Arby's vs Cookout Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. Cookout runs $500K–$1.2M. The gap at midpoint: $203K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$203K
Cookout costs less
Cookout
$500K–$1.2M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | Cookout | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $500K–$1.2M | Cookout |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $0 | Cookout |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 0.0% | Cookout |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 0.0% | Cookout |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $500K | Cookout |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $250K | Cookout |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 2.8 yr | Cookout |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
Cookout Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $500K–$1.2M
- Franchise Fee
- $0
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $2.5M
Bottom Line
Cookout costs $203K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Cookout also wins on royalty rate.