The Original Mel's franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The The Original Mel's franchise fee is $35,000 and the total initial investment ranges from $615,000 to $1,536,000, with about $170,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the The Original Mel's FDD.
What are the The Original Mel's franchise fees and investment?
The The Original Mel's franchise requires a franchise fee of $35,000 and a total initial investment of $615,000 to $1,536,000. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $35,000 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $615,000 to $1,536,000 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $170,000 |
| US locations | 22 |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant (Full-Service) |
| Headquarters | Cameron Parks, California |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Franchising since | 2015 |
How does the The Original Mel's investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
The Original Mel's's minimum investment of $615,000 is above the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 253 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $35,000 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, The Original Mel's belongs with franchises over $500,000.
What should you verify in the The Original Mel's FDD?
Verify six parts of the The Original Mel's Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether The Original Mel's discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to The Original Mel's?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to The Original Mel's:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Kongdog | $25,000 | $616,000 to $11,900,000 |
| Summer Moon Coffee | $25,000 | $616,150 to $1,041,500 |
| Bengal Bay Grill | $40,000 | $617,000 to $2,522,000 |
| Fosters Freeze International | $45,000 | $611,500 to $1,009,000 |
| Taco Bell Traditional | $25,000 to $45,000 | $610,750 to $3,980,200 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a The Original Mel's franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a The Original Mel's franchise ranges from $615,000 to $1,536,000, including a franchise fee of $35,000, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a The Original Mel's franchise?
The Original Mel's lists a minimum of about $170,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many The Original Mel's locations are there?
The Original Mel's reported 22 US locations in the data compiled in October 2026. Item 20 of the FDD shows openings, closures and transfers for the last three years.
How long has The Original Mel's been franchising?
The Original Mel's started offering franchises in 2015 after the company was founded in 2014.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. The Original Mel's and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Original Mel's. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.