6 min read
A List of Every Major Burger Franchise.: AUV, Costs, and More (2026)
Dustin Thompson June 4, 2026
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If you are shopping for a burger franchise, you have probably noticed how hard it is to compare brands side by side. One company lists a franchise fee but hides the royalty. Another publishes an average unit volume but never mentions net worth. A third buries everything in a 300-page legal document.
We built this page to fix that. Below is a single reference table covering the founding year, average unit volume (AUV), liquidity requirement, net worth requirement, franchise fee, royalty, and marketing royalty for the burger brands that actually sell franchises in the United States. We pulled the data from each brand's FDD, official franchising sites, and franchise data aggregators, and we flagged the spots where a brand does not disclose a number.
A quick note on honesty before we start: a few famous burger names are not on this list because they do not franchise at all. In-N-Out, Shake Shack, and Cook Out are company-operated, so there is no franchise to buy. That fact alone narrows the field more than most people expect.
Key Takeaways
- Roughly 15 to 20 burger brands sell traditional franchises in the U.S. Several household names (In-N-Out, Shake Shack, Cook Out) do not franchise, and Whataburger runs a limited, high-capital license model rather than a standard single-unit franchise.
- Franchise fees cluster between $25,000 and $55,000. The high end belongs to higher-AUV brands like Culver's; the low end includes Five Guys and Carl's Jr.
- Royalties for burger brands typically run 4% to 6% of sales. Jack in the Box charges a standard 5% royalty; Five Guys, Mooyah, and Fatburger sit at the 6% top of the range.
- Marketing or ad royalties vary widely, from under 1% to 6.5%. Carl's Jr. and Culver's carry some of the highest marketing contributions; Freddy's national fund is among the lowest.
- AUV is the number most brands either promote or hide. Culver's (about $3.69M), McDonald's (about $3.8M), and Whataburger (about $3.7M) lead on volume. Jack in the Box reported a 2025 franchise AUV of $1,913,335 in its FDD. Some brands, including Wayback Burgers, do not publish an Item 19 AUV at all.
- Net worth and liquidity requirements scale with investment size. Lower-cost fast-casual brands ask for $500K to $1M net worth; legacy drive-thru brands ask for $1M to $1.5M; Five Guys' current development program and Whataburger's license model sit far higher.
How to read the data (so the numbers actually mean something)
Three quick definitions, because brands measure these differently:
AUV (Average Unit Volume). This is average annual gross sales per restaurant, usually reported in FDD Item 19. It is revenue, not profit. A $2M AUV does not mean $2M in your pocket. Royalties, marketing fees, food, labor, rent, and debt all come out first.
Liquidity and net worth. Liquidity is cash and assets you can convert to cash quickly. Net worth is total assets minus total liabilities. Franchisors set minimums to confirm you can fund the build, cover the ramp-up period, and absorb surprises. Meeting the minimum is not the same as being comfortably capitalized.
Royalty vs. marketing royalty. The royalty pays for the brand license and system support. The marketing or advertising royalty funds national and regional campaigns. Add them together to see your real "off the top" fee load before any operating cost.
The Master Burger Franchise Table (2026)
| Brand | Founded | AUV (reported) | Liquidity required | Net worth required | Franchise fee | Royalty | Marketing/ad royalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jack in the Box |
1951 (franchising 1963) |
$1,913,335 (2025 FDD) |
$750,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$50,000 |
5% |
5% |
| McDonald's |
1955 |
~$3.8M (industry reports) |
~$500,000 |
No fixed public minimum* |
$45,000 |
4% (5% for new U.S./Canada units) |
~4% |
| Burger King |
1954 |
~$1.4M–$1.6M |
$500,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$50,000 |
4.5% |
4% |
| Wendy's |
1969 |
~$2.0M–$2.1M |
$500,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$50,000 |
4% |
4% |
| Sonic Drive-In |
1953 (franchising 1959) |
~$1.6M |
$500,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$45,000 |
up to 5% |
~3.5%–5% |
| Carl's Jr. |
1956 |
~$1.4M |
$300,000–$500,000 |
$1,000,000–$1,500,000 |
$25,000 |
4% |
6% |
| Hardee's |
1960 |
~$1.24M (median) |
$300,000–$500,000 |
$1,000,000–$1,500,000 |
~$25,000 |
4% |
~5%–6% |
| Culver's |
1984 |
~$3.69M |
$500,000–$750,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$55,000 |
4% |
2.5% |
| Five Guys |
1986 |
~$1.54M (2024) |
$250K domestic / $2.5M new development |
$500K domestic / $5M new development |
$25,000 |
6% (8% in AK/HI/PR) |
~3% |
| Smashburger |
2007 (franchising 2008) |
~$942K (reported Item 19) |
$500,000 |
$2,000,000 |
$40,000 |
5.5% |
2.25% (up to 4%) |
| Mooyah |
2007 |
~$1.02M (system avg) |
$500,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$40,000 |
6% |
2% |
| Wayback Burgers |
1991 (franchising 2008) |
Not disclosed in FDD |
$250,000 |
$500,000 |
$35,000 |
5% |
2% national (+2% local) |
| Fatburger |
1947 (franchising 1985) |
~$1.08M |
varies |
varies |
~$50,000 |
6% |
4% |
| Freddy's |
2002 (franchising 2004) |
~$1.53M system; ~$2.53M top quartile |
$250,000 |
$850,000 |
~$25,000–$55,000 |
4.5% (5% for agreements after 7/1/2025) |
1.5% national fund |
| Whataburger |
1950 |
~$3.7M |
$5,000,000 (license/development) |
$12,500,000 (license/development) |
varies (license model) |
license terms |
license terms |
*McDonald's does not publish a fixed net worth minimum; it generally requires a minimum of roughly $500,000 in non-borrowed personal resources and evaluates total financial strength case by case.
