McDonald's vs Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026
McDonald's runs $1.3M–$2.3M. Wingstop runs $389K–$902K. The gap at midpoint: $1.2M.
McDonald's
$1.3M–$2.3M
total investment
Investment Difference
$1.2M
Wingstop costs less
Wingstop
$389K–$902K
total investment
Cost Breakdown
| Category | McDonald's | Wingstop | Lower Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Investment | $1.3M–$2.3M | $389K–$902K | Wingstop |
| Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $20,000 | Wingstop |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 6.0% | McDonald's |
| Ad Fund Fee | 4.0% | 4.0% | McDonald's |
| Net Worth Required | $500K | $1.2M | McDonald's |
| Liquid Capital | $500K | $600K | McDonald's |
| Est. Break-Even | 14.1 yr | 20.2 yr | McDonald's |
McDonald's Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $1.3M–$2.3M
- Franchise Fee
- $45,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $3.2M
Wingstop Profile
- Category
- food
- Total Investment
- $389K–$902K
- Franchise Fee
- $20,000
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Est. Annual Revenue
- $1.6M
Bottom Line
Wingstop costs $1.2M less to open at the midpoint. That difference goes toward working capital or a second location. McDonald's also wins on royalty rate.