McAlister’s Deli
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching McAlister’s Deli franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 1994 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Atlanta, GA United States Source: franchise.org
McAlister's Deli serves sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes, soups and sweet tea. Restaurants offer meals for individual diners and catering services for groups and events.
Headline figures
McAlister’s Deli quick facts
- Is McAlister’s Deli a franchise?
- Yes. McAlister’s Deli offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 533 franchised and 39 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 85).
- How much does it cost to open a McAlister’s Deli franchise?
- The McAlister’s Deli Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $1,282,525–$2,575,400 for freestanding location — total initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 44); $910,175–$1,816,100 for endcap or inline shopping center: total initial investment ranges from $910,175 to $1,816,100. (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 43). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the McAlister’s Deli initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $35,500 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 27). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does McAlister’s Deli charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 5% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 3% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does McAlister’s Deli disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The McAlister’s Deli FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 84). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many McAlister’s Deli locations are there?
- The FDD reports 572 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 85). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is McAlister’s Deli 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: $1,282,525 – $2,575,400 (Freestanding location — Total initial investment); $910,175 – $1,816,100 (Endcap or inline shopping center: Total Initial Investment ranges from $910,175 to $1,816,100.); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 6 separate groups: other measures for 120 locations; other measures for 119 locations; other measures for 119 locations; other measures for 119 locations; other measures for 477 locations; other measures for 477 locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 12 in 2025, to 572 (National, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
McAlister’s Deli 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 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Endcap or inline shopping center: Total Initial Investment ranges from $910,175 to $1,816,100.PDF p. 43$910,175 – $1,816,100
- Freestanding location — Total initial investmentPDF p. 44$1,282,525 – $2,575,400
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 27
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 feeMain ongoing fee
35 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?
6 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
120 locations
Other measures · 120 locations
- Who is counted
- Top Quartile traditional-franchise quartile
- Period
- sample size
- Excluded
- Excludes 28 franchises that did not report sales all 52 weeks of FY2025 (including 25 opened in FY2025), 10 permanently closed during FY2025 after at least 12 months open, and 5 reacquired in FY2025.
- Method
- Franchisee-submitted financial reports; not audited or independently verified.
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
National, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31, 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 85
Net +33 outlets, 2023–2025
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 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 ($910,175 – $2,575,400) 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 went from 560 to 572 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
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. 27
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top Quartile traditional-franchise quartile · PDF p. 84
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 2nd Quartile traditional-franchise quartile · PDF p. 84
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 3rd Quartile traditional-franchise quartile · PDF p. 84
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom Quartile traditional-franchise quartile · PDF p. 84
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional Franchises as of December 28, 2025 · PDF p. 84
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Total traditional-franchise quartile · PDF p. 84
- [8]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 85
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
814 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | long-term other liabilities | $124 |
| 2025 | total current liabilities | $10,232 |
| 2025 | member's equity | $284,502 |
| 2025 | cash and cash equivalents | $325 |
| 2025 | current portion of deferred revenue | $3,890 |
| 2025 | total liabilities and member's equity | $346,357 |
| 2025 | depreciation and amortization expense | $151 |
| 2025 | intangible assets, net | $306,123 |
| 2025 | net income | $265,768 |
| 2025 | total fees and expenses | $53,211 |
| 2025 | restricted cash - securitization | $8,082 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable, net | $31,766 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
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.
Head-to-head comparisons
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.