Arby's vs Chick-fil-A Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Chick-fil-A runs $342K–$2.2M. The gap at midpoint: $233K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$233K
Arby's costs less
Chick-fil-A
$342K–$2.2M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Chick-fil-A | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $342K–$2.2M | Arby's |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $10,000 | Chick-fil-A |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 0.0% | Chick-fil-A |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $0 | Chick-fil-A |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $10K | Chick-fil-A |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 1.3 yr | Chick-fil-A |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Chick-fil-A Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $342K–$2.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $10,000
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $8.1M
Bottom Line
Arby's costs $233K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Chick-fil-A also wins on royalty rate.