An In-N-Out franchise does not exist: the company’s own releases from January 2023 to June 9, 2026 state that none of its units are franchised, and Minnesota’s registry held no In-N-Out FDD on November 3, 2026.
Key takeaways
- The company says so in writing. In-N-Out’s January 10, 2023 Tennessee announcement states that “In-N-Out does not franchise any restaurants” and gives food and service quality as the reason.
- The line repeats in every opening release. Six releases dated December 12, 2023 to June 9, 2026, the latest for a Las Vegas Strip store, each close with “None of the units are franchised.”
- Growth came without franchisees. The company history page counts 5 restaurants in 1958, 134 in 1998 and 394 at the 75th anniversary in October 2023; Tennessee became the 10th state in December 2025.
- Supply arrived before or with each new region. A Dallas warehouse and patty-making facility opened with the first Texas stores on May 11, 2011, and a Colorado Springs facility was underway when Colorado opened on November 20, 2020.
- Burger brands that franchise print their costs. Item 7 totals in eight 2026 FDDs on Minnesota’s registry run from $854,834 for a Freddy’s In-Line unit to $10,294,100 for a Culver’s restaurant with land and building.
What has In-N-Out put in writing about franchising?
In-N-Out answers the franchise question in its own press documents, not only in interviews. The January 10, 2023 release that announced Tennessee ends: “To ensure the highest quality food and service for every Customer, In-N-Out does not franchise any restaurants.” Each of the six restaurant-opening releases we opened, dated December 12, 2023 to June 9, 2026, closes with the same five words: “None of the units are franchised.”
“In-N-Out was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder and is still owned and operated by the Snyder family. To ensure the highest quality food and service for every Customer, In-N-Out does not franchise any restaurants.” In-N-Out Burger release, Baldwin Park, Jan. 10, 2023
| Release date | Subject | Franchise sentence, verbatim | Number in the PDF file name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 2023 | Tennessee expansion and Franklin office plan | “In-N-Out does not franchise any restaurants.” | None |
| Dec 12, 2023 | First Idaho store, Meridian | “None of the units are franchised.” | 400 |
| Aug 20, 2025 | First Washington store, Ridgefield | “None of the units are franchised.” | 424 |
| Dec 8, 2025 | First Tennessee stores: Lebanon, Antioch, Murfreesboro | “None of the units are franchised.” | 429, 430, 431 |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Bell, California | “None of the units are franchised.” | 432 |
| Feb 25, 2026 | Franklin, Tennessee | “None of the units are franchised.” | 434 |
| Jun 9, 2026 | Las Vegas Strip, Nevada | “None of the units are franchised.” | 437 |
The numbers in the file names match In-N-Out’s own store numbering: the history page calls the Meridian opening its “400th location.” They are store numbers, not a count of restaurants open on that date. The in-n-out.com web pages answered our requests on November 3, 2026 with a bot check, so we read the history page from a Wayback Machine capture dated October 23, 2026; the release PDFs downloaded normally. We found no archived copy of the company FAQ page, so no FAQ wording is quoted here.
Who owns In-N-Out, and who manages each restaurant?
The Snyder family owns and operates In-N-Out, according to every release we opened, and the company history page names Lynsi Snyder as “President and Owner” in a 2023 entry. Each restaurant is run by a company manager, not an owner-operator: the single-store releases introduce managers with 15, 20, 23, 23 and 26 years at In-N-Out. Nothing in these documents describes an outside operator, licensee or franchise partner.
