Opening a fast food franchise takes $55,800 to $10,294,100 by the Item 7 estimates in 22 current disclosure documents, from a Pizza Hut Small Format license inside a host business to a Culver’s built on purchased land.
Key takeaways
- The lowest Item 7 figure in the 22 filings is $55,800, for a Pizza Hut Small Format license run inside a host business, a total that leaves out real property and signage (Pizza Hut Non-Traditional License Disclosure Document, as amended October 8, 2026).
- Of 58 build formats priced in these filings, 13 carry a low end under $250,000 and 9 start at $1,000,000 or more; all 9 belong to McDonald’s, Popeyes, Steak n Shake, Sonic, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King or Culver’s (Minnesota CARDS filings).
- Initial fees under Item 5 run from $0 to $10,000 at Domino’s to $65,000 at Culver’s, and Dunkin’ charges up to $90,000 in its Type 1 markets such as Boston and New York (Dunkin’ FDD, March 26, 2026, Item 5).
- Royalty plus ad fund ranges from 6% of sales (Steak n Shake, 2024 FDD) to as much as 13% (Little Caesars: 6% royalty plus up to 7% advertising) and 12.5% at Subway (Subway FDD, Item 6).
- Chick-fil-A’s filing amended October 2, 2026 lists five charges on gross receipts, including a 5% Royalty and a 50% Additional Franchise Fee on the Operator’s net receipts, while its Item 7 stays at $317,521 to $3,463,155 (Chick-fil-A FDD as amended October 2, 2026, Item 1).
What do 22 fast food franchise FDDs print for fees and opening cost?
Across the 22 quick-service FDDs in this dataset, the main-format Item 7 estimate starts as low as $55,800 (Pizza Hut Small Format, a license inside a host business) and $231,450 (Domino’s Traditional) and tops out at $10,294,100 (Culver’s with land). Initial fees span $0 to $90,000, royalties 4% to 10% of sales, and ad funds 0% to 7%, each quoted from Items 5, 6 and 7 of the filing named in the row.
Main-format Item 7 ranges run from $55,800 to $183,000 (Pizza Hut Small Format license) up to $3,406,350 to $10,294,100 (Culver’s with land). Source: 22 FDDs on Minnesota CARDS, accessed November 3, 2026.
Each row below is one filing. The Item 7 columns show the format the franchisor presents first or calls standard; the lower-cost formats for the same brand appear later in the cheapest-format table. Thirteen rows link to our full cost page for that brand, and every Source cell opens the filed PDF on Minnesota’s CARDS registry.
Arby’s to Dunkin’
| Brand | FDD issued | Initial fee (Item 5) | Royalty (Item 6) | Ad fund (Item 6) | Item 7 format | Item 7 low | Item 7 high | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arby’s | March 26, 2026 | $37,500 franchise fee plus $12,500 development fee (standard Traditional) | 4% of Gross Sales | minimum aggregate 5.2% of Gross Sales (Traditional) | Free-Standing | $868,550 | $2,456,600 | CARDS 35661-202603-15 |
| Blaze Pizza | April 30, 2026 | $30,000 | 5% of Gross Sales | Creative Fund currently 2% (up to 4%); plus 2% local spend | Single Restaurant | $757,000 | $1,297,100 | CARDS 36377-202604-09 |
| Burger King | March 26, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026 | $50,000 (20-year term) | 4.5% of monthly Gross Sales | not to exceed 4.5% (4.5% since January 1, 2025) | Traditional freestanding | $2,039,200 | $4,730,600 | CARDS 37219-202609-03 |
| Checkers and Rally’s | April 17, 2026, as amended September 23, 2026 | $30,000 ($15,000 Non-Traditional) | 4% of Net Sales (2% Non-Traditional) | 4.5% advertising requirement (National Production Fund currently 2.65% of it) | Modular design drive-thru | $449,000 | $1,915,000 | CARDS 37322-202609-01 |
| Chick-fil-A | March 31, 2026, as amended October 2, 2026 | $10,000 | 5% Royalty, plus a Base Franchise Fee (9.25% of gross receipts above equipment rental) and a 50% Additional Franchise Fee on net receipts | 0% to 3.25% (not charged since 1989) | Traditional | $317,521 | $3,463,155 | CARDS 37426-202610-03 |
| Culver’s | March 30, 2026 | $65,000 new (cover: $45,000 to $65,000) | 4% Service Fee | 2.5% Advertising Fee | New build with land | $3,406,350 | $10,294,100 | CARDS 35692-202603-08 |
