What is the cost of ADQ's training program for a Dq Treat franchise?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
itial franchise fee in certain circumstances.
- (4) There are three required components to training: (1) the MTRA; (2) SERVSAFE certification; and (3) ADQ's training program, which is made up of three phases. The MTRA costs $200/person, a SERVSAFE course costs $200-$400/person, and ADQ's training program costs $3,600/person. If you are a current franchisee that already has at least one existing DQ® Treat location open and operating for a minimum of two years and you are developing an additional restaurant under ADQ's additional restaurant development (ARD) program, you may be permitted with operational approval to have training candidates with a certain level of experience test out of Product and Equipment Training (phase 1), in which case the cost of the remaining phases of ADQ's training program is $2,300/person, or test out of both Product and Equipment Training, and Service, Management and Financial Basics Training (phases 1 and 2), in which case the cost of the remaining phase of ADQ's training program is $1,000/person. If you pay the full initial franchise fee, you can send one person to ADQ's training program without paying a training fee.
The low end of the range assumes you pay for one person to pass the MTRA and obtain SERVSAFE certification. The high end of the range assumes you pay for one person to take the MTRA, obtain SERVSAFE certification and attend all three phases of ADQ's training program. If your trainee does not pass People, PRIDE, and Profit Training (phase 3) within six months after phase 2 completion, you must pay an additional $1,000/person for phase 3 completion.
The MTRA fee is nonrefundable. If a training attendee cancels a scheduled MTRA more than one business day before the scheduled MTRA, the MTRA fee will be applied to the next scheduled MTRA for that attendee.
Source: Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment (FDD pages 24–29)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dq Treat FDD, the cost for ADQ's training program is $3,600 per person. This program is one of three required training components, along with the MTRA ($200/person) and SERVSAFE certification ($200-$400/person). However, if a franchisee already has an existing Dq Treat location open and operating for at least two years and is developing an additional restaurant under ADQ's additional restaurant development (ARD) program, they may be able to test out of certain phases of the training, reducing the cost. If they test out of Product and Equipment Training (phase 1), the cost for the remaining phases is $2,300 per person. If they test out of both Product and Equipment Training, and Service, Management and Financial Basics Training (phases 1 and 2), the cost for the remaining phase is $1,000 per person.
Notably, if the franchisee pays the full initial franchise fee, they can send one person to ADQ's training program without paying a training fee. However, if a trainee does not pass People, PRIDE, and Profit Training (phase 3) within six months after phase 2 completion, the franchisee must pay an additional $1,000 per person for phase 3 completion. These initial training fees and costs are paid as a lump sum prior to training, either to ADQ or to third-party suppliers.
The FDD also outlines estimated initial investment costs, including initial training fees and costs, which range from $400 to $8,400 for a captive-venue location and $750 to $8,400 for a street location. These ranges likely account for the various training components (MTRA, SERVSAFE, and ADQ's program) and potential discounts based on prior experience or ARD program participation. Travel and living expenses for training programs are estimated separately, ranging from $5,200 to $17,300, assuming two people attend all three training components. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these costs and the conditions under which they may vary.