Carl's Jr.

CKE Restaurants · EST. 1941 · Franklin, Tennessee

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US UNITS9512025 record · QSR Pro estimates

GLOBAL UNITS1,1002025 record · QSR Pro estimates

FRANCHISED %90%2025 record · QSR Pro estimates

FRANCHISE REQUIREMENTSView source notes ↓Figures, scope and source dates

01Our Coverage

12 STORIES

Latest

Carl’s Jr. wants proof you threw away your crown

Carl’s Jr. limited burger offers to the first 100 eligible entries.

Sep 23, 2026

CKE's Multi-Vendor AI Experiment: What Carl's Jr. and Hardee's Learned from Testing Three Drive-Thru SystemsMar 24, 2026 How Much Does a Carl's Jr Franchise Cost in 2026?Mar 20, 2026 Beyond Meat Faces Delisting as QSR Partners Quietly Exit Plant-Based MenusMar 25, 2026 One Box, One Vendor: Audivi AI and Quail Digital Bet That Bundled Hardware Changes the Voice AI GameMar 24, 2026 White Castle and SoundHound Prove Voice AI Works: 20% Fewer Errors, 90-Second TimesMar 24, 2026 Long John Silver's Shrinks Below 500 Locations: The Quiet Collapse of America's Largest Seafood QSRMar 24, 2026 Papa Johns Is the First Restaurant to Deploy Google Cloud's Gemini AI Ordering AgentMar 24, 2026 The Plant-Based Pivot: Why QSR Chains Are Quietly Replacing Impossible Burgers with Hybrid MenusMar 24, 2026 Presto Raises $10M as Drive-Thru Voice AI Enters Its 'Prove It' EraMar 24, 2026 Voice AI Ordering Hits the Tipping Point: Half of Drive-Thrus Could Be AI-Handled by Year's EndMar 24, 2026 Yum Brands Has Processed Over 2 Million AI Drive-Thru Orders. The Pilot Phase Is OverMar 24, 2026

02About the Brand

Fast-food restaurant chain known for charbroiled burgers

FIG 1 — US UNIT COUNT, 2019–2025

886

2019

893

2020

904

2021

920

2022

903

2023

941

2024

951

2025

RECORD YEARS AND SOURCE LABELS BELOW

Records can refer to different reporting dates within a year. Estimates are identified in the source labels; these records are not a like-for-like growth calculation.

2019: QSR Pro estimates
2020: QSR Pro estimates
2021: QSR Pro estimates
2022: QSR Pro estimates
2023: QSR Pro estimates
2024: QSR Pro estimates
2025: QSR Pro estimates

Franchise Requirements

Availability and model

The brand prefers multi-unit agreements; smaller agreements may be considered. Its requirements page still cites the 2024 FDD.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Operating commitment

The franchisee acquires the real estate and contracts construction, with site and design assistance from the brand.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: $1,486,000–$3,176,500
Historical 2024 FDD web-summary estimate; per unit
Current FDD terms have not been verified. This is not a 2026 estimate.
Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Initial franchise fee: Confirm conflicting sources
United States
Requirements page gives $25,000–$35,000 by restaurant count; undated FAQ gives $25,000. Confirm current terms.
Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: $10,000
Per restaurant; listed separately from franchise fee
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Liquid capital / personal funds: $300,000
Minimum liquid assets per unit; historical 2024 web summary
Confirm current FDD requirements.
Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Net worth: $1,000,000
Minimum net worth per unit; historical 2024 web summary
Confirm current FDD requirements.
Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Royalty / service fee: 4%
Percentage of gross sales
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Advertising / marketing contribution: Confirm conflicting sources
United States
Requirements page says up to 7%; FAQ says 5.5% of gross sales. Confirm current national, regional and local obligations.
Carl's Jr. franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Carl's Jr. franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Full cost guide and sources →Official Carl's Jr. website

Segment Peers

McDonald's Burger King Wendy's Sonic Drive-In Jack in the Box

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