Loading FDD preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals
We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.
CULVER'S RESTAURANT
Culver’s Restaurants are quick-service establishments offering fresh butterburgers, frozen custard desserts, sandwiches, salads, dinners, beverages, and other menu items in a family-friendly setting. The franchisor, Culver Franchising System, LLC, sells franchises to individuals or existing franchisees, providing support in site selection, training, operations, and supply chain management, with ongoing fees including a 4% service fee and 2.5% advertising fee on gross sales. The target market includes families and customers seeking premium fast-casual dining experiences.
Loading preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Franchise Costs
4% royalty + 2.5% ad fund + $600-$1,000/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 975 Franchised Restaurants open during the entire 12 month period ending December 31, 2025. This information does not include the 45 franchised Culver's® Restaurants that opened in 2025, the 1 franchised Culver's® Restaurant that was closed for a period of time during 2025 due to a relocation of the Restaurant, and the 13 Franchised Restaurants that are non-typical locations.
* Average gross revenue and median gross revenue for franchised restaurants are directly extracted from Table 1 'Total Average Sales' on page 6 of the document. The data represents 975 franchised restaurants. The document provides detailed financial performance data (including gross profit and income) only for 'Company-Owned Restaurants' in Table 2 (pages 2-3). As per instructions, company-owned data is ignored unless no franchise data exists, and since there is no equivalent profit and loss statement or expense breakdown specifically for franchised units, no gross profit, net income, net profit, EBITDA, or estimated profit ranges could be extracted for franchised restaurants. The document explicitly lists additional expense items not included in the 'Income' for company-owned units (note 15 on page 4), and notes that franchised restaurants may incur different expenses, further preventing estimation of franchised unit profitability.
Extracted Item 19 Section
Avg. Revenue: $4,145,665
Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock financial performance dataCULVER'S RESTAURANT Franchise Analysis
Culver's dominates quick-service with its butterburgers and fresh custard, yet its network tilts heavily toward franchisees—corporate outposts are scarce. Item 19 in the 2026 FDD drops revenue stats that spotlight serious sales potential in family-friendly fast-casual. But facing sky-high startup hurdles and steady-but-not-spectacular expansion, can operators turn this premium menu into lasting wealth?
Item 7 lays out the steep financial entry: initial investment spans $3,406,350 to $10,294,100, including a $65,000 franchise fee, driven by prime real estate and buildout for that welcoming vibe. Ongoing costs hit via Item 6's 4% royalty on gross sales, 2.5% ad fund, plus $600-$1,000 monthly tech fees—eating into margins on high-volume days. Item 19 shines brightest, reporting average gross revenues of $4,145,665 and median $4,036,522 across comparable units, suggesting top performers crush it while laggards hover lower. SBA data reinforces viability with 131 loans averaging $1,409,853, proving banks back multi-million commitments here.
System health signals maturity over hypergrowth: 1,034 franchised locations dwarf 7 corporate stores, with units climbing from 990 in 2024 to 1,034 in 2025 (+4%) and 59 new units projected. Just 20 transfers indicate stable ownership, no mass exodus. For investors, the math tempts—$4M+ grosses could yield solid EBITDA after fees if costs control tight—but the $10M ceiling demands flawless execution in competitive drive-thru wars. This isn't entry-level fast food; it's a bet on operational excellence for seven-figure upside.
Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
How CULVER'S RESTAURANT Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 99% of Fast Food franchises
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Fast Food
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CULVER'S RESTAURANT Current | $3.4M – $10.3M | $65K | 4.0% | 1,034 |
| 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.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2025)
Outlets by state across the United States
+11 more states
Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock location growth dataSBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchisees (2013 – 2018)
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.
131 SBA loans on record
Unlock SBA loan history with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
994 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
994 Contacts Available
Unlock all CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchise ranges from $3,406,350 to $10,294,100. This includes a franchise fee of $65,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 4.0% of gross sales.
More Food & Beverage Franchises
Subway
Food & Beverage
MCDONALD'S
Food & Beverage
DUNKIN'
Food & Beverage
DOMINO'S PIZZA
Food & Beverage
Burger King
Food & Beverage
LITTLE CAESARS
Food & Beverage