Franchise opportunities compared

    Culver Franchising System vs Little Caesars

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Culver Franchising System

    $3,406,350 – $10,294,100

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available

    Little Caesars

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Royalty · Item 6

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available

    Little Caesars

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Only Culver Franchising System has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Culver Franchising System

    $3,406,350 – $10,294,100
    Totals
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200
    Restaurant — Total initial investment: $376,500 to $1,769,200
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    Little Caesars

    $20,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available
    No reviewed royalty record

    Little Caesars

    6%
    Weekly royalty greater of 6% of Gross Sales or $300
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Culver Franchising System

    2.5%
    Advertising Fee — 2.5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Little Caesars

    7%
    Advertising fee up to 7% of Gross Sales — 7%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Culver Franchising System

    1,041
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46

    Little Caesars

    4,374
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Culver Franchising System

    +149
    Calculated: 892 at end of 2022 → 1,041 at end of 2025

    Little Caesars

    +3,799
    Calculated: 575 at end of 2023 → 4,374 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

    1962
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Culver Franchising System

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Culver Franchising System
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Culver’s Restaurants open for the entire 12-month period ended Decem…
    $1,103,114
    other Lowest sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 37
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Seven company-owned Culver’s Restaurants open for the full 12-month period ende…
    $7,801,703
    other Food cost
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 38
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Culver’s Restaurants included in Part 2 and open for the entire 12-m…
    $9,030,702
    other Highest sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 41
    +42 more groups in the full report
    Little Caesars

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Culver Franchising System vs Little Caesars: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Culver Franchising System or Little Caesars?
    Culver Franchising System: $3,406,350 – $10,294,100 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15); Little Caesars: $376,500 – $1,769,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Little Caesars. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    Which has more locations, Culver Franchising System or Little Caesars?
    Culver Franchising System: 1,041 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46); Little Caesars: 4,374 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Culver Franchising System and Little Caesars disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Culver Franchising System has reviewed Item 19 figures for 45 location groups; Little Caesars makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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