Dunkin' Donuts vs Scooter's Coffee
Dunkin' Donuts vs Scooter's Coffee: Dunkin' Donuts costs $438K–$1.8M to open; Scooter's Coffee costs $692K–$1.5M. Dunkin' Donuts has 310 units, Scooter's Coffee has 849. SBA loan history: Dunkin' Donuts = 359 loans (1.7% default); Scooter's Coffee = 342 loans (0.9% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Dunkin' Donuts vs Scooter's Coffee — 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
Dunkin' Donuts requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($438K vs $692K for Scooter's Coffee), a 37% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Dunkin' Donuts versus $40K for Scooter's Coffee. Ongoing royalty load is 5.9% for Dunkin' Donuts and 6% for Scooter's Coffee, giving Dunkin' Donuts the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Scooter's Coffee operates 849 units to Dunkin' Donuts's 310 — roughly 3× the system size. Dunkin' Donuts has been operating 76 years (founded 1950) versus 28 for Scooter's Coffee (founded 1998) — a 48-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 342 for Scooter's Coffee. Dunkin' Donuts's peak SBA year was 2021 (43 loans); Scooter's Coffee's peak was 2022 (70 loans). Scooter's Coffee's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Dunkin' Donuts concentrates in NJ (51 SBA-funded units) while Scooter's Coffee leads in TX (39) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Dunkin' Donuts deals is $831K vs $890K for Scooter's Coffee — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 1.7% for Dunkin' Donuts and 0.9% for Scooter's Coffee — Scooter's Coffee has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 61 (Moderate) for Dunkin' Donuts and 86 (Excellent) for Scooter's Coffee, giving Scooter's Coffee the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 61/100 | 86/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Excellent |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 359 | 342 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 1.7% | 0.9% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $438K – $1.8M | $692K – $1.5M |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 5.9% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 5% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $250K | $200K |
Net Worth Required | $500K | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 310 | 849 |
Franchised Units | 310 | 825 |
Company-Owned | — | 24 |
Term Length | 20 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1950 | 1998 |
Franchising Since | 1955 | 2010 |
Years Franchising | 71 yrs | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | Canton, MA | Omaha, NE |
Category | Snack | Snack |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Dunkin' Donuts or Scooter's Coffee?
Lower upfront capital required
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: $438K starting · Scooter's Coffee: $692K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 359 SBA loans · Scooter's Coffee: 342 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Scooter's Coffee
Dunkin' Donuts: 1.7% · Scooter's Coffee: 0.9%
Larger system & brand presence
Scooter's Coffee
Dunkin' Donuts: 310 units · Scooter's Coffee: 849 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 5.9% · Scooter's Coffee: 6%
More lender financing options
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts: 135 unique lenders · Scooter's Coffee: 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 Scooter's Coffee: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Dunkin' Donuts and Scooter's Coffee is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $438K to $1.8M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Dunkin' Donuts with 359 SBA loans and Scooter's Coffee with 342. 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.