Fast Food & Restaurant Franchise Costs 2026
QSR and sit-down restaurant franchises — the biggest category by unit count. High revenue, tight margins, and significant buildout costs.
All Fast Food & Restaurant Franchises
| Brand | Franchise Fee | Total Investment | Royalty | Est. Revenue | Break-Even |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baskin-Robbins | $25,000 | $97,000–$394,000 | 5.9%+5.0% | $380,000 | ~58.7 yr |
| Papa John's | $25,000 | $150,000–$440,000 | 5.0%+8.0% | $710,000 | N/A |
| Domino's Pizza | $25,000 | $164,150–$536,900 | 5.5%+6.0% | $920,000 | ~76.2 yr |
| Subway | $15,000 | $229,050–$522,250 | 8.0%+4.5% | $430,000 | N/A |
| Jersey Mike's | $18,500 | $252,491–$755,829 | 6.5%+2.0% | $1,050,000 | ~13.7 yr |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | $30,000 | $277,000–$636,000 | 6.0%+3.0% | $710,000 | ~21.4 yr |
| Arby's | $37,500 | $314,650–$1,791,500 | 4.0%+4.2% | $1,350,000 | ~20.5 yr |
| Jimmy John's | $35,000 | $329,500–$557,500 | 6.0%+4.5% | $850,000 | ~34.8 yr |
| Chick-fil-A | $10,000 | $342,990–$2,231,000 | 0% | $8,100,000 | ~1.3 yr |
| Firehouse Subs | $20,000 | $351,000–$667,000 | 6.0%+3.0% | $850,000 | ~20.0 yr |
| Pizza Hut | $25,000 | $367,000–$2,082,000 | 6.0%+3.0% | $900,000 | ~45.4 yr |
| Crumbl Cookies | $25,000 | $369,000–$875,000 | 8.0%+2.0% | $1,200,000 | ~25.9 yr |
| Little Caesars | $20,000 | $369,000–$1,600,000 | 6.0%+7.0% | $830,000 | N/A |
| Cold Stone Creamery | $27,000 | $370,000–$640,000 | 6.0%+3.0% | $430,000 | ~39.1 yr |
| Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen | $50,000 | $383,500–$2,628,000 | 5.0%+4.0% | $1,800,000 | ~27.9 yr |
| Popeyes | $50,000 | $383,500–$2,618,100 | 5.0%+4.0% | $1,550,000 | ~32.3 yr |
| Wingstop | $20,000 | $389,500–$902,400 | 6.0%+4.0% | $1,600,000 | ~20.2 yr |
| Cookout | None | $500,000–$1,200,000 | 0% | $2,500,000 | ~2.8 yr |
| Dunkin' | $40,000 | $526,900–$1,809,500 | 5.9%+5.0% | $1,100,000 | ~96.5 yr |
| Taco Bell | $45,000 | $575,600–$3,370,100 | 5.5%+4.25% | $1,900,000 | ~46.1 yr |
| Sonic Drive-In | $45,000 | $1,072,500–$3,531,400 | 5.0%+3.25% | $1,400,000 | ~43.8 yr |
| Dairy Queen | $35,000 | $1,100,000–$1,900,000 | 4.0%+6.0% | $970,000 | ~77.3 yr |
| KFC | $45,000 | $1,300,000–$2,500,000 | 5.0%+5.0% | $1,100,000 | ~86.4 yr |
| McDonald's | $45,000 | $1,314,500–$2,306,500 | 4.0%+4.0% | $3,200,000 | ~14.1 yr |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | $50,000 | $1,621,000–$3,933,000 | 5.0%+3.5% | $3,500,000 | ~22.7 yr |
| IHOP | $40,000 | $1,700,000–$4,000,000 | 4.5%+3.5% | $2,100,000 | ~33.9 yr |
| Burger King | $50,000 | $1,865,000–$3,270,000 | 4.5%+4.0% | $1,400,000 | ~52.4 yr |
| Dave & Buster's | $50,000 | $5,700,000–$15,600,000 | 5.0%+1.0% | $8,500,000 | ~20.9 yr |
Fast Food & Restaurant Franchise Details
Baskin-Robbins
$97,000–$394,000 total investment
Papa John's
$150,000–$440,000 total investment
Domino's Pizza
$164,150–$536,900 total investment
Subway
$229,050–$522,250 total investment
Jersey Mike's
$252,491–$755,829 total investment
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
$277,000–$636,000 total investment
Arby's
$314,650–$1,791,500 total investment
Jimmy John's
$329,500–$557,500 total investment
Chick-fil-A
$342,990–$2,231,000 total investment
Firehouse Subs
$351,000–$667,000 total investment
Pizza Hut
$367,000–$2,082,000 total investment
Crumbl Cookies
$369,000–$875,000 total investment
Little Caesars
$369,000–$1,600,000 total investment
Cold Stone Creamery
$370,000–$640,000 total investment
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
$383,500–$2,628,000 total investment
Popeyes
$383,500–$2,618,100 total investment
Wingstop
$389,500–$902,400 total investment
Cookout
$500,000–$1,200,000 total investment
Dunkin'
$526,900–$1,809,500 total investment
Taco Bell
$575,600–$3,370,100 total investment
Sonic Drive-In
$1,072,500–$3,531,400 total investment
Dairy Queen
$1,100,000–$1,900,000 total investment
KFC
$1,300,000–$2,500,000 total investment
McDonald's
$1,314,500–$2,306,500 total investment
Buffalo Wild Wings
$1,621,000–$3,933,000 total investment
IHOP
$1,700,000–$4,000,000 total investment
Burger King
$1,865,000–$3,270,000 total investment
Dave & Buster's
$5,700,000–$15,600,000 total investment
Other Franchise Categories
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Data Sources
Investment ranges, royalty rates, and fee structures: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436). Revenue estimates: Item 19 Financial Performance Representations where available. Updated March 2026.