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ARBY'S
Arby’s is a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in deli-inspired roast beef sandwiches, curly fries, and complementary side items, desserts, and beverages. Franchisees operate Arby’s restaurants under standardized systems, paying initial investment, royalties, and advertising fees to the franchisor and affiliates like AFA, while receiving support in site selection, training, and operations. The target market includes consumers seeking fast, affordable meals with a focus on meat-based sandwiches and quick-service dining.
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Franchise Costs
4% royalty + 3.22%-5% ad fund + $50/mo Order Ahead platform fee + $63/yr LMS fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 2,182 franchised Traditional Restaurants operating for the full year 2025.
* All average and median AUVs (Annual Unit Volumes) are taken directly from the 'Annual Unit Volumes for 2025 Franchised Traditional Restaurants' table on page 2. The 'All Restaurants' row provides the overall average and median gross revenue. The '1st Quartile' and '4th Quartile' rows provide the average AUVs for the top and bottom quartiles respectively. Note (4) on page 3 explicitly states that these financial performance representations do not reflect the costs of sales, operating expenses, or other costs/expenses required to obtain net income or profit. Therefore, profit, net income, and EBITDA metrics are not available and set to null.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $1,274,787
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Unlock financial performance dataARBY'S Franchise Analysis
Arby's carved its niche with towering roast beef stacks, standing apart from burger-dominated fast food lanes. Item 19 unveils unit-level sales that punch above the industry's weight class, backed by a system blending franchise muscle with corporate backbone. Yet in a menu of metrics, does the real value hide in the fine print of fees and forecasts?
Item 7 lays out a hefty initial investment from $651,550 to $2,456,600, anchored by a $37,500 franchise fee—reflecting buildout for drive-thrus and prime real estate. Royalties clock in at 4%, paired with a 3.22%-5% ad fund, plus $50 monthly Order Ahead and $63 annual LMS fees that add up over time. Item 19 shines brightest, disclosing average gross revenues of $1,274,787 and medians of $1,201,669 for 2026 FDD units, pointing to resilient performance amid inflation and shifting tastes.
System vitality shows 2,344 franchise outlets dwarfing 921 corporate spots, with just 8 non-renewals signaling low attrition. Transfers hit 57, while 11 new units project cautious optimism over aggressive rollout. These figures imply a mature brand ripe for multi-unit operators eyeing $1M+ top lines, but buyers must probe site-specific comps and meat-price volatility to gauge if Arby's curveball menu turns into home-run profits.
Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How ARBY'S Compares
Key Insights
- Top 10 largest franchise system in Fast Food
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ARBY'S Current | $652K – $2.5M | $38K | 4.0% | 2,344 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| LITTLE CAESARS | $377K – $1.8M | $20K | 6.0% | 3,788 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| KFC (NON-TRADITIONAL) | $1.2M – $4.2M | $45K | N/A | 3,404 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.5M – $2.5M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,120 |
Fast Food Average 132 franchises | $602K – $1.6M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 132 Fast Food franchises by location count.
Franchisee Contacts
1,938 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
1,938 Contacts Available
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Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
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Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a ARBY'S franchise ranges from $651,550 to $2,456,600. This includes a franchise fee of $37,500. Ongoing royalty fees are 4.0% of gross sales.
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