Franchise Comparator

Franchise fee comparison: 83 brands from their FDDs

For 83 brands, this franchise fee comparison lists the initial franchise fee, royalty and ad fund, plus the investment range in Item 7 and the unit count in Item 20. A state franchise registry, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, holds each brand's filed FDD, and every figure comes from it. Starting fees range from $2,000 at Kumon up to $150,000 at Kiddie Academy.

The median royalty is 5.95% across the 60 brands charging a single flat share of sales; the other 23 use a set amount, a tiered rate or another basis, kept in the words the FDD uses.

83 brands

Franchise fee comparison: Item 7 range, Item 20 units, fee, royalty and ad fund for 83 brands, each from their FDDs. The table sorts by its column headers.
Item 5Item 6, as disclosedAd fundItem 6, as disclosedItem 20, year endItem 20, year end
7 Brew logo7 BrewCoffee$35,0004.5% to 7%2% of weekly gross sales$941K$2.28M57824Yes2026
Ace Hardware logoAce HardwareRetail$5,000No royalty$6,000 during year one, then 2% of purchases from the prior year$604K$2M4,885259Yes2025
Anytime Fitness logoAnytime FitnessFitness$42,500$842 a month$900 a month$539K$905K2,27111Yes2026
Arby's logoArby'sRestaurants$37,5004%3.22% to 5% of gross sales$869K$2.46M2,344921Yes2026
Auntie Anne's logoAuntie Anne'sBakery and snacks$35,5007%2% of net sales (3% for street locations)$158K$836K1,23611Yes2026
Baskin-Robbins logoBaskin-RobbinsIce cream$25,0005.9%5% of gross sales$307K$627K9670Yes2026
Blaze Pizza logoBlaze PizzaPizza$30,0005%2% of gross sales$757K$1.3M2300Yes2026
BrightStar Care logoBrightStar CareSenior care$50,0005.25%$500 a month or 2.5% of net billings, whichever is more$101K$217K--Yes2026
Burger King logoBurger KingRestaurants$50,0004.5%up to 4.5% of gross sales$2.04M$4.73M5,5181,132Yes2026
Caribou Coffee logoCaribou CoffeeCoffee$30,0005%No more than 3% of gross sales (2% goes to the brand fund now)$898K$1.51M144350Yes2026
Chick-fil-A logoChick-fil-AChicken$10,00015% + 50% of profitAs much as 3.25% of gross receipts, not currently charged$318K$3.46M2,79568Yes2026
Chicken Salad Chick logoChicken Salad ChickChicken$50,0005%2% of gross sales$777K$999K25274Yes2026
Cinnabon logoCinnabonBakery and snacks$35,5006%2.5% of net sales (3% for street locations)$257K$704K1,31028Yes2026
Circle K logoCircle KConvenience stores$25,0003.5% to 6%0.25% of gross sales, with local and national promotion fees added$1.47M$2.87M5155,556No2026
Comfort Keepers logoComfort KeepersSenior care$55,0005%2% of gross revenue, with a monthly cap of about $803$120K$191K6195Yes2026
Crumbl logoCrumblBakery and snacks$50,0008%2% of gross sales$849K$1.47M1,1010Yes2026
Crunch Fitness logoCrunch FitnessFitness$35,0005%2% of monthly gross sales$2.15M$5.37M4815Yes2026
Culver's logoCulver'sRestaurants$45,000 to $65,0004%2.5% of gross sales$3.41M$10.3M1,0347Yes2026
Dave's Hot Chicken logoDave's Hot ChickenChicken$40,0006%4% of gross sales$824K$4.12M34810No2026
Domino's logoDomino'sPizza$10,0005.5%4% of weekly sales$231K$744K6,948262Yes2026
Dunkin' logoDunkin'Coffee$40,000 to $90,0005.9%5% of gross sales$532K$1.83M8,74436Yes2026
Dunn Brothers Coffee logoDunn Brothers CoffeeCoffee$30,0005%3% of gross sales$449K$728K394Yes2026
European Wax Center logoEuropean Wax CenterBeauty and wellness$36,000 to $45,0006%3% of gross sales$332K$777K1,0425Yes2026
F45 Training logoF45 TrainingFitness$60,0007% (at least $2,500 a month)$200 a month or up to 2% of gross sales, whichever is more$362K$858K7072Yes2026
Firehouse Subs logoFirehouse SubsRestaurants$20,0006%5% of gross sales$405K$876K1,24942Yes2026
Five Guys logoFive GuysRestaurants$25,0006%up to 4% of gross sales (2% now)$928K$1.38M970613No2026
Gong cha logoGong chaBubble tea$37,0006%1% of net sales$207K$648K362Yes2026
Great Clips logoGreat ClipsBeauty and wellness$20,0006%5% of gross sales$188K$420K4,4410Yes2026
Home Instead logoHome InsteadSenior care$54,0005%2% of gross sales$93K$351K6268Yes2026
Jamba logoJambaSmoothies and bowls$35,5006%3% of net sales$481K$941K7091Yes2026
Jersey Mike's logoJersey Mike'sRestaurants$20,0006.5%Altogether 5% of gross receipts (across two advertising funds)$436K$1.16M3,20126Yes2026
Jet's Pizza logoJet's PizzaPizza$15,000 to $30,00012% of inventory boughtup to 10% of inventory bought, for advertising$573K$786K39456No2025
Jiffy Lube logoJiffy LubeAutomotive$35,0004%1.5% of gross sales$211K$510K1,765318Yes2026
Jimmy John's logoJimmy John'sRestaurants$35,0006%4.5% of weekly gross sales$366K$734K2,73740Yes2026
KFC logoKFCChicken$45,0005%5.8% of gross revenue at present, dropping in later years$2.11M$4.16M3,40486Yes2026
Kiddie Academy logoKiddie AcademyChildcare$70,000 to $150,0007%2% of gross revenue$590K$1.01M3631Yes2026
Kumon logoKumonTutoring$2,000 to $3,000$38 per student a month$300 a month new-center marketing fee$102K$234K1,7055No2026
Kung Fu Tea logoKung Fu TeaBubble tea$37,0004%2% of gross sales$169K$378K3442No2026
