Food & Restaurant franchises: costs, fees and investment
Short answer: Across 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $297,082 and the median starting franchise fee is $35,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Bento Sushi at $2,600.
Food and restaurant franchises include quick-service, fast-casual, full-service, coffee, dessert and bakery concepts. They usually carry the highest build-out and equipment costs in Item 7 and depend on hourly staff and long opening hours.
What do franchises in this group cost?
Franchises in this group have a median minimum investment of $297,082, a median starting franchise fee of $35,000 and a median liquid cash requirement of $80,000, calculated from 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database. Medians use the low end of each brand's reported range.
Which franchises are on the list?
The table sorts 1,213 franchises from the lowest to the highest starting investment, 100 per page. This page shows brands 1 to 100.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bento Sushi | $2,000 to $100,000 | $2,600 to $171,800 | $10,000 | 63 |
| Winchell's Donut House | $0 | $3,400 to $71,700 | $5,000 | 31 |
| Champs Chicken | $0 | $9,000 to $349,000 | $20,000 | 403 |
| Chick Fil A (Franchise Program) | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 | 2,684 |
| Stickhouse | $2,500 to $40,000 | $12,100 to $694,900 | $35,000 | 4 |
| Candy Bouquet | $7,000 to $35,000 | $12,470 to $517,800 | $30,000 | N/R |
| Brooker's Founding Flavors Ice Cream | $45,000 | $13,500 to $210,000 | $15,000 | 4 |
| Bimbo Bakeries | $8,000 to $500,000 | $14,350 to $606,700 | $30,000 | 6,957 |
| Nextbite | $2,000 | $14,500 to $24,500 | $5,000 | N/R |
| Earthgrains | $8,000 to $500,000 | $15,425 to $607,850 | $35,000 | 428 |
| Ace Sushi | $6,000 to $15,000 | $18,275 to $119,650 | $10,000 | 535 |
| Ace Sushi Non-Traditional | $6,000 to $15,000 | $18,275 to $127,650 | $10,000 | 106 |
| Sprinkles Cupcakes | $40,000 | $18,378 to $49,648 | $5,000 | 24 |
| Macu | $25,000 | $19,680 to $36,300 | $5,000 | 2 |
| Wienerschnitzel | $3,000 to $15,000 | $20,000 to $156,200 | $10,000 | 325 |
| Snowfox | $1,000 to $100,000 | $21,442 to $223,920 | $15,000 | 1,470 |
| Sticky's | $40,000 | $21,870 to $59,560 | $5,000 | 14 |
| Mountain Mudd | $5,000 to $10,000 | $22,500 to $266,000 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Fuego Cravings | $35,000 | $23,260 to $43,500 | $5,000 | N/R |
| Cousins Maine Lobster (Food Truck) | $40,000 | $24,340 to $1,216,000 | $65,000 | 73 |
| Balance Pan-Asian Grille | $35,000 | $24,550 to $196,500 | $15,000 | 5 |
| Milkster | $15,000 to $30,000 | $25,650 to $192,000 | $15,000 | 12 |
| U-Swirl | $6,000 to $25,000 | $26,000 to $686,320 | $40,000 | 57 |
| Hissho Sushi/Oumi Sushi/Sushi with Gusto | $7,500 | $26,849 to $136,829 | $10,000 | 2,449 |
| Chester's | $3,500 | $27,500 to $301,500 | $20,000 | 993 |
| Fujisan | $3,750 | $28,183 to $104,055 | $10,000 | 742 |
| Schakolad Chocolate | $18,000 to $30,000 | $28,600 to $144,000 | $10,000 | N/R |
| Lemon Heaven | $25,000 | $29,750 to $174,000 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Noble Roman's Craft Pizza & Pub | $7,500 to $10,000 | $32,100 to $141,700 | $10,000 | 2,820 |
| Tiger Sugar | $85,000 | $33,570 to $62,000 | $10,000 | 63 |
| Nikko | $4,000 | $35,000 to $50,000 | $10,000 | 38 |
