Franchise financing
DAIRY QUEEN franchise financing
What it costs to finance a DAIRY QUEEN franchise and how buyers fund it. The real numbers: how much gets borrowed, which lenders fund it, and the track record.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, as of 2026-03-31
- SBA loans
- 222
- Total funded
- $97.2M
- Median loan
- $331K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 2.6%
What financing a DAIRY QUEEN franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a DAIRY QUEEN franchisee is $331K, and the middle half of DAIRY QUEEN's 222 loans run $149K to $593K (average $438K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. DAIRY QUEEN buyers borrow less than the typical franchisee.
These are loan amounts, not the brand's total startup cost. Buyers also put in equity (the SBA generally wants at least 10% down on a new franchise), and the brand's own investment estimate is Item 7 of its franchise disclosure document (FDD). The median DAIRY QUEEN loan runs 15 years. Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 198 DAIRY QUEEN loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 17.2% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance DAIRY QUEEN
DAIRY QUEEN franchisees have financed with 222 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $438K each. Of those, 151 ran through the 7(a) program (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital) and 71 through 504 (owner-occupied real estate). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
DAIRY QUEEN's 7(a) charge-off rate is 2.6% across 151 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance DAIRY QUEEN
By SBA loan count
Where DAIRY QUEEN gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Georgia 15
- 2. Illinois 18
- 3. Minnesota 21
- 4. Missouri 16
- 5. Washington 11
- 6. Texas 10
- 7. Kentucky 8
- 8. Indiana 14
Financing a DAIRY QUEEN?
Get matched with the SBA lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, ranked on real loan data by state, industry, and size. Independent: your details go only to the lenders we match you to, never to data brokers.
DAIRY QUEEN SBA financing FAQ
How much does a DAIRY QUEEN franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a DAIRY QUEEN franchisee is $331K, and the middle half of DAIRY QUEEN's 222 loans run $149K to $593K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of DAIRY QUEEN's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for DAIRY QUEEN?
Yes. Lenders have funded 222 SBA loans to DAIRY QUEEN franchisees, worth $97.2M in all, so DAIRY QUEEN is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for DAIRY QUEEN?
The data says yes: of DAIRY QUEEN's 198 SBA loans that record a business age, 17.2% went to new businesses two years old or younger. Expect the lender to look harder at your experience, business plan, and equity injection.
Which lenders finance DAIRY QUEEN?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for DAIRY QUEEN are Small Business Growth Corporation, Midwest Regional Bank, Stearns Bank National Association, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is DAIRY QUEEN's SBA charge-off rate?
Across DAIRY QUEEN's 151 SBA 7(a) loans, 2.6% have charged off. Read it as a relative track-record signal, not a prediction. It is not a lifetime default rate.
Which SBA program fits DAIRY QUEEN?
Both. Of DAIRY QUEEN's 222 SBA loans, 151 were 7(a) (franchise fee, build-out, equipment, working capital) and 71 were 504 (owner-occupied real estate). The median DAIRY QUEEN loan term is 15 years.