Burger King
Burger King Company LLC operates and franchises quick-service restaurants specializing in hamburgers, offering a limited menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner products under the proprietary BURGER KING® System, which includes specific trademarks, designs, equipment, color schemes, operational standards, and procedures. The business model grants franchises to individuals or entities for developing and operating new or existing BURGER KING® Restaurants, often via Target Reservation Agreements, Multiple Target Reservation Agreements, or Development Agreements committing to multiple units. The target market encompasses the general population, with the highest patronage frequency from ages 18-54, in a highly competitive quick-service restaurant industry influenced by tastes, economics, and traffic patterns.
Franchise Costs
4.5% royalty + 4.5% ad fund + $110/mo digital services + $200-$300/mo static menu board + $750-$1,200/yr service desk + $700/yr BK University
How Burger King Compares
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Burger King Current | N/A | $50K | 4.5% | 5,524 |
| MCDONALD'S | $1.5M – $2.6M | $45K | N/A | 12,772 |
| AFC | $45K – $151K | $6K | 9.5% | 3,572 |
| SONIC DRIVE-IN | $1.7M – $3.1M | $15K | 5.0% | 3,441 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | $366K – $728K | $35K | 6.0% | 2,647 |
| ARBY'S | $645K – $2.5M | $38K | 4.0% | 2,316 |
Fast Food Average 126 franchises | $594K – $1.5M | $35K | 6.1% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 126 Fast Food franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+36 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for Burger King franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
2,183 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
2,183 Contacts Available
Unlock all Burger King franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Primarily royalty and advertising fee disputes, franchise agreement terminations, and breach of contract/lease matters.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
As of the 2026 FDD, Burger King has 5,524 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1954.
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