How much does a Papa John's franchise cost?

A Papa John's franchise requires a $25,000 franchise fee and total initial investment of $150,000–$440,000. Ongoing royalties are 5.0% plus 8.0% in advertising fees.

What is the royalty rate for Papa John's?

Papa John's charges 5.0% in royalties plus 8.0% in advertising fees — 13.0% combined. This is an ongoing monthly fee on gross revenue.

Food & Beverage

Papa John's Franchise Cost 2026

Total investment: $150,000–$440,000. Franchise fee: $25,000. Royalty: 5.0% + 8.0% ad fee. Based on FDD disclosure data.

$25,000

Franchise Fee

One-time brand license

$150,000–$440,000

Total Investment

Full startup range

5.0% + 8.0% ad

Royalty Rate

Monthly % of gross revenue

$710K

Est. Annual Revenue

Per unit estimate

Startup Cost Breakdown

Item 7 FDD disclosure categories for Papa John's

Real Estate & Buildout $100,000

Equipment & Fixtures $90,000

Initial Inventory $10,000

Initial Marketing $20,000

Working Capital Reserve $60,000

Qualification Requirements

Net Worth Required

$250,000

Liquid Capital Required

$75,000

vs. Food & Beverage Average

Investment vs. Category Avg

-76% vs. avg ($1240K)

Royalty vs. Category Avg

-0.3% vs. avg (5.3%)

Other Food & Beverage Franchises

Arby's

$618,000–$1,686,000 · 4.0% royalty

Baskin-Robbins

$97,000–$394,000 · 5.9% royalty

Buffalo Wild Wings

$1,621,000–$3,933,000 · 5.0% royalty

Burger King

$1,865,000–$3,270,000 · 4.5% royalty

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Data Sources

Investment ranges, royalty rates, and fee structures: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the FTC Franchise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 436). Revenue estimates: Item 19 Financial Performance Representations where available. Updated March 2026.