Compare food franchise investments from QSR to fast casual to full service. Real FDD data on costs, royalties, and growth for Subway, Chick-fil-A.
Food & Beverage dominates the franchise industry with 433 systems in our database — nearly double the next largest category (Home Services at 225). It’s also the most varied, spanning everything from a $1,000 Subway conversion to a $6.3 million Chili’s buildout.
Our analysis of 108 Food & Beverage FDDs with complete financial data shows:
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average minimum investment | $460,637 |
| Average maximum investment | $1,361,586 |
| Average franchise fee | $36,032 |
| Average system size | 658 units |
| Item 19 disclosure rate | 74.1% |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
These averages are heavily influenced by large QSR brands with thousands of units. The reality is that food franchises span an enormous range, and you need to understand the sub-categories to make a smart comparison.
The largest and most recognizable franchise systems operate in QSR:
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Total Units | Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Eleven | $142,150 – $1,627,710 | N/A | 8,254 | Variable % of Gross Profit |
| Domino’s Pizza | $107,450 – $743,500 | N/A | 7,043 | 5.5% |
| Burger King | $348,400 – $4,705,600 | $50,000 | 6,701 | 4.5% of Gross Sales |
| Arby’s | $644,950 – $2,451,000 | $37,500 | 3,365 | 4% of Gross Sales |
| Chick-fil-A | $426,735 – $2,339,525 | $10,000 | 3,109 | 50% of Net Profit |
| Subway | $1,000 – $630,000 | $7,500 | 2,023 | 8% |
| Panda Express | $514,500 – $3,275,500 | $25,000 | 2,502 | 8% or $4,000/mo min |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
Key insight: Chick-fil-A’s model is unique — the $10,000 franchise fee is the lowest among major QSR brands because Chick-fil-A retains ownership of the restaurant and covers all buildout costs. In exchange, operators pay 50% of net profit and 15% of gross sales as rent. That’s a completely different model from the standard franchise structure.
Fast casual franchises occupy the middle ground between QSR and full-service dining:
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Total Units | Royalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Mike’s | $185,903 – $1,417,592 | $20,000 | 2,955 | 6.5% |
| Baskin-Robbins | $307,400 – $622,600 | $25,000 | 2,245 | 5.9% |
| Auntie Anne’s | $156,175 – $638,300 | $35,500 | 1,193 | 7% of Net Sales |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | $2,450,345 – $4,883,320 | $25,000 | 1,183 | 5% of Gross Sales |
| Cinnabon | $246,950 – $675,000 | $30,500 | 1,030 | N/A |
| Scooter’s Coffee | $692,150 – $1,523,400 | $40,000 | 849 | N/A |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
Full-service restaurants require the most capital but offer higher per-unit revenue:
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Total Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applebee’s | $1,766,798 – $5,822,933 | $35,000 | 1,507 |
| Chili’s (Brinker) | $2,261,195 – $6,354,695 | $60,000 | 1,208 |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | $2,450,345 – $4,883,320 | $25,000 | 1,183 |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
| Cost Category | QSR (Counter) | Fast Casual | Full Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $7,500 – $50,000 | $20,000 – $40,000 | $25,000 – $60,000 |
| Real estate/buildout | $150,000 – $800,000 | $200,000 – $1,200,000 | $500,000 – $3,000,000 |
| Equipment | $75,000 – $250,000 | $100,000 – $350,000 | $200,000 – $600,000 |
| Signage | $10,000 – $40,000 | $15,000 – $50,000 | $20,000 – $75,000 |
| Initial inventory | $5,000 – $25,000 | $10,000 – $30,000 | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| Training | $5,000 – $30,000 | $10,000 – $40,000 | $15,000 – $50,000 |
| Working capital | $20,000 – $75,000 | $30,000 – $100,000 | $50,000 – $200,000 |
Estimates compiled from industry sources; verify current figures in the brand’s FDD before relying on them.
Food franchises have well-established financial benchmarks:
| Expense Category | % of Revenue |
|---|---|
| Cost of goods sold (food + paper) | 25-35% |
| Labor (including management) | 25-35% |
| Occupancy (rent + CAM + utilities) | 8-12% |
| Royalty + advertising fund | 6-12% |
| Insurance | 2-3% |
| Repairs and maintenance | 1-3% |
| Marketing (local) | 1-3% |
| Other operating expenses | 3-5% |
| Target profit margin | 5-15% |
Estimates compiled from industry sources; verify current figures in the brand’s FDD before relying on them.
