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 801 to 900.
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment | Min. cash | US units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Steer | $59,500 | $428,706 to $722,706 | $100,000 | 7 |
| Gravity | $54,900 | $431,675 to $1,672,095 | $150,000 | 16 |
| Hungry Howie's Pizza & Subs | $12,500 to $25,000 | $431,873 to $629,908 | $95,000 | 524 |
| Strings Italian Cafe | $37,500 | $433,500 to $516,500 | $90,000 | 13 |
| Eat Fit Go | $70,000 | $435,600 to $626,500 | $95,000 | 11 |
| Villa Pizza | $25,000 to $35,000 | $435,900 to $1,016,000 | $115,000 | 64 |
| Yogis Grill | $30,000 | $436,800 to $903,600 | $110,000 | 28 |
| Mad for Chicken | $35,000 | $436,940 to $917,300 | $110,000 | 2 |
| Parlor Doughnuts | $40,000 | $437,000 to $762,000 | $105,000 | 63 |
| Aurelio's Pizza | $49,000 | $437,904 to $1,252,939 | $130,000 | 33 |
| Peoples Organic | $35,000 | $438,000 to $1,222,000 | $125,000 | N/R |
| Sneakybird | $35,000 | $438,500 to $985,000 | $115,000 | 1 |
| Amorino | $30,000 | $438,700 to $980,500 | $115,000 | 22 |
| Montana Mike's | $20,000 to $35,000 | $439,000 to $2,708,000 | $200,000 | 14 |
| 5 & Diner | $25,000 | $440,000 to $755,000 | $105,000 | N/R |
| The Cheese Course | $40,000 | $440,100 to $835,250 | $110,000 | 6 |
| Sansai Fresh Japanese Grill | $35,000 | $440,900 to $801,000 | $105,000 | 11 |
| Tapville Social | $44,500 | $442,200 to $2,500,000 | $190,000 | 36 |
| Dripp | $30,000 | $442,330 to $926,700 | $115,000 | 2 |
| Copper Branch | $40,000 | $443,900 to $828,500 | $110,000 | N/R |
| Oberweis | $40,000 | $446,250 to $3,556,500 | $245,000 | 40 |
| Little Caesar | $20,000 | $446,500 to $1,817,200 | $160,000 | 4,286 |
| Smokin' Oak Pizza | $49,500 | $448,745 to $891,205 | $110,000 | 7 |
| Chicago Chicken Shack | $30,000 | $450,000 to $3,762,000 | $255,000 | 2 |
| New York Fries | $30,000 | $450,000 to $1,233,400 | $130,000 | 4 |
| Scramblers | $40,000 | $450,000 to $860,000 | $110,000 | 27 |
| Western Sizzlin | $30,000 | $451,000 to $4,500,000 | $295,000 | 53 |
| Laynes Chicken Fingers | $45,000 | $451,500 to $1,050,000 | $120,000 | 19 |
| Togo's | $15,000 to $30,000 | $451,625 to $653,000 | $100,000 | 160 |
| Kolache Factory | $44,900 | $455,400 to $774,400 | $105,000 | 57 |
| Dunn Brothers Coffee | $40,000 | $455,600 to $798,960 | $110,000 | 48 |
| Yoshinoya | $27,500 | $456,150 to $2,153,900 | $175,000 | 100 |
| Taco Pros | $35,000 | $456,500 to $583,600 | $100,000 | 6 |
| Shuckin Shack | $45,000 | $456,750 to $1,401,420 | $140,000 | 18 |
| Rita's Ice-Custard-Happiness | $35,000 | $456,858 to $905,536 | $115,000 | 569 |
| Me-N-Ed's Pizzeria | $12,500 to $30,000 | $458,850 to $778,500 | $110,000 | 49 |
| Killer Burger | $40,000 | $461,500 to $899,000 | $115,000 | 24 |
| PINCHO | $30,000 | $463,055 to $655,500 | $100,000 | 11 |
| Sushi Sake | $40,000 | $464,103 to $1,324,175 | $135,000 | 14 |
| Cousins Subs | $25,000 | $464,700 to $1,164,500 | $130,000 | 94 |
| Aunt Millies Bakeries | $30,000 to $100,000 | $464,750 to $857,050 | $115,000 | 502 |
| Quaker Steak & Lube | $30,000 to $40,000 | $465,000 to $3,532,500 | $245,000 | 43 |
| It's Boba Time | $45,000 | $465,600 to $596,800 | $100,000 | 80 |
| Beef-a-Roo | $49,500 | $466,700 to $1,383,500 | $140,000 | 8 |
| Abu Omar Halal | $35,000 | $468,500 to $721,000 | $105,000 | N/R |
| Jamba Juice | $35,500 | $468,650 to $928,800 | $115,000 | 727 |
| Mucho Burrito | $24,000 to $30,000 | $470,000 to $925,000 | $115,000 | 1 |
| Sloan's | $40,000 | $470,432 to $1,235,110 | $130,000 | 10 |
| Steve's Pizza | $15,000 to $30,000 | $474,000 to $980,000 | $120,000 | 4 |
| Pappalecco | $49,500 | $474,500 to $842,500 | $115,000 | 3 |
