Franchise Comparisons•32 franchises•496 comparisons
Compare QSR FranchisesSide-by-Side Cost & Investment Analysis
Compare franchise costs, investment requirements, royalty fees, and revenue across 32 major QSR brands. Find the right franchise fit for your budget and goals.
Popular Comparisons
Most-searched franchise comparisons in the QSR industry.
McDonald's vs Chick-fil-A
Investment$1.6M - $1.8M
Revenue$2.9M - $8.1M
Locations3,059 - 40,275
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Subway vs Jimmy John's
Investment$189,500 - $444,000
Revenue$490,000 - $1.1M
Locations2,800 - 20,133
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Taco Bell vs Chipotle
InvestmentN/A - $2.0M
Revenue$1.9M - $2.9M
Locations3,500 - 8,564
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Dunkin' vs Starbucks
InvestmentN/A - $1.1M
Revenue$1.1M - $2.0M
Locations9,630 - 16,346
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Burger King vs Wendy's
Investment$1.8M - $2.4M
Revenue$1.4M - $1.8M
Locations5,900 - 7,000
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KFC vs Popeyes
Investment$1.5M - $2.0M
Revenue$1.2M - $1.8M
Locations3,705 - 3,900
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Domino's vs Pizza Hut
Investment$370,500 - $1.1M
Revenue$900,000 - $1.1M
Locations6,400 - 6,929
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Browse by Category
Compare franchises within the same category to find the best fit.
burger Franchises
McDonald's
Investment$1.3M - $2.3M
Franchise Fee$45,000
Est. Revenue$2.9M
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Wendy's
Investment$1.1M - $3.6M
Franchise Fee$50,000
Est. Revenue$1.8M
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Burger King
Investment$316,000 - $3.3M
Franchise Fee$50,000
Est. Revenue$1.4M
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Sonic Drive-In
Investment$1.2M - $3.5M
Franchise Fee$45,000
Est. Revenue$1.5M
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Five Guys
Investment$306,000 - $641,000
Franchise Fee$25,000
Est. Revenue$1.4M
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Culver's
Investment$2.6M - $8.6M
Franchise Fee$55,000
Est. Revenue$3.7M
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Jack in the Box
Investment$1.9M - $4.0M
Franchise Fee$50,000
Est. Revenue$2.0M
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Hardee's
Investment$1.4M - $2.6M
Franchise Fee$25,000
Est. Revenue$1.2M
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Carl's Jr.
Investment$1.5M - $3.2M
Franchise Fee$25,000
Est. Revenue$1.3M
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chicken Franchises
Chick-fil-A
Investment$219,000 - $2.9M
Franchise Fee$10,000
Est. Revenue$8.1M
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KFC
Investment$1.3M - $2.8M
Franchise Fee$45,000
Est. Revenue$1.2M
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Popeyes
Investment$383,000 - $2.6M
Franchise Fee$50,000
Est. Revenue$1.8M
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Wingstop
Investment$314,000 - $956,000
Franchise Fee$20,000
Est. Revenue$1.6M
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sandwich Franchises
Subway
Investment$116,000 - $263,000
Franchise Fee$15,000
Est. Revenue$490,000
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Jimmy John's
Investment$330,000 - $558,000
Franchise Fee$35,000
Est. Revenue$1.1M
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Jersey Mike's
Investment$178,000 - $787,000
Franchise Fee$18,500
Est. Revenue$1.2M
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Arby's
Investment$500,000 - $2.4M
Franchise Fee$37,500
Est. Revenue$1.1M
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Potbelly Sandwich Shop
Investment$395,000 - $893,000
Franchise Fee$35,000
Est. Revenue$950,000
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Firehouse Subs
Investment$343,245 - $976,700
Franchise Fee$20,000
Est. Revenue$962,000
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mexican Franchises
Taco Bell
Investment$1.2M - $2.9M
Franchise Fee$45,000
Est. Revenue$1.9M
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Moe's Southwest Grill
Investment$350,000 - $710,000
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$920,000
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coffee Franchises
Dunkin'
Investment$437,000 - $1.8M
Franchise Fee$40,000
Est. Revenue$1.1M
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Dutch Bros Coffee
Investment$400,000 - $700,000
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$1.7M
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The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Investment$250,000 - $550,000
Franchise Fee$35,000
Est. Revenue$720,000
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pizza Franchises
Domino's
Investment$178,000 - $563,000
Franchise Fee$25,000
Est. Revenue$1.1M
