Tim Hortons franchise
Tim Hortons is a Canadian coffee chain selling coffee, donuts, Timbits, soups and sandwiches. In the US it is much smaller than in Canada and is owned by Restaurant Brands International. At the end of 2025 there were 693 Tim Hortons locations in the US, 669 franchised and 24 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $428K–$3.31M
- Franchise fee
- $50,000
- Royalty
- 4.5–6%
- Locations, 2025
- 693+33 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Miami, Florida
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
From Tim Hortons USA Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Tim Hortons franchise costs
Opening a Tim Hortons shop under a franchise agreement, excluding real property costs an estimated $427,500 to $3,312,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Tim Hortons USA Inc, 2026 filing, page 38
Tim Hortons franchise fee
The franchise fee is $50,000, for a standard shop ($25,000 for a non-standard shop). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Tim Hortons USA Inc, 2026 filing, page 27
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 4.5% to 6% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 4% of gross sales, paid monthly. |
Source: Tim Hortons USA Inc, 2026 filing, page 29
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Tim Hortons publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 monthly gross sales, cost of goods and labor for 585 franchised standard shops. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Tim Hortons USA Inc, 2026 filing, page 82
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 642 (+6) | 0 | 20 |
| 2024 | 640 (−2) | 23 | 35 |
| 2025 | 669 (+29) | 24 | 13 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Tim Hortons USA Inc, 2026 filing, page 85
How Tim Hortons compares
Of the 6 coffee franchises on this site, Tim Hortons is the 2nd cheapest to open and the 3rd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Tim Hortons | Typical coffee |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $428K | $596K |
| Closed or left per year | 3.5% | 2.6% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +5.2% | +20.2% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 5 of 6 |
Typical is the median across the 6 brands in coffee franchises.
Other coffee franchises
Tim Hortons franchise questions
Do Tim Hortons franchisees get a protected territory?
No. Tim Hortons grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another Tim Hortons can open nearby.
Is Tim Hortons growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 101 franchised locations opened and 68 closed or left, a net change of +5.2%. About 3.5% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2.6% typical for coffee franchises.
How does Tim Hortons compare with other coffee franchises?
Of the 6 coffee franchises here, Tim Hortons is the 2nd cheapest to open (low end $428K against a $596K median) and the 3rd largest by number of locations.
Does Tim Hortons say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 monthly gross sales, cost of goods and labor for 585 franchised standard shops. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Tim Hortons based?
Tim Hortons USA Inc is based in Miami, Florida.