7-Eleven vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
7-Eleven runs $37K–$1.6M. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $974K.
7-Eleven
$37K–$1.6M
total investment
Investment Difference
$974K
7-Eleven costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | 7-Eleven | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $37K–$1.6M | $1.3M–$2.3M | 7-Eleven |
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $45,000 | 7-Eleven |
| Royalty Rate | 0.0% | 4.0% | 7-Eleven |
| Ad Fund Fee | 0.0% | 4.0% | 7-Eleven |
| Net Worth Required | $150K | $500K | 7-Eleven |
| Liquid Capital | $50K | $500K | 7-Eleven |
| Est. Break-Even | 6.1 yr | 14.1 yr | 7-Eleven |
7-Eleven Profile
- Category
- retail
- Total Investment
- $37K–$1.6M
- Franchise Fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.7M
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Bottom Line
7-Eleven costs $974K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. 7-Eleven also wins on royalty rate.