Hot dog franchises range from gourmet hot dog and sausage restaurants with burgers and beer, through mall food court stands, to the Korean corn dog shops that have spread through malls and strip centers in the last few years, frying battered hot dogs and cheese to order. A branded menu program lets an existing restaurant, bar or venue sell a famous hot dog brand from its own kitchen.
A hot dog menu is short and simple to cook, which keeps the kitchen small and training quick next to a full restaurant.
The hot dog franchises
Hot dog restaurants
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog HausA fast-casual restaurant serving gourmet hot dogs, sausages, burgers and chicken sandwiches on King's Hawaiian rolls.$357K–$626K | $357K–$626K | 59 | – |
| Hot Dog on a StickA mall food court stand serving corn dogs, cheese on a stick, fries and fresh-squeezed lemonade.$541K–$679K | $541K–$679K | 46 | – |
| Crave Hot Dogs & BBQA fast-casual restaurant serving gourmet hot dogs, barbecue and sides, with food truck options.$261K–$1.07M | $261K–$1.07M | 22 | – |
| MP Coney IslandA family fast-casual restaurant serving hot dogs, hamburgers and fries with a house chili sauce.$179K–$375K | $179K–$375K | 1 | – |
| Sam's Hot DogsA hot dog shop selling hot dogs, other fast-food sandwiches and sides.$41K–$59K | $41K–$59K | – | – |
Korean hot dogs and corn dogs
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two Hands Corn DogsA corn dog shop serving crispy hot dogs, corn dogs and drinks.$231K–$453K | $231K–$453K | 69 | – |
| CrunCheese Korean Hot DogA quick-service shop specializing in Korean-style hot dogs.$185K–$653K | $185K–$653K | 16 | – |
| Myungrang Hot DogA Korean hot dog shop frying battered hot dogs and cheese on a stick with a choice of coatings and toppings.$189K–$517K | $189K–$517K | 6 | – |
Menus added to another business
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan's Famous Branded Menu ProgramA host-location foodservice business selling Nathan's branded hot dogs and other products.$57K–$202K | $57K–$202K | 76 | – |
What hot dog franchises cost to open
The typical brand here costs $189K at the low end of its estimate and $517K at the high end. The lowest starting cost is Sam's Hot Dogs’s, from $41K. Use each brand’s full range for budgeting: the low end is a small site in a cheaper market.
| Kind | Brands | Typical cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Hot dog restaurants | 5 | $261K–$626K |
| Korean hot dogs and corn dogs | 3 | $189K–$517K |
| Menus added to another business | 1 | $57K–$202K |
Shops spend most on the build-out of a small leased space and on fryers, griddles and a hood. Food court stands are cheaper to fit out but pay mall rent that is often a share of sales. A menu program for an existing business needs little more than equipment and an opening order.
Fees and royalties
The typical franchise fee is $35K and the typical royalty 5% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. One brand charges a flat, tiered or other royalty instead of one percentage. Royalties come off sales before rent, wages or loan payments. The fees and royalties guide compares industries.
What locations sell
Of these brands, 2 publish a comparable yearly sales figure per location. Sales are before costs, so they say nothing on their own about profit.
| Brand | Yearly sales | Sales ÷ cost |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Haus2024, 12 locations | $1.45M | 2.9× |
| Hot Dog on a Stick2024, 13 locations | $534K | 0.9× |
Before you buy
Short menus sell on volume, so foot traffic decides most of the result: ask brands how their mall and strip-center locations compare, and for sales from shops like the one you plan. Korean corn dog brands are young; check how long the existing shops have been open and how many have closed. For a menu program, ask about minimum purchases of the brand’s products.
Questions
What is a Korean corn dog franchise?
A small shop that fries hot dogs, mozzarella or both on a stick in a thick batter, often rolled in panko, potato cubes or ramen, then sugar and sauces, made to order. The shops need little space and a short menu, and many sit in malls or near campuses where younger customers gather.
Can I add a hot dog franchise to an existing restaurant or bar?
Yes, through a branded menu program: the business sells the brand's hot dogs and sides from its own kitchen under the brand's name, for a much smaller fee than a full franchise. The brand usually requires you to buy its hot dogs and buns and to follow its recipes and signs.