| Role | What the company documents say | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | “still owned and operated by the Snyder family”; Lynsi Snyder, “President and Owner” (2023 entry) | Releases 2023 to 2026; history page |
| Corporate office | 4199 Campus Drive, Suite 900, Irvine, CA 92612 (releases from December 2023); “Irvine and Baldwin Park” (January 2023) | Releases |
| Eastern office | “an Eastern territory office to be built in the city of Franklin,” Tennessee | Jan 10, 2023 release |
| Store managers | Company Associates with 15 to 26 years of service in the single-store releases | Releases 400, 424, 432, 434, 437 |
| Manager training | In-N-Out University, in its own building since 1984, trains “entry level managers from all In-N-Out restaurants” | History page |
| Workforce | “more than 35,000 Associates” (January 2023); “over 38,000” (October 2023) | Jan 10, 2023 release; history page |
For a buyer, the legal test is short. Under 16 CFR 436.1(h), a franchise exists when an operator gets trademark rights, the franchisor exerts significant control or assistance, and the operator makes a required payment. A company-run restaurant has no operator paying for those rights, so there is no contract to buy into. Our explainer on how franchisees and franchisors split ownership and control walks through the three elements.
How did In-N-Out grow from 1 stand to 10 states without franchisees?
It opened every restaurant itself, and the history page logs the count at each milestone. In-N-Out had 5 restaurants in 1958, 13 in 1973, its 100th in Gilroy, California on November 10, 1994, 223 across four states in 2008 and 394 in seven states at its 75th anniversary in October 2023. The 400th, in Meridian, Idaho, opened on December 12, 2023.
In-N-Out grew from 5 restaurants in 1958 to 394 in October 2023 with no franchised units. Source: In-N-Out history page, capture of October 23, 2026. Years are uneven milestones, not annual data.
| Year | Restaurants | Wording on the history page |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 5 | “five Southern California restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley” |
| 1973 | 13 | “13 restaurants open, all in Los Angeles County” |
| 1976 | 18 | “the company’s 18 restaurants” |
| 1988 | 50 | 50th location, Thousand Palms, June 17 |
| 1993 | 93 | “grown to 93 locations” |
| 1998 | 134 | “134 restaurants and 5,498 Associates” |
| 1999 | 140 | “a family of 140 restaurants” |
| 2005 | 200 | 200th restaurant, Temecula, December 30 |
| 2008 | 223 | “223 restaurants in four states” |
| 2013 | 286 | “286 restaurants in five states” |
| 2018 | 334 | “334 locations in six states” |
| 2023 | 394 | “394 restaurants open” at the 75th anniversary |
The pace is slow by franchise standards, and the arithmetic shows it. From 1998 to 2023 the count rose from 134 to 394, or 260 restaurants in 25 years, about 10 a year. From 2013 to 2023 it rose from 286 to 394, or 108 in 10 years. A January 10, 2023 release put the count at “all 385 locations,” nine fewer than the October 2023 figure.
Why does each new In-N-Out region start with a warehouse or office?
In-N-Out supplies its own beef, so its map follows its trucks. The 2023 to 2026 releases say whole chucks are “boned and ground by In-N-Out’s own butchers” and patties are delivered fresh throughout the week and “never frozen.” The history page pairs the first Texas stores in 2011 with a new Dallas warehouse and patty-making facility, and Colorado in 2020 with a Colorado Springs facility then underway.
| Year | State | First location | Supply or office milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | California | Baldwin Park stand, Francisquito and Garvey | Founding site |
| 1992 | Nevada | Las Vegas, store #80, 2900 W. Sahara Blvd. | None listed |
| 2000 | Arizona | Lake Havasu City, store #143 | None listed |
| 2008 | Utah | Washington City, store #215 | None listed |
| 2011 | Texas | Allen and Frisco, May 11 | Dallas warehouse and patty-making facility |
| 2015 | Oregon | Medford, September 9 | None listed |
| 2020 | Colorado | Colorado Springs and Aurora, November 20 | Colorado Springs patty facility underway |
| 2023 | Idaho | Meridian, 400th location, December 12 | Jan 2023: Franklin, TN office announced |
| 2025 | Washington | Ridgefield, August 20 | None listed |
| 2025 | Tennessee | Lebanon, Antioch (December 10) and Murfreesboro (December 12) | Franklin office (announced 2023) |
The Tennessee entry shows the lead time. The company announced the state on January 10, 2023, said it planned first restaurants “by 2026,” and opened Lebanon and Antioch on December 10, 2025: 35 months later. A franchisor recruiting local owners could, in principle, add units without building its own distribution; In-N-Out funds both the stores and the supply line, which is the trade-off the January 2023 release describes as protecting quality.