| International Food Creations | $5,000 | $38,575 to $82,375 | $10,000 | 76 |
| Erbert & Gerbert | $5,000 to $30,000 | $39,500 to $460,270 | $30,000 | 64 |
| Falbo Bros Pizzeria | $10,000 to $15,000 | $40,000 to $160,000 | $15,000 | N/R |
| House of Bread | $5,000 to $35,000 | $42,000 to $456,000 | $30,000 | 5 |
| Mai Sushi | $3,500 to $4,500 | $42,170 to $133,500 | $15,000 | 123 |
| Tio Juan's Margaritas Mexican Restaurant | $40,000 | $42,170 to $133,500 | $15,000 | 25 |
| The Dapper Doughnut | $13,300 to $35,000 | $43,100 to $353,000 | $25,000 | 24 |
| Nestle Toll House Café | $18,750 to $37,500 | $44,000 to $585,800 | $35,000 | 90 |
| Advanced Fresh Concepts | $6,250 | $45,004 to $151,404 | $15,000 | 4,427 |
| The Rush Coffee | $20,000 | $47,100 to $202,300 | $15,000 | 2 |
| Azal Coffee | $25,000 | $47,750 to $153,250 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Pada Sushi | $20,000 | $48,100 to $101,350 | $10,000 | 40 |
| Nathan's BMP | $7,500 | $48,150 to $90,500 | $10,000 | 75 |
| KOKEE TEA | $25,000 | $49,385 to $430,750 | $30,000 | N/R |
| Five Lakes Coffee | $35,000 | $49,769 to $58,419 | $10,000 | 8 |
| Kpot Hot Pot and Barbecue | $50,000 | $50,360 to $178,800 | $15,000 | 54 |
| Pizza Hut Non-Traditional | $5,000 to $20,000 | $50,800 to $304,000 | $25,000 | 1,332 |
| Hood Guyz | $18,500 to $23,000 | $52,100 to $65,275 | $10,000 | 12 |
| Mister O1 Extraordinary Pizza | $40,000 | $52,600 to $70,600 | $10,000 | 5 |
| Cereality | $5,600 to $30,000 | $53,010 to $352,550 | $25,000 | 1 |
| Sambazon | $30,000 | $54,000 to $113,000 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Foodjets | $30,000 | $55,300 to $82,300 | $10,000 | 15 |
| The Piggy BBQ | $35,000 | $55,500 | $10,000 | 2 |
| Genji | $3,500 to $4,500 | $55,550 to $89,200 | $15,000 | 155 |
| Limeberry Yogurt | $15,000 | $55,700 to $275,000 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Gateway Newstands | $15,000 to $150,000 | $55,875 to $501,750 | $35,000 | 116 |
| The Bagel Nook | $30,000 | $56,000 to $107,550 | $15,000 | 5 |
| Baby's Badass | $29,750 | $56,400 to $89,750 | $15,000 | 6 |
| Stoney's Sourdough Pizza Co | $20,000 | $57,600 to $75,800 | $10,000 | 1 |
| Flowers Foods (Flowers Baking Co) | $50,000 to $150,000 | $57,940 to $240,100 | $20,000 | 292 |
| Pizza 9 | $5,000 to $18,500 | $59,380 to $389,980 | $30,000 | 22 |
| Delivery.Com | $30,000 | $59,750 to $91,100 | $15,000 | 242 |
| Meals of Hope | $40,000 | $61,050 to $71,925 | $15,000 | 8 |
| IHOP Non-Traditional | $25,000 | $61,750 to $121,250 | $15,000 | 48 |
| The Wacked Out Weiner | $15,000 | $62,000 to $174,000 | $20,000 | 9 |
| Baba Saj | $55,000 | $62,032 to $327,170 | $25,000 | 2 |
| Mr. Delivery | $15,000 | $62,200 to $68,700 | $15,000 | 27 |
| The Cookie Dough Cafe | $20,000 to $25,000 | $62,800 to $810,000 | $50,000 | 1 |
| Somedays | $35,000 | $62,845 to $86,995 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Orion Food Systems | $0 | $63,097 to $173,097 | $20,000 | 752 |
| Dirt Juicery | $29,900 | $64,350 to $433,000 | $30,000 | N/R |
| Southern Maid Donuts | $5,000 | $64,500 to $234,500 | $20,000 | 71 |
| Sushi Avenue | $1,000 to $20,000 | $64,799 to $12,438,497 | $630,000 | 228 |
| Woops! | $40,000 to $45,000 | $64,875 to $400,675 | $30,000 | 26 |
| Vino 100 | $0 to $30,000 | $65,000 to $430,825 | $30,000 | N/R |