| Dave’s Hot Chicken | May 4, 2026 | $40,000 ($20,000 food truck) | 6% of Gross Sales | Creative Fund currently 4% (may rise to 5%); plus 1% local | Freestanding | $823,800 | $4,121,900 | CARDS 36528-202605-09 |
| Domino’s | April 1, 2026, as amended July 29, 2026 | $0 to $10,000 | 5.5% of weekly Royalty Sales | 4% Advertising Fund | Traditional | $231,450 | $743,500 | CARDS 37073-202607-03 |
| Dunkin’ | March 26, 2026 | $40,000 to $90,000 by market type | 5.9% of Gross Sales | 5.0% (2.5% non-traditional) | Freestanding | $532,400 | $1,832,500 | CARDS 35678-202603-13 |
Jersey Mike’s to Pizza Hut
| Brand | FDD issued | Initial fee (Item 5) | Royalty (Item 6) | Ad fund (Item 6) | Item 7 format | Item 7 low | Item 7 high | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jersey Mike’s | April 10, 2026, as amended August 26, 2026 | $20,000 plus $10,000 development fee per restaurant | 6.5% of Gross Receipts | 1% CADF plus 4% National Media Fund | Shopping center, 1,000 to 2,000 sq ft | $436,176 | $1,162,228 | CARDS 37192-202608-03 |
| Jimmy John’s | March 26, 2026 | $35,000 ($17,500 Non-Traditional) | 6% of weekly Gross Sales | up to 4.5% (currently the full 4.5%) | Traditional | $366,200 | $733,500 | CARDS 35680-202603-02 |
| Little Caesars | March 27, 2026 | $20,000 | greater of 6% of weekly Gross Sales or $300 per week | up to 7% of Gross Sales | Single restaurant | $376,500 | $1,769,200 | CARDS 36134-202604-03 |
| McDonald’s | May 1, 2026 | $45,000 | 5% of Gross Sales (new restaurants) | not less than 4% of Gross Sales | Traditional (plus percentage rent) | $1,472,000 | $2,807,000 | CARDS 36206-202604-02 |
| Papa John’s | March 30, 2026 | $5,000 to $25,000 (Standard) | 5% (6% Small-Town) | 6% Marketing Fund to December 30, 2029 | Standard and Small-Town | $281,485 | $890,267 | CARDS 35810-202604-11 |
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | March 25, 2026, as amended October 8, 2026 | $5,000 ($10,000 if medium or larger pizzas) | 10% Monthly Service Fee | none listed in Item 6 | Small Format, inside a host business (excludes real property and signage) | $55,800 | $183,000 | CARDS 37388-202610-03 |
| Pizza Hut (Traditional) | March 25, 2026, as amended October 8, 2026 | $25,000 | 6.0% Monthly Service Fee | 4.75% System Advertising Fund | RBD or DBR | $846,000 | $2,130,000 | CARDS 37386-202610-03 |
Popeyes to Wendy’s
| Brand | FDD issued | Initial fee (Item 5) | Royalty (Item 6) | Ad fund (Item 6) | Item 7 format | Item 7 low | Item 7 high | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popeyes | March 20, 2026 | $50,000 | 5% of Gross Sales | 4.6% to 5.0% (5% test program for new franchisees) | Free-standing, excluding real estate | $1,222,045 | $3,923,245 | CARDS 35549-202603-10 |
| Sonic | March 26, 2026 | $15,000 | 5% of Gross Sales | 0.90% Brand Fund plus 3.25% minimum ad co-op/SMF | Traditional Drive-In | $1,485,200 | $2,522,900 | CARDS 35683-202603-13 |
| Steak n Shake | March 28, 2024 | $25,000 | 5% of Gross Receipts | 1% Digital and Production Fund | Freestanding Quick Service (2024 FDD, newest Clean FDD on CARDS) | $1,344,419 | $2,340,385 | CARDS 31681-202405-06 |
| Subway | April 30, 2026, as amended June 15, 2026 | $15,000 ($7,500 reduced) | 8% of gross sales | 4.5% | Traditional | $263,000 | $630,000 | CARDS 36389-202604-19 |
| Taco Bell | March 26, 2026 | $45,000 Traditional ($25,000 In-Line/End-Cap) | 5.5% of Gross Sales | 4.25% of Gross Sales | Traditional Unit | $1,859,750 | $4,312,200 | CARDS 35608-202603-07 |
| Wendy’s | March 27, 2026, as amended May 29, 2026 | $50,000 Technical Assistance Fee | 4% (traditional) | 4.0% national for 2026 and 2027 | New restaurant, cash basis; real property varies | $1,580,457 | $3,105,000 | CARDS 36754-202605-02 |
Two rows need a date warning. Steak n Shake’s newest Clean FDD on CARDS is the one issued March 28, 2024, and Chick-fil-A’s figures come from the version amended October 2, 2026, which changed the fee list but not the $317,521 to $3,463,155 Item 7 total. Wingstop is absent because no current Wingstop FDD is on file in Minnesota.
