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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Five Guys vs Panera Bread

    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 FDDPanera Bread2025 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Five Guys

    $52,100 – $927,850

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Panera Bread

    $1,266,805 – $4,651,324

    2025 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Five Guys

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Panera Bread

    $35,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14

    Royalty · Item 6

    Five Guys

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Panera Bread

    5%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Before you compare

    • Five Guys figures come from its 2026 FDD and Panera Bread figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Five Guys and Panera Bread disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Panera Bread has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Five Guys

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

    Panera Bread

    $1,266,805 – $4,651,324
    2025 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Five Guys

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

    Panera Bread

    $35,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
    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

    Panera Bread

    5%
    Royalty
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16
    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

    Panera Bread

    3.5%
    National Advertising Fund contribution for 2025 — 3.5%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Five Guys

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

    Panera Bread

    2,206
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 63
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Five Guys

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

    Panera Bread

    +92
    Calculated: 2,114 at end of 2022 → 2,206 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Panera Bread

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

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Panera Bread

    1993
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Panera Bread

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Five Guys

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Panera Bread
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisee-owned Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes open during entire fiscal year endin…
    $2,595,936
    other net sales
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 60
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — All Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes open during entire fiscal year ending Dec 31, 2024
    $2,708,833
    other net sales
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 60
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Company-owned Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes open during entire FY2024
    $381,703
    other net profit
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 61
    +1 more groups in the full report

    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 Panera Bread: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Five Guys or Panera Bread?
    Five Guys: $52,100 – $927,850 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Panera Bread: $1,266,805 – $4,651,324 (2025 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 Panera Bread royalties compare?
    Five Guys: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); Panera Bread: 5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Five Guys or Panera Bread?
    Five Guys: 1,583 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54); Panera Bread: 2,206 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 63). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Five Guys and Panera Bread disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Five Guys makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Panera Bread has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups. 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 Panera Bread report

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

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