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Pizza Hut
Investment$367,000 - $1.8M
Franchise Fee$25,000
Est. Revenue$900,000
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Blaze Pizza
Investment$350,000 - $850,000
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$850,000
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Pieology Pizzeria
Investment$385,000 - $670,000
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$900,000
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smoothies Franchises
Smoothie King
Investment$295,000 - $844,000
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$620,000
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noodles Franchises
Noodles & Company
Investment$693,000 - $1.5M
Franchise Fee$30,000
Est. Revenue$1.1M
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deli Franchises
McAlister's Deli
Investment$820,000 - $2.4M
Franchise Fee$40,000
Est. Revenue$1.6M
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filipino Franchises
Jollibee
Investment$600,000 - $1.5M
Franchise Fee$50,000
Est. Revenue$2.2M
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Quick Reference: All Franchises
| Brand | Category | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Est. Revenue | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | chicken | $1.6M | $10,000 | 15.0% | $8.1M | 3,059 |
| Culver's | burger | $5.6M | $55,000 | 4.0% | $3.7M | 960 |
| McDonald's | burger | $1.8M | $45,000 | 4.0% | $2.9M | 40,275 |
| Jollibee | filipino | $1.1M | $50,000 | 5.0% | $2.2M | 100 |
| Jack in the Box | burger | $3.0M | $50,000 | 5.0% | $2.0M | 2,218 |
| Taco Bell | mexican | $2.0M | $45,000 | 5.5% | $1.9M | 8,564 |
| Wendy's | burger | $2.4M | $50,000 | 4.0% | $1.8M | 5,900 |
| Popeyes | chicken | $1.5M | $50,000 | 5.0% | $1.8M | 3,705 |
| Dutch Bros Coffee | coffee | $550,000 | $30,000 | 5.0% | $1.7M | 900 |
| McAlister's Deli | deli | $1.6M | $40,000 | 5.0% | $1.6M | 520 |
| Wingstop | chicken | $635,000 | $20,000 | 6.0% | $1.6M | 2,100 |
| Sonic Drive-In | burger | $2.4M | $45,000 | 4.0% | $1.5M | 3,500 |
| Burger King | burger | $1.8M | $50,000 | 4.5% | $1.4M | 7,000 |
| Five Guys | burger | $473,500 | $25,000 | 6.0% | $1.4M | 1,700 |
| Carl's Jr. | burger | $2.3M | $25,000 | 4.0% | $1.3M | 1,350 |
| Hardee's | burger | $2.0M | $25,000 | 4.0% | $1.2M | 1,740 |
| KFC | chicken | $2.0M | $45,000 | 5.0% | $1.2M | 3,900 |
| Jersey Mike's | sandwich | $482,500 | $18,500 | 6.5% | $1.2M | 2,800 |
| Dunkin' | coffee | $1.1M | $40,000 | 5.9% | $1.1M | 9,630 |
| Jimmy John's | sandwich | $444,000 | $35,000 | 6.0% | $1.1M | 2,800 |
| Domino's | pizza | $370,500 | $25,000 | 5.5% | $1.1M | 6,929 |
| Arby's | sandwich | $1.4M | $37,500 | 4.0% | $1.1M | 3,400 |
| Noodles & Company | noodles | $1.1M | $30,000 | 5.0% | $1.1M | 450 |
| Firehouse Subs | sandwich | $659,972.5 | $20,000 | 6.0% | $962,000 | 1,209 |
| Potbelly Sandwich Shop | sandwich | $644,000 | $35,000 | 6.0% | $950,000 | 400 |
| Moe's Southwest Grill | mexican | $530,000 | $30,000 | 5.0% | $920,000 | 720 |
| Pizza Hut | pizza | $1.1M | $25,000 | 6.0% | $900,000 | 6,400 |
| Pieology Pizzeria | pizza | $527,500 | $30,000 | 5.0% | $900,000 | 130 |
| Blaze Pizza | pizza | $600,000 | $30,000 | 5.0% | $850,000 | 340 |
| The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf | coffee | $400,000 | $35,000 | 6.0% | $720,000 | 1,100 |
| Smoothie King | smoothies | $569,500 | $30,000 | 6.0% | $620,000 | 1,300 |
| Subway | sandwich | $189,500 | $15,000 | 8.0% | $490,000 | 20,133 |
How to Compare Franchises
Choosing a franchise is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make. Our comparison tool helps you understand the key differences between brands so you can make an informed decision.
What to Look For
- Initial Investment: The total capital required to open, including franchise fee, construction, equipment, and working capital. Make sure you can afford not just the low end, but closer to the high end.
- Ongoing Fees: Royalty and advertising fees eat into your profit margin. A brand with 10% total fees keeps $10K less per $100K in sales compared to a 5% brand. Over time, this compounds significantly.
- Estimated Revenue: Higher revenue doesn't always mean higher profit, but it's a strong indicator of unit economics and brand strength. Look for Item 19 in the FDD for actual franchisee earnings.
- Number of Locations: More locations usually means better brand recognition, stronger supply chain, and stronger support infrastructure. But smaller brands can offer more flexibility and growth opportunity.
Important Note
These comparisons are based on public FDD data and industry estimates. Actual costs and revenues vary significantly by location, operator experience, and market conditions. Always review the current FDD and speak with existing franchisees before making investment decisions.
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