General Qualifications

  1. What qualifications do you seek in potential franchisees?
  2. Is it necessary for me to work in my restaurant?
  3. What are the management requirements for a DQ Grill & Chill® restaurant and a DQ® Orange Julius® Treat Center® store?
  4. How much money can I make?
  5. How do I know if a DQ Grill & Chill or DQ Orange Julius Treat Center franchise is right for me?
  6. How long is the training program?
  7. What happens after I submit my application?
  8. What are the steps in the procedure from inquiry to restaurant opening and how long does it take?

Restaurant Location

   1. Who determines the location of my DQ Grill & Chill restaurant?
   2. Who determines the location of my DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store?
   3. What areas of the country and what DQ concepts are available for development?
   4. What if I have an ideal location available?
   5. What is a Territory Operator (T.O.)?
   6. Is there a standard distance around a restaurant when it is built, that another restaurant cannot build within?

Financial Requirements

   1. What are the financial requirements and total investment for a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant?
   2. What are the financial requirements and total investment for a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store?
   3. What are the ongoing fees Dairy Queen® charges?

General Qualifications

1. What qualifications do you seek in potential franchisees?
We are looking for franchisees who want to create economic value for themselves while building and enhancing the Dairy Queen and Orange Julius brands. Specifically franchisees must have previous success in the restaurant or other retail environment, supervisory or training experience, and the necessary financial resources to develop the restaurant(s) effectively.

2. Is it necessary for me to work in my restaurant?
We believe that professional management is critical to your restaurant's success. If you have prior restaurant management experience, we encourage you to be active in the day-to-day operation of your business. If not, you must partner with a professional restaurant manager who has a vested interest in the business if you are interested in a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant. If you are interested in a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store, a professional restaurant manager is not required, although it is recommended.

3. What are the management requirements for a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant or a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store?
A strong management team is critical to the success of any restaurant. We require at least 3 full-time managers for our DQ Grill & Chill restaurant concept.  For our DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store, one full-time manager is required.

4. How much money can I make?
Profitability depends on several factors, including your ability to manage the business, sales volume, location, and operating cost. These factors, and more, all affect the profit a restaurant can generate.

We strongly suggest you visit with existing franchisees to discuss sales, operating costs, and profitability. When we begin serious discussions regarding our franchise programs, we will provide you with the appropriate Uniform Franchise Offering Circular. Depending on the concept that you are interested in developing, certain historical financial performance information may be included in the offering circular.

5. How do I know if a DQ Grill & Chill or a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center  franchise is right for me?
Like owning any business, a DQ Grill & Chill  or a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center franchise is not right for everyone. You must be willing to work long hours and be very comfortable with personnel management, financial management, marketing, and business development. In addition, you should have strong communication, motivation, and customer service skills. For the right person or company, owning a DQ restaurant can be an extremely rewarding business opportunity.

6. How long is the training program?
For a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant, we provide 5 weeks of training combining classroom and on the job training at a certified regional training location. For our Treat Center store, you will spend three weeks training with us at the home office in Minneapolis.

7. What happens after I submit my application?
After receiving your application, we will review your information to ensure initial qualifications have been met. Following our review, a franchise recruiter will contact you to discuss franchise opportunities currently available and the next steps in our franchise award and restaurant development process.

8. What are the steps in the procedure from inquiry to restaurant opening and how long does it take?
Complete our brief questionnaire to receive a brochure. Upon receiving the brochure, complete the application and confidential information form and fax or send it back to us. After receiving your paper work, a recruiter will review your information and contact you to discuss your interest further and to discuss opportunities that might be available. If you're a qualified candidate and an opportunity for development exists, your application will be brought to our development review committee for approval. After approval, our real estate or lease  manager will work with you to obtain a site for your new restaurant. The site will be brought to our development review committee for approval. Upon approval of the site, construction can begin. Upon completion of construction, your restaurant opens.

Restaurant Location

1. Who determines the location of my DQ Grill & Chill restaurant?
Your specially assigned Real Estate Development Manager provides you with site selection criteria, to help you evaluate the attributes of a specific location. Once you propose a site, we conduct a review of that site and trade area. Our review is based on a variety of factors, including retail activity, traffic volume, restaurant saturation, schools, residential population, and property cost.

2. Who determines the location of my DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store?
Our Mall Leasing department is responsible for maintaining relationships with the major mall developers in the country. They will work with you to identify and review potential DQ Orange Julius Treat Center locations.

3. What areas of the country and what DQ concepts are available for development?
To find out about areas that are currently available for development of specific DQ concepts, please check out our Hot Spots. Please note, others areas of the country may be available for development, please inquire with a recruiter for more information.

4. What if I have an ideal location available?
If you are a Real Estate broker or individual who has a specific site available, please review our Site Criteria for requirements and contact information.

5. What is a Territory Operator (T.O.)?
A Territory Operator (T.O.) is a franchisee who owns the rights to develop DQ concepts within a designated territory. There are several T.O.s across the country. If the area of the country you're interested in developing is controlled by a T.O., upon inquiry, we will refer you to that particular T.O. The T.O. has the right to sub-franchise locations within his/her respective territory. Based on the T.O.s contractual obligation with ADQ, the T.O. may have certain conditions/restrictions/programs that may be different from those of a direct license franchisee.

6. Is there a standard distance around a restaurant when it is built, that another restaurant cannot build within?
New restaurants do not receive exclusive or protected areas.  When new sites are proposed, we review various factors for both the proposed new and existing locations, to help assure that each location has its own, distinct trade area.

Financial Requirements

1. What are the financial requirements and total investment for a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant?
A new franchisee must have a net worth of at least $750,000 with liquid assets of at least $400,000. Of that, a minimum of $300,000 must be available to inject as cash equity.

The estimated project cost for a standard, free standing, DQ Grill & Chill restaurant (excluding land) are as follows:
Franchise Fee: $35,000 (US)
Site Improvement: $200,000 - $450,000
Construction: $400,000 - $650,000
Equipment: $295,000 - $410,000
Working Capital: $100,000

Keep in mind, variances specific to an individual project could increase or decrease this range. As we work with you, we'll be able to estimate an investment range for your specific project.

2. What are the financial requirements and total investment for a DQ Orange Julius Treat Center store?
A new franchisee must have a net worth of at least $200,000 with liquid assets of at least $175,000. Of that, a minimum of $125,000 must be available to inject as cash equity.

Estimated project costs for a standard mall store are as follows:
Franchise Fee: $25,000 (US)
Construction & Leasehold: $155,000 - $170,000
Equipment: $145,000 - $160,000
Working Capital: $45,000

Again, this range could increase or decrease, depending on the individual project.

3. What are the ongoing fees Dairy Queen charges?
For a DQ Grill & Chill restaurant, ongoing royalties are 4% of sales, which are collected monthly. For a Treat Center store, ongoing royalties are 6% of sales, also collected monthly. For all concepts, franchisees are required to pay a sales promotion fee which ranges from 3% to 6% of sales.