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 401 to 500.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prontoroni | $35,000 | $211,000 to $391,000 | $50,000 | 8 |
| Rocky Rococo Pizza and Pasta | $25,000 | $211,000 to $705,500 | $65,000 | 30 |
| Maki of Japan | $30,000 | $211,067 to $358,017 | $50,000 | 16 |
| Capital Tacos | $49,000 | $211,200 to $427,200 | $55,000 | 8 |
| Uno's Pizzeria & Grill | $20,000 to $40,000 | $211,500 to $2,498,500 | $155,000 | 49 |
| Sbarro | $30,000 | $211,900 to $931,000 | $80,000 | 371 |
| Burney's Sweets & More | $20,000 | $212,000 to $725,000 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Little Big Burger | $40,000 | $212,000 to $464,000 | $55,000 | 19 |
| Mahana Fresh | $49,500 | $212,200 to $758,500 | $70,000 | 7 |
| Fresh Coast | $45,000 | $212,768 to $466,337 | $55,000 | 1 |
| Coffee Beanery | $15,000 | $213,000 to $417,000 | $55,000 | 28 |
| Tutti Frutti | $10,000 to $15,000 | $213,075 to $479,550 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Edible Arrangements | $30,000 | $213,500 to $587,000 | $60,000 | 685 |
| Qahwah House | $60,000 | $213,500 to $365,500 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Häagen-Dazs | $30,000 | $214,518 to $567,768 | $60,000 | 207 |
| Hot Head Burrito | $16,500 to $26,000 | $215,100 to $704,850 | $70,000 | 81 |
| Pizzawala's | $25,000 | $215,256 to $697,911 | $65,000 | 3 |
| Island Thyme | $40,000 | $215,500 to $313,250 | $50,000 | 1 |
| Pizza Studio | $25,000 to $40,000 | $215,500 to $683,500 | $65,000 | 31 |
| Extreme Pizza | $30,000 | $216,000 to $469,300 | $55,000 | 37 |
| Cheesy Street Grill | $35,000 | $216,675 to $419,984 | $55,000 | 4 |
| Sub Zero | $35,000 | $216,800 to $356,000 | $50,000 | 26 |
| Kahala Coffee Traders | $14,000 to $30,000 | $216,900 to $516,500 | $60,000 | 5 |
| Chickpeas Kitchen | $25,000 | $217,000 to $319,500 | $50,000 | 3 |
| Popbar | $35,000 | $217,000 to $458,400 | $55,000 | 24 |
| Paavo's | $7,500 | $218,000 to $380,000 | $50,000 | 1 |
| Tikiz Shaved Ice and Ice Cream | $20,000 | $218,400 to $264,575 | $45,000 | 40 |
| Wing it On! | $35,000 | $218,900 to $473,333 | $55,000 | 12 |
| Milio's Sandwiches | $15,000 to $26,500 | $219,100 to $445,000 | $55,000 | 18 |
| Dumont Creamery and Café | $30,000 | $219,921 to $391,393 | $55,000 | 1 |
| Quiznos | $5,000 | $220,600 to $611,000 | $65,000 | 157 |
| 1000 Degrees Pizzeria | $29,500 | $220,650 to $784,250 | $70,000 | 37 |
| Flippin' Pizza New York Style | $0 to $25,000 | $220,700 to $513,400 | $60,000 | 23 |
| KEO Restaurant | $25,000 | $221,000 to $425,000 | $55,000 | 2 |
| Coco Fresh Tea & Juice | $40,000 | $221,300 to $454,000 | $55,000 | 34 |
| Atomic Wings | $25,000 | $222,220 to $860,773 | $75,000 | 20 |
| Eggmania | $50,000 | $222,725 to $394,725 | $55,000 | 4 |
| JUICE IT UP | $10,000 to $25,000 | $223,375 to $440,536 | $55,000 | 79 |
| Poke Bowl United | $45,000 | $224,000 to $506,000 | $60,000 | 12 |
| Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt | $22,000 | $224,500 to $457,000 | $55,000 | 23 |
| Creamistry | $40,000 | $224,500 to $576,500 | $60,000 | 61 |
| Sharetea | $12,000 | $224,600 to $555,400 | $60,000 | 154 |
| Capt Loui | $50,000 | $225,000 to $828,000 | $75,000 | 11 |
| Poke House | $5,000 to $30,000 | $225,000 to $585,900 | $65,000 | 2 |
| The Port of Peri Peri | $35,000 | $225,000 to $500,000 | $60,000 | 22 |
| Maggiemoo's | $5,000 to $25,000 | $225,720 to $354,570 | $50,000 | N/R |
| Golden Krust | $40,000 | $225,900 to $687,000 | $70,000 | 115 |
| Pizza Patron | $15,000 to $20,000 | $225,930 to $534,250 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Wow Wow Hawaiian Lemonades | $35,000 | $226,000 to $313,000 | $50,000 | 7 |
