About Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchise
Dunn Brothers Coffee is a specialty coffee shop franchise distinguished by its use of on site micro roasting to produce daily fresh roasted coffee at the peak of aromatic freshness.
Beyond premium coffee, locations offer drive through service and dine in, take out, and delivery options featuring fresh bakery items, breakfast and lunch selections, and smoothies.
The franchise fee is $40,000 for the first location and $35,000 for subsequent locations, and the company has been franchising since 2022 under Dunn Bros Parent, LLC.
Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchise Cost & Fees
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 3% National Marketing Fund + 1% local marketing | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $501,620 – $739,232 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $502K–$739K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (3% National Marketing Fund + 1% local marketing) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| Launch Fee | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Architecture Design, Approval and Permit Fees | $5,000 | $26,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $157,500 | $275,500 |
| Sewer and Water Access | $0 | $10,000 |
| Prepaid Rent, Deposits, Licenses, Attorney Fees | $5,000 | $16,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment | $220,220 | $251,532 |
| Roaster and Venting Improvements | $27,100 | $27,100 |
| Travel Expenses While Training | $500 | $4,400 |
| Opening Inventory | $9,000 | $12,000 |
| Grand Opening Expenses | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Insurance Premiums | $2,800 | $6,700 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $14,500 | $50,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 50% of then-current franchise fee |
| Renewal Fee | 25% of then-current franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | $300-$540/month depending on POS terminals |
| Audit Fee | ~$5,000 plus late fees |
| Non-Compliance Charge | Royalty increases to 7% until cured |
| Management Fee | 10% of Gross Sales if franchisor manages Shop |
| Franchise Conference Fee | $100 per meeting |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 10-15 days operational training plus new shop opening support |
| Classroom Training | 35 |
| On-the-Job Training | 48 plus 134 hours new shop opening |
| Training Location | Roseville, Minnesota and franchisee's shop |
| Additional Training | $500/day per trainer for additional training. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Designated territory |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | At least one city block in urban areas |
| Description | Not exclusive. Franchisor reserves rights to operate at Captive Market Locations within territory and sell through alternative channels. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | Two consecutive 5-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | 25% of then-current franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | 6-12 months notice; good standing; meet standards; pay fee; sign release. |
| Transfer Fee | 50% of then-current franchise fee |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisor approval; transferee must qualify, complete training; right of first refusal. |
| Termination for Cause | 30-day cure most defaults; 10 days for payment; immediate for abandonment, insolvency, fraud. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | 2 years within 5-mile radius of Shop or any Shop in existence. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | No |
| Participation Details | Managing Owner or Designated Manager must supervise; Designated Manager must complete training. |
| Required Suppliers | Must purchase all Operating Assets from approved/designated suppliers. ~75-90% of initial and 75-85% of ongoing from restricted purchases. |
| Supply Restrictions | May not purchase from unapproved suppliers without written approval. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Predecessor derived $340,800 from product sales to Shops (5.9% of revenues). |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | Does not offer financing. |
Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Dunn Brothers Coffee Litigation & Risk Flags
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Dunn Brothers Coffee System Growth
Dunn Brothers Coffee currently operates 58 franchised locations and 3 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 | 8 | 67 |
| 2020 | 1 | 9 | 59 |
| 2021 | 2 | 3 | 58 |
Transfers: 6 | Closures: 9
State Registrations
Registered in 8 states: IA, MN, MO, ND, SD, TN, TX, WI
Dunn Brothers Coffee Franchise — FAQ
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