Which build types fit which opening budget?
Sorting all 58 published formats by their Item 7 low end gives four bands: 13 formats start under $250,000, 13 start between $250,000 and $499,999, 23 start between $500,000 and $999,999, and 9 start at $1,000,000 or more. The band tells you the building type before it tells you the brand: host-site licenses and carry-out stores sit at the bottom, freestanding drive-thrus at the top.
| Budget band (Item 7 low end) | Build type in the filings | Formats that start in this band | Check before you commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| If the low end you can fund is under $250,000 | Mostly host-site, carry-out and non-traditional formats (13 formats) | Lowest: Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license), Small Format, $55,800. Highest in band: Domino’s, Traditional, $231,450. Brands: Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license), Domino’s, Papa John’s, Dunkin’, Steak n Shake, Jimmy John’s, Checkers and Rally’s, Subway | Most need a host business or venue (hotel, grocery, convenience store, campus, arena). Domino’s Traditional, the top of this band, is open only to applicants with 12 months as a Domino’s Store general manager (Item 1). |
| If the low end you can fund is $250,000 to $499,999 | Mostly storefront, food truck and modular formats (13 formats) | Lowest: Subway, Traditional, $263,000. Highest in band: Steak n Shake, In-line Quick Service (2024 FDD), $454,000. Brands: Subway, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Papa John’s, Checkers and Rally’s, Steak n Shake, Chick-fil-A, Burger King, Jimmy John’s, Little Caesars, Jersey Mike’s, Dunkin’ | Storefronts and a food truck. Chick-fil-A’s $317,521 sits here because the franchisor holds the premises lease and equipment (Item 5); Steak n Shake rows come from a 2024 FDD. |
| If the low end you can fund is $500,000 to $999,999 | Mostly in-line, end-cap and smaller freestanding formats (23 formats) | Lowest: Popeyes, In-line, $504,545. Highest in band: Burger King, In-Line / End Cap, $944,800. Brands: Popeyes, Dunkin’, Burger King, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Checkers and Rally’s, Arby’s, Pizza Hut (Traditional), Sonic, McDonald’s, Steak n Shake, Blaze Pizza, Taco Bell | In-line and end-cap units of drive-thru brands, plus smaller freestanding builds such as Dave’s Hot Chicken, Arby’s Free-Standing and Pizza Hut RBD or DBR. |
| If the low end you can fund is $1,000,000 or more | Mostly freestanding drive-thru builds (9 formats) | Lowest: McDonald’s, STO/STR, $1,015,500. Highest in band: Culver’s, New build with land, $3,406,350. Brands: McDonald’s, Popeyes, Steak n Shake, Sonic, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, Culver’s | Freestanding drive-thru builds. Culver’s is the only Item 7 in the set that prices buying land ($225,000 to $2,400,000) and building new. |
The band is a floor, not a budget. Across the 58 formats the median distance from low to high estimate is $764,650, and Culver’s Item 7 Note 13 adds a separate cash test: 20% of the total projected initial investment in cash or liquid assets.
Why does one brand’s estimate stretch past $1 million?
