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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Hardees Restaurants vs HHC

    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.

    Hardees Restaurants2026 FDDHHC2025 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Hardees Restaurants

    $198,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 39

    HHC

    $670,950 – $1,760,000

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Hardees Restaurants

    $25,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 28

    HHC

    $50,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Royalty · Item 6

    Hardees Restaurants

    3% · i) — 3%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 38

    HHC

    6%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Before you compare

    • Hardees Restaurants figures come from its 2026 FDD and HHC figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Only Hardees Restaurants has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Hardees Restaurants

    $198,000
    00 $250,000 As arranged As incurred Vendors, HR Total Preliminary Operating Expenses — 198000
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 39

    HHC

    $670,950 – $1,760,000
    Unit franchise initial investment range
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Hardees Restaurants

    $25,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 28

    HHC

    $50,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Hardees Restaurants

    3% · i) — 3%
    ment and Franchised Agreement, we will reduce each of the royalty fee and APO by
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 38

    HHC

    6%
    Royalty fee
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Hardees Restaurants

    4.25% of “hnaf”) currently, — 4.25%
    d by the Franchise Agreement. Hardee’s National Advertising Fund
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 31

    HHC

    2%
    Brand fund fee — 2%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Hardees Restaurants

    198
    Outlets at end of 2026
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71

    HHC

    23
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Hardees Restaurants

    −1,314
    Calculated: 1,512 at end of 2023 → 198 at end of 2026

    HHC

    +19
    Calculated: 4 at end of 2022 → 23 at end of 2024
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Hardees Restaurants

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    HHC

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

    Hardees Restaurants

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    HHC

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

    Hardees Restaurants

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    HHC

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Hardees Restaurants
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — USfreestandingHardee’s
    88 restaurants
    other Company-owned
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 75
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — USfreestandingHardee’s
    50.1 percent
    other Franchised
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 75
    HHC

    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.

    Hardees Restaurants vs HHC: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Hardees Restaurants or HHC?
    Hardees Restaurants: $198,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 39); HHC: $670,950 – $1,760,000 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Hardees Restaurants. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Hardees Restaurants and HHC royalties compare?
    Hardees Restaurants: 3% · i) — 3% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 38); HHC: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Hardees Restaurants or HHC?
    Hardees Restaurants: 198 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); HHC: 23 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 62). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Hardees Restaurants and HHC disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Hardees Restaurants has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups; HHC 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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    Full Hardees Restaurants report

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

    Full HHC report

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

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