| Tijuana Flats | $40,000 | $474,550 to $893,000 | $115,000 | 125 |
| Mountain Mike's | $7,500 to $30,000 | $476,500 to $982,611 | $120,000 | 299 |
| Paris Banh Mi | $60,000 | $477,000 to $686,000 | $105,000 | N/R |
| Churroholic | $40,000 | $477,500 to $727,500 | $110,000 | 5 |
| Big Apple Bagels | $25,000 | $478,000 to $685,000 | $105,000 | 49 |
| Hamburger Stand | $16,000 to $32,000 | $478,900 to $1,444,000 | $145,000 | 16 |
| Fat Tuesday | $20,000 | $479,000 to $1,079,000 | $125,000 | 25 |
| Dae Gee | $45,000 | $479,875 to $948,625 | $120,000 | 6 |
| Voodoo Brewery | $75,000 | $481,500 to $1,625,000 | $155,000 | 27 |
| Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream | $39,000 | $482,488 to $760,920 | $110,000 | 8 |
| The Original Pancake House | $60,000 | $482,500 to $1,666,250 | $155,000 | 128 |
| Frisch's | $35,000 | $483,330 to $3,270,300 | $235,000 | 95 |
| Burger Village | $40,000 | $483,500 to $824,000 | $115,000 | 6 |
| Silverlake Ramen | $40,000 | $483,950 to $823,450 | $115,000 | 18 |
| Marie Callender | $5,000 to $10,000 | $485,000 to $2,067,000 | $175,000 | 27 |
| Rise'n Roll Bakery & Deli | $95,000 | $485,500 to $2,265,000 | $185,000 | 16 |
| Thai Express | $30,000 | $486,050 to $949,700 | $120,000 | 6 |
| Monical's Restaurant | $25,000 to $45,000 | $487,550 to $1,133,400 | $130,000 | 58 |
| TCBY | $35,000 | $487,630 to $699,467 | $110,000 | 125 |
| Manchu Wok | $30,000 | $490,050 to $820,500 | $115,000 | 15 |
| Break Coffee Co | $59,500 | $493,466 to $3,046,069 | $225,000 | 9 |
| PizzaRev | $35,000 | $493,500 to $1,150,000 | $130,000 | 40 |
| The Krave Kobe Burger Grill | $40,000 | $494,000 to $694,000 | $110,000 | 2 |
| Mighty Quinn's Barbeque | $45,000 | $494,317 to $896,334 | $120,000 | 10 |
| Just Love Coffee Cafe | $39,000 | $494,500 to $759,500 | $110,000 | 53 |
| Fuddruckers | $35,000 | $495,000 to $1,565,000 | $150,000 | 139 |
| Yummi Go Gourmet | $50,000 | $499,000 to $918,500 | $120,000 | 282 |
| Ori'Zaba's | $30,000 | $499,700 to $883,200 | $120,000 | 4 |
| Naf-Naf Middle Eastern Grill | $30,000 | $501,000 to $818,700 | $115,000 | 41 |
| Mr Brews Taphouse | $45,000 | $501,500 to $962,000 | $125,000 | 13 |
| Shipley Donuts | $40,000 | $503,461 to $1,024,946 | $125,000 | 366 |
| Hurts Donut Company | $35,000 | $504,000 to $825,000 | $115,000 | 16 |
| Gold Star Chili | $10,000 to $50,000 | $506,117 to $1,730,950 | $160,000 | 57 |
| Meet Fresh | $20,000 | $507,500 to $795,000 | $115,000 | 38 |
| Penn Station East Coast Subs | $25,000 | $507,500 to $858,750 | $120,000 | 323 |
| Duff's Famous Wings | $30,000 | $508,100 to $1,106,500 | $130,000 | 6 |
| Elevation Burger | $50,000 | $508,600 to $1,694,900 | $160,000 | 15 |
| Zoup! Restaurants | $35,000 | $509,434 to $699,050 | $110,000 | 50 |
| Toppers Pizza | $30,000 | $510,000 to $690,285 | $110,000 | 71 |
| Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh | $35,000 | $511,500 to $805,000 | $115,000 | 26 |
| Kilwins Chocolates | $40,000 | $513,485 to $880,344 | $120,000 | 172 |
| Panda Express | $25,000 | $514,500 to $3,275,500 | $240,000 | 2,502 |
| Vitaly | $50,000 | $514,500 to $980,167 | $125,000 | 2 |
| Duck Donuts | $40,000 | $514,650 to $736,800 | $115,000 | 144 |
| Checkers | $20,000 to $30,000 | $514,920 to $2,132,493 | $185,000 | 484 |
| Vito & Nick's | $27,600 | $515,100 to $800,600 | $115,000 | 1 |
| Meatheads | $40,000 | $515,250 to $845,500 | $120,000 | 16 |
| Fatburger | $50,000 | $517,300 to $2,656,900 | $210,000 | 88 |
| Johnny Rockets | $50,000 | $517,300 to $2,667,900 | $210,000 | 100 |
| Pita Jungle | $50,000 | $519,000 to $992,000 | $125,000 | 19 |
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.