Little Caesars logoLittle CaesarsPizza$20,0006% (at least $300 a week)up to 7% of gross sales for advertising$377K$1.77M3,788586No2026
Marble Slab Creamery logoMarble Slab CreameryIce cream$25,0006%2% of net sales$355K$477K2490Yes2025
Marco's Pizza logoMarco's PizzaPizza$25,0005.5%1% of net sales, with another 4% going to a national advertising fund$286K$811K1,13945Yes2026
Massage Envy logoMassage EnvyBeauty and wellness$45,0006%2% of gross sales$696K$1.05M9930Yes2026
Mathnasium logoMathnasiumTutoring$49,00010% + $650 a month$250 a month plus 2% of gross receipts$127K$166K1,0434Yes2026
McDonald's logoMcDonald'sRestaurants$45,0005% (plus rent)at least 4% of gross sales on advertising$1.47M$2.64M12,772685Yes2024
Merry Maids logoMerry MaidsCleaning$55,0007%1.3% of gross sales$127K$169K6840Yes2026
MOD Pizza logoMOD PizzaPizza$30,0005%2% of weekly revenue$1M$1.3M87465No2024
Molly Maid logoMolly MaidCleaning$14,9003% to 6.5%2% of gross sales$144K$204K4320Yes2026
Mr. Rooter logoMr. RooterHome services$42,5006%2% of gross sales, with monthly minimums$153K$299K2382Yes2026
Nothing Bundt Cakes logoNothing Bundt CakesBakery and snacks$45,0006%5% of weekly net revenue$475K$994K7718Yes2026
Orangetheory Fitness logoOrangetheory FitnessFitness$59,9508%3% of gross sales$765K$1.1M1,20915Yes2026
Panera Bread logoPanera BreadRestaurants$50,0005%4% of net sales goes to the national advertising fund$1.34M$4.57M1,1061,108Yes2026
Papa John's logoPapa John'sPizza$5,000 to $25,0005%6% of net sales$281K$890K2,832462Yes2026
Pet Supplies Plus logoPet Supplies PlusPets$49,9002%, then 3%Year one: $1,000 a month, then about 1.17% of gross sales$520K$1.82M498231Yes2026
Pizza Hut logoPizza HutPizza$25,0006%4.75% of gross sales$846K$2.13M4,95675Yes2026
PJ's Coffee logoPJ's CoffeeCoffee$15,000 to $40,0005%2% of net sales$523K$899K16713Yes2026
Planet Fitness logoPlanet FitnessFitness$40,0007% of dues2% of membership fees (up to 3%)$1.28M$5.39M2,432277Yes2026
Playa Bowls logoPlaya BowlsSmoothies and bowls$35,0006%2% of gross sales$282K$1.06M34230Yes2026
Popeyes logoPopeyesChicken$50,0005%4.6% to 5% of gross sales$1.22M$3.92M3,13495Yes2026
Primrose Schools logoPrimrose SchoolsChildcare$50,000 to $80,0007%2% of gross revenue$5.02M$7.96M5570Yes2026
Right at Home logoRight at HomeSenior care$49,5005%2% of net billings up to $1,000,000 in a year, then 1% beyond that$94K$176K5666Yes2026
Scooter's Coffee logoScooter's CoffeeCoffee$40,0006%2% of net sales$1.16M$1.35M88224Yes2026
Servpro logoServproHome services$100,0003% to 10%2.5% of monthly gross volume$263K$386K2,3540No2026
Sharetea logoShareteaBubble tea$12,0006% (at least $1,200 a month)-$276K$606K1460No2026
Slim Chickens logoSlim ChickensChicken$30,0005%2% of gross sales$1.19M$4.94M20411Yes2026
Sonic Drive-In logoSonic Drive-InRestaurants$15,0005%0.9% of gross sales, with at least 3.25% more for local advertising$1.49M$2.52M3,120292Yes2026
Subway logoSubwayRestaurants$15,0008%4.5% of gross sales$263K$630K18,7730No2026
Supercuts logoSupercutsBeauty and wellness$39,5004%, then 6%5% of net service revenue$186K$323K1,701100Yes2025
Taco Bell logoTaco BellRestaurants$45,0005.5%4.25% of gross sales$1.86M$4.31M7,335663Yes2026
Take 5 Oil Change logoTake 5 Oil ChangeAutomotive$45,0007%5% of gross sales$912K$2.05M432710Yes2025
The Goddard School logoThe Goddard SchoolChildcare$135,0007%4% of gross receipts$1M$1.5M6650Yes2026
The Human Bean logoThe Human BeanCoffee$35,000No royalty1% of adjusted gross sales$672K$1.53M17612Yes2026
The Joint Chiropractic logoThe Joint ChiropracticBeauty and wellness$39,9007% (at least $700 a month)2% of gross sales$254K$521K800135Yes2024
The Learning Experience logoThe Learning ExperienceChildcare$60,0007%1% of gross revenue$806K$1.56M43629Yes2026
The Maids logoThe MaidsCleaning$60,0003.9% to 6.9%2% of gross revenue$118K$141K39431Yes2026
The UPS Store logoThe UPS StoreRetail$14,950 to $39,9505%2.5% of sales, plus 1% for local marketing$114K$413K5,48716No2026
Tim Hortons logoTim HortonsCoffee$50,0004.5% to 6%4% of gross sales$988K$3.31M--Yes2026
Tommy's Express Car Wash logoTommy's Express Car WashAutomotive$50,0004%1% of gross sales$3.48M$11.8M24416Yes2026
Tropical Smoothie Cafe logoTropical Smoothie CafeSmoothies and bowls$35,0006%5% of gross sales$276K$771K1,6501Yes2026
Valvoline Instant Oil Change logoValvoline Instant Oil ChangeAutomotive$30,0006% from year threeup to 2% of adjusted gross revenue, with a yearly cap$192K$640K1,063976Yes2026
Visiting Angels logoVisiting AngelsSenior care$51,950 to $89,9503% to 3.5%$425 a month or 2.5% of gross revenue, whichever is more$125K$171K5410Yes2026
Wendy's logoWendy'sRestaurants$50,0004%2% to 4% of gross sales on advertising$1.52M$2.99M5,552381Yes2025
Zaxby's logoZaxby'sChicken$35,0006%1.5% of gross sales$1.45M$3.81M826143Yes2025
Ziggi's Coffee logoZiggi's CoffeeCoffee$40,0006%1% of gross sales$587K$1.76M1078Yes2026

