Panera Bread vs Wendy's: franchise cost side by side

Panera Bread is the cheaper of the two to open, from $1,337,139; Wendy's starts at $1,523,957.

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

Which brand are you looking at?

Which brand do you want to set it against?

Add a third brand (optional)

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

Wendy's starts at $1,523,957, the lowest cost to open given in each FDD.

From each FDD	Panera Bread	Wendy's
Total cost to open	$1,337,139 to $4,569,880	$1,523,957 to $2,992,000
Upfront fee	$50,000	$50,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)	5% of net sales	4% of gross sales
Marketing fund	4% of net sales to the national advertising fund	2% to 4% of gross sales on advertising
Published sales	$2,541,217 a year (average of 1,073 locations, 2025)	$2,108,454 a year (average of 5,325 locations, 2024)
Outlets	1,106 franchised, 1,108 company	5,552 franchised, 381 company
Year filed	2026	2025

More comparisons with Panera Bread and Wendy's

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

A franchise consultant can talk you through the trade-offs for your budget and area. Send your details and one will contact you.

State where you plan to open

Cash you could put in

Your name

Phone, for a call-back (optional)

Add the brands you like or a note (optional)

Brands you're looking at

Anything else

Sending this form is free.
We pass it to one franchise consultant, not a list of brokers.
Consultants are usually paid by the brand you buy, so ask which brands pay them.
The consultant may pay us for the referral; no brand pays to be listed here.