Dunkin' Donuts vs Marble Slab Creamery
Dunkin' Donuts vs Marble Slab Creamery: Dunkin' Donuts costs $438K to $1.8M to open; Marble Slab Creamery costs $239K to $424K. Dunkin' Donuts has 310 units, Marble Slab Creamery has 165. SBA loan history: Dunkin' Donuts = 359 loans (1.7% default); Marble Slab Creamery = 249 loans (25.3% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Dunkin' Donuts vs Marble Slab Creamery: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on 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
Marble Slab Creamery requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($239K vs $438K for Dunkin' Donuts), a 83% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Dunkin' Donuts versus $25K for Marble Slab Creamery, Marble Slab Creamery has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 5.9% for Dunkin' Donuts and 6% for Marble Slab Creamery, giving Dunkin' Donuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Dunkin' Donuts operates 310 units to Marble Slab Creamery's 165. Dunkin' Donuts has been operating 76 years (founded 1950) versus 43 for Marble Slab Creamery (founded 1983), a 33-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 7(a) approvals compared with 249 for Marble Slab Creamery. Dunkin' Donuts's peak SBA year was 2021 (43 loans); Marble Slab Creamery's peak was 2003 (33 loans). Dunkin' Donuts's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Dunkin' Donuts has the most SBA funded units in NJ, with 51. Marble Slab Creamery leads in TX, with 92. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Dunkin' Donuts deals is $831K vs $209K for Marble Slab Creamery, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 1.7% for Dunkin' Donuts and 25.3% for Marble Slab Creamery, Dunkin' Donuts has the cleaner SBA loss record by 23.6 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Dunkin' Donuts and 35 (Fair) for Marble Slab Creamery, giving Dunkin' Donuts the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 35/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 359 | 249 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 1.7% | 25.3% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $438K to $1.8M | $239K to $424K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 5.9% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 5% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $250K | $100K |
Net Worth Required | $500K | $250K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 310 | 165 |
Franchised Units | 310 | 165 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 20 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1950 | 1983 |
Franchising Since | 1955 | 1984 |
Years Franchising | 71 yrs | 42 yrs |
Headquarters | Canton, MA | HOUSTON, TX |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2023 |
Which Is Better, Dunkin' Donuts or Marble Slab Creamery?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Dunkin' Donuts: $438K starting · Marble Slab Creamery: $239K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 359 SBA loans · Marble Slab Creamery: 249 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 1.7% · Marble Slab Creamery: 25.3%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Dunkin' Donuts: 310 units · Marble Slab Creamery: 165 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 5.9% · Marble Slab Creamery: 6%
More lender financing options
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 135 unique lenders · Marble Slab Creamery: 89 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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Dunkin' Donuts vs Marble Slab Creamery: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Dunkin' Donuts and Marble Slab Creamery is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $239K to $1.8M.
Dunkin' Donuts has 359 SBA loans on record and Marble Slab Creamery has 249. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Dunkin' Donuts vs Marble Slab Creamery, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Dunkin' Donuts or Marble Slab Creamery?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman