A major fast food franchise costs somewhere between about $366,000 and $2.5 million to open, based on the figures the brands publish themselves: Jimmy John's lists $366,200–$733,500, Dunkin' $443,000–$1,832,500 and Arby's $651,550–$2,456,600. Chick-fil-A is the outlier with a $10,000 franchise fee, but it picks hands-on Operators rather than selling franchises to investors, and Burger King and Domino's mostly don't sell new single units to outsiders at all.
So the honest answer to "how much does a fast food franchise cost" is two numbers: what the brand says, and whether the brand will actually sell to someone like you. This guide covers both.
Live table: food and beverage franchises
These rows come from franchise programs listed in the PartnersWatch directory. Each listing records what the franchisor states on its own franchise page. Fees change every year when the new Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) comes out, so confirm before you plan around a figure.
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King | Franchisee | On request | — |
| Wendy's | Franchisee | On request | — |
| Domino's | Franchisee | On request | — |
| Chick-fil-A | Franchisee, Location operator | $10,000 initial franchise fee in non-gifted, non-borrowed funds | — |
| Crumbl | Franchisee | Minimum liquidity of $200,000 | — |
| Arby's | Franchisee | Development fee $12,500 per restaurant; initial franchise fee $37,500; total initial investment $651,550–$2,456,600; $500,000 liquid assets and $1,000,000 net worth | Royalty |
| Jimmy John's | Franchisee | Development fee $10,000 per restaurant; initial franchise fee $35,000; total initial investment $366,200–$733,500; $200,000 liquid assets and $1,000,000 net worth | Royalty |
| Dunkin' | Franchisee | Initial franchise fee $40,000; total initial investment $443,000–$1,832,500; $250,000 liquid assets and $500,000 net worth | Royalty |
Fast food franchise cost comparison
Here's what each brand publishes, side by side. "Not on the listing" means the brand's public franchise page doesn't give the figure; you'll find it in Item 5 (fees) and Item 7 (initial investment) of the FDD.
| Brand | Franchise fee | Total initial investment | Capital requirement | Royalty + ad fund |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy John's | $35,000, plus $10,000 development fee per restaurant | $366,200–$733,500 | $200,000 liquid, $1,000,000 net worth | 6% + 4.5% of gross sales |
| Dunkin' | $40,000 | $443,000–$1,832,500 | $250,000 liquid, $500,000 net worth | 5.9% + 5% of gross sales |
| Arby's | $37,500, plus $12,500 development fee per restaurant | $651,550–$2,456,600 | $500,000 liquid, $1,000,000 net worth | 4% + at least 5.2% of gross sales |
| Chick-fil-A | $10,000, non-gifted and non-borrowed | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
| Crumbl | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | $200,000 minimum liquidity | Not on the listing |
| Burger King | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Proven operators, mainly multi-unit | Not on the listing |
| Wendy's | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
| Domino's (US) | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Internal candidates only | Not on the listing |
Two things jump out. First, the spread inside a single brand is huge. Dunkin's range runs from $443,000 to over $1.8 million because a small inline shop and a freestanding drive-thru are different businesses that happen to share a logo. Second, the capital requirement matters more than the investment range for most applicants. Jimmy John's wants $1,000,000 in net worth even though its total initial investment starts at $366,200.
The royalty is the number that never goes away
The franchise fee is paid once. The royalty and the advertising fund come out of every dollar of sales, every week, for the life of the agreement.
Take a made-up restaurant doing $1,000,000 a year in gross sales, just to make the math visible:
- Dunkin': 5.9% royalty + 5% advertising = 10.9%, or $109,000 a year
- Jimmy John's: 6% + 4.5% = 10.5%, or $105,000 a year
- Arby's: 4% + at least 5.2% = at least 9.2%, or at least $92,000 a year
That's before food, labor, rent and loan payments. Restaurant margins are thin, so a percentage point of royalty can be the difference between a good year and a stressful one. When you compare brands, compare total fees as a share of sales, not the franchise fee.
Brand by brand
Burger King franchise
People search "burger king franchise cost" expecting a number. The more useful fact is who Burger King is selling to. Burger King, part of Restaurant Brands International, has 19,000+ restaurants in more than 100 countries and US territories, and its US franchise growth now runs mainly through multi-unit acquisitions by proven operators. If you've never run a restaurant, the realistic path is to get experience with another brand, or join an existing Burger King franchisee group, rather than apply cold for a single store. The franchising site does list priority markets and investment details, so it's worth reading if you're already an operator.
Dunkin' franchise cost
Dunkin' is sold through Inspire Brands in freestanding, endcap, inline, small-format and multi-brand formats. The $40,000 franchise fee is the same across formats; the format drives where you land in the $443,000–$1,832,500 range. You'll need $250,000 in liquid assets and $500,000 in net worth. Franchisees get a dedicated franchise business consultant, real estate and construction guidance, and access to the national loyalty program, which matters a lot for a morning-traffic business.
