Compare franchises
Add up to four brands to line up their costs, fees and location history. The link keeps your selection, so you can send it to a partner or adviser.
- Five Guys
- Chick-fil-A
- McDonald's
| Figure | Five Guys | Chick-fil-A | McDonald's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total investment | $927,850 to $1,375,750 | $317,521 to $3,463,155 | $1,470,500 to $2,642,000 |
| Franchise fee | $25,000 | $10,000 | $45,000 |
| Royalty | 6% | 15% + 50% of profit | 4–5% |
| Brand fund | 2% | 0% | 4% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | Yes | Yes |
| Yearly sales | – | $9.16M average, 2025 (2,302 locations) | $3.96M average, 2023 (11,972 locations) |
| Profit as filed | – | – | – |
| Who runs it | Owner or a trained manager | Owner must run it | Owner must run it |
| Initial training | – | – | – |
| Technology fee | – | $9,500 to $20,000 (annually), subject to change9 11 | $632 annual fee |
| Transfer fee | – | – | – |
| Renewal fee | – | – | – |
| Franchised locations | 970 | 2,795 | 12,772 |
| Company-owned locations | 613 | 68 | 685 |
| Change in franchised, 3 years | +71 | +464 | −250 |
| Opened, 3 years | 108 | 776 | 313 |
| Closed or left, 3 years | 37 | 307 | 563 |
| Lawsuits disclosed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bankruptcy disclosed | None | None | None |
| Franchisor's own results | – | – | – |
| Figures from | 2026 | 2026 | 2024 |
Questions
What should I compare between franchises?
Start with the total investment and the fees you pay every month (royalty plus marketing fund), then at locations opened and closed: a brand that closes many locations for its size deserves questions. Earnings figures, where a brand shares them, show what existing locations sell.
Why do the location counts differ from the brand's website?
We count US locations at the end of the franchisor's last fiscal year, as filed with regulators. Websites often count international locations, locations in development or a later date.