Burger King franchise
Burger King is a quick-service hamburger chain best known for the flame-grilled Whopper, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner from drive-thru restaurants. It is part of Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Popeyes, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs. At the end of 2025 there were 6,650 Burger King locations in the US, 5,518 franchised and 1,132 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $348K–$4.73M
- Franchise fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 4.5%
- Locations, 2025
- 6,650−1,474 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1954
- Franchisor based in
- Miami, Florida
- Agreement length
- 20 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Burger King Company LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Burger King franchise costs
Opening a Burger King restaurant, from a non-traditional site to a new free-standing building, excluding real estate costs an estimated $348,400 to $4,730,600. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Burger King Company LLC, 2026 filing, page 49
Burger King franchise fee
The franchise fee is $50,000, for a 20-year franchise agreement (prorated for shorter terms, minimum $15,000). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Burger King Company LLC, 2026 filing, page 29
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 4.5% of monthly gross sales, paid monthly. Restaurants leased from Burger King also pay rent. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Up to 4.5% of monthly gross sales. |
Source: Burger King Company LLC, 2026 filing, page 34
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Burger King publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives 2025 gross sales distributions for restaurants open all year, plus sales uplift after remodels. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Burger King Company LLC, 2026 filing, page 102
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6,640 (−352) | 138 | 413 |
| 2024 | 5,524 (−1,116) | 1,177 | 1,179 |
| 2025 | 5,518 (−6) | 1,132 | 89 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Burger King Company LLC, 2026 filing, page 120
How Burger King compares
Of the 11 burger franchises on this site, Burger King is the cheapest to open and the 2nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Burger King | Typical burger |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $348K | $1.39M |
| Royalty | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Closed or left per year | 8.4% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −21.1% | −2.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in burger franchises.
Other burger franchises
Burger King franchise questions
Does Burger King help with financing?
No. Burger King does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Burger King franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Burger King grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Burger King can open nearby.
How long is a Burger King franchise agreement?
The initial term is 20 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Burger King growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 207 franchised locations opened and 1,681 closed or left, a net change of −21.1%. About 8.4% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 1.9% typical for burger franchises.
How does Burger King compare with other burger franchises?
Of the 11 burger franchises here, Burger King is the cheapest to open (low end $348K against a $1.39M median) and the 2nd largest by number of locations. Its 4.5% royalty is in line with the 4.8% median.
Does Burger King say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives 2025 gross sales distributions for restaurants open all year, plus sales uplift after remodels. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Burger King based?
Burger King Company LLC is based in Miami, Florida and the brand has sold franchises since 1954.