What would a genuine In-N-Out franchise offer need, and does one exist?
A real offer would need a Franchise Disclosure Document, and none is on file where we looked. A search of Minnesota’s CARDS database for “In-N-Out” on November 3, 2026 returned no Clean FDD rows. Minn. Stat. 80C.02 bars offering or selling a franchise in Minnesota without an effective registration, and 16 CFR 436.2(a) requires the FDD at least 14 calendar-days before any signing or payment.
- Ask for the document by name. Request the current In-N-Out Franchise Disclosure Document and read Item 1 for the franchisor’s legal name; the company’s releases name no franchising entity at all.
- Count 14 calendar-days. Under 16 CFR 436.2(a), no binding agreement or payment may come before 14 calendar-days after you receive the FDD.
- Search a registry yourself. Run the franchise name in Minnesota CARDS; registration and filing states are mapped in our franchise registration states report.
- Compare with the newest company wording. The June 9, 2026 Las Vegas release still reads “None of the units are franchised.”
- Treat a deposit request as a red flag. Under 16 CFR 436.2(a), taking any payment before the 14-day period has run is an unfair or deceptive practice when a franchise is being sold.
An empty registry search has a limit: Section 80C.02 covers offers made in Minnesota, and a company that sells no franchises files in none of the registration states. The search fits the company’s own wording; it adds a dated, checkable record. Our guide to the 23 items of a Franchise Disclosure Document shows what a genuine offer would contain.
What do burger chains that sell franchises print in Items 5, 6 and 7?
Eight burger systems with 2026 FDDs on Minnesota’s registry show what a franchised burger restaurant costs on paper. Initial fees run from $25,000 at Five Guys, which adds a $50,000 Development Fee per restaurant, to $65,000 at Culver’s. Standard royalties run from 4% to 6% of sales, and Item 7 totals run from $854,834 to $10,294,100 by brand and building type.
| Brand (franchisor) | FDD issued | Item 5 initial fee | Item 6 royalty | Item 7 total, format | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King (Burger King Company LLC) | March 26, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026 | $50,000, 20-year term | 4.5% of monthly Gross Sales | $2,039,200 to $4,730,600, traditional freestanding; all formats $348,400 to $4,730,600 excluding real estate | Burger King FDD |
| Culver’s (Culver Franchising System, LLC) | March 30, 2026 | $65,000, new restaurant | Service Fee 4% of Gross Sales | $3,406,350 to $10,294,100, land and building included | Culver’s FDD |
| Five Guys (Five Guys Franchisor, LLC) | June 30, 2026 | $25,000 Franchise Fee plus $50,000 Development Fee per restaurant | 6% of Gross Sales (8% in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico) | $927,850 to $1,375,750, excluding the Development Fee | Five Guys FDD |
| Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (Freddy’s, L.L.C.) | April 30, 2026 | $35,000 License Fee; $35,000 Advisory Fee, first restaurant | 5% of all Gross Receipts | In-Line $854,834 to $1,302,000; End Cap $1,026,334 to $2,361,000; Standalone $1,586,334 to $2,802,000 | Freddy’s FDD |
| Jack in the Box (Different Rules, LLC) | March 13, 2026 | $50,000 typical; $25,000 nontraditional | 5% of Gross Sales | $1,909,500 to $4,041,500, restaurant you build, excluding land | Jack in the Box FDD |
| McDonald’s (McDonald’s USA, LLC) | May 1, 2026 | $45,000, traditional | 5% for new restaurants from January 1, 2024 | $1,472,000 to $2,807,000, traditional | McDonald’s FDD |
| Smashburger (Smashburger Franchising LLC) | April 17, 2026, as amended May 28, 2026 | $40,000 | 5.5% of Gross Sales | $1,239,500 to $2,255,500 | Smashburger FDD |
| Wendy’s (Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC) | March 27, 2026, as amended May 29, 2026 | $50,000 Technical Assistance Fee | 4%, traditional | $1,580,457 to $3,105,000 paying cash, excluding real property | Wendy’s FDD |
Item 7 ranges in eight 2026 burger FDDs, from $927,850 (Five Guys low) to $10,294,100 (Culver’s high, land included). Source: each FDD’s Item 7, Minnesota CARDS. Formats differ; see the table.
