How much does it cost to open a food & beverage franchise?

Across 353 published food & beverage brands with a reviewed Item 7 total, the median low end of the estimated initial investment is $316,000, and low ends run from $3,350 to $3,195,009 (FDDs from 2022 to 2026). The low end is each franchisor's cheapest disclosed scenario, not a typical cost; the median is a Franopolis calculation.

Which food & beverage franchises have the lowest disclosed startup cost?

By the low end of the reviewed Item 7 estimate: International Food Creations ($3,350–$26,270, 2026 FDD); Genji Franchising ($5,900–$133,500, 2024 FDD); Mai ($5,900–$26,270, 2026 FDD). This orders disclosed estimates only; it is not a ranking or recommendation.

How many food & beverage franchisors disclose financial performance (Item 19)?

246 of 384 published food & beverage brands (64%) have reviewed Item 19 financial performance figures on file. A brand without them on Franopolis may still disclose them in an FDD we have not reviewed.

Which food & beverage franchises have the most locations?

By total outlets in reviewed Item 20 tables: Subway (18,773); Domino's Pizza (7,210); Little Caesars (4,374). Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.

Food & Beverage Franchise Opportunities: Costs & FDD Figures

Median uses the low end of each brand's reviewed Item 7 total in its latest FDD — the cheapest disclosed scenario, not a typical cost. Not a ranking or recommendation.

Business models

Item 19 figures only

All brands (384)

Browse Food & Beverage by category

Quick-service restaurants franchises 196 Bakery & desserts franchises 70 Full-service restaurants franchises 59 Beverages franchises 31 Coffee franchises 27 Meal delivery franchises 1

Food & Beverage matchups

Food & Beverage franchise benchmarks

How much does it cost to open a food & beverage franchise?: Across 353 published food & beverage brands with a reviewed Item 7 total, the median low end of the estimated initial investment is $316,000, and low ends run from $3,350 to $3,195,009 (FDDs from 2022 to 2026). The low end is each franchisor's cheapest disclosed scenario, not a typical cost; the median is a Franopolis calculation.
Which food & beverage franchises have the lowest disclosed startup cost?: By the low end of the reviewed Item 7 estimate: International Food Creations ($3,350–$26,270, 2026 FDD); Genji Franchising ($5,900–$133,500, 2024 FDD); Mai ($5,900–$26,270, 2026 FDD). This orders disclosed estimates only; it is not a ranking or recommendation.
How many food & beverage franchisors disclose financial performance (Item 19)?: 246 of 384 published food & beverage brands (64%) have reviewed Item 19 financial performance figures on file. A brand without them on Franopolis may still disclose them in an FDD we have not reviewed.
Which food & beverage franchises have the most locations?: By total outlets in reviewed Item 20 tables: Subway (18,773); Domino's Pizza (7,210); Little Caesars (4,374). Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.

Calculated by Franopolis from published brands' reviewed figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

Questions to research for any food & beverage franchise

Which Item 7 format matches the business you would actually open, and what does the high end include?
What are the recurring Item 6 charges beyond royalty: brand fund, technology, minimums?
If Item 19 is disclosed, which locations does it cover, and which were excluded?
How many outlets opened, closed or transferred in Item 20, and can you call former owners?

How we read FDDs · Glossary · Under $50k · Under $100k · Under $150k