BIGGBY Coffee vs Dunkin' Donuts
BIGGBY Coffee vs Dunkin' Donuts: BIGGBY Coffee costs $296K–$1.0M to open; Dunkin' Donuts costs $438K–$1.8M. BIGGBY Coffee has 194 units, Dunkin' Donuts has 310. SBA loan history: BIGGBY Coffee = 289 loans (1.0% default); Dunkin' Donuts = 359 loans (1.7% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
BIGGBY Coffee vs Dunkin' Donuts — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan-level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
BIGGBY Coffee requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($296K vs $438K for Dunkin' Donuts), a 32% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for BIGGBY Coffee versus $40K for Dunkin' Donuts — BIGGBY Coffee has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for BIGGBY Coffee and 5.9% for Dunkin' Donuts, giving Dunkin' Donuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Dunkin' Donuts operates 310 units to BIGGBY Coffee's 194. Dunkin' Donuts has been operating 76 years (founded 1950) versus 31 for BIGGBY Coffee (founded 1995) — a 45-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Dunkin' Donuts has the deeper SBA lending track record with 359 historical 7(a) approvals versus 289 for BIGGBY Coffee. BIGGBY Coffee's peak SBA year was 2023 (44 loans); Dunkin' Donuts's peak was 2021 (43 loans). BIGGBY Coffee's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, BIGGBY Coffee concentrates in MI (147 SBA-funded units) while Dunkin' Donuts leads in NJ (51) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded BIGGBY Coffee deals is $277K vs $831K for Dunkin' Donuts — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 1.0% for BIGGBY Coffee and 1.7% for Dunkin' Donuts — BIGGBY Coffee has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.7 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 75 (Strong) for BIGGBY Coffee and 61 (Moderate) for Dunkin' Donuts, giving BIGGBY Coffee the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 75/100 | 61/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 289 | 359 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 1.0% | 1.7% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $296K – $1.0M | $438K – $1.8M |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5.9% |
Ad Fund | 3% | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $250K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 194 | 310 |
Franchised Units | 194 | 310 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1995 | 1950 |
Franchising Since | 1999 | 1955 |
Years Franchising | 27 yrs | 71 yrs |
Headquarters | East Lansing, MI | Canton, MA |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better — BIGGBY Coffee or Dunkin' Donuts?
Lower upfront capital required
BIGGBY Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: $296K starting · Dunkin' Donuts: $438K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Dunkin' Donuts
BIGGBY Coffee: 289 SBA loans · Dunkin' Donuts: 359 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
BIGGBY Coffee
BIGGBY Coffee: 1.0% · Dunkin' Donuts: 1.7%
Larger system & brand presence
Dunkin' Donuts
BIGGBY Coffee: 194 units · Dunkin' Donuts: 310 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Dunkin' Donuts
BIGGBY Coffee: 6% · Dunkin' Donuts: 5.9%
More lender financing options
Dunkin' Donuts
BIGGBY Coffee: 70 unique lenders · Dunkin' Donuts: 135 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation — your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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BIGGBY Coffee vs Dunkin' Donuts: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing BIGGBY Coffee and Dunkin' Donuts is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $296K to $1.8M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — BIGGBY Coffee with 289 SBA loans and Dunkin' Donuts with 359. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands — not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice — consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.