Panera Bread vs Taco Bell: franchise cost side by side

Panera Bread is the cheaper of the two to open, from $1,337,139; Taco Bell starts at $1,859,750.

Every figure comes from the brand's FDD, the disclosure file it must hand you before you sign.

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Panera Bread is the cheaper to open, from $1,337,139.

Taco Bell starts at $1,859,750, the lowest cost to open given in each FDD.

From each FDD	Panera Bread	Taco Bell
Total cost to open	$1,337,139 to $4,569,880	$1,859,750 to $4,312,200
Upfront fee	$50,000	$45,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)	5% of net sales	5.5% of gross sales
Marketing fund	4% of net sales to the national advertising fund	4.25% of gross sales
Published sales	$2,541,217 a year (average of 1,073 locations, 2025)	Published, no single figure
Outlets	1,106 franchised, 1,108 company	7,335 franchised, 663 company
Year filed	2026	2026

More comparisons with Panera Bread and Taco Bell

Every brand's fee, royalty and Item 7 range is also in one table you can download: the franchise fee comparison.

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