Three Item 7 lines produce most of the spread: land or rent, site work and the building shell. Culver’s prices land at $225,000 to $2,400,000 and its building at $2,047,000 to $4,391,000, while Jersey Mike’s leases a 1,000 to 2,000 square foot shopping-center space and budgets $147,495 to $658,581 for leasehold work (Jersey Mike’s FDD, Item 7).
| Item 7 line | Culver’s, new build with land | Wendy’s, new restaurant | Jersey Mike’s, shopping center | Subway, traditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land or real property | $225,000 to $2,400,000 | Varies (not totaled) | Rent, CAM and deposits $10,579 to $19,848 | Real property $3,000 to $12,000 |
| Site work | $356,000 to $2,193,000 | Inside building line | Not a separate line | Not a separate line |
| Building or leasehold improvements | $2,047,000 to $4,391,000 | $1,033,292 to $2,200,000 | $147,495 to $658,581 | $75,000 to $250,000 |
| Equipment, furniture and fixtures | $458,000 to $584,000 | $380,165 to $650,000 | $138,434 to $159,872 | $110,000 to $210,000 |
| Initial fee (Item 5) | $35,000 to $65,000 (Item 7 line) | $50,000 | $20,000 plus $10,000 development fee | $15,000 |
| Item 7 total | $3,406,350 to $10,294,100 | $1,580,457 to $3,105,000 | $436,176 to $1,162,228 | $263,000 to $630,000 |
| Source | Culver’s FDD, Item 7 | Wendy’s FDD, Item 7 | Jersey Mike’s FDD, Item 7 | Subway FDD, Item 7 |
How much does the drive-thru add?
Within one brand, moving from in-line to freestanding raises the Item 7 low end by $717,500 at Popeyes ($504,545 to $1,222,045) and by $925,000 at Taco Bell ($934,750 to $1,859,750). Sonic’s Traditional Drive-In needs 34,000 to 43,560 square feet of land for a 1,250 to 1,500 square foot building, and its total starts at $1,485,200 against $679,200 for an urban inline unit (Sonic FDD, March 26, 2026, cover and Item 7).
Which totals leave the land out?
Several covers exclude real estate outright: Burger King (“in all cases excluding real estate”), Checkers and Rally’s (“excluding real estate and related costs”), Popeyes free-standing, and Pizza Hut (“not including real property”). Wendy’s lists real property as “Varies”, and Jimmy John’s says its $366,200 to $733,500 includes initial real estate lease costs. Comparing a land-inclusive total with a land-exclusive one overstates the gap.
The Checkers and Rally’s cover shows the effect in one paragraph: six formats from $214,000 to $1,915,000, all before real estate, with $45,000 to $55,000 of each total paid to the franchisor or an affiliate (Checkers and Rally’s FDD, amended September 23, 2026).
What is the cheapest fast food franchise to open, by lowest published Item 7?
By the lowest published Item 7 figure, the cheapest fast food franchise format in these 22 filings is the Pizza Hut Small Format license at $55,800 to $183,000, followed by Domino’s Non-Traditional at $107,450 and Papa John’s Non-Traditional at $125,000. Among street-front restaurants, Domino’s Traditional ($231,450) and Subway traditional ($263,000) print the lowest low ends. These are franchisor estimates sorted by number, not a recommendation.
Formats with a low end under $250,000
| Brand (links to FDD) | Format | Item 7 low | Item 7 high | Condition printed in the FDD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | Small Format, inside a host business | $55,800 | $183,000 | License inside an existing host business; excludes real property and signage; 10% Monthly Service Fee |
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | Medium Format | $98,300 | $179,000 | See row above |
| Domino’s | Non-Traditional | $107,450 | $709,500 | Applicant must have been a Store general manager for at least 12 months (Item 1) |
| Papa John’s | Non-Traditional | $125,000 | $423,302 | Development Agreement required even for one restaurant (Item 5) |
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | Large Format | $125,700 | $224,000 | See row above |
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | Supreme Format | $131,200 | $304,000 | See row above |
| Dunkin’ | Non-traditional (SDO) | $142,000 | $862,500 | Fee set by market type, $40,000 to $90,000 for a standard restaurant (Item 5) |
| Steak n Shake | Classic to Quick-Service Conversion (2024 FDD) | $155,970 | $344,790 | 2024 FDD; conversion column applies to an existing Steak n Shake and carries a $0 fee |
| Jimmy John’s | Non-Traditional | $206,200 | $686,000 | Traditional total includes initial real estate lease costs (cover) |