The math is tight. With COGS at 30%, labor at 30%, and occupancy plus royalties at another 18%, you’re working with margins of 5-15% before debt service. This is why volume is everything in food franchising — a 10% margin on $1.5 million in annual revenue is $150,000; on $800,000, it’s $80,000.
The food franchise category shows the most dramatic growth stories in our database:
| Franchise | Units Opened | Units Closed | Net Growth | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Mike’s | 318 | 5 | +313 | 11.9% |
| 7-Eleven | 300 | 76 | +224 | 2.8% |
| Chick-fil-A | 135 | 102 | +33 | 1.1% |
| Scooter’s Coffee | 99 | 20 | +79 | 10.3% |
| Cinnabon | 92 | 42 | +50 | 5.1% |
| Panda Express | 89 | 6 | +83 | 3.4% |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
Jersey Mike’s leads all food franchises with 318 openings and only 5 closures — a retention rate that no other major QSR brand matches. This suggests both strong consumer demand and franchisee profitability.
Scooter’s Coffee shows the highest growth rate relative to system size at 10.3%, reflecting strong momentum in the drive-through coffee segment.
Not every food franchise is growing:
| Franchise | Units Opened | Units Closed | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applebee’s | 0 | 82 | -82 |
| Blaze Pizza | 0 | 31 | -31 |
| Coffee News USA | 10 | 36 | -26 |
Applebee’s opened zero new units while closing 82 — a clear signal of a mature system in contraction. That doesn’t mean existing Applebee’s locations are unprofitable, but it means the brand isn’t attracting new franchisee investment.
Coffee franchises deserve special attention as one of the hottest segments in food franchising. Scooter’s Coffee exemplifies the trend:
| Metric | Scooter’s Coffee |
|---|---|
| Total units | 849 |
| Units opened (latest year) | 99 |
| Units closed | 20 |
| Net growth | +79 |
| Investment range | $692,150 – $1,523,400 |
| Franchise fee | $40,000 |
| Drive-through focused | Yes |
Source: Data extracted from 2025-2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with state regulators. Figures may have changed since filing. Verify current terms directly with the franchisor.
The drive-through coffee model benefits from:
In food franchising, the difference between a profitable and unprofitable unit is often the real estate. Key factors:
Food service faces chronic labor challenges. Before investing:
Commodity prices fluctuate. A 5% increase in food costs on a $1 million revenue business costs $50,000 per year. Ask:
74.1% of food franchises with financial data include Item 19 earnings representations. This is a significant advantage for financial modeling. When evaluating food franchises, strongly prefer those that provide Item 19 data — it gives you revenue benchmarks that are otherwise impossible to obtain without validation calls.
Food & Beverage franchising offers the widest range of investment levels ($1,000 to $6.3 million), the largest number of options (433 systems), and some of the strongest growth stories in franchising (Jersey Mike’s, Scooter’s Coffee). It also carries the tightest margins (5-15%) and the highest operational complexity (food safety, labor management, real estate dependence).
The FDD is your best friend in food franchising. The numbers — Item 7 costs, Item 19 earnings, Item 20 unit growth — tell you what the franchise sales team can’t: whether this specific concept, at this specific investment level, has a track record of making franchisees money.
Food franchise investments range from $1,000 (Subway conversion) to over $6.3 million (Chili's full buildout). The average across 108 FDDs is $460,637 to $1,361,586. QSR concepts typically start at $150,000-$500,000, fast casual at $200,000-$1,500,000, and full service at $1,750,000-$6,000,000+.
Profitability depends on volume, location, and operating efficiency. Jersey Mike's shows the strongest growth indicators with 318 openings and only 5 closures. Chick-fil-A consistently ranks highest in per-unit sales. Check Item 19 of the FDD (available for 74.1% of food franchises) for specific financial performance data.
Subway offers the lowest entry point for a major food brand at $1,000 to $630,000 with a $7,500 franchise fee. Chester's International starts at $27,500. However, lower investment typically means lower revenue potential. Always compare the investment level against Item 19 earnings data.
Food franchise profit margins typically range from 5-15% of revenue. Cost of goods (food and packaging) runs 25-35%, labor 25-35%, occupancy 8-12%, and royalties plus advertising 6-12%. Volume is critical — the same percentage margin produces very different dollar profits at $800K versus $1.5M in revenue.
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