Dairy Queen
Grill & Chill with an Item 19 averaging $1.49M — plus a $150K build incentive through 2026.
Well-capitalized developers who want an iconic brand and can build before the incentive window closes.
Item 19 corroborated by two independent FDD-sourcing outlets
$1.51M floor — flagship territory money
Key facts
- Item 19: 286 qualifying Grill & Chill restaurants averaged $1,485,731 in 2025 gross sales
- $150K development incentive on new freestanding Grill & Chill units through end of 2026
- $45,000 fee for Grill & Chill ($25,000 for Treat)
- DQ Treat format at $548,700–$1,595,350 for a smaller build
- An American icon with eight decades of brand equity
Pros and cons
Pros
- Item 19 corroborated by two independent FDD-sourcing outlets
- Six-figure build incentive narrows the effective buy-in
- Treat format offers a cheaper entry than full Grill & Chill
Cons
- $1.51M floor — flagship territory money
- Exact continuing license and promotion fee percentages unconfirmed here
- Incentive expires at end of 2026 — timing matters
FDD figures and sources
Per an 1851 Franchise deep-dive (updated ~Oct 7, 2026) citing the 2026 FDD: DQ Grill & Chill $1,510,100–$2,550,100, fee $45,000 (DQ Treat format: $548,700–$1,595,350, fee $25,000). Ongoing fees are the continuing license fee plus sales promotion program fee — confirm exact percentages in the FDD. Item 19 (2026 FDD): 286 qualifying Grill & Chill restaurants averaged $1,485,731 in 2025 gross sales (median $1,413,799), also cited by RestaurantDive. $150,000 development incentive for new freestanding Grill & Chill units through end of 2026. Verified Oct 2026.
Figures on this page come from the sources named above, checked on Oct 19, 2026. Franchise terms change every year — get the current Franchise Disclosure Document from the franchisor before you invest. Our methodology
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