Five Guys vs Culver's

Compare published costs, candidate requirements and operating commitments.

All amounts are USD. Read the restaurant format, sales basis and exclusions beside each figure. Missing information means the reviewed sources did not establish a comparable amount.

Availability and operating model

Five Guys

Five Guys says new franchise territories are sold out in the United States and Canada. Current recruitment is for selected international markets.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Operating commitment

The public recruitment requirements relate to available international markets; confirm any proposed existing-business transfer separately.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Read the Five Guys cost guide

Culver's

Available markets and areas reserved for existing franchisees differ. Check the brand’s development map for the proposed territory.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Operating commitment

Full-time owner-operators must hold at least 50% of the business, or at least 25% of the business and real estate.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Read the Culver's cost guide

Published financial requirements

These figures describe different transactions and obligations. Initial fees, separate development fees and liquid-capital requirements are distinct; they are not added together here as a total project budget.

Published financial requirements for Five Guys and Culver's, with sources and scope for each fact
RequirementFive GuysCulver's
Initial investment / development estimate

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

Not verified in reviewed sources

United States

No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.

Initial franchise fee

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

$65,000

New franchisee; initial 15-year term

Separate development fee

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

Not verified in reviewed sources

United States

No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.

Liquid capital / personal funds

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

$500,000–$750,000

Minimum liquid assets across applicant and investors

$500,000 minimum; $750,000 if owning the real estate, building and equipment. These are two scenarios, not an investment-cost range.

Net worth

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

Not verified in reviewed sources

United States

No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.

Royalty / service fee

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

4%

Percentage of gross sales

Advertising / marketing contribution

Not comparable for this model

United States

New US/Canada territories are sold out. International recruitment amounts are not represented here as US franchise terms.

2.5%

Published contribution for new franchisees

Also requires local advertising spending of at least 1% of gross sales. Confirm contribution basis and full obligations.

Sources and review limits

The check date records when a source was reviewed. It is not the source publication date or the issue date of an FDD. Official web summaries that refer to an FDD are identified as summaries.

Five Guys

Culver's

Build a scenario from your own assumptions

These requirements do not establish restaurant sales or owner earnings. Use a budget for the actual format and transaction, and enter your own operating assumptions in the calculator.

Open the franchise scenario calculator

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