Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Starbucks vs Dunkin'
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #2
Starbucks
Coffee & Espresso
To inspire and nurture the human spirit
Parent Holding:Starbucks Corporation
Contender 2Rank #5
Dunkin'
Coffee & Bakery
America Runs on Dunkin'
Parent Holding:Inspire Brands, Inc. (Private Equity / Roark Capital)
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Starbucks | Dunkin' | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $1.84M | $1.24M | Starbucks (+48%) |
| Active Store Locations | 16,864 | 9,999 | Starbucks (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $750k – $1.85M | $520k – $1.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $350k | $250k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 5.0% | 5.9% | Starbucks (Lower Fee) |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.5% | 5.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $31.60B | $11.90B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Starbucks:Oracle MICROS Simphony
Dunkin':NCR Radiant / Aloha
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Starbucks:Oracle KDS
Dunkin':SICOM Digital KDS
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Starbucks:97% (16382 stores)
Dunkin':96% (9274 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Starbucks:80% (13525 stores)
Dunkin':56% (5407 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.