. Additional terminals may cost $375-$450; maintenance $320-$400 per year, installation $175-$500 per restaurant. These conditional alternatives are not another mandatory charge on all standard units. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Fraud Prevention Services (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | May be required for online/mobile/remote orders; $0-$0.02 per transaction, not all sales or a monthly flat fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Stored Value Card Program (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Required program has weekly and/or monthly bank/service charges and transaction processing fees. In-store activation/reload/purchase transactions have a $0-$0.02 fee; other fixed/variable amounts are not specified and may change. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| Advance and Remote Ordering (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | May be required: monthly fees $0-$75, transaction fees 2%-15% of the order amount and initial configuration/installation/hardware $150-$2,600 per restaurant. Not a 2%-15% levy on every sale. (Item 6, PDF p. 76) |
| POS and BOH Technical Maintenance Program (Item 11) | $10 – $25 per month | When it applies | May be required per restaurant; not established as universally implemented. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Data Availability Services (Item 11) | $36 per year | When it applies | May be required, per restaurant. Archiving opt-out can begin in month nineteen with thirty days' notice before the next quarterly billing cycle. Conditional reactivation is separately described. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Data Archiving Reactivation (Item 11) | $1,500 | When it applies | One-time reactivation fee plus all past monthly fees; no invented total is assigned. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| In-Restaurant Music Service (Item 11) | $25 – $50 per month | When it applies | May be required. Streaming hardware initially $100-$200; sound-distribution equipment costs depend on configuration. Other music sources are not permitted. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Frictionless Drive-Thru (Item 11) | $32 – $45 per month | When it applies | May be required per site, not every restaurant format. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Security Patching (Item 11) | Varies | Every period | Required approved program, approximately $5-$10 per endpoint per month; endpoints include terminals and kiosks. Endpoint counts are not replaced by a flat store fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Combo Nutrition Label Printer (Item 11) | $75 – $500 | When it applies | May be required by controlling laws for the Combo format; not a standard freestanding-only requirement. (Item 6, PDF p. 77) |
| Combo Receipt Marketing Solution (Item 11) | $17 – $20 per month | When it applies | May be required in the Combo technology schedule; not universal to the main investment format. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Optional Coin Changer Maintenance (Item 11) | $90 – $125 per year | When it applies | Optional equipment in the Combo schedule; purchase/configuration/installation $1,200-$1,500 for one changer. Cost depends on changer/canister count. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Optional Video Surveillance Maintenance (Item 11) | $600 – $5,200 per year | When it applies | Encouraged equipment in the Combo schedule, not a universal charge. Initial hardware/installation $300-$13,000; initial user setup $25-$50; high-usage cloud services $99-$200 per user per year may add charges. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Optional Franchisee Business Intelligence (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | All restaurants with POS may opt in: $9-$15 per restaurant per month; network-level data feed $50-$75 per franchisee network per month. Alternative tools $8-$56 per restaurant per month are alternatives, not automatically an extra subscription. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Optional Self-Ordering Kiosk (Item 11) | Varies | When it applies | In the Combo technology schedule: initial hardware/software $7,000-$11,000 per kiosk plus configuration/installation $900-$1,200 per kiosk; annual hardware maintenance $400-$500 per store and software maintenance $400-$500 per kiosk. Different units must not be combined into a fixed all-store annual fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Optional Line Busting Tablet Maintenance (Item 11) | $200 – $300 per year | When it applies | Elective tablets in the Combo schedule; initial hardware/software $2,500-$4,000 plus configuration/installation $900-$1,200 per tablet. (Item 6, PDF p. 78) |
| Vendor Back-Up Protection Services (Item 11) | $85 – $600 per year | When it applies | Owner must protect systems and use backups. Approved vendors may offer these services at this per-restaurant annual range; purchase of this specific optional service is not established for every owner. (Item 6, PDF p. 79) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Dunkin' startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. The mandatory loyalty contribution applies only to eligible member sales; incentive credits and advertising schedules change charges over time. POS maintenance varies by format and already includes service desk, while menu-board and security charges depend on panel/endpoint counts. Payment services, leases and required upgrades also vary. The annual Center fee remains payable but is classified as training outside the simplified model. These inputs cannot support a complete all-fee estimate using the selected sales average. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Dunkin' franchised outlet history
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 105.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 8,744 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 36 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8,087 | 344 | 166 | 8,265 | — |
| 2024 | 8,265 | 312 | 96 | 8,465 | — |
| 2025 | 8,465 | 314 | 81 | 8,744 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
241 units changed owners in 2025.
