2026 Guide•404 franchises analyzed
Food franchises account for 30% of all franchises. They also have some of the highest failure rates. Here's how to pick winners.
Best Food Franchises to Own in 2026
Food franchises account for 30% of all franchises. They also have some of the highest failure rates. Here's how to pick winners.
The food franchise landscape spans QSR giants ($1M+ investment), fast-casual growth brands ($300-700K), and smaller concepts under $200K. The restaurant business is hard. Food costs, labor costs, and rent all pressure margins. Franchising adds royalties and brand fund contributions on top.
We analyzed 404 food franchise FDDs to identify which concepts deliver returns worth the investment, and which are better avoided despite recognizable names.
Data source: 2025 FDD filings · 404 franchises analyzed · Updated January 2026
Key Findings from FDD Analysis
404
food franchises analyzed
$645K - $1.5M
avg. investment
$39K
avg. franchise fee
$1.3M
avg. revenue (Item 19)
How We Ranked These Food franchises
This page ranks food franchises by total locations, reported revenue from Item 19, projected growth, and minimum investment. Food & beverage is the largest franchise category, spanning QSR giants ($1M+ investment), fast-casual growth brands ($300-700K), and smaller concepts under $200K.
Top 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 |
| DUNKIN' | N/A | N/A | 8,465 | $1.3M |
| DOMINO'S PIZZA | N/A | $10K | 6,751 | $26K |
| 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 | - |
10 Best 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
GrowingLitigation
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
8,465
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
6,751
Avg. Revenue
$26K
Source: 2025 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
Highest Profit Food franchises
Ranked by net income, EBITDA, or owner earnings from Item 19 FDD disclosures. Not all franchises disclose profit data.
Investment
$619K - $1.1M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
3
Net Profit
$1.4M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$1.3M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
1
Est. Profit
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$49K
Locations
1
EBITDA
$1.2M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$660K - $1.0M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
1
Net 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
Highest Revenue Food franchises
Ranked by average gross revenue per location from Item 19 FDD disclosures.
Investment
$2.3M - $6.9M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
70
Avg. Revenue
$5.8M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Investment
$1.3M - $3.7M
Franchise Fee
$40K
Locations
1
Avg. Revenue
$4.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
$49K
Locations
1
Avg. Revenue
$4.5M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Investment
$1.6M - $7.0M
Franchise Fee
$60K
Locations
73
Avg. Revenue
$4.4M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Litigation
Investment
$2.1M - $8.5M
Franchise Fee
$50K
Locations
352
Avg. Revenue
$4.3M
Source: 2024 FDD filingView details
Fastest Growing Food franchises
Ranked by projected new locations from Item 20 of their FDD filings.
GrowingLitigation
Investment
N/A
Franchise Fee
N/A
Locations
8,465
Avg. Revenue
$1.3M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
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
GrowingLitigation
Investment
$51K - $304K
Franchise Fee
$10K
Locations
1,332
Royalty
10.0%
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Growing
Investment
$894K - $2.2M
Franchise Fee
$35K
Locations
297
Avg. Revenue
$2.0M
Source: 2025 FDD filingView details
Most Affordable 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 | - |
| Ace Sushi (Non-Traditional) | $18K - $128K | $15K | 97 | - |
| Bento Sushi | $22K - $162K | $50K | 62 | - |
| CHESTER'S | $28K - $302K | $4K | 994 | - |
| FUJISAN ASIAN BAR KIOSKS | $28K - $104K | $4K | 742 | - |
Who Should Consider Food franchises?
Food franchises require comfort with restaurant operations: labor management, food costs, late hours, and tight margins. Restaurant experience helps significantly. First-time buyers often start with simpler concepts (sandwich, coffee) before moving to full QSR. Multi-unit operators gain economies of scale.
Frequently Asked Questions About Food franchises
How much does it cost to open a food franchise?
The average initial investment for food franchises ranges from $645K to $1.5M, based on our analysis of 404 FDD filings. The average franchise fee is $39K. The most affordable option is MAI SUSHI BARS, starting at just $17K.
What is the most profitable food franchise?
According to Item 19 financial performance disclosures, Twin Peaks reports the highest average unit revenue at $5.8M. Other high-performing food franchises include Jollibee ($4.5M), MAGNOLIA BAKERY ($4.5M), WALK ON'S SPORTS BISTREAUX ($4.4M). Note: Not all franchises disclose Item 19 data.
What is the largest food franchise by number of locations?
Subway is the largest with 20,133 locations nationwide. Other major food franchises include Burger King (19,732 locations), MCDONALD'S (12,772 locations), DUNKIN' (8,465 locations), DOMINO'S PIZZA (6,751 locations). Combined, the top 5 food franchises operate over 67,853 locations.
What is the cheapest food franchise to open?
The most affordable food franchises by initial investment are: MAI SUSHI BARS ($17K - $76K), Ace Sushi (Non-Traditional) ($18K - $128K), Bento Sushi ($22K - $162K), CHESTER'S ($28K - $302K), FUJISAN ASIAN BAR KIOSKS ($28K - $104K). Lower investment often means smaller format, mobile/home-based, or service-based models.
How do I evaluate a 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 food franchises objectively.
Want to explore more food franchises?
Browse all food franchises in our database with advanced filters for investment range, location count, and more.
View All Food franchises