A few honest caveats on the table:
- AUV figures come from different fiscal years and different FDD vintages, and some are third-party estimates rather than franchisor Item 19 disclosures. Treat the column as a directional comparison, not a guarantee.
- Investment ranges are not in the table because they swing widely by format and region. As a reference point, our own FDD lists a total investment of $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 for a Jack in the Box restaurant you build, excluding land.
- Ownership changes constantly. Smashburger is owned by Jollibee Foods. Carl's Jr. and Hardee's sit under CKE Restaurants. Sonic and Hardee's connect to the Inspire Brands and Roark ecosystem. Freddy's was acquired by Rhône Group in 2025. Mooyah is held by private equity. These shifts can change fees and incentives, which is why the FDD is the only document that controls.
What the numbers tell you about each tier
Legacy drive-thru giants (McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box, Sonic)
These are the brands most people picture when they hear "burger franchise." They share high brand recognition, drive-thru-first formats, and royalties in the 4% to 5% range. The trade-off is capital. Net worth requirements sit at $1M to $1.5M, and total investment routinely clears $2M.
Jack in the Box sits in this tier with a 5% royalty and a 5% marketing fee. Our 2025 franchise AUV was $1,913,335 according to our FDD, and our 2024 figure was $1,986,186. One structural difference worth naming as a fact, not an opinion: Jack in the Box restaurants serve all dayparts, including late night, and the menu spans burgers, tacos, breakfast, and more, which is a different revenue mix than a breakfast-limited or daytime-only competitor.
Better-burger and fast-casual (Smashburger, Mooyah, Wayback Burgers, Fatburger, Five Guys)
These brands generally carry lower build costs and lower net worth requirements, which makes them more accessible to first-time owners. The catch shows up in two places. First, royalties tend to run higher, with several at 5.5% to 6%. Second, AUVs in this group are usually lower than the drive-thru giants, often in the $0.9M to $1.5M range. Five Guys is the volume standout in this segment at about $1.54M, though its U.S. territories are largely sold out, and its current development program targets well-capitalized operators.
High-volume specialists (Culver's, Whataburger)
Culver's posts one of the highest AUVs in the entire quick-service category at roughly $3.69M, paired with a $55,000 franchise fee and a 15-year term. Whataburger no longer runs a conventional single-unit franchise; it uses a license and development model aimed at operators who can open at least five restaurants and meet multimillion-dollar capital thresholds.
Which burger brands do NOT franchise?
This question comes up constantly, and the answer saves people months of wasted research:
- In-N-Out does not franchise. It is family-owned and company-operated.
- Shake Shack does not offer traditional domestic franchises; it operates its U.S. locations directly and uses licensing mainly for airports, stadiums, and international markets.
- Cook Out does not franchise; it is privately held and company-operated.
If a website offers to "sell you" one of these franchises, treat it as a red flag.
How we sourced this data
We compiled the Jack in the Box figures directly from our 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (Different Rules, LLC) and our published franchising requirements. Competitor figures come from each brand's FDD where available, official franchising pages, and franchise data services. Where a brand discloses a number in Item 19, we used it. Where it does not, we said so rather than guessing. None of the AUV figures here are a promise of your results. Item 19 reports historical averages, and individual restaurant performance varies by market, operator, and format.
By the Jack in the Box Franchise Development Team. Figures reflect the most recent Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and published franchisor requirements available as of mid-2026. Always confirm numbers against a brand's current FDD before you invest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average franchise fee for a burger franchise? Most burger brands charge an initial franchise fee between $25,000 and $55,000 per restaurant. Jack in the Box charges $50,000 for a traditional location and $25,000 for a nontraditional location.
Which burger franchise has the highest AUV? Among brands that franchise, Culver's (about $3.69M), McDonald's (about $3.8M), and Whataburger (about $3.7M) report the highest average unit volumes. Jack in the Box reported a 2025 franchise AUV of $1,913,335.
What royalty do burger franchises charge? Burger franchise royalties usually fall between 4% and 6% of gross sales. Jack in the Box charges a standard 5% royalty. Add the marketing or advertising royalty to see your full ongoing fee load.
How much net worth do I need to open a burger franchise? It depends on the brand and format. Lower-cost fast-casual brands ask for $500,000 to $1,000,000. Legacy drive-thru brands ask for $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. Jack in the Box requires a minimum net worth of $1,500,000 and $750,000 in liquidity.
Can I open just one burger franchise? Some brands allow single-unit ownership; others require multi-unit development. Jack in the Box focuses on multi-unit development, typically a three-to-five-restaurant commitment. Whataburger requires at least five restaurants in five years.
Ready to compare Jack in the Box directly?
Speak with a member of our team to get a copy of our 2026 Jack in the Box FDD by visiting our contact us page here.