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 901 to 1000.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barberitos | $35,000 | $521,000 to $830,360 | $120,000 | 42 |
| Mike's Red Tacos | $40,000 | $521,400 to $864,700 | $120,000 | N/R |
| Salata Salad Kitchen | $40,000 | $522,000 to $968,500 | $125,000 | 78 |
| Yalla Mediterranean | $5,000 | $525,500 to $988,000 | $130,000 | 7 |
| Afuri | $45,000 | $526,000 to $919,000 | $125,000 | 6 |
| Bad Ass Coffee Of Hawaii | $40,000 | $526,100 to $992,400 | $130,000 | 33 |
| Ritter's Frozen Custard | $25,000 | $526,500 to $1,138,000 | $135,000 | 18 |
| The Great Greek | $35,550 to $39,500 | $526,670 to $1,188,420 | $140,000 | 77 |
| Dunkin' | $40,000 to $90,000 | $526,900 to $1,832,500 | $170,000 | 8,499 |
| Aroma Espresso Bar | $55,000 | $527,500 to $1,495,000 | $155,000 | N/R |
| Bahama Buck's | $34,500 | $528,050 to $1,223,050 | $140,000 | 115 |
| The Pizza Press | $35,000 | $528,350 to $798,500 | $120,000 | 9 |
| Rusty Taco | $30,000 | $528,400 to $1,127,950 | $135,000 | 37 |
| Cowboy Chicken | $35,000 | $531,996 to $907,643 | $125,000 | 17 |
| B.GOOD | $40,000 | $532,000 to $846,000 | $120,000 | 57 |
| CHOP5 Salad Kitchen | $40,000 | $532,300 to $951,200 | $125,000 | 3 |
| Manhattan Bagel | $25,000 | $537,200 to $894,700 | $125,000 | 64 |
| Barrel House | $40,000 | $540,000 to $1,215,000 | $140,000 | 7 |
| Yojie | $35,000 | $540,000 to $870,000 | $125,000 | N/R |
| Donatos Pizza | $30,000 | $541,818 to $1,038,174 | $135,000 | 176 |
| Broken Yolk Cafe | $20,000 | $543,950 to $1,461,350 | $155,000 | 35 |
| Burger Boss | $40,000 | $544,060 to $805,650 | $120,000 | 4 |
| Qdoba | $40,000 | $545,500 to $1,294,000 | $145,000 | 759 |
| Lumberjacks | $40,000 | $545,800 to $1,445,700 | $155,000 | 9 |
| Happy Joe's | $30,000 to $40,000 | $546,643 to $1,358,853 | $150,000 | 32 |
| Uberrito | $40,000 | $549,000 to $985,000 | $130,000 | 4 |
| DQ Treat | $25,000 | $549,100 to $1,604,700 | $165,000 | 727 |
| Buttermilk Café | $40,000 | $554,300 to $1,511,200 | $160,000 | 3 |
| Nathan's | $30,000 | $554,350 to $2,032,610 | $185,000 | 75 |
| Einstein Bros Bagels | $10,000 to $35,000 | $555,000 to $1,030,500 | $135,000 | 415 |
| Pepper Lunch | $50,000 | $559,300 to $3,167,800 | $240,000 | 5 |
| The Human Bean | $30,000 | $562,090 to $1,290,931 | $150,000 | 158 |
| Crazy Otto's Diner | $25,000 | $563,200 to $760,400 | $120,000 | 5 |
| Hurricane Grill & Wings | $50,000 | $564,200 to $2,535,600 | $210,000 | 41 |
| Country Kitchen International | $40,000 | $565,000 to $1,674,000 | $170,000 | 20 |
| Board & Brew | $35,000 | $567,000 to $802,000 | $125,000 | 25 |
| Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe | $35,000 | $567,000 to $1,198,000 | $145,000 | 100 |
| Buffalo's Cafe | $50,000 | $568,020 to $2,528,500 | $210,000 | 13 |
| Jet's Pizza | $15,000 to $30,000 | $572,500 to $786,000 | $125,000 | 450 |
| Pizza Forum | $18,500 | $574,000 to $983,500 | $135,000 | 36 |
| OSMOW'S | $35,000 | $576,675 to $3,928,350 | $285,000 | 5 |
| Pop's Italian Beef & Sausage | $25,000 | $577,200 to $1,228,000 | $150,000 | 17 |
| Waters Edge Wineries | $55,000 | $577,295 to $1,335,899 | $155,000 | 10 |
| Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken | $75,000 | $577,500 to $1,283,500 | $150,000 | 33 |
| Spitz Mediterranean | $35,000 | $579,250 to $1,115,050 | $145,000 | 25 |
| The Honey Baked Ham Co | $15,000 | $581,400 to $876,950 | $130,000 | 439 |
| Chick Fil A (License Program) | $0 | $585,500 to $3,337,000 | $255,000 | 412 |
| Aroma Joe's | $25,000 | $586,599 to $1,859,492 | $180,000 | 112 |
| Savvy Sliders | $35,000 | $587,833 to $1,071,500 | $140,000 | 37 |
| Saladworks | $35,000 | $590,000 to $764,500 | $125,000 | 91 |
| Naz's Halal | $40,000 | $594,000 to $1,187,300 | $150,000 | N/R |
| Capriotti's Sandwich Shop | $40,000 | $594,700 to $935,000 | $135,000 | 153 |
| 85°C Bakery Cafe | $50,000 | $603,225 to $1,164,500 | $150,000 | 81 |
| Caribou Coffee | $30,000 | $606,100 to $1,429,000 | $160,000 | 487 |
| Fresh and Co | $45,000 | $609,248 to $1,543,000 | $170,000 | 15 |
| Super Chix | $17,000 | $610,367 to $1,012,800 | $140,000 | 7 |
| Taco Bell Traditional | $25,000 to $45,000 | $610,750 to $3,980,200 | $290,000 | 7,680 |
| Fosters Freeze International | $45,000 | $611,500 to $1,009,000 | $140,000 | 61 |
| The Original Mel's | $35,000 | $615,000 to $1,536,000 | $170,000 | 22 |
| Kongdog | $25,000 | $616,000 to $11,900,000 | $685,000 | 4 |
| Summer Moon Coffee | $25,000 | $616,150 to $1,041,500 | $145,000 | 36 |
| Bengal Bay Grill | $40,000 | $617,000 to $2,522,000 | $220,000 | N/R |
| Dave's Hot Chicken | $40,000 | $619,800 to $1,963,000 | $190,000 | 169 |
| Oakberry | $30,000 | $619,800 to $1,953,000 | $190,000 | 39 |
| Paco and Lime | $49,900 to $59,500 | $619,900 to $1,272,000 | $155,000 | N/R |
| B&B Burger & Beer Joint | $50,000 | $620,550 to $1,349,500 | $160,000 | N/R |
| Andy's Frozen Custard | $32,000 | $622,000 to $1,490,500 | $170,000 | 44 |
| Krispy Kreme | $12,500 to $25,000 | $622,500 to $4,330,000 | $310,000 | 368 |
| Keke's Breakfast Cafe | $30,000 | $622,825 to $1,887,313 | $190,000 | 69 |
| Epic Wings | $0 to $35,000 | $627,950 to $1,427,432 | $165,000 | 11 |
| Cheba Hut | $50,000 | $631,150 to $2,086,100 | $200,000 | 75 |
| Ellianos Coffee | $30,000 | $634,500 to $946,500 | $140,000 | 47 |
| I Heart Churros | $25,000 | $635,000 to $1,130,000 | $150,000 | N/R |
| The Flying Biscuit | $45,000 | $645,250 to $944,350 | $145,000 | 22 |
| Ben & Florentine | $35,000 | $646,650 to $846,800 | $140,000 | N/R |
| Fuzzy's Taco Shop | $40,000 | $647,000 to $1,555,500 | $175,000 | 117 |
| Ziggi's Coffee | $40,000 | $650,000 to $2,093,000 | $200,000 | 100 |
| Growler USA Microbrew Pub | $35,000 | $656,263 to $837,772 | $140,000 | 15 |
| Pizza Cat | $25,000 to $50,000 | $657,000 to $1,688,500 | $185,000 | 2 |
| H&H Bagels | $40,000 | $660,110 to $1,020,860 | $150,000 | 6 |
| Bb.q Chicken | $45,000 | $661,000 to $1,289,000 | $165,000 | 208 |
| Smoothie King | $25,000 to $30,000 | $661,150 to $1,277,650 | $165,000 | 1,201 |
| Blaze Pizza | $30,000 | $666,900 to $1,143,000 | $155,000 | 265 |
| Nothing Bundt Cakes | $45,000 | $667,100 to $906,500 | $145,000 | 655 |
| Dog Haus | $40,000 | $668,412 to $1,340,300 | $165,000 | 59 |
| Noodles And Company | $35,000 | $669,000 to $1,412,000 | $170,000 | 463 |
| I Scream Gelato | $30,000 | $669,200 to $1,020,500 | $150,000 | 8 |
| Asian Chao | $30,000 | $670,000 to $1,270,900 | $165,000 | 38 |
| Ginger Ales | $20,000 to $25,000 | $670,000 to $1,270,900 | $165,000 | 12 |
| Smiley Swirl | $30,000 | $670,000 to $1,270,900 | $165,000 | 1 |
| Houston's Hot Chicken | $50,000 | $670,950 to $1,760,000 | $190,000 | 23 |
| We, The Pizza | $40,000 to $50,000 | $673,000 to $895,500 | $145,000 | 2 |
| Costa Vida Fresh Mexican Grill | $30,000 | $674,500 to $1,340,000 | $170,000 | 93 |
| Blast and Brew | $15,000 to $30,000 | $682,250 to $1,203,500 | $165,000 | 7 |
| Slater's 50-50 Franchise | $5,000 to $10,000 | $685,000 to $2,067,000 | $205,000 | 10 |
| Wild Eggs | $45,000 | $686,350 to $2,252,550 | $215,000 | 4 |
| Tap House Grill Addictive Food/Creative Brews | $39,000 | $687,000 to $2,238,700 | $215,000 | 8 |
| On the Hook Fish and Chips | $35,000 | $688,000 to $1,143,000 | $160,000 | 9 |
| Shawarma Stackz | $30,000 | $690,000 to $1,225,000 | $165,000 | 2 |
| Doner Kebab | $30,000 | $690,500 to $1,123,000 | $160,000 | 7 |
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.