National standalone Dunkin' Table 3 movements and Table 4 company endings are on PDF page 105; transfers are on page 102. Combo restaurants have separate tables and are not added to these totals. The stated movements calculate to 8,481 in 2024 and 8,698 in 2025, versus printed endings of 8,465 and 8,744; Table 1 on page 99 repeats the endings. Source counts are retained and still require clarification after provisional publication. Notes on page 113 say standalone counts can change when Baskin-Robbins is added or an accompanying brand closes, moving a restaurant to/from the Combo category; they do not identify amounts sufficient to reconcile these national discrepancies. The last event is recorded when multiple events affect an outlet, and transfers are changes of owner, not new physical openings. Fiscal periods are January 1-December 31, 2023; January 1-December 29, 2024; and December 30, 2024-December 28, 2025. Overseas U.S. military-base restaurants are excluded.
How much do Dunkin' franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 97.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Annual Unit Volume, 2025 Franchised Restaurants of $1,372,069 (December 30, 2024 to December 28, 2025 (2025 fiscal year), 7,010 eligible franchised Dunkin' restaurants: 5,592 traditional and 1,418 nontraditional/SDO. Excludes first-year, extended-closure/no-sales, specified multibrand, self-serve, seasonal/limited-operation, year-closed, company-owned and Combo restaurants (PDF page 96)). Dunkin’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Dunkin' Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Dunkin’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Dunkin' franchise agreement term?
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 90.
The standard Dunkin' franchise agreement runs 20 years, with renewal terms of 20 years.
Item 17 on PDF pages 90-91 states the standard twenty-year initial and conditional renewal terms. Format-specific initial fees on page 33 are prorated for the term granted; do not infer this standard term for every nontraditional contract. SDO locations have no renewal rights. Renewal requires written notice, maintained standards, limits on default notices, no uncured default, all accounts paid, an approved lease/site, general release, a then-current agreement and fee; other-brand agreements may also need extension. It is not automatic.
How long does it take to open a Dunkin' franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Dunkin' 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 69.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the franchise agreement to opening: 8 to 15 months.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Dunkin'
This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- How much does it cost to open a Dunkin'?
- Item 7 of the 2026 FDD prints $532,400 – $1,832,500 for a freestanding restaurant, including the $40,000 – $90,000 franchise fee. Real estate is unestimated, and required delivery vehicles are excluded. Site exceptions, training scope and the opening-marketing minimum need separate review; this is not a complete project budget.
- How much do Dunkin' owners make?
- The 2026 FDD reports $1,372,069 in average Annual Unit Volume for its selected eligible franchised-restaurant sample, not every Dunkin' or owner income. It combines traditional and nontraditional formats and excludes new, extended-closure and specified atypical outlets. The sales reports are unaudited and do not deduct operating costs or royalties.
- What are the ongoing royalties for Dunkin'?
- The standard continuing franchise fee is 5.9% of Gross Sales of Gross Sales, plus 5% of Gross Sales for advertising. SDO and qualified incentive advertising schedules differ; royalty credits and early-opening terms also have conditions. The separate mandatory loyalty contribution applies only to eligible in-store member sales. Technology and other charges are additional, so these rates do not describe a complete all-fee total.
Sources
Dunkin' Donuts Franchising LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 32
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 44
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 52
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 97
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 105
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 90
Page references for Dunkin' use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- October 29, 2026: Record updated.
- October 28, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- October 9, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner-directed provisional publication before independent source verification was complete.
- October 9, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued March 26, 2026).