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Uber Eats Raises Restaurant Fees Again: The Third-Party Delivery Commission Squeeze of 2026

Uber Eats raised its Lite tier commission from 15% to 20% in early March 2026, adding a 5% surcharge on Uber One orders. For QSR operators already running 3-9% net margins, the math on delivery profitability just got harder.

How to Open a KFC Franchise in 2026: Costs, Fees, Revenue, and the Full FDD Breakdown

A KFC franchise costs $1.85M to $3.77M with average revenue of $1.35M. Full 2025 FDD analysis covering fees, unit economics, 314 US closures, and what buyers need to know.

How to Open a McDonald's Franchise

Opening a McDonald's franchise remains one of the most coveted opportunities in quick-service restaurants, but it's also one of the most demanding. The Golden Arches don't hand out franchises to just

McDonald's April Value Reset: $4 Breakfast Deals and the New Math of Fast Food Pricing

McDonald's is rolling out a $4 breakfast meal deal and sub-$3 menu items in April 2026. For franchisees already squeezed by costs 35% above pre-pandemic levels, the move forces a hard conversation about traffic versus margin.

How to Open a Subway Franchise

Subway has long been one of the most accessible franchise opportunities in quick-service restaurants. The initial investment is lower than most major brands. The footprint is flexible (you can open in

Coffee Prices Hit Record Highs and QSR Chains Are Scrambling: Inside the 2026 Global Coffee Crisis

The Real Cost of a Taco Bell Franchise in 2026

A Taco Bell franchise requires between $575,600 and $3.37 million in total investment, plus a $45,000 franchise fee and $1.5 million in liquid capital. Here is what the FDD actually says about costs, earnings, and the realistic path to ROI.

How to Open a Domino's Franchise

Domino's has transformed from a regional pizza delivery chain into one of the most technologically advanced QSR brands in the world. The company's digital transformation over the last 15 years has mad

Jersey Mike's $8 Billion Gamble: Inside Blackstone's Franchise Growth Machine

Blackstone paid $8 billion for a majority stake in Jersey Mike's, making it one of the most expensive QSR acquisitions in history. Now the private equity giant is executing a textbook franchise growth play: 400+ new units in 2026, international expansion into the UK and Ireland, and whispers of an IPO before the decade ends.

How to Open a Wendy's Franchise

Wendy's has spent the last decade repositioning itself as the quality leader in the burger category. Fresh, never frozen beef. Sea salt fries. Made-to-order burgers. The brand's commitment to quality

QSR Unit Economics Explained: What Every Investor Needs to Know

AUV, four-wall EBITDA, payback period, sales-to-investment ratio - these are the metrics that separate winning QSR concepts from value traps. Here's how to read the numbers that actually matter.

The QSR Value War Is a Race to the Bottom. Here's Who's Winning and Who's Bleeding.

Every major fast food chain is running some form of value promotion in 2026, and the math is punishing franchisees while rewarding brands with digital infrastructure and scale. The winners and losers of this price war are becoming clear.

AlixPartners Analyzed 90,000 Restaurants. The Math Behind the Value War Has Fundamentally Changed.

New data from AlixPartners' Proprietary Pricing Platform reveals that menu prices outpaced inflation across 90,000 locations, but transaction values fell behind. With gas at $3.94 a gallon and Oxford Economics projecting the slowest consumption growth since 2013, the restaurant pricing playbook is being rewritten in real time.

How Culver's Quietly Became the Midwest's Most Profitable Franchise

Culver's average unit volume hit $3.69 million in 2024, with locations near interstates generating $3.7 million. The chain grew to over 1,000 locations while keeping its franchise model uniquely operator-focused. Here is how butter burgers built a billion-dollar system.

Tariffs Are Squeezing Restaurant Margins in 2026, and the Playbook Is Running Thin

A new wave of tariff-driven cost pressure is hitting restaurant operators at the worst possible time, with food costs up 40% over five years while menu price increases lag at 30%. With consumer spending softening and supply chains in flux, the traditional tools for protecting margins are losing their edge.

How to Open a Taco Bell Franchise

Taco Bell is the dominant player in Mexican-inspired QSR, with over 8,000 locations generating more than $13 billion in annual system sales. The brand has spent the last decade evolving from a late-ni

Fat Brands Sets April 3 Bid Deadline as 120+ Buyers Circle 18 Restaurant Chains

With a court-ordered sale process now live, more than 120 potential buyers are evaluating Fat Brands' 18 chains and 2,300-plus locations. CEO Andy Wiederhorn is out, the April 3 deadline is set, and franchisees are running out of runway to protect themselves.