The Counter
The Counter is a franchise offering full-service or non-traditional restaurants featuring customizable build-your-own burgers with over 312,000 combinations, signature burgers, sandwiches, salads, side dishes, desserts, ice-cream shakes, and non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages like beer and wine, using proprietary recipes and high-quality ingredients in a modern industrial setting. Franchisees operate under the comprehensive Counter System, adhering to strict standards for food preparation, operations, marketing, and intellectual property use to emphasize quality, nutrition, and customer choice. The business model targets the general public, particularly health-conscious consumers seeking alternatives to fast food, serving lunch and dinner year-round in competitive markets including fast casual and full-service dining.
Franchise Costs
6% royalty + 2.5% ad fund (up to 4%) + $55/mo POS support + up to $75/mo data fees
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How The Counter Compares
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The Counter Current | $247K – $484K | $25K | 6.0% | 1 |
| 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
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for The Counter franchisees (2012 – 2019)
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 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 Contacts Available
Unlock all The Counter franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Primarily franchisee claims of misrepresentation, fraud, and violations of state franchise laws (e.g., FIPA, WFIPA, Texas acts); franchisor claims for breach of contract, unpaid royalties and fees, termination disputes, and post-termination non-compliance.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a The Counter franchise ranges from $246,925 to $483,525. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 6.0% of gross sales.
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