| Totally Nutz | $27,500 | $66,372 to $229,000 | $20,000 | 80 |
| Bonita Bowls | $35,000 | $66,552 to $421,252 | $30,000 | 4 |
| TeaCupFuls | $48,000 | $67,900 to $137,900 | $15,000 | 4 |
| City Brew Tours | $30,000 | $68,200 to $91,500 | $15,000 | 4 |
| Carousel's Soft Serve Icery | $35,000 | $70,750 to $328,750 | $25,000 | 2 |
| Frios Gourmet Pops | $37,500 | $71,615 to $90,654 | $15,000 | 109 |
| Sauce Pizza / Wine | $40,000 | $72,250 to $255,570 | $25,000 | N/R |
| Superior Food Safety | $50,000 | $74,023 to $100,906 | $15,000 | 1 |
| Milk Jar Cookies | $50,000 | $74,615 to $304,950 | $25,000 | 1 |
| Fish & Chips | $50,000 | $74,650 to $134,900 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Lviv Croissants | $20,000 | $74,700 to $104,500 | $15,000 | N/R |
| Emerald City Smoothie | $15,000 | $75,250 to $149,200 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Omari Sushi | $3,750 | $75,850 to $524,300 | $40,000 | N/R |
| HOLDAAK | $25,000 | $77,050 to $116,450 | $15,000 | 7 |
| Azuquita | $30,000 | $77,295 to $253,850 | $25,000 | 1 |
| TKK Fried Chicken | $37,500 | $77,400 to $246,900 | $25,000 | 29 |
| PizzaExpress | $19,451 | $77,500 to $129,000 | $20,000 | N/R |
| Cilantro Taco Grill | $35,000 | $77,528 to $125,379 | $20,000 | 15 |
| Tabla | $45,000 | $79,250 to $117,500 | $20,000 | 4 |
| WeDats | $30,000 | $80,274 to $115,875 | $20,000 | 4 |
| Redstraw | $45,000 | $80,700 to $124,500 | $20,000 | 2 |
| Chef Pam's Kitchen | $35,000 to $40,000 | $82,500 to $127,000 | $20,000 | 1 |
| NOORI Chicken | $35,000 | $82,850 to $121,400 | $20,000 | 1 |
| Loving Hut | $15,000 | $83,000 to $400,000 | $30,000 | N/R |
N/R = not reported.
How do you compare franchises from this list?
Compare franchises from this list by putting each brand's Item 5 fee, Item 6 ongoing fees and the high end of the Item 7 investment side by side, then checking Item 20 for closures and transfers. The guide to franchise costs explains each line, and the 8-step selection process shows the order of due diligence.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a food & restaurant franchise cost?
Across 1213 brands in the SelectFranchiseList database (compiled October 2026), the median minimum initial investment is $297,082 and the median starting franchise fee is $35,000. The lowest starting investment in this group is Bento Sushi at $2,600.
How much cash do I need to buy a franchise in this group?
The median minimum liquid cash requirement in this group is $80,000. Franchisors set their own capital requirements, and lenders usually finance part of the total investment.
Are these figures guaranteed?
No. The figures come from franchise disclosure data and public listings and change with every annual FDD. Confirm fees in Items 5 and 6 and the investment in Item 7 of each brand's current FDD.
Other franchise industries
- Home Services franchises
- Fitness franchises
- Education & Children franchises
- Retail franchises
- Business Services franchises
- Other Franchise Businesses franchises
- Hotels & Travel franchises
- Healthcare & Senior Care franchises
- Beauty & Personal Care franchises
- Automotive franchises
- Real Estate franchises
- Pet franchises
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Brand names belong to their owners; listing does not imply endorsement. Not an offer to sell a franchise.