| Checkers and Rally’s | Non-Traditional, Walmart or sports arena | $214,000 | $736,000 | All six totals exclude real estate and related costs (cover) |
| Dunkin’ | Gas station or convenience store | $216,400 | $1,065,500 | See row above |
| Subway | Non-traditional | $227,000 | $458,000 | Mid estimate $430,000 traditional, $325,000 non-traditional (Item 7) |
| Domino’s | Traditional | $231,450 | $743,500 | See row above |
Formats with a low end from $250,000 to $499,999
| Brand (links to FDD) | Format | Item 7 low | Item 7 high | Condition printed in the FDD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | Traditional | $263,000 | $630,000 | See row above |
| Dave’s Hot Chicken | Branded food truck | $263,150 | $688,500 | Food truck fee $20,000 against $40,000 for a restaurant (Item 5) |
| Papa John’s | Standard and Small-Town | $281,485 | $890,267 | See row above |
| Checkers and Rally’s | Endcap, including gas station or convenience store endcap | $309,000 | $1,134,250 | See row above |
| Steak n Shake | Non-Traditional (2024 FDD) | $316,000 | $715,000 | See row above |
| Chick-fil-A | Traditional | $317,521 | $3,463,155 | Franchisor leases the premises and equipment to the Operator (Item 5) |
| Burger King | Indoor MRS | $348,400 | $789,100 | Cover states all totals exclude real estate |
| Jimmy John’s | Traditional | $366,200 | $733,500 | See row above |
| Little Caesars | Single restaurant | $376,500 | $1,769,200 | Royalty is the greater of 6% or $300 per week (Item 6) |
| Jersey Mike’s | Shopping center | $436,176 | $1,162,228 | Area Development Agreement required regardless of restaurant count (Item 5) |
| Dunkin’ | Shopping center or storefront | $443,000 | $1,333,500 | See row above |
| Checkers and Rally’s | Modular design drive-thru | $449,000 | $1,915,000 | See row above |
| Steak n Shake | In-line Quick Service (2024 FDD) | $454,000 | $1,371,000 | See row above |
The table holds 26 formats with a low end under $500,000. Read the condition column before the price: the bottom rows mostly require a host business, a venue contract or prior employment, and the Steak n Shake conversion row is open only to an existing restaurant. The $10,000 figure often quoted for Chick-fil-A is its Item 5 fee; the Item 7 total for the same unit is $317,521 to $3,463,155.
How much of each sales dollar goes to royalty and ad fund?
Royalty plus required ad fund ranges from 6% of sales at Steak n Shake (5% plus 1%, 2024 FDD) to 13% at Little Caesars when its advertising charge reaches the 7% cap, and 21 of the 22 filings set the royalty as a percentage of sales. Chick-fil-A is the exception, and McDonald’s adds percentage rent of generally 6% to 23% of Gross Sales for new traditional restaurants (Item 6 note 3).
Combined royalty and ad fund runs from 6% (Steak n Shake, 2024 FDD) to 13% (Little Caesars at its 7% advertising cap). Source: Item 6 of each FDD, Minnesota CARDS, accessed November 3, 2026.
| Brand | Royalty | Ad fund | Combined, % of sales | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Caesars | 6% | 7% | 13% | Item 6, March 27, 2026 |
| Subway | 8% | 4.5% | 12.5% | Item 6, April 30, 2026 |
| Jersey Mike’s | 6.5% | 5% | 11.5% | Item 6, April 10, 2026 |
| Papa John’s | 5% | 6% | 11% | Item 6, March 30, 2026 |
| Dunkin’ | 5.9% | 5% | 10.9% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| Pizza Hut (Traditional) | 6% | 4.75% | 10.75% | Item 6, March 25, 2026 |
| Jimmy John’s | 6% | 4.5% | 10.5% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| Dave’s Hot Chicken | 6% | 4% | 10% | Item 6, May 4, 2026 |
| Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) | 10% | 0% | 10% | Item 6, March 25, 2026 |
| Popeyes | 5% | 5% | 10% | Item 6, March 20, 2026 |
| Taco Bell | 5.5% | 4.25% | 9.75% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| Domino’s | 5.5% | 4% | 9.5% | Item 6, April 1, 2026 |
| Arby’s | 4% | 5.2% | 9.2% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| Sonic | 5% | 4.15% | 9.15% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| Burger King | 4.5% | 4.5% | 9% | Item 6, March 26, 2026 |
| McDonald’s | 5% | 4% | 9% | Item 6, May 1, 2026 |
| Checkers and Rally’s | 4% | 4.5% | 8.5% | Item 6, April 17, 2026 |
| Wendy’s | 4% | 4% | 8% | Item 6, March 27, 2026 |
| Blaze Pizza | 5% | 2% | 7% | Item 6, April 30, 2026 |
| Culver’s | 4% | 2.5% | 6.5% | Item 6, March 30, 2026 |
| Steak n Shake | 5% | 1% | 6% | Item 6, March 28, 2024 |
What changed in Chick-fil-A’s fee list in October 2026?