Arby's and Jimmy John's
Both sit inside Inspire Brands with Dunkin', and they share its services platform for training, real estate, marketing, technology and supply chain. Jimmy John's has 2,600+ restaurants and can be co-located with Dunkin' in multi-brand formats, which is an interesting play if you want breakfast traffic and lunch traffic under one roof. Arby's has 3,500+ restaurants and asks for the most capital of the three: $500,000 liquid and $1,000,000 net worth. Its royalty is the lowest at 4%, but the advertising contribution is at least 5.2%.
Chick-fil-A franchise
The $10,000 franchise fee gets a lot of attention, and it's misleading if you read it as "cheap franchise." Chick-fil-A selects Operators who run one restaurant, full-time and hands-on. It doesn't sell to passive investors. Requirements on the listing include the legal right to operate a franchise in the US, no bankruptcy history, team leadership experience and fluent English, and the company says selection is competitive with no guarantee. The fee must be your own money: non-gifted and non-borrowed. Think of it as applying for a very demanding job where you also put $10,000 on the table.
Crumbl franchise
Crumbl publishes one hard requirement: minimum liquidity of $200,000. The process runs from application through interview, HQ-assisted site selection, onboarding, construction and opening. The business is built around a weekly rotating menu and the Crumbl ordering app, so you're buying into a tech and marketing machine as much as a bakery. US and Canada are open; international inquiries go through a separate track.
Wendy's and Domino's
Wendy's offers US and international paths, runs development programs and works with preferred lenders, but doesn't put investment figures on its public page. Ask for the FDD. Domino's is the strictest: in the US it only considers internal candidates who've spent at least a year as a Domino's general manager or supervisor, and it says more than 95% of US franchisees started as pizza makers or delivery drivers. If you want a Domino's, the application starts with a store job.
Which fast food franchise fits which buyer
- Experienced multi-unit operator with capital: Burger King's multi-unit deals, Arby's, or a Dunkin'/Jimmy John's multi-brand site.
- Owner who wants to work in the restaurant every day: Chick-fil-A, if you can get selected. Domino's if you're willing to start at store level.
- Smaller budget, still food: Jimmy John's has the lowest published floor of the brands with full numbers, though the $1,000,000 net worth bar is high. Crumbl's $200,000 liquidity bar is lower on paper.
- Want less build-out and lower stakes: look outside fast food. Our guides to home services franchises and education franchises cover brands with lower published starting costs, and the low-cost franchise guide explains how to read an FDD.
What to check before you sign
- Item 7 of the FDD for the full initial investment, including working capital, which people underestimate constantly.
- Item 19 for financial performance, if the brand publishes it. If it doesn't, ask existing franchisees directly what they net.
- Item 20 for openings, closures and transfers. A lot of transfers can mean owners selling out.
- Remodel obligations. Fast food brands refresh their designs. Ask what existing owners were required to spend in the last five years.
- Territory. Find out whether you're protected from another unit of the same brand opening nearby.
- A franchise attorney. A few hours of review costs less than one bad clause.
You can browse every franchise listing in the directory or see how we collect and check listings.
PartnersWatch is an independent directory. We list these programs from each franchisor's own public page and aren't paid by them. Brands can claim, correct or remove their listing at any time. Figures change every year, so confirm them in the current Franchise Disclosure Document.
FAQ
How much does a fast food franchise cost?
Among brands that publish figures, total initial investment runs from $366,200 (the low end for Jimmy John's) to $2,456,600 (the high end for Arby's). Dunkin' sits at $443,000–$1,832,500. Chick-fil-A charges a $10,000 franchise fee but selects hands-on Operators rather than selling to investors.
How much does a Burger King franchise cost?
Burger King's franchise site lists investment details, but our listing doesn't record a figure. The bigger point is that US franchise growth now comes mainly from multi-unit acquisitions by proven operators, so a first-time buyer is unlikely to be offered a single store.
What is the Dunkin' franchise cost?
Dunkin' lists a $40,000 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment of $443,000–$1,832,500, depending on format. You need $250,000 in liquid assets and $500,000 in net worth. Ongoing fees are a 5.9% royalty and a 5% advertising fee on gross sales.
Why is the Chick-fil-A franchise fee only $10,000?
Because Chick-fil-A isn't selling a franchise in the usual sense. It selects Operators who run a single restaurant full-time and hands-on, and selection is competitive. The $10,000 must be your own funds, not gifted or borrowed.
How much do you need to open a Crumbl?
Crumbl lists a minimum liquidity of $200,000. It doesn't publish total investment on the page our listing is based on, so ask for the FDD during the interview stage.
Can anyone buy a Domino's franchise?
Not in the US. Domino's only considers internal candidates with at least one year as a Domino's general manager or supervisor. Outsiders are pointed to store jobs as the first step.
What is the cheapest fast food franchise to open?
Of the brands with full published figures, Jimmy John's has the lowest starting investment at $366,200, but it requires $1,000,000 in net worth. If you want a lower entry point, home services and education franchises usually start well below fast food.