Qsr
32 brands
Culver's
QSRDomino's Pizza
QSRJersey Mike's
QSRPopeyes Louisiana Kitchen
QSRDunkin'
QSRFirehouse Subs
QSRPapa John's
QSRTim Hortons
QSRZaxby's
QSRBojangles
QSRFive Guys
QSRMcDonald's
QSRWendy's
QSRChick-fil-A
QSRDel Taco
QSRJimmy John's
QSRArby's
QSRBurger King
QSRHardee's
QSRSonic Drive-In
QSRTaco Bell (Traditional)
QSRDairy Queen
QSRLittle Caesars
QSRTropical Smoothie Cafe
QSRCheckers/Rally's
QSRKFC (Traditional)
QSRSteak 'n Shake
QSRPanda Express
QSRCaptain D's
QSRSubway
QSRKFC
QSRJack in the Box
QSRQsr Category at a Glance
32 brands compete in qsr, with an average minimum investment of $1.0M and an average royalty of 5.6%. 88% disclose Item 19 revenue data — above the database-wide average, giving buyers in this category better visibility into unit economics before committing capital.
18 brands are growing and 11 are contracting by net unit count. A category where more brands are growing than shrinking signals healthy demand — but individual brand trajectory matters more than category averages. Check each brand's 3-year unit trend in their FDD Item 20 before investing.
Learn More About Qsr Franchises
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All Franchise Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a qsr franchise? ▾
Investment ranges for qsr franchises in our database span from $156K to $8.6M. The lowest-cost option is Jack in the Box starting at $1.9M, while the most expensive is Culver's at up to $8.6M. These figures come from official Franchise Disclosure Documents and include franchise fees, build-out, equipment, and initial working capital.
Which qsr franchise has the best performance? ▾
Based on our health score methodology, Culver's leads the qsr category with a score of 94/100. The health score combines unit growth rate, system size, investment efficiency, and whether the franchisor discloses Item 19 revenue data. 24 of 32 qsr brands disclose revenue data in their FDD, making direct financial performance comparison possible for those brands.
What are typical royalty rates for qsr franchises? ▾
The average royalty rate across 32 qsr brands with disclosed rates is 5.6%. Royalties are typically calculated as a percentage of gross revenue and paid weekly or monthly. Some brands also charge a marketing/advertising fund fee of 1-3% on top of royalties. When comparing franchises, look at the total ongoing fee burden (royalty + ad fund + technology fees) rather than royalty alone — the stacking effect can significantly impact unit-level profitability.