Can you buy a Chipotle franchise?
The answer is no: in the United States, Chipotle doesn't sell franchises. The company itself owns and operates all its restaurants across the U.S. and Canada.
In its annual report, Chipotle says it's one of the biggest restaurant companies owning and running all its U.S. and Canada restaurants, so you won't find any franchise fee, FDD or Item 7 cost to check. The only restaurants run by a partner are overseas, through a development agreement in the Middle East. Chipotle 2025 annual report (Form 10-K).
Other restaurant franchises you can buy
All 13 of these restaurant brands offer franchises for sale, and each one has a current FDD that lists its costs.
| Brand | total, lowest to highest | one-time fee | ongoing, usually a % of sales | does the brand show sales figures | Year filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subway | $263K to $630K | $15,000 | 8% | No | 2026 |
| Jimmy John's | $366K to $734K | $35,000 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Firehouse Subs | $405K to $876K | $20,000 | 6% | Yes | 2026 |
| Jersey Mike's | $436K to $1.16M | $20,000 | 6.5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Arby's | $869K to $2.46M | $37,500 | 4% | Yes | 2026 |
| Five Guys | $928K to $1.38M | $25,000 | 6% | No | 2026 |
| Panera Bread | $1.34M to $4.57M | $50,000 | 5% | Yes | 2026 |
| McDonald's | $1.47M to $2.64M | $45,000 | 5% (plus rent) | Yes | 2024 |
| Sonic Drive-In | $1.49M to $2.52M | $15,000 | 5% | Yes | 2026 |
| Wendy's | $1.52M to $2.99M | $50,000 | 4% | Yes | 2025 |
Before you buy, a brand has to hand over its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD); the brand's latest one is where every figure comes from. A royalty can be a portion of sales or a set amount, and it is a payment you keep making to the brand once you open. Under "Sales or earnings shown," you see if the brand reports how much its locations take in. A K stands for thousand, an M for million. The filing year is the year that FDD was listed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
Want something like Chipotle that you can own?
A franchise consultant can suggest brands in the same field that fit your cash and your area.