Burger Franchise Costs and Requirements

Review burger franchise requirements, restaurant formats and availability. Check published estimates and unresolved terms for McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King and other reviewed brands.

How to Read These Requirements

The brand guides below use linked primary sources. Amounts are in US dollars. Each estimate retains its scope, exclusions and source context; historical figures are labeled. Source check dates record review dates, not publication dates.

A build-cost estimate and the funds needed to buy an existing restaurant describe different transactions. Check which one each source covers.
Keep site, land and financing exclusions in the project budget. A published capital requirement is not the purchase price of a restaurant.
Confirm territory availability and current terms, including where the source is historical or official pages disagree.

Burger Franchise Cost Guides

McDonald's

The published candidate-funding figures cover buying and operating an existing restaurant. New restaurants require a greater investment.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Initial franchise fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
McDonald's US costs of ownershipSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Wendy's

Wendy’s seeks experienced operators. Its two official recruitment pages currently disagree on capital requirements; obtain confirmation for the proposed transaction.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Wendy's becoming a franchiseeSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Wendy's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Wendy's becoming a franchiseeSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Wendy's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Initial franchise fee: $50,000
US; per restaurant for a 20-year term
Separate application and background-check charges apply.
Wendy's becoming a franchiseeSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Wendy's becoming a franchiseeSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Wendy's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Burger King

The recruitment site covers the United States and Canada; restaurant format determines the published build-cost estimate.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Burger King franchise investmentSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: $348,400–$3,320,600
Estimated cost to build a new restaurant; varies by format
The source describes build cost. Confirm land, financing and other inclusions before comparing an all-in project budget.
Burger King franchise investmentSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Initial franchise fee: $50,000
Per restaurant; 20-year term
Burger King franchise investmentSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Burger King franchise investmentSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Sonic Drive-In

The brand offers multiple restaurant formats. Site, format and market availability require confirmation during the application process.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

SONIC — Inspire Brands franchisingSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary referring to the FDD issued March 26, 2026.

Initial investment / development estimate: $1,485,200–$2,522,900
US web-summary investment range; confirm the applicable restaurant format
SONIC — Inspire Brands franchisingSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary referring to the FDD issued March 26, 2026.
Initial franchise fee: $15,000
US initial franchise fee as listed in the web summary
SONIC — Inspire Brands franchisingSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary referring to the FDD issued March 26, 2026.
Separate development fee: $10,000
US; per restaurant
Listed separately from the initial franchise fee; confirm timing and any credits in the FDD.
SONIC — Inspire Brands franchisingSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary referring to the FDD issued March 26, 2026.

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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

Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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.
Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
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.
Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
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.
Five Guys franchise availabilitySource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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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

Culver's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Culver's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Initial franchise fee: $65,000
New franchisee; initial 15-year term
Culver's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Culver's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Jack in the Box

Recruitment targets multi-unit development; its candidate page calls for a commitment to three to five restaurants in the chosen market.

United States; confirm the format and territory with the franchisor

Jack in the Box investment guideSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary refers to FDD dated March 13, 2026.
Jack in the Box candidate requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

Initial investment / development estimate: $1,909,500–$4,041,500
US prototypical restaurant; excludes land, financing and certain site-specific costs
Jack in the Box investment guideSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary refers to FDD dated March 13, 2026.
Initial franchise fee: $50,000
US traditional restaurant; standard per-location fee
Jack in the Box investment guideSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary refers to FDD dated March 13, 2026.
Separate development fee: Not verified in reviewed sources
United States
No applicable amount verified in the linked sources. Request the current disclosure for this format and territory.
Jack in the Box investment guideSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Official web summary refers to FDD dated March 13, 2026.
Jack in the Box candidate requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Hardee's

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

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

Initial investment / development estimate: $1,375,000–$2,637,395
Historical 2024 FDD web-summary estimate; per unit
Current FDD terms have not been verified. This is not a 2026 estimate.
Hardee's 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.
Hardee's franchising requirementsSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).Document basis: Page explicitly refers to the 2024 FDD; historical web summary.
Hardee's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).
Separate development fee: $10,000
Per restaurant; listed separately from franchise fee
Hardee's franchise FAQSource checked 2026-10-01 (America/Los_Angeles).

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Carl's Jr.

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).

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).

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Compare Franchise Requirements Side by Side

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