| Antioch Pizza Shop | $40,000 | $226,900 to $729,325 | $70,000 | 10 |
| Wing Fiesta | $15,000 | $227,000 to $522,000 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Gigi's Cupcakes Shops | $20,000 | $227,200 to $443,500 | $55,000 | 72 |
| Attibassi Cafe | $40,000 to $60,000 | $228,500 to $367,500 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Pokeatery | $30,000 | $228,795 to $485,150 | $60,000 | 2 |
| America's Taco Shop | $4,000 to $30,000 | $229,850 to $651,750 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Peterbrooke Chocolatier | $25,000 | $229,950 to $357,600 | $50,000 | 26 |
| 5 Tacos & Beers | $30,000 | $230,000 to $391,000 | $55,000 | 1 |
| Two Hands Corn Dogs | $35,000 | $230,500 to $453,000 | $55,000 | 69 |
| Classic Rock Coffee | $39,000 | $232,145 to $438,445 | $55,000 | 5 |
| Tossed | $25,000 to $30,000 | $232,250 to $481,550 | $60,000 | 4 |
| Neehee's | $60,000 | $232,500 to $552,500 | $60,000 | 4 |
| American Kolache | $39,000 | $233,468 to $370,769 | $55,000 | 9 |
| Jojo's Grill-A-Dog | $35,000 | $233,500 to $468,900 | $60,000 | 1 |
| Mochinut Restaurant | $35,000 | $233,500 to $459,000 | $60,000 | 133 |
| Star Hookah | $35,000 | $233,500 to $2,143,500 | $140,000 | 2 |
| B Nutritious | $35,000 | $233,700 to $476,300 | $60,000 | 2 |
| Wow Cafe | $15,000 to $35,000 | $234,400 to $779,500 | $75,000 | 61 |
| Handel's Homemade Ice Cream | $50,000 | $234,500 to $720,500 | $70,000 | 62 |
| Mini Monster Café | $60,000 | $235,080 to $562,065 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Thirstea | $35,000 | $235,490 to $510,950 | $60,000 | 2 |
| Supreme Deli | $5,000 to $50,000 | $235,641 to $414,419 | $55,000 | 28 |
| Quack Daddy Donuts | $50,000 | $236,200 to $333,000 | $50,000 | 1 |
| Cole's Backyard Grill | $20,000 to $29,500 | $236,600 to $1,217,300 | $95,000 | N/R |
| Philly's Best Cheesesteaks | $38,000 | $237,000 to $488,000 | $60,000 | 20 |
| Better Blend | $35,000 | $237,500 to $354,000 | $55,000 | 7 |
| Subway | $15,000 | $238,625 to $536,745 | $65,000 | 19,502 |
| Ben & Jerry's | $19,750 to $39,500 | $238,800 to $550,800 | $65,000 | 154 |
| Oath Pizza | $30,000 | $239,000 to $590,000 | $65,000 | 30 |
| STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL | $25,000 | $239,500 to $828,500 | $75,000 | 23 |
| Randys Donuts | $35,000 | $240,500 to $439,500 | $60,000 | 23 |
| Cinnaholic | $40,000 | $241,082 to $526,582 | $60,000 | 83 |
| Verve Restaurants | $40,000 | $241,450 to $750,200 | $75,000 | 1 |
| Singas Famous | $30,000 | $242,800 to $609,600 | $65,000 | 64 |
| Clean Juice | $30,000 | $243,000 to $419,000 | $55,000 | 80 |
| Forever Yogurt | $40,000 | $243,800 to $516,700 | $60,000 | N/R |
| 7 Leaves Cafe | $35,000 | $244,000 to $490,000 | $60,000 | 42 |
| Mici Handcrafted Italian | $45,000 | $244,205 to $586,605 | $65,000 | 7 |
| Teaspoon | $45,000 | $244,500 to $548,000 | $65,000 | 42 |
| Chicken In A Barrel | $35,000 | $244,510 to $687,500 | $70,000 | 6 |
| Northern Lights Pizza Company | $0 to $29,750 | $244,825 to $558,450 | $65,000 | 10 |
| Il Mito | $40,000 | $246,000 to $460,000 | $60,000 | 1 |
| Chanticlear Pizza | $20,000 | $246,500 to $325,500 | $55,000 | 11 |
| Nekter Juice Bar | $35,000 to $80,000 | $246,578 to $640,838 | $70,000 | 193 |
| Feng Cha | $35,000 | $246,706 to $663,328 | $70,000 | 79 |
| Cinnabon | $30,500 | $246,950 to $675,000 | $70,000 | 1,030 |
| Dessert'D Organic Bake Shop | $10,000 | $247,000 to $446,500 | $60,000 | 1 |
| The Original Hot Chicken | $25,000 | $247,826 to $471,400 | $60,000 | 1 |
| R and B Tea | $30,000 | $248,000 to $858,000 | $80,000 | 7 |
| Pizza Pit | $25,000 | $248,080 to $443,640 | $60,000 | 9 |
| 16 Handles | $30,000 | $249,500 to $656,500 | $70,000 | 31 |
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.