Line-by-line breakdowns for four of these systems are on our pages for Burger King’s freestanding and remodel costs, Culver’s land-and-building estimate, McDonald’s 2026 Item 7 and Wendy’s cash and financed totals.
Do the Item 7 lines add up to the printed totals?
Yes, in all five Item 7 tables we added by hand, but one cover page disagrees with its own Item 7. Freddy’s In-Line lines sum to $1,302,000, the figure printed in Item 7, while the cover of the same April 30, 2026 FDD prints “$854,834 to $1,301,000.” The $1,000 gap is small, but it shows why Item 7 itself, not the cover summary, is the number to quote.
| FDD, Item 7 table | Lines | Our low sum | Our high sum | Printed total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five Guys, Franchise Agreement | 14 | $927,850 | $1,375,750 | $927,850 to $1,375,750 | Matches |
| Freddy’s, In-Line | 13 | $854,834 | $1,302,000 | Item 7: $854,834 to $1,302,000; cover: $854,834 to $1,301,000 | Cover differs by $1,000 |
| Freddy’s, Standalone | 13 | $1,586,334 | $2,802,000 | $1,586,334 to $2,802,000 | Matches |
| Jack in the Box, build | 16 | $1,909,500 | $4,041,500 | $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 | Matches |
| Smashburger, Franchise Agreement | 18 | $1,239,500 | $2,255,500 | $1,239,500 to $2,255,500 | Matches |
Which franchised burger building is closest to an In-N-Out?
The In-N-Out pattern in its 2023 to 2026 releases is a freestanding store with one drive-thru lane, 73 to 84 indoor seats and a covered patio. Among franchised formats, the Freddy’s Standalone, about 3,000 square feet on 0.8 to 1.0 acres with 50 to 120 seats, is the nearest documented match. Jack in the Box prototypes are smaller, at 1,386 to 2,440 square feet, and Culver’s are larger, at 4,060 to 4,310.
| Building | Size or site | Drive-thru | Seats | Item 7 total | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-N-Out, Meridian, ID (Dec 2023) | Not stated | One lane | 84 indoor, 32 patio | Not offered; company-built | Release 400 |
| In-N-Out, Franklin, TN (Feb 2026) | Not stated | One lane | 74 indoor, 54 patio | Not offered; company-built | Release 434 |
| In-N-Out, Las Vegas Strip (Jun 2026) | Unit in the BLVD center | None listed | 170 indoor, 50 patio | Not offered; company-built | Release 437 |
| Freddy’s Standalone | About 3,000 sq ft on 0.8 to 1.0 acres | Yes | 50 to 120 | $1,586,334 to $2,802,000 | Freddy’s FDD, Item 7 |
| Freddy’s In-Line | 2,400 to 3,000 sq ft | No | 50 to 120 | $854,834 to $1,302,000 | Freddy’s FDD, Item 7 |
| Jack in the Box prototypes | 1,386 to 2,440 sq ft; modular 1,317 sq ft | Not stated in Item 7 note 1 | Not stated | $1,909,500 to $4,041,500, excluding land | Jack in the Box FDD, Item 7 note 1 |
| Culver’s Metro M and Metro L 2025 | 4,060 and 4,310 sq ft; land 45,000 to 70,000 sq ft | Not stated in the notes we used | Not stated | $3,406,350 to $10,294,100, land included | Culver’s FDD, Item 7 notes 3 and 5 |
Land is the swing line. Jack in the Box and Burger King leave land out of their Item 7 totals, Wendy’s excludes real property, and Culver’s includes it, which is why its high end reaches $10,294,100. Compare the same building type across brands before comparing totals.
