Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Starbucks vs Dutch Bros Coffee
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 #42
Dutch Bros Coffee
Drive-Thru Energy & Coffee
Peace, Love & Dutch Bros
Parent Holding:Dutch Bros Coffee Corporation
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Starbucks | Dutch Bros Coffee | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $1.84M | $1.91M | Dutch Bros Coffee (+4%) |
| Active Store Locations | 16,864 | 1,136 | Starbucks (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $750k – $1.85M | $1.10M – $2.20M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $350k | $500k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 5.0% | 5.0% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.5% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $31.60B | $2.20B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Starbucks:Oracle MICROS Simphony
Dutch Bros Coffee:Toast Restaurant POS
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Starbucks:Oracle KDS
Dutch Bros Coffee:Toast KDS
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Starbucks:97% (16382 stores)
Dutch Bros Coffee:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Starbucks:80% (13525 stores)
Dutch Bros Coffee:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.