Arby's vs McDonald's Franchise Cost 2026
Arby's runs $314K–$1.8M. McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. The gap at midpoint: $757K.
Arby's
$314K–$1.8M
total investment
Investment Difference
$757K
Arby's costs less
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Arby's | McDonald's | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $314K–$1.8M | $1.3M–$2.3M | Arby's |
| Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $45,000 | Arby's |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 4.0% | Arby's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.2% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Net Worth Required | $1.0M | $500K | McDonald's |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $500K | Arby's |
| Est. Break-Even | 20.5 yr | 14.1 yr | McDonald's |
Arby's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $314K–$1.8M
- Franchise Fee
- $37,500
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.4M
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
Arby's costs $757K less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. Arby's also wins on royalty rate.