Are the In-N-Out franchise cost numbers online real?
No. The In-N-Out figures we found, such as a $25,000 or $35,000 “franchise fee” and a $2.0 million to $4.0 million “startup cost,” trace to no In-N-Out document and no state filing. Several guides also carry older numbers for the burger brands they suggest instead; the 2026 FDDs print different figures, shown below without naming the sites.
| Claim in another guide | What the primary document shows | Status |
|---|---|---|
| In-N-Out “initial franchise fee” of $25,000 or $35,000 (several pages) | No In-N-Out FDD; releases through June 9, 2026: “None of the units are franchised” | No document supports a fee |
| In-N-Out “startup cost” of $2.0M to $4.0M, attributed to “official FDD” data (brand-profile page, compiled May 2026) | No In-N-Out FDD exists to open; Minnesota CARDS had no rows on November 3, 2026 | Estimate presented as a disclosure |
| McDonald’s investment of $521,000 to $2,503,000 (burger cost comparison, 2026) | May 1, 2026 FDD, Item 7: $1,472,000 to $2,807,000, traditional | Out of date |
| Wendy’s fee of $55,000 (same comparison) | 2026 FDD, Item 5: $50,000 Technical Assistance Fee | Does not match the 2026 FDD |
| Freddy’s In-Line $785,936 to $1,198,665 and Standalone $1,487,598 to $2,753,566 (franchise association article, modified 10/2026) | April 30, 2026 FDD, Item 7: $854,834 to $1,302,000 and $1,586,334 to $2,802,000 | Older FDD figures |
Questions about what an In-N-Out owner would earn have no filed answer, because owner results for any franchise sit in Item 19 of that brand’s current FDD and In-N-Out has none. For the eight burger systems above, Item 19 is the place to look; our Item 19 research report explains what those sections contain and what they leave out.
If In-N-Out is your model, which route fits your capital and role?
Start from what the business must be. If only an In-N-Out will do, there is no unit to buy and the company employment page is the only way in. If a freestanding drive-thru burger building is the goal, the 2026 Item 7 lows start at $1,472,000; if leased space works, documented lows start at $854,834. Each route below names the document to read next.
| If this describes you | Route | Threshold or document to check |
|---|---|---|
| Only an In-N-Out restaurant will do | Route A: no ownership path; employment is the only way in | June 9, 2026 release: “None of the units are franchised” |
| You want a freestanding drive-thru and can fund an Item 7 low of $1,472,000 or more | Route B: compare McDonald’s traditional, Freddy’s Standalone, Jack in the Box, Burger King freestanding | Item 7 notes on land; Jack in the Box and Burger King exclude it |
| You want to own the land and building as well | Route B, Culver’s: $3,406,350 to $10,294,100 with land | Culver’s Item 7 Note 13: 20% of the projected investment in cash or liquid assets |
| Leased space works and your budget sits near $854,834 to $1,375,750 | Route C: Freddy’s In-Line or Five Guys; Smashburger from $1,239,500 | Five Guys adds a $50,000 Development Fee outside Item 7 |
| You plan several units | Development agreement | Item 5: Five Guys $50,000 per restaurant; Freddy’s $15,000 per restaurant plus a $20,000 deposit; Smashburger $20,000 per restaurant; Jack in the Box $60,000 for two |
| You would rather buy a restaurant already open | Resale of a franchised unit | Item 20 transfer counts; see our franchise resale research |
A shortlist of franchised burger systems is the kind of comparison a broker builds; our page on what a franchise consultant does and how they are paid explains that franchisors pay them, which matters when you weigh the brands they suggest. This page is general information, not legal, financial or investment advice; have a franchise attorney review any FDD and agreement before you sign or pay.
How we compiled this
We opened 7 In-N-Out press-release PDFs dated January 10, 2023 to June 9, 2026, the company history page as captured by the Wayback Machine on October 23, 2026, and 8 burger-system FDDs filed in Minnesota: 4 fetched from CARDS on November 3, 2026, 2 already on disk, and 2 through figures verified for our McDonald’s and Culver’s pages. We read Minn. Stat. 80C.02 and 16 CFR 436.1 and 436.2, added five Item 7 tables line by line, and excluded every In-N-Out cost figure found only on third-party sites. We publish no sales or income figures.
