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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Little Caesars vs Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    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.

    Little Caesars2026 FDDSteak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    $316,000 – $2,656,425

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Little Caesars

    $20,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Little Caesars

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    5%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Little Caesars

    $376,500 – $1,769,200
    Restaurant — Total initial investment: $376,500 to $1,769,200
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    $316,000 – $2,656,425
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Little Caesars

    $20,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 15

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Little Caesars

    6%
    Weekly royalty greater of 6% of Gross Sales or $300
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    5%
    Royalty and System Fee & License Fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Little Caesars

    7%
    Advertising fee up to 7% of Gross Sales — 7%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    $50
    Custom Marketing Services: $50 to $135 per hour
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Little Caesars

    4,374
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 74

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Little Caesars

    +3,799
    Calculated: 575 at end of 2023 → 4,374 at end of 2025

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

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

    Little Caesars

    1962
    From a verified franchisor listing

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

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

    Little Caesars

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Little Caesars

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Traditional Franchise Restaurants
    59 outlets
    other Traditional Franchise Restaurants sample size
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 75
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Total Franchise Restaurants
    214 outlets
    other Total Franchise Restaurants sample size
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 75
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchise Partner Restaurants — Quartile 2
    25.5 percent
    other Total Labor Cost as % of Net Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 78
    +5 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.

    Little Caesars vs Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Little Caesars or Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program?
    Little Caesars: $376,500 – $1,769,200 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29); Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program: $316,000 – $2,656,425 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Little Caesars and Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program royalties compare?
    Little Caesars: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18); Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program: 5% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 19). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Little Caesars and Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Little Caesars makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 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 Little Caesars report

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

    Full Steak n Shake Enterprises Traditional Franchise Program report

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

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