Download CSV or JSON. The source is the franchise disclosure documents on file with the franchise registry at the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Every row in the download links back to its FDD filing.

Franchise royalty comparison: how each figure is written

Every row reflects the newest FDD each brand has on the Minnesota registry, dated between 2024 and 2026; the FDD year column tells you which.

When a royalty or ad fund isn't a single flat share of sales, like the $842 monthly charge at Anytime Fitness or the tiered 4.5% to 7% at 7 Brew, the FDD wording stays as is and no percentage is calculated. Sort by royalty and the flat percentages come first, followed by tiered rates and then set amounts.

Item 7 gives a range showing how much the franchisor estimates it costs in total to open: the fee, build-out and equipment, opening stock plus working capital for the first months. Unit counts come from the year-end figures reported in the same FDD's Item 20. Where a dash appears, the copy of that FDD on the registry offers no usable number.

Left out are 7-Eleven, Smoothie King, Dairy Queen, Whataburger, Wingstop, Biggby Coffee, Hand & Stone and Dogtopia, since the figures for them are published on each brand's own franchise site rather than in a registry FDD; their pages say so.

The franchise fee, royalty, Item 7 and Item 20 explained

The meaning of every column is set out in FDD Item 7, FDD Item 20 and franchise fee vs royalty. Clicking any brand name opens a page for that brand with its FDD link, and from the home page the FDD database filters these same brands by category and starting cost. The franchise rankings by average unit volume rank Item 19 sales per outlet on a like-for-like basis.

Major brands with no franchises on offer

In the United States you can't buy a franchise from In-N-Out Burger, Chipotle, Dutch Bros, Starbucks, CAVA, Black Rock Coffee Bar, Shake Shack, Sweetgreen or Insomnia Cookies. With no FDD to compare, none of them gets a row here.

Want the fees in your agreement checked?

One franchise attorney can read Items 5 and 6 and the franchise agreement with you before you sign. Send your details and they will contact you.

Add the brands you like or a note (optional)
  • Sending this form is free.
  • We pass it to one franchise attorney, not a list of firms.
  • The attorney tells you their fee before any work starts, so ask for it on the first call.
  • The attorney may pay us for the referral; no brand pays to be listed here.