The amended Item 1 lists a Base Franchise Fee on the amount by which 9.25% of gross receipts exceeds equipment rent of currently $4,000 to $8,900 a month, a 5% Royalty, a 0.25% Business Services Fee, a 0.5% technology fee and an Additional Franchise Fee of 50% of the Operator’s net receipts (Chick-fil-A FDD, as amended October 2, 2026).
Item 6 of the same filing keeps the advertising fund at 0% to 3.25% of gross receipts and states that none has been charged since June 30, 1989. Because two of the five charges depend on rent and net receipts, the fee-load table leaves Chick-fil-A out rather than print a single percentage.
Which big chains publish no FDD to compare?
Three large chains have no current Item 7 to put in the dataset. Chipotle owns and operates all its U.S. and Canadian restaurants, Raising Cane’s says it is not taking franchise inquiries, and Wingstop sells franchises but has no current FDD on file in Minnesota, so the terms quoted here ($20,000 fee, 6.0% royalty, 5.5% ad fund) come from its Form 10-K.
| Chain | What the primary record says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chipotle | 3,938 U.S. company-owned restaurants at December 31, 2025; the company owns and operates all its restaurants in the U.S. and Canada | Chipotle Form 10-K, fiscal 2025, Item 1 |
| Raising Cane’s | FAQ: “we are not entertaining franchise or development” inquiries | Raising Cane’s FAQ, Wayback capture of August 31, 2026 |
| Wingstop | Franchises, but its newest Minnesota filing is a 2012 brochure; the 10-K states a $20,000 franchise fee, a 6.0% royalty and a 5.5% Ad Fund contribution, with no Item 7 total | Wingstop Form 10-K, fiscal year ended December 27, 2025, Item 1 |
What should you read in a fast food FDD before you sign?
Federal rule 16 CFR 436.2(a) requires the franchisor to hand you the current disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay. Use that window on the seven checks below, in this order, each tied to an item defined in 16 CFR 436.5.
- Confirm the issuance date and any amendment on CARDS: Chick-fil-A’s fees changed in an October 2, 2026 amendment, and Steak n Shake’s newest filing dates from March 28, 2024.
- Pick the Item 7 table for your format, not the cover’s widest range: Checkers prints six totals, Pizza Hut eight across two documents, Dunkin’ four.
- Read the Item 7 notes for exclusions: real estate (Burger King, Checkers, Popeyes free-standing, Pizza Hut), impact fees (Dunkin’ Note 5 says “$87,000 or more in some markets”) and debt service (Jersey Mike’s Note 14).
- Check the Item 7 additional funds line: the rule asks for at least three months, and Culver’s sets $65,000 to $120,000 while excluding hourly labor, food and rent.
- Add Item 6 percentages to rent: McDonald’s percentage rent of 6% to 23% sits on top of a 5% royalty and at least 4% advertising.
- Read Item 1 and Item 5 for eligibility: Domino’s requires 12 months as a Store general manager; Arby’s, Jersey Mike’s and Papa John’s require a development agreement even for one restaurant.
- Find Item 19 and Item 20 in the same filing for performance data and outlet counts, then ask current franchisees listed in Item 20 how their opening costs compared with Item 7.
None of this is legal, financial or investment advice. A franchise attorney can tell you whether a development agreement, a personal guaranty or a lease rider in the exhibits changes what the Item 7 total covers.
How we compiled this
The dataset covers 22 franchise disclosure documents filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (CARDS), issued or amended between March 28, 2024 and October 8, 2026. We opened and read nine for this article in November 2026, four of them fetched on November 3, 2026 (Arby’s, Checkers and Rally’s, Jimmy John’s, Sonic); figures for the other thirteen come from the verified source records behind our brand cost pages, each citing the same CARDS document. We copied Item 5, Item 6 and Item 7 figures as printed, did no earnings math, and excluded beverage-led and dessert-led brands and chains with no current FDD.