Frequently asked questions
Is In-N-Out a franchise?
No. In-N-Out Burger runs all of its restaurants itself. Its opening releases from December 12, 2023 through June 9, 2026 each state “None of the units are franchised,” and a January 10, 2023 release says the company “does not franchise any restaurants” to protect food and service quality. The Snyder family owns and operates the company.
How much does an In-N-Out franchise cost?
No price can be quoted, because no franchise is sold and no FDD exists to state a fee or an Item 7 range. Minnesota’s CARDS registry held no In-N-Out FDD on November 3, 2026. Burger systems that do franchise print their costs: 2026 FDDs show Item 7 totals from $854,834 (Freddy’s In-Line) to $10,294,100 (Culver’s, land included).
Who owns In-N-Out Burger?
The Snyder family. Company releases say In-N-Out “was founded by Harry and Esther Snyder and is still owned and operated by the Snyder family,” and the history page names Lynsi Snyder as President and Owner in a 2023 entry. Corporate offices sit at 4199 Campus Drive, Suite 900, Irvine, California, with an Eastern territory office announced for Franklin, Tennessee.
Why doesn't In-N-Out franchise?
The company’s stated reason, in its January 10, 2023 release, is “To ensure the highest quality food and service for every Customer.” Its model rests on company supply: whole chucks boned and ground by In-N-Out butchers and patties delivered fresh, never frozen. New regions came with facilities, such as the Dallas warehouse and patty-making facility that opened with Texas in 2011.
How much would an In-N-Out owner make?
No filed figure exists. Owner results for a franchise appear only in Item 19 of that brand’s current FDD, and In-N-Out has no FDD. For burger systems that do franchise, read Item 19 in each 2026 FDD together with the Item 6 royalty, a standard 4% to 6% of sales in the eight FDDs we opened, and the Item 7 build cost.
Will In-N-Out ever franchise?
Nothing filed points that way. The newest release we opened, dated June 9, 2026, repeats “None of the units are franchised,” and the company grew from 385 locations in January 2023 to a 10th state in December 2025 without franchisees. Any future U.S. offer would need an FDD delivered 14 calendar-days before signing under 16 CFR 436.2(a).
Sources
- In-N-Out Burger, “In-N-Out Burger Announces Expansion to Tennessee”, January 10, 2023, accessed November 3, 2026.
- In-N-Out Burger, opening releases: Meridian, ID (December 12, 2023), Ridgefield, WA (August 20, 2025), Lebanon, Antioch and Murfreesboro, TN (December 8, 2025), Bell, CA (January 27, 2026), Franklin, TN (February 25, 2026), Las Vegas, NV (June 9, 2026), accessed November 3, 2026.
- In-N-Out Burger, History page, Wayback Machine capture of October 23, 2026, accessed November 3, 2026.
- In-N-Out Burger, Employment page, Wayback Machine capture of August 20, 2026, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Minnesota Department of Commerce, CARDS franchise registrations search, “In-N-Out”, Clean FDD, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, Minn. Stat. 80C.02, Registration requirement, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Legal Information Institute, 16 CFR 436.1, Definitions and 16 CFR 436.2, Obligation to furnish documents, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Burger King Company LLC, Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 26, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7.
- Culver Franchising System, LLC, Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 30, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7.
- Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, Franchise Disclosure Document, issued June 30, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Freddy’s, L.L.C., Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026, cover and Items 5, 6, 7, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Different Rules, LLC (Jack in the Box), Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 13, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7, accessed November 3, 2026.
- McDonald’s USA, LLC, Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 1, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7.
- Smashburger Franchising LLC, Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 17, 2026, as amended May 28, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7, accessed November 3, 2026.
- Quality Is Our Recipe, LLC (Wendy’s), Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 27, 2026, as amended May 29, 2026, Items 5, 6, 7.