Five Guys franchise
Five Guys is a fast-casual burger chain that cooks hand-formed patties to order and serves them with fresh-cut fries and free toppings. Restaurants are usually 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, and franchisees typically commit to developing several in a territory. At the end of 2025 there were 1,583 Five Guys locations in the US, 970 franchised and 613 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $928K–$1.38M
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2025
- 1,583+71 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2002
- First location
- 1986
- Franchisor based in
- Alexandria, Virginia
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Five Guys Franchisor, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Five Guys franchise costs
Opening one Five Guys costs an estimated $927,850 to $1,375,750. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 20
Five Guys franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, per restaurant, plus a development fee of $50,000 per restaurant under the required development agreement. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of gross sales, paid weekly (8% in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico) |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Creative fund of up to 4% of gross sales (currently 2%) |
Source: Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 16
Sales and earnings
No figures Five Guys does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 53
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 924 (+25) | 597 | 11 |
| 2024 | 945 (+21) | 613 | 14 |
| 2025 | 970 (+25) | 613 | 12 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Five Guys Franchisor, LLC, 2026 filing, page 54
How Five Guys compares
Of the 11 burger franchises on this site, Five Guys is the 4th cheapest to open and the 6th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Five Guys | Typical burger |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $928K | $1.39M |
| Royalty | 6% | 4.8% |
| Closed or left per year | 1.3% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +7.9% | −2.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in burger franchises.
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Five Guys franchise questions
Does Five Guys help with financing?
No. Five Guys does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Five Guys franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Five Guys growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 108 franchised locations opened and 37 closed or left, a net change of +7.9%. About 1.3% of locations closed or left each year. That is below the 1.9% typical for burger franchises.
How does Five Guys compare with other burger franchises?
Of the 11 burger franchises here, Five Guys is the 4th cheapest to open (low end $928K against a $1.39M median) and the 6th largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is above the 4.8% median.
Does Five Guys say how much franchisees make?
No, Five Guys doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 9 of the 11 burger brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Five Guys based?
Five Guys Franchisor, LLC is based in Alexandria, Virginia and the brand has sold franchises since 2002; the first location opened in 1986.