How many CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchise locations are there?

As of the 2026 FDD, CULVER'S RESTAURANT has 1,034 franchise locations.

Can you get an SBA loan for a CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchises. Historical data shows 131 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchisees, with an average loan amount of $1,409,853. The historical default rate is 0.0%.

Is CULVER'S RESTAURANT a good franchise to buy?

CULVER'S RESTAURANT shows several positive indicators: established brand with 1,034+ locations, low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

CULVER'S RESTAURANT

FDD Year:

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.

1,034

Locations

$3406K–$10294K

Investment

Food & BeveragePrairie du Sac, WIwww.culvers.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$65,000

Item 5 of FDD

Initial Investment Range

$3,406,350 – $10,294,100

Low: $3,406,350High: $10,294,100

Item 7 of FDD

Royalty Rate

4.00%

of gross sales

Brand Fund

2.50%

Item 6 of FDD

Fixed Monthly Fees

$600 – $1,000

Item 6 of FDD

4% royalty + 2.5% ad fund + $600-$1,000/mo technology fee

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
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
JIMMY JOHN'S	$366K – $734K	$35K	6.0%	2,737
Fast Food Average 129 franchises	$608K – $1.6M	$35K	6.1%	–

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 129 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

Top States

1WI

148

2IL

140

3FL

126

4MI

107

5IN

6MN

7MO

8AZ

9IA

10OH

11GA

12CO

13NC

14AL

15KY

+11 more states

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchisees (2013 – 2018)

Total Loans

131

Average Loan

$1,409,853

Total Volume

$184.7M

Default Rate

0.0%

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

994 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

Name	Address	Phone	Email	SBA Loan
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active

994 Contacts Available

Unlock all CULVER'S RESTAURANT franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0

No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations

Non-Renewals

Reacquired

Ceased Ops

Transfers

Sold to Franchisees

Projected New

Frequently 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.