Franchise opportunities compared

    Johnny Rockets 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

    Johnny Rockets

    $517,300 – $2,667,900

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Johnny Rockets

    $50,000

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 20

    Little Caesars

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Royalty · Item 6

    Johnny Rockets

    6%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    Little Caesars

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Before you compare

    • Johnny Rockets figures come from its 2025 FDD and Little Caesars figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Only Johnny Rockets has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Johnny Rockets

    $517,300 – $2,667,900
    Estimated initial investment: $517,300 to $2,667,900
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31

    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)

    Johnny Rockets

    $50,000
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 20

    Little Caesars

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

    Johnny Rockets

    6%
    Royalty: 6% of total net sales
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    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)

    Johnny Rockets

    2%
    Marketing fund: currently 2% of total Net Sales; may increase to 4% — 2%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 22

    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)

    Johnny Rockets

    100
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71

    Little Caesars

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

    Johnny Rockets

    −10
    Calculated: 110 at end of 2022 → 100 at end of 2024

    Little Caesars

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

    Johnny Rockets

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Little Caesars

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

    Johnny Rockets

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

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

    Johnny Rockets

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Johnny Rockets
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    $1,643,107
    other 2024 net sales for 58 qualifying U.S. franchised restaurants: average $1,643,107; median $1,065,910; range $347,797–$6,850,185
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 68
    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.

    Johnny Rockets vs Little Caesars: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Johnny Rockets or Little Caesars?
    Johnny Rockets: $517,300 – $2,667,900 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 31); 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.
    How do Johnny Rockets and Little Caesars royalties compare?
    Johnny Rockets: 6% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21); Little Caesars: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Johnny Rockets or Little Caesars?
    Johnny Rockets: 100 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 71); 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 Johnny Rockets and Little Caesars disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Johnny Rockets has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; 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

    Keep researching