Freestanding Restaurant
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Freestanding Restaurant franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
A&W franchises restaurants serving draft root beer, hamburgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, soft-serve ice cream, and fries. Operators use freestanding, endcap, or nontraditional restaurant formats, including new locations and converted buildings.
Headline figures
Freestanding Restaurant quick facts
- Is Freestanding Restaurant a franchise?
- Yes. Freestanding Restaurant offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 407 franchised and 2 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53).
- How much does it cost to open a Freestanding Restaurant franchise?
- The Freestanding Restaurant Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $894,130–$1,640,034 for freestanding restaurant — total initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 15); $301,095–$727,599 for non-traditional restaurant — total initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17); $424,130–$1,129,311 for endcap restaurant — total initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 16). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Freestanding Restaurant initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $30,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 9). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Freestanding Restaurant charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 0% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 11). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 11). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Freestanding Restaurant disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Freestanding Restaurant FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 47). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Freestanding Restaurant locations are there?
- The FDD reports 409 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 53). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Freestanding Restaurant a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $894,130 – $1,640,034 (Freestanding Restaurant — Total initial investment); $301,095 – $727,599 (Non-Traditional Restaurant — Total initial investment); $424,130 – $1,129,311 (Endcap Restaurant — Total initial investment); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 13 separate groups: other measures for 14 locations; other measures for 15 restaurants; other measures for 52 locations; other measures for 13 locations; other measures for 17 locations; other measures for 15 restaurants; other measures for 13 locations; other measures for 59 locations; other measures for 15 locations; other measures for 15 restaurants; other measures for 13 locations; other measures for 13 locations; other measures for 13 locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets declined by 21 in 2025, to 409 (Co-Brand Outlets — Table No. 1, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Freestanding Restaurant head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 3 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (3)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Non-Traditional Restaurant — Total initial investmentPDF p. 17$301,095 – $727,599
- Endcap Restaurant — Total initial investmentPDF p. 16$424,130 – $1,129,311
- Freestanding Restaurant — Total initial investmentPDF p. 15$894,130 – $1,640,034
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 9
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty fee — new Restaurant initial incentive periodMain ongoing fee
30 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
13 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 14 locations
- Who is counted
- First Quartile of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- High Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 15 locations
- Who is counted
- Second Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchised outlets open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Median Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 52 locations
- Who is counted
- All Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Median Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 13 locations
- Who is counted
- Fourth Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 17 locations
- Who is counted
- Reporting Freestanding Restaurants that provided 2025 profit and loss information
- Period
- Average Cost of Labor as % of Net Sales
- Excluded
- The profit and loss information does not include rent, convention travel, officer salaries and benefits, automobile expenses, or other uncommon expenses.
- Method
- 2025 profit and loss information; A&W says it was based on outlet reports and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 15 locations
- Who is counted
- Third Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchised outlets open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- High Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 13 locations
- Who is counted
- Third Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- High Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 59 locations
- Who is counted
- All Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Percentage attaining or surpassing Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 15 locations
- Who is counted
- Second Quartile of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Number attaining or surpassing Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 15 locations
- Who is counted
- Fourth Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchised outlets open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 13 locations
- Who is counted
- First Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Number attaining or surpassing Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 13 locations
- Who is counted
- Second Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- Number attaining or surpassing Average Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record
Other measures · 13 locations
- Who is counted
- Second Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restaurants open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 that provided Net Sales
- Period
- High Net Sales
- Excluded
- The filing excludes 21 seasonal Restaurants; 38 Freestanding Restaurants without drive-thrus; 22 C&G Restaurants without drive-thrus; 199 Co-Brand Restaurants; 16 Captive Restaurants; and 2 company-owned Restaurants. Included outlets were open and operating for the entire 12 months of 2025 and provided Net Sales.
- Method
- Reported outlet Net Sales; A&W states the information was based on reports submitted by outlets and was not audited (PDF p.51).
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Co-Brand Outlets — Table No. 1, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year-end of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 58
Net −48 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($301,095 – $1,640,034) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units decreased from 430 to 409 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 9
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — First Quartile of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding R… · PDF p. 47
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchi… · PDF p. 47
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas Station Restauran… · PDF p. 48
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Fourth Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas St… · PDF p. 48
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Reporting Freestanding Restaurants that provided 2025 profit and loss informati… · PDF p. 48; PDF p. 49; PDF p. 50
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Third Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchis… · PDF p. 47
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Third Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas Sta… · PDF p. 48
- [9]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding Restaurants ope… · PDF p. 47
- [10]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second Quartile of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants, franchised Freestanding… · PDF p. 47
- [11]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Fourth Quartile (15 Restaurants) of Reporting Freestanding Restaurants: franchi… · PDF p. 47
- [12]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — First Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas Sta… · PDF p. 48
- [13]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants, franchised Convenience and Gas St… · PDF p. 48
- [14]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Second Quartile of Reporting C&G Restaurants: franchised Convenience and Gas St… · PDF p. 48
- [15]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 58
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
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At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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