Franopolis
    vs

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Five Guys vs Hickory River Smokehouse

    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.

    Five Guys2026 FDDHickory River Smokehouse2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Five Guys

    $52,100 – $927,850

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Five Guys

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8

    Royalty · Item 6

    Five Guys

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Five Guys and Hickory River Smokehouse disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Five Guys

    $52,100 – $927,850
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $315,000 – $1,084,500
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Five Guys

    $25,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    $30,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 8
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Five Guys

    8%
    s. If the Restaurant is located in Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico, the Royalty Fee is — 8%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5%
    Royalty Fee — 5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Five Guys

    $250
    , depending on your advertising needs When billed Prohibited Product or Service Fine — 250
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    3%
    National Marketing Fee — 3% — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Five Guys

    1,583
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    5
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Five Guys

    +62
    Calculated: 1,521 at end of 2023 → 1,583 at end of 2025

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    −1
    Calculated: 6 at end of 2023 → 5 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Hickory River Smokehouse

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

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Hickory River Smokehouse

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Five Guys

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Hickory River Smokehouse
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    $1,536,579
    other Revenue
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 33

    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.

    Five Guys vs Hickory River Smokehouse: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Five Guys or Hickory River Smokehouse?
    Five Guys: $52,100 – $927,850 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Hickory River Smokehouse: $315,000 – $1,084,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Five Guys. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Five Guys and Hickory River Smokehouse royalties compare?
    Five Guys: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); Hickory River Smokehouse: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 8). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Five Guys or Hickory River Smokehouse?
    Five Guys: 1,583 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54); Hickory River Smokehouse: 5 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Five Guys and Hickory River Smokehouse disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Five Guys makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Hickory River Smokehouse has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. 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

    Keep researching

    Full Five Guys report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Hickory River Smokehouse report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Compare Five Guys with

    Compare Hickory River Smokehouse with

    Add a third brand

    Compare up to four side by side

    Explore by brand

    Filter every published report

    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item