Franchise opportunities compared
Schlotzsky’s vs Shakey’s Restaurant
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
Schlotzsky’s
$668,775 – $2,261,500
2026 FDD · Item 7Shakey’s Restaurant
$1,279,000 – $3,529,500
2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Schlotzsky’s
Not available
Shakey’s Restaurant
$35,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Royalty · Item 6
Schlotzsky’s
6%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30Shakey’s Restaurant
5%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12Before you compare
- Schlotzsky’s figures come from its 2026 FDD and Shakey’s Restaurant figures from its 2025 FDD, so the years differ.
- Schlotzsky’s discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Schlotzsky’s: 2, Shakey’s Restaurant: 3). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
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System scale & health
Schlotzsky’sShakey’s RestaurantSchlotzsky’s
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Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Schlotzsky’sShakey’s RestaurantItem 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.
Schlotzsky’s vs Shakey’s Restaurant: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Schlotzsky’s or Shakey’s Restaurant?
- Schlotzsky’s: $668,775 – $2,261,500 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Shakey’s Restaurant: $1,279,000 – $3,529,500 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 14). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Schlotzsky’s. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Schlotzsky’s and Shakey’s Restaurant royalties compare?
- Schlotzsky’s: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 30); Shakey’s Restaurant: 5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Schlotzsky’s or Shakey’s Restaurant?
- Schlotzsky’s: 294 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 89); Shakey’s Restaurant: 47 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 48). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Schlotzsky’s and Shakey’s Restaurant disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Schlotzsky’s has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups; Shakey’s Restaurant has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 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.
Keep researching
Full Schlotzsky’s report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Shakey’s Restaurant report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