Frequently asked questions
Can you open a Chick-fil-A for $10,000?
The $10,000 is Chick-fil-A’s Item 5 initial franchise fee. Its Item 7 estimate for a traditional unit is $317,521 to $3,463,155, mostly additional funds and inventory, because Chick-fil-A leases the premises and equipment to the Operator. The October 2, 2026 amendment also lists a 5% Royalty and a 50% Additional Franchise Fee on net receipts.
Which fast food franchises charge the lowest initial fee?
In these 22 filings, Domino’s lists an Initial Fee of $0 to $10,000 and generally bills it once the store is operating; Pizza Hut’s non-traditional license fee is $5,000 or $10,000; Papa John’s charges $5,000 to $25,000; Sonic and Subway charge $15,000. A low fee says little about Item 7: Sonic’s Traditional Drive-In starts at $1,485,200.
Do fast food franchise cost estimates include the land?
Only some do. Culver’s Item 7 includes land at $225,000 to $2,400,000. Burger King, Checkers and Rally’s, Pizza Hut and Popeyes free-standing exclude real estate on the cover, Wendy’s lists real property as “Varies”, and Jimmy John’s includes initial lease costs. Match the basis before comparing two totals.
How much do fast food franchise owners make?
This site does not publish earnings figures. Check Item 19 of the brand’s current FDD, which says whether the franchisor discloses performance data and on what basis. Owner income then depends on what Item 6 takes from sales (6% to 13% royalty plus ad fund in this set), occupancy cost and the debt used to fund Item 7.
Is buying an existing fast food restaurant cheaper than building one?
Sometimes, and the FDD says how the fee changes. Domino’s charges a $1,500 transfer fee instead of the Initial Fee when you buy an existing Store, and Taco Bell’s Item 7 prices an existing unit from the franchisor at $175,000 to $1,800,000 or more, excluding real property. The seller’s price is negotiated outside the FDD.
Why does a Domino's franchise cost less to open than a burger chain?
Domino’s Traditional Stores are carry-out and delivery units in shopping and strip centers, so Item 7 starts at $231,450 with no drive-thru shell or land. The trade-off is access: Item 1 limits single-store franchises to applicants who have been a Domino’s Store general manager for at least 12 months.
Sources
FDDs opened for this article
- Arby’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35661-202603-15 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Blaze Pizza Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36377-202604-09 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Checkers and Rally’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 17, 2026, as amended September 23, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37322-202609-01 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Chick-fil-A Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 31, 2026, as amended October 2, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37426-202610-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Dave’s Hot Chicken Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 4, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36528-202605-09 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Jimmy John’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35680-202603-02 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Pizza Hut (Non-Traditional license) Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 25, 2026, as amended October 8, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37388-202610-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Sonic Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35683-202603-13 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Steak n Shake Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 28, 2024, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 31681-202405-06 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
FDDs verified for our brand cost pages
- Burger King Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37219-202609-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Culver’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 30, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35692-202603-08 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Domino’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026, as amended July 29, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37073-202607-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Dunkin’ Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35678-202603-13 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Jersey Mike’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 10, 2026, as amended August 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37192-202608-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Little Caesars Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36134-202604-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- McDonald’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 1, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36206-202604-02 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Papa John’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 30, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35810-202604-11 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Pizza Hut (Traditional) Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 25, 2026, as amended October 8, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 37386-202610-03 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Popeyes Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 20, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35549-202603-10 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Subway Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026, as amended June 15, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36389-202604-19 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Taco Bell Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 35608-202603-07 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Wendy’s Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026, as amended May 29, 2026, Items 5 to 7, CARDS document 36754-202605-02 (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
Rules, registry and company filings
- 16 CFR 436.5, Items 5, 6, 7 and 19, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- 16 CFR 436.2(a), 14 calendar-day rule, Legal Information Institute: law.cornell.edu (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, CARDS franchise registrations search: cards.web.commerce.state.mn.us (accessed Nov 3, 2026)
- Chipotle Mexican Grill, Form 10-K for fiscal 2025, SEC EDGAR: sec.gov (accessed Oct 27, 2026)
- Wingstop Inc., Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2025, SEC EDGAR: sec.gov (accessed Nov 2, 2026)
- Raising Cane’s FAQ, Internet Archive capture of August 31, 2026: web.archive.org (accessed Nov 2, 2026)