2026 Guide•146 franchises analyzed
McDonald's franchisees average $4M in annual sales with a $1.5-2.6M investment. Chick-fil-A averages $1.9M in sales—but the franchisor owns the real estate and takes a larger revenue share.
Best Fast Food Franchises to Own in 2026
McDonald's franchisees average $4M in annual sales with a $1.5-2.6M investment. Chick-fil-A averages $1.9M in sales—but the franchisor owns the real estate and takes a larger revenue share.
Fast food franchise investments range from $200K for emerging concepts to over $2M for established QSR brands. The economics vary significantly: some franchisors own the real estate and take larger revenue shares, while others require higher upfront investment but charge lower ongoing fees.
This analysis covers 146 fast food franchises using data from their Franchise Disclosure Documents—total investment requirements, royalty and fee structures, disclosed unit volumes, and franchisee retention rates. The fee burden as a percentage of gross sales varies widely between brands.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 146 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
146
fast food franchises analyzed
$605K - $1.5M
avg. investment
$34K
avg. franchise fee
$1.4M
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Fast food franchises
This page ranks fast food franchises by total locations, reported revenue from Item 19, projected growth, and minimum investment. Fast food is capital-intensive—most established brands require $500K-2M+. Fee structures vary significantly, with some franchisors taking real estate ownership in exchange for lower upfront costs.
Top Fast food franchises at a Glance
Ranked by Number of Locations
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | N/A | $15K | 20,133 | - |
| Burger King | $2.1M - $4.7M | $50K | 19,732 | $1.6M |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M - $2.6M | $45K | 12,772 | $4.0M |
| POPEYES LOUISIANA KITCHEN | N/A | $50K | 4,979 | $1.9M |
| AFC | $45K - $151K | $6K | 3,572 | - |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.7M - $3.1M | $15K | 3,441 | $1.6M |
| JERSEY MIKE'S | N/A | $20K | 2,955 | $1.3M |
| NOBLE ROMAN'S PIZZA | N/A | N/A | 2,871 | - |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | $366K - $728K | $35K | 2,647 | $986K |
| HISSHO SUSHI; OUMI SUSHI; SUSHI WITH GUSTO | N/A | $8K | 2,389 | - |
10 Best Fast food franchises Ranked
Litigation
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$15K
Locations
20,133
Royalty
8.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$2.1M - $4.7M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
19,732
Avg. Revenue
$1.6M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$1.5M - $2.6M
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
12,772
Avg. Revenue
$4.0M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
4,979
Avg. Revenue
$1.9M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$45K - $151K
Franchise Fee
$6K
Locations
3,572
Royalty
9.5%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$1.7M - $3.1M
Franchise Fee
$15K
Locations
3,441
Avg. Revenue
$1.6M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$20K
Locations
2,955
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
2,871
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$366K - $728K
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
2,647
Avg. Revenue
$986K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$8K
Locations
2,389
Royalty
25.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Profit Fast food franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Investment
$1.3M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
1
Est. Profit
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$1.5M - $2.6M
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
12,772
Est. Profit
$1.1M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Investment
$816K - $1.4M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
1,058
Est. Profit
$763K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$2.9M - $5.3M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
0
Net Profit
$551K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$373K - $1.2M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
71
Net Profit
$518K
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Highest Revenue Fast food franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Investment
$1.3M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
1
Avg. Revenue
$4.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$1.5M - $2.6M
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
12,772
Avg. Revenue
$4.0M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$55K
Locations
990
Avg. Revenue
$3.8M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$2.2M - $4.0M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
17
Avg. Revenue
$3.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$2.9M - $5.3M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
0
Avg. Revenue
$3.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Fast food franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$298K - $1.0M
Franchise Fee
$25K
Locations
2,154
Avg. Revenue
$2.1M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$20K
Locations
2,955
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$1.9M - $4.3M
Franchise Fee
$45K
Locations
0
Avg. Revenue
$2.0M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$28K - $302K
Franchise Fee
$4K
Locations
994
Royalty
N/A
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$17K - $76K
Franchise Fee
$5K
Locations
168
Royalty
15.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable Fast food franchises
Ranked by minimum initial investment from Item 7 of their FDD filings.
Sorted by Minimum Investment
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Locations | Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAI SUSHI BARS | $17K - $76K | $5K | 168 | - |
| Bento Sushi | $22K - $162K | $50K | 62 | - |
| CHESTER'S | $28K - $302K | $4K | 994 | - |
| FUJISAN ASIAN BAR KIOSKS | $28K - $104K | $4K | 742 | - |
| Omari Kiosks | $28K - $109K | $4K | 0 | - |
Who Should Consider Fast food franchises?
Fast food suits buyers with significant capital ($500K-2M+) who want established brands with proven systems. Most QSR franchises require multi-unit commitments and can be run semi-absentee with strong management. First-time buyers should expect hands-on involvement for 1-2 years.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fast food franchises
How much does it cost to open a fast food franchise?
The average initial investment for fast food franchises ranges from $605K to $1.5M, based on our analysis of 146 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $34K. The most affordable option is MAI SUSHI BARS, starting at just $17K.
What is the most profitable fast food franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, Jollibee reports the highest average unit revenue at $4.5M. Other high-performing fast food franchises include MCDONALD'S ($4.0M), CULVER'S RESTAURANT ($3.8M), POLLO CAMPERO ($3.5M). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest fast food franchise by number of locations?
Subway is the largest with 20,133 locations nationwide. Other major fast food franchises include Burger King (19,732 locations), MCDONALD'S (12,772 locations), POPEYES LOUISIANA KITCHEN (4,979 locations), AFC (3,572 locations). Combined, the top 5 fast food franchises operate over 61,188 locations.
What is the cheapest fast food franchise to open?
The most affordable fast food franchises by initial investment are: MAI SUSHI BARS ($17K - $76K), Bento Sushi ($22K - $162K), CHESTER'S ($28K - $302K), FUJISAN ASIAN BAR KIOSKS ($28K - $104K), Omari Kiosks ($28K - $109K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a fast food franchise opportunity?
Review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) carefully. Key sections include: Item 5 (fees), Item 7 (initial investment), Item 19 (financial performance, if disclosed), and Item 20 (outlet information including terminations and closures). Our database extracts this data from official FDDs to help you compare fast food franchises objectively.
Want to explore more fast food franchises?
Browse all fast food franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
View All Fast food franchises