FAQs
What does the D.P. stand for in D.P. Dough?
D.P. Dough was founded by Dan Haley and his mother, Penny. They put their initials together and D.P. Dough was born.
What is the process for opening a D.P. Dough franchise?
Good question. See our Steps to Opening Page.
What are the financial requirements to own a D.P. Dough franchise?
You will need at least $50,000 to $75,000 in liquid net worth (non-borrowed personal resources consisting of cash, marketable securities, stocks, and mutual funds) to open a D.P. Dough franchise. If you have that much in liquid capital, then it will put you in a good position to handle the initial start-up costs and to be able to secure financing if you need it. We do not offer financing. However, the D.P. Dough franchise agreement has been pre-approved by the Small Business Administration through the Franchise Registry, making it easier to get a SBA loan to open a D.P. Dough. The cost and financial requirements vary for each franchise because the costs for each franchise varies.
How much is the initial franchise fee?
$20,000.
What are the monthly royalty fees?
The Royalty is 4% of gross sales and the Advertising fee is 1%.
Are store owners required to operate the restaurant?
The best model for profitability is one where the owner is the general manager of the store. This model saves the labor cost of hiring a general manager and makes sure that someone who is (literally) invested in the store is overseeing it. We require that the active owner operator be at least a 10% owner of the store.
How much money can I expect to make as a D.P. Dough owner?
The Federal Trade Commission prohibits us from making any specific profit projections for new store owners. You are welcome to speak with individual store owners about their experiences. We will provide you with contact information for individual store owners if we determine that you meet our application criteria.
How long will it take to open my D.P. Dough restaurant?
Every location is unique. But, generally, it takes four to eight months from signing the franchise agreement to opening the store. This depends largely on securing a location, local regulations, and the extent of the construction and build out at your new store. See Steps to Opening for more information.
What kind of training will I receive?
All franchisees participate in our 4 week training program at a designated D.P. Dough training facility near you. That training includes classroom training and on the job training where you will learn about every aspect of operating a D.P. Dough Restaurant.
Are D.P. Dough franchises only sold in college towns?
Pretty much. We may make exceptions in special cases. But for now, we are focused on locating franchises near colleges and universities.
Okay, I’m interested. What is my next step?
There is a lot that happens before you go from wanting to own a D.P. Dough to actually doing it. It all starts with you filling out the online application here. To see the rest of the steps, see our Steps to Opening page.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states in the United States regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction.