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 1001 to 1100.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruegger's Bagels | $35,000 | $693,800 to $1,227,150 | $165,000 | 178 |
| Cicis | $30,000 | $694,965 to $1,038,753 | $155,000 | 270 |
| Old New York | $35,000 | $700,750 to $1,151,500 | $165,000 | 3 |
| Biscuit Belly | $40,000 | $702,000 to $1,187,000 | $165,000 | 6 |
| BurgerFi | $35,000 | $704,750 to $1,171,500 | $165,000 | 82 |
| Bornga | $100,000 | $710,000 to $1,165,000 | $165,000 | N/R |
| The Counter | $16,000 to $35,000 | $712,133 to $1,983,750 | $205,000 | 11 |
| Tous Les Jours | $40,000 | $718,230 to $1,599,644 | $190,000 | 149 |
| Sugarfire Smoke House | $50,000 | $719,500 to $1,184,000 | $165,000 | 6 |
| Federal Donuts | $50,000 | $724,000 to $914,500 | $155,000 | 11 |
| Swig | $39,500 | $725,000 to $1,310,000 | $175,000 | 59 |
| Daddy's Chicken Shack | $22,500 to $45,000 | $725,750 to $1,156,750 | $165,000 | 3 |
| Fuelify | $30,000 | $726,230 to $1,183,656 | $170,000 | N/R |
| Perkins Restaurant & Bakery | $15,000 to $40,000 | $726,715 to $3,454,465 | $280,000 | 258 |
| Paris Baguette | $50,000 | $727,440 to $1,825,100 | $200,000 | 197 |
| Ruby's Diner | $35,000 to $45,000 | $737,500 to $1,922,000 | $205,000 | N/R |
| Moe's Southwest Grill | $30,500 | $745,325 to $1,819,050 | $205,000 | 596 |
| Beerhead Bar & Eatery | $35,000 to $45,000 | $746,000 to $1,561,000 | $190,000 | 9 |
| Veggie Grill | $15,000 to $30,000 | $749,000 to $1,297,000 | $175,000 | 33 |
| Monk's Bar And Grill | $30,000 | $749,500 to $3,435,000 | $285,000 | 6 |
| Pancheros | $30,000 | $752,500 to $1,537,500 | $190,000 | 76 |
| Slapfish | $40,000 | $755,100 to $1,314,200 | $180,000 | 23 |
| Roy Rogers | $30,000 | $755,250 to $1,580,950 | $190,000 | 40 |
| Primal Kitchen | $40,000 | $756,950 to $1,012,600 | $165,000 | N/R |
| Hot N Juicy Crawfish | $50,000 | $763,500 to $1,417,700 | $185,000 | 13 |
| Chicken Guy! | $50,000 | $764,500 to $3,020,000 | $265,000 | 11 |
| Chocolate Fish Coffee | $30,000 | $764,500 to $1,527,000 | $190,000 | 3 |
| Café Landwer | $30,000 | $770,000 to $1,260,000 | $180,000 | 2 |
| Los Pollos Bros | $30,000 | $776,094 to $2,074,244 | $220,000 | 3 |
| Chicken Salad Chick | $50,000 | $777,000 to $994,500 | $165,000 | 288 |
| Pizza Hut Traditional | $25,000 | $777,000 to $2,053,500 | $220,000 | 5,237 |
| Brunch | $50,000 | $782,500 to $2,010,000 | $220,000 | 3 |
| Rodizio Grill | $40,000 | $783,000 to $2,980,000 | $265,000 | 21 |
| Krystal | $35,000 | $787,700 to $2,160,000 | $225,000 | 280 |
| Mamoun's Falafel | $40,000 | $788,954 to $1,394,436 | $190,000 | 9 |
| Corelife Eatery | $35,000 | $789,500 to $1,044,000 | $170,000 | 49 |
| Skyline Chili | $20,000 | $790,000 to $1,075,000 | $170,000 | 136 |
| The Brass Tap | $25,000 | $792,950 to $1,279,550 | $185,000 | 53 |
| El Pollo Loco | $40,000 | $793,750 to $2,685,500 | $255,000 | 498 |
| Another Broken Egg Cafe | $40,000 | $802,400 to $1,599,000 | $200,000 | 101 |
| Hickory River | $30,000 | $804,000 to $1,084,500 | $175,000 | 5 |
| The Original Rainbow Cone | $40,000 | $804,000 to $1,362,653 | $190,000 | 25 |
| Taffer's Tavern | $50,000 | $807,000 to $1,341,000 | $190,000 | 3 |
| Beef 'O' Brady's | $25,000 | $812,850 to $1,475,375 | $195,000 | 125 |
| Spoleto Italian Kitchen | $30,000 | $815,000 to $1,305,800 | $190,000 | 6 |
| Crumbl | $50,000 | $816,066 to $1,442,533 | $195,000 | 1,059 |
| Z!Eats | $35,000 | $817,850 to $1,450,800 | $195,000 | 36 |
| Eggs Up Grill | $45,000 | $821,500 to $1,141,000 | $180,000 | 87 |
| Tsuta | $88,000 | $835,500 to $1,411,500 | $195,000 | 7 |
| Jaggers | $45,000 | $855,000 to $1,630,000 | $210,000 | 10 |
| Broadway | $30,000 | $860,000 to $1,354,500 | $195,000 | 12 |
| Arby's | $6,250 to $12,500 | $861,950 to $2,451,000 | $250,000 | 3,365 |
| Mensho | $30,000 | $880,000 to $2,917,495 | $280,000 | 4 |
| Mongolian Grill | $45,000 | $881,000 to $2,276,500 | $245,000 | 20 |
| Crisp & Green | $64,500 | $886,028 to $1,444,038 | $205,000 | 46 |
| 7 BREW | $45,000 | $890,300 to $1,934,500 | $230,000 | 321 |
| Mod Pizza | $30,000 | $891,644 to $1,193,006 | $195,000 | 482 |
| Crafty Crab | $40,000 | $892,800 to $1,687,399 | $220,000 | 67 |
| A&W All American Food | $15,000 to $30,000 | $894,434 to $1,639,906 | $215,000 | 215 |
| Buffalo Wild Wings Go | $30,000 to $45,000 | $898,600 to $8,875,000 | $580,000 | 140 |
| CoCo ICHIBANYA | $40,000 | $907,500 to $1,405,000 | $205,000 | 6 |
| Big Boy Restaurant | $42,500 to $50,750 | $912,800 to $3,642,000 | $320,000 | 88 |
| PJ's Coffee of New Orleans | $15,000 to $40,000 | $915,000 to $1,698,000 | $220,000 | 179 |
| JEFF'S BAGEL RUN | $0 to $30,000 | $917,080 to $2,245,620 | $250,000 | 11 |
| Big Chicken | $40,000 | $924,500 to $1,478,000 | $215,000 | 24 |
| Modern Market Eatery | $40,000 | $928,500 to $1,468,750 | $215,000 | 26 |
| Fat Boy's Pizza | $32,500 | $940,000 to $2,257,600 | $255,000 | 9 |
| Angry Chickz | $50,000 | $940,493 to $1,192,280 | $200,000 | 28 |
| Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf | $12,500 to $25,000 | $940,665 to $1,430,177 | $215,000 | 131 |
| Chao Cajun | $30,000 | $953,000 to $1,556,500 | $220,000 | 6 |
| Scooter's Coffee | $40,000 | $954,650 to $1,523,400 | $220,000 | 849 |
| Pablo | $200,000 | $963,500 to $1,119,500 | $200,000 | N/R |
| Hotshots | $50,000 | $969,000 to $2,156,000 | $255,000 | 14 |
| Five Guys | $25,000 | $977,850 to $1,375,750 | $215,000 | 1,488 |
| Tim Hortons | $50,000 | $978,000 to $1,772,500 | $235,000 | 663 |
| Brixx Wood Fired Pizza | $45,000 | $979,550 to $1,571,000 | $225,000 | 19 |
| HuHot Mongolian Grill | $10,000 to $40,000 | $984,000 to $1,219,000 | $210,000 | 62 |
| Glass Nickel Pizza Co | $25,000 to $35,000 | $986,500 to $1,708,500 | $235,000 | 9 |
| Lee's Sandwiches | $75,000 | $988,000 to $1,679,500 | $230,000 | 50 |
| Oggi's | $50,000 | $990,000 to $1,962,000 | $245,000 | 15 |
| The Sports Bra | $55,000 | $994,400 to $1,424,550 | $220,000 | N/R |
| Native Grill and Wings | $35,000 | $998,000 to $2,620,500 | $280,000 | 35 |
| Buckhorn Grill | $50,000 | $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 | $250,000 | 16 |
| Bonchon | $35,000 | $1,005,136 to $1,312,626 | $215,000 | 147 |
| Canteen | $3,250 to $25,000 | $1,006,750 to $1,568,000 | $230,000 | 264 |
| Warabimochi Kamakura | $1,383 to $69,167 | $1,017,703 to $11,805,961 | $745,000 | N/R |
| Newk's Eatery | $40,000 | $1,022,000 to $1,414,350 | $225,000 | 95 |
| Ivan Ramen | $35,000 | $1,024,500 to $1,982,100 | $255,000 | 1 |
| The Habit Burger Grill | $35,000 | $1,026,000 to $2,859,000 | $295,000 | 377 |
| Boston Pizza Restaurants | $50,000 | $1,030,500 to $3,306,375 | $320,000 | 24 |
| Sweet Chick | $40,000 | $1,033,900 to $1,763,200 | $245,000 | 6 |
| Sweet Paris | $45,000 | $1,034,100 to $1,645,650 | $235,000 | 16 |
| Captain D's | $35,000 | $1,037,300 to $1,354,200 | $225,000 | 530 |
| KFC Traditional | $45,000 | $1,052,825 to $3,771,550 | $345,000 | 3,638 |
| Steak and Ale | $35,000 | $1,055,800 to $3,668,550 | $340,000 | N/R |
| Farmer Boys | $35,000 to $45,000 | $1,056,000 to $2,520,000 | $285,000 | 99 |
| The Toasted Yolk Cafe | $50,000 | $1,058,000 to $1,721,700 | $245,000 | 43 |
| The Boiling Crab | $39,500 | $1,063,500 to $3,793,500 | $350,000 | 22 |
| Bar Louie | $50,000 | $1,064,500 to $3,949,000 | $355,000 | 66 |
| Rally's | $20,000 to $30,000 | $1,064,657 to $1,877,201 | $255,000 | 277 |
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.