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 501 to 600.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiiz Drinks | $40,000 | $249,500 to $774,500 | $75,000 | 69 |
| The Lost Cajun | $40,000 | $250,152 to $667,500 | $70,000 | 25 |
| SweetDuet | $10,000 | $250,300 to $352,800 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Nautical Bowls | $39,500 | $250,750 to $474,750 | $60,000 | 63 |
| Cream | $30,000 | $251,700 to $380,600 | $55,000 | 26 |
| TONCHIN | $40,000 | $251,700 to $570,500 | $65,000 | 3 |
| Pizzava | $27,500 | $251,850 to $523,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Sugar Llamas | $30,000 | $252,400 to $368,200 | $55,000 | N/R |
| Drnk Coffee + Tea | $40,000 | $253,150 to $637,600 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Qwench Juice Bar | $40,000 | $253,150 to $637,600 | $70,000 | 16 |
| Mama's Meatball | $35,000 | $253,300 to $415,400 | $60,000 | 1 |
| Which Wich | $30,000 | $253,500 to $822,250 | $80,000 | 150 |
| Blimpie | $9,520 to $18,000 | $254,070 to $588,750 | $70,000 | 101 |
| World Famous Meats | $25,000 | $255,000 to $307,600 | $55,000 | 1 |
| Paulie Gee's | $15,000 | $255,500 to $735,000 | $75,000 | 6 |
| The Buffalo Spot | $45,000 | $255,700 to $615,500 | $70,000 | 37 |
| Playa Bowls | $35,000 | $255,944 to $1,037,794 | $90,000 | 290 |
| Wayback Burgers | $35,000 | $256,000 to $850,000 | $80,000 | 152 |
| Firenza | $40,000 | $256,450 to $546,000 | $65,000 | 9 |
| Sweetfrog | $15,000 to $30,000 | $256,500 to $658,500 | $70,000 | 206 |
| Wolfnights | $35,000 | $256,500 to $492,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Sweethoney Dessert | $50,000 | $256,600 to $355,750 | $55,000 | 8 |
| Frank & Furter's | $35,000 | $257,150 to $496,400 | $65,000 | 3 |
| Earthfruits Yogurt | $40,000 | $257,770 to $570,143 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Crimson Coward | $50,000 | $258,000 to $495,500 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Grain and Berry | $49,500 | $258,000 to $673,500 | $70,000 | 17 |
| Mr Fries Man | $35,000 | $258,000 to $516,000 | $65,000 | 13 |
| Yang's Braised Chicken Rice | $35,000 | $258,000 to $460,000 | $60,000 | 7 |
| Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ | $45,000 | $260,600 to $1,068,500 | $95,000 | 22 |
| Papa John's | $5,000 to $25,000 | $261,165 to $853,365 | $80,000 | 3,291 |
| Rooster & Rice | $35,000 | $262,000 to $669,000 | $75,000 | 10 |
| Ginger Sushi + Poke Shop | $30,000 | $262,300 to $405,700 | $60,000 | 2 |
| T-Swirl Crepe | $35,000 | $263,400 to $496,850 | $65,000 | 15 |
| Mister Softee | $7,500 | $263,500 to $314,000 | $55,000 | 601 |
| Painted Dough | $30,000 | $263,627 to $423,657 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Happy's Pizza | $25,000 | $263,700 to $619,250 | $70,000 | 54 |
| Sweetwaters | $49,500 | $264,144 to $636,038 | $70,000 | 7 |
| MOGUMOGU Mazemen and Ramen | $30,000 | $265,000 to $444,500 | $60,000 | 3 |
| Sushi Freak | $25,000 | $265,000 to $344,000 | $55,000 | 5 |
| The Big Salad | $49,000 | $265,250 to $506,500 | $65,000 | 7 |
| Rapid Fired Pizza | $16,500 to $26,000 | $266,500 to $854,750 | $85,000 | 31 |
| Gelsosomo's Pizza | $25,000 | $266,750 to $445,930 | $60,000 | 10 |
| Cousins Maine Lobster | $40,000 | $267,000 to $969,300 | $90,000 | 4 |
| Miami Subs | $30,000 | $267,000 to $458,000 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Piara Pizza | $50,000 | $267,000 to $553,000 | $70,000 | 13 |
| Katsu Bar | $30,000 | $268,000 to $439,000 | $60,000 | 5 |
| Junbi | $30,000 | $268,750 to $576,250 | $70,000 | 7 |
| PopUp Bagels | $35,000 | $268,849 to $3,332,849 | $205,000 | N/R |
