Franopolis

    Johnny Rockets

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2025 disclosure data

    Reviewed sources

    Johnny Rockets operates casual dining restaurants serving burgers, sandwiches, fries, chicken, salads, desserts, and hand-spun shakes. Its customers include individuals, families, and groups seeking American diner-style meals for lunch or dinner.

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    Headline figures

    Johnny Rockets quick facts

    Is Johnny Rockets a franchise?
    Yes. Johnny Rockets offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2024, it reported 98 franchised and 2 company-owned outlets (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71).
    How much does it cost to open a Johnny Rockets franchise?
    The Johnny Rockets Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $517,300–$2,667,900 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 31). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the Johnny Rockets initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee is $50,000 (2025 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 20). Details
    What ongoing fees does Johnny Rockets charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 6% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 21). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 2% (2025 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 22). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Johnny Rockets disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Johnny Rockets FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2025 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 68). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Johnny Rockets locations are there?
    The FDD reports 100 outlets at the end of 2024 (2025 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 71). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Johnny Rockets 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

    1. 1Opening costs are estimated at $517,300 – $2,667,900 in the 2025 FDD (Item 7).
    2. 2Item 19 includes reviewed figures, but which locations they cover is not recorded yet.
    3. 3Outlets declined by 3 in 2024, to 100 (Coverage not stated in the reviewed record, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Johnny Rockets head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    Johnny RocketsVSSubway
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    Johnny RocketsVSLittle Caesars
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    Johnny RocketsVSWingstop
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    Johnny RocketsVSSonic Drive-In
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    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Total estimated initial investment

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 20
    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: 6% of total net salesMain ongoing fee

    4 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?

    One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.

    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue

    Excluded
    31 not full-year; 147 international; theme parks; 9 non-reporting

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    Coverage not stated in the reviewed record · counts as of year end of each year.

    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71

    Net −10 outlets, 2022–2024

    0110202210320231002024−7−3

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2024 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 2025 Item 7 estimate ($517,300 – $2,667,900) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Reported units decreased from 103 to 100 in 2024. 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 (2025 FDD)

    1. [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 31
    2. [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 20
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 68
    4. [4]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 71

    "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.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    SubwayLittle CaesarsWingstopSonic Drive-InFive GuysDomino's Pizza

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Johnny Rockets vs SubwayJohnny Rockets vs Little CaesarsJohnny Rockets vs WingstopJohnny Rockets vs Sonic Drive-InJohnny Rockets vs Five GuysJohnny Rockets vs Domino's Pizza
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Not reviewed

    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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