Short answer: you cannot buy a Dutch Bros franchise. The company's own support page states it flat out: "Dutch Bros no longer offers the option to franchise" (Dutch Bros). Before the door closed, the last published franchise numbers were a $30,000 franchise fee and a total initial investment of roughly $150,000 to $500,000, per FDD figures compiled by Vetted Biz. Those numbers are history. Here is what happened, what the old deal looked like, and what a comparable drive-thru coffee franchise actually costs in 2026.
The door closed in 2017
Dutch Bros franchised for years before closing the program, but it was never a normal franchise. The company preferred operators who came up through its own shops, and in 2017 it stopped offering new franchise opportunities entirely, according to Vetted Biz. Since then, growth has been company-operated, and the official line is that regional operator roles go only to current employees with strong performance records who fit the culture.
The current numbers back that up. As of March 31, 2026, Dutch Bros had 1,177 shops: 844 company-operated and 333 franchised, per the company's Q1 2026 earnings release. Of the 41 shops opened that quarter, 33 were company-operated and only 8 were franchised. Those 333 franchised shops belong to legacy operators from the old program, who still open new locations under existing agreements. The company is guiding to at least 185 total openings in 2026, and the mix tells you where that growth is coming from. No matter how much capital you have, there is no application to fill out.
What the numbers look like
For context, here is the last known Dutch Bros deal next to the two drive-thru coffee franchises that are actually open to outside applicants right now.
| Brand | Status | Franchise fee | Total initial investment | Royalty | Liquid capital | Net worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch Bros (pre-2017) | Closed to new franchisees | $30,000 | $150,000 to $500,000 | 5% of net sales (min $1,300/mo) | $150,000 | $500,000 |
| Scooter's Coffee | Open | $40,000 | $658,898 to $1,345,750 | 6% + 2% advertising | $250,000 | $500,000 |
| 7 Brew | Open | $35,000 | $894,000 to $2,178,500 | About 6% + 2% marketing | $200,000 to $300,000 | $500,000 to $1 million |
Dutch Bros historical figures per Vetted Biz. Scooter's figures come from the franchisor's own cost page, where the drive-thru kiosk runs $1,163,650 to $1,345,750 and the end cap format runs $658,898 to $1,068,525. 7 Brew figures per Vetted Biz's drive-thru franchise comparison.
Notice how cheap the old Dutch Bros deal looks. A $150,000 to $500,000 all-in cost for a drive-thru coffee shop does not exist anymore. Land, construction, and equipment costs have pushed comparable builds toward and past the million-dollar mark, which is part of why that historical range gets quoted so wistfully in franchise forums.
Your actual options
If Dutch Bros specifically is the goal, the only path is employment. Get hired as a broista, perform, and work toward the operator track. That is not a quick route and there is no guarantee, but it is the route the company itself describes. If you want to understand the product you would be slinging, the Dutch Bros caffeine content guide covers the whole menu, and our piece on how much baristas make sets honest expectations for the years in between.
If you just want exposure to the business, Dutch Bros is publicly traded, and its Q1 2026 revenue of $464.4 million (up 30.8% year over year, per the earnings release) explains why the company keeps that growth for itself. Buying shares is not owning a shop, but it is the only ownership stake outsiders can get.
If you want to run a drive-thru coffee shop under an established brand, Scooter's and 7 Brew are the realistic plays. 7 Brew's franchised locations averaged roughly $1,989,000 in annual gross sales per Vetted Biz's comparison, which is why its investment range and net worth requirement run higher. Neither is a Dutch Bros clone, but the format, the menu energy, and the customer base overlap heavily. We break down their menus in our Scooter's caffeine guide and 7 Brew caffeine guide if you want to study the competition.
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FAQ
Can you buy a Dutch Bros franchise in 2026? No. Dutch Bros states on its own support page that it no longer offers franchising. All growth is company-operated or comes from legacy franchisees already in the system, and operator roles are offered only to current employees.
How much did a Dutch Bros franchise cost when it was available? Per FDD figures compiled by Vetted Biz, the franchise fee was $30,000, the total initial investment ran $150,000 to $500,000, and candidates needed $150,000 liquid and a $500,000 net worth. The royalty was 5% of net sales with a $1,300 monthly minimum.
What is the closest franchise alternative to Dutch Bros? Scooter's Coffee and 7 Brew are the two major drive-thru coffee franchises open to new applicants. Scooter's runs $658,898 to $1,345,750 all-in with a $40,000 fee. 7 Brew runs $894,000 to $2,178,500 with a $35,000 fee and a higher net worth requirement.