Franopolis
    vs

    Franchise opportunities compared

    Five Guys vs Schlotzsky’s

    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 FDDSchlotzsky’s2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Five Guys

    $52,100 – $927,850

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Schlotzsky’s

    $668,775 – $2,261,500

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Five Guys

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Schlotzsky’s

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Five Guys

    8%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16

    Schlotzsky’s

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30

    Before you compare

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

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Five Guys

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

    Schlotzsky’s

    $668,775 – $2,261,500
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Five Guys

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

    Schlotzsky’s

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    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

    Schlotzsky’s

    6%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30
    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

    Schlotzsky’s

    $25,000
    First restaurant in market advertising minimum
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 29

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Five Guys

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

    Schlotzsky’s

    294
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 89
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Five Guys

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

    Schlotzsky’s

    −23
    Calculated: 317 at end of 2023 → 294 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Schlotzsky’s

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

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Schlotzsky’s

    1971
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Five Guys

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Schlotzsky’s

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Five Guys

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Schlotzsky’s
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchise restaurants with a drive-thru that reported sales all 52…
    $1,739,247
    other Table 1 drive-thru
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 87
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional franchise restaurants without a drive-thru that reported sales all…
    $33
    other Table 2 no drive-thru
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 87

    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 Schlotzsky’s: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Five Guys or Schlotzsky’s?
    Five Guys: $52,100 – $927,850 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Schlotzsky’s: $668,775 – $2,261,500 (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 Schlotzsky’s royalties compare?
    Five Guys: 8% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); Schlotzsky’s: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Five Guys or Schlotzsky’s?
    Five Guys: 1,583 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 54); Schlotzsky’s: 294 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 89). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Five Guys and Schlotzsky’s disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Five Guys makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Schlotzsky’s has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 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 Schlotzsky’s report

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

    Compare Five Guys with

    Compare Schlotzsky’s 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