Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program franchise
A host-location foodservice business selling Nathan's branded hot dogs and other products. At the end of 2026 there were 76 Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $57K–$202K
- Franchise fee
- $7,500
- Royalty
- No sales royalty; purchases required
- Locations, 2026
- 76
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- Not on the SBA Franchise Directory
From NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program franchise costs
Opening Branded menu program costs an estimated $56,510 to $202,180. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 16
Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program franchise fee
The franchise fee is $7,500. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 13
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | No sales-based royalty or marketing contribution; approved product and equipment purchases are required. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 14
Sales and earnings
No figures Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program 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: NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 32
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81 (−5) | 0 |
| 2025 | 75 (−6) | 0 |
| 2026 | 76 (+1) | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: NATHAN'S FAMOUS SYSTEMS, INC, 2026 filing, page 32
How Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program compares
Of the 192 restaurant franchises on this site, Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program is the 2nd cheapest to open and the 103rd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Nathan's Famous Branded Menu Program | Typical restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $57K | $529K |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | −11.6% | +5.3% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 138 of 192 |
Typical is the median across the 192 brands in restaurant franchises.
