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D.P. Dough Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

D.P. Dough is a late-night restaurant franchise offering overstuffed calzones with dozens of fillings, serving college students and young adults, and known for delivery-focused operations, fun campus culture, and signature made-to-order dough.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

49
+
-2%
-2%
Franchise fee

?

$40,000
Investment

?

$121,000 - $360,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$766,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Upgrade

D.P. Dough is a fast-casual franchise brand specializing in calzones and late-night delivery, deliberately positioning itself as “the pizza alternative.” The concept began in 1983 when Penny Haley started selling calzones from a food truck in Springfield, Massachusetts. The first permanent D.P. Dough location opened in 1987 in Amherst, Massachusetts, founded by Dan and Penny Haley — the initials behind the brand’s name.

Today, D.P. Dough is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, under Calzone King, LLC. The brand began franchising in 1996 and has since expanded across numerous college towns throughout the United States.

Its growth strategy focuses on serving the late-night college crowd, offering delivery and carryout options that cater to students and young adults looking for a quick, satisfying meal.

D.P. Dough’s menu features around 20 signature calzones, along with the option to build your own. It also offers wings, tater tots, breadsticks, and dessert calzones. Unlike most pizza chains, D.P. Dough stands out by not serving pizza at all. This focus on calzones gives the brand a unique niche in the competitive fast-casual market.

Initial investment

The initial investment required for a D.P. Dough franchise is $121,000 - $360,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$40,000
Rent$1,200 - $6,500 per month
Security Deposits$1,200 - $6,500
Leasehold Improvements$10,000 - $115,000
Architect$0 - $8,000
Equipment and Fixtures$25,000 - $65,000
Equipment Install and Set Up$0 - $13,175
Real Estate Selection and Construction Management$0 - $20,000
Point of Sale System (including license and equipment)$3,150
Opening Inventory$4,000 - $8,500
Start Up Print Package$1,500 - $2,000
Local Advertising & Grand Opening$1,500 - $7,975
Insurance$3,000 - $7,639
Signs$3,000 - $8,000
Employee Training Labor$2,500 - $5,000
Travel and Living Expenses During Training$1,500 - $2,500
Professional Support (Attorneys and Accountants)$1,000 - $2,500
Permits and Fees$480 - $600
Utility Deposits$0 - $3,000
Office Supplies$250 - $1,500
Phone System$200 - $1,000
Security System and Cameras$1,000 - $1,871
Additional Funds for 3 Months of Operating Expenses$20,500 - $30,500
Total$120,980 – $359,910

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Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$40,000
Rent$1,200 - $6,500 per month
Security Deposits$1,200 - $6,500
Leasehold Improvements$10,000 - $115,000
Architect$0 - $8,000
Equipment and Fixtures$25,000 - $65,000
Equipment Install and Set Up$0 - $13,175
Real Estate Selection and Construction Management$0 - $20,000
Point of Sale System (including license and equipment)$3,150
Opening Inventory$4,000 - $8,500
Start Up Print Package$1,500 - $2,000
Local Advertising & Grand Opening$1,500 - $7,975
Insurance$3,000 - $7,639
Signs$3,000 - $8,000
Employee Training Labor$2,500 - $5,000
Travel and Living Expenses During Training$1,500 - $2,500
Professional Support (Attorneys and Accountants)$1,000 - $2,500
Permits and Fees$480 - $600
Utility Deposits$0 - $3,000
Office Supplies$250 - $1,500
Phone System$200 - $1,000
Security System and Cameras$1,000 - $1,871
Additional Funds for 3 Months of Operating Expenses$20,500 - $30,500
Total$120,980 – $359,910

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is D.P. Dough's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

D.P. Dough had 58 total units in 2025, of which 49 were franchised-owned and 9 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

D.P. Dough

key competitors in the

Baked Goods

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

49

New
+
-2%
-2%

5.00%

$121,000

-

$360,000

$766,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Training

The D.P. Dough franchise provides a structured training program designed to prepare franchisees for all aspects of running a calzone restaurant.

  1. Initial Training Program – D.P. Dough requires franchisees (and their designated managers) to attend an initial training session that covers day-to-day restaurant operations, product preparation, food safety, inventory management, and customer service standards. This training is typically conducted at the franchisor’s headquarters or an approved training location and lasts several weeks.
  2. On-Site Opening Assistance – The franchisor sends representatives to the franchisee’s location before and during the grand opening. These trainers assist with employee training, product quality checks, kitchen setup, and customer service execution to ensure consistent brand experience.
  3. Ongoing Support and Refresher Training – After opening, D.P. Dough provides continued operational guidance, marketing support, and optional refresher courses to help franchisees maintain brand standards and improve performance.

Territory Protection

D.P. Dough grants franchisees a protected territory defined in the Franchise Agreement. Within this area, the franchisor will not open or authorize another D.P. Dough restaurant. The size and boundaries depend on local population and market factors.

The protection does not include non-traditional sales like online or catering operations. This ensures franchisees have local exclusivity while allowing the brand to expand through broader channels.

Competitors

Below are some of D.P. Dough's key competitors in the Baked Goods sector.

Angelina Italian Bakery

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$461,000 - $1,796,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

85°C Bakery Cafe

Franchisees

?

3
+
200%
200%
Investment

?

$1,095,000 - $2,500,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

D Spot Dessert Cafe

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$785,000 - $1,843,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

The French Workshop

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$1,845,000 - $2,785,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

PopUp Bagels

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$313,000 - $884,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

Gordo's Bubble Waffles

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$179,000 - $469,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

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