| Deli Zone | $15,000 | $269,800 to $437,000 | $60,000 | N/R |
| Bellacino's | $30,000 | $270,500 to $414,890 | $60,000 | 57 |
| Duff's CakeMix | $45,000 | $271,800 to $414,900 | $60,000 | 2 |
| Beach Hut Deli | $35,000 | $272,458 to $636,812 | $75,000 | 44 |
| Spiked Rich | $40,000 | $273,175 to $492,885 | $65,000 | 1 |
| Koibito Poke | $30,000 | $273,300 to $577,150 | $70,000 | 11 |
| La Rosa | $35,000 | $273,800 to $456,500 | $65,000 | 7 |
| Eggbred | $37,500 | $275,000 to $499,750 | $65,000 | 1 |
| Love & Honey Fried Chicken | $40,000 | $275,235 to $430,025 | $65,000 | 1 |
| Global Orange | $20,000 | $276,000 to $439,000 | $65,000 | 281 |
| Greenberry's Coffee | $36,500 | $277,000 to $572,500 | $70,000 | N/R |
| Acapela Modern Mex | $40,000 | $277,490 to $771,242 | $80,000 | 1 |
| I Heart Mac & Cheese | $35,000 | $277,500 to $756,300 | $80,000 | 20 |
| Leanfeast | $18,000 | $277,940 to $499,150 | $65,000 | 14 |
| Qargo Coffee | $50,000 | $278,500 to $624,500 | $75,000 | 6 |
| Smoothie Factory | $30,000 | $278,500 to $475,000 | $65,000 | 7 |
| The Donut Experiment | $40,000 to $55,000 | $279,000 to $333,500 | $60,000 | 4 |
| Del's Popcorn Shop | $30,000 | $279,365 to $478,393 | $65,000 | 2 |
| Chillers Microcreamery | $22,500 | $279,500 to $488,400 | $65,000 | 5 |
| Spilled Milk Ice Cream | $30,000 | $280,000 to $550,000 | $70,000 | 2 |
| Doner And Gyros | $35,000 | $280,919 to $587,089 | $70,000 | 2 |
| Urban Bricks | $38,500 | $281,000 to $757,750 | $80,000 | 18 |
| Tabu Shabu | $35,000 | $281,300 to $726,100 | $80,000 | 7 |
| Chip Cookies | $40,000 | $281,950 to $699,000 | $75,000 | 11 |
| The Yard Milkshake Bar | $30,000 to $45,000 | $281,975 to $627,250 | $75,000 | 18 |
| Fat Patty's | $28,000 to $40,000 | $282,300 to $424,000 | $65,000 | 4 |
| Yogurt Mountain | $30,000 | $283,110 to $930,500 | $90,000 | 23 |
| Grabbagreen | $16,000 to $30,000 | $283,500 to $626,575 | $75,000 | 4 |
| Vivi Bubble Tea | $28,800 | $283,500 to $733,500 | $80,000 | N/R |
| Island Fin Poke | $49,500 | $283,550 to $449,500 | $65,000 | 25 |
| Chronic Tacos | $30,000 | $284,000 to $884,000 | $85,000 | 31 |
| Green Leaf's Beyond Great Salads | $25,000 to $35,000 | $284,500 to $484,000 | $65,000 | 23 |
| Schoop's Hamburgers | $20,000 | $285,000 to $385,000 | $60,000 | 13 |
| Pinkberry | $14,000 to $35,000 | $285,440 to $663,050 | $75,000 | 59 |
| Melty Way | $39,000 | $285,800 to $568,725 | $70,000 | 2 |
| Lemonshark Poke | $40,000 | $286,450 to $866,400 | $85,000 | 14 |
| Marco's Pizza | $25,000 | $286,727 to $807,152 | $85,000 | 1,159 |
| Taco Bell Express | $22,500 | $287,350 to $855,700 | $85,000 | 238 |
| Pelicana Chicken | $35,000 | $288,000 to $590,000 | $75,000 | 2 |
| Sweet Jesus | $40,000 | $288,000 to $672,500 | $75,000 | 1 |
| 55 Curry Franchising | $35,000 | $289,380 to $819,300 | $85,000 | 9 |
| Go Go Curry | $35,000 | $289,380 to $819,300 | $85,000 | 9 |
| Pizza Twist | $30,000 | $289,500 to $551,200 | $70,000 | 83 |
| VARA Juice | $25,000 | $289,850 to $475,900 | $65,000 | 13 |
| Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill | $14,000 to $30,000 | $289,900 to $623,300 | $75,000 | 12 |
| Chocolate Works | $50,000 | $290,500 to $456,600 | $65,000 | 18 |
| Rising Roll | $30,000 | $290,986 to $431,986 | $65,000 | N/R |
| Bonanza Steakhouse | $20,000 to $40,000 | $291,300 to $1,487,100 | $120,000 | 21 |
| Magnolia Bakery | $49,000 | $291,320 to $917,050 | $90,000 | 11 |
| Chatime | $54,900 | $293,100 to $479,900 | $70,000 | 15 |
| Doner Shack | $40,000 | $293,500 to $995,700 | $95,000 | N/R |
| Yogurtland | $30,000 to $40,000 | $294,900 to $637,600 | $75,000 | 201 |
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.