The 10 Best Fast Food Franchises for Veterans in 2026

By Dustin Thompson, Franchise Marketing and Development at Jack in the Box. Updated July 20, 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Many fast food brands cut the initial franchise fee for qualified veterans. Published discounts on this list range from 15% off to a full fee waiver as of July 2026.
• Jack in the Box reduces the Initial Franchise Fee for a qualified veteran's first new restaurant by 25%, or $12,500, which brings the fee from $50,000 to $37,500.
• Franchising rewards people who can run a proven system with discipline, and veterans spend years training to do exactly that.
• VetFran, a program from the International Franchise Association, connects veterans with hundreds of brands that offer incentives.
• A fee discount is only part of the decision. Review each brand's full disclosure document and total investment before you commit, and get current program terms in writing.

Searching for the best fast food franchises for veterans? Here is the short answer. Jack in the Box, A&W, Zaxby's, Popeyes, Checkers & Rally's, Freddy's, Captain D's, Firehouse Subs, Culver's, and Wing Zone all offer programs for qualified veterans in 2026. Several have grown those programs since we first published this list.

I'm Dustin Thompson. I work in Franchise Marketing and Development at Jack in the Box. I speak with candidates, including veterans, about what it takes to open and run our restaurants. I also spend a lot of time inside franchise disclosure documents, known as FDDs. For this update, I checked every number below. My sources were each brand's own franchise site, its listing with the International Franchise Association, known as the IFA, or, for us, our own 2026 FDD.

One note before the list. Incentive programs change, and every franchisor reserves the right to modify or end them. Treat the figures below as a starting point, then confirm current terms directly with each brand.

Why Are Fast Food Franchises a Good Fit for Veterans?

Franchising runs on systems. The franchisor writes the playbook: how to build the restaurant, train the team, prep the food, and serve the guest. The franchisee's job is to run that playbook well, day after day.

That is what military service trains people to do. Veterans spend years following standard operating procedures. They lead teams under pressure. They hold a standard when it would be easier to cut corners. Those habits carry straight over to a quick service restaurant, where the whole game is doing the same thing well every single day.

Veterans already own businesses at scale. Per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 Annual Business Survey, veteran owned employer firms brought in $884.5 billion in receipts and employed 3.2 million people. Franchising is one common path into that group, since the playbook comes with the deal.

I see the fit in my own candidate calls. The veterans I talk with ask sharp questions about training, reporting, and accountability. They want to understand the system before they commit to it. In my experience, that mindset matches franchising better than almost any other background that comes across my desk.

What Is VetFran and How Does It Work?

VetFran stands for the Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative. The IFA launched it in 1991 to help veterans move into business ownership. Member brands offer incentives to qualified veterans, most often a discount on the initial franchise fee.

Two details matter here. First, the discount usually applies to the franchise fee only, not the total investment. Second, each franchisor sets its own terms and rules, and most can change or end the program at any time. Confirm the current offer in Item 5 of the brand's FDD before you sign anything.

Which Fast Food Franchises Offer Veteran Incentives in 2026?

Here are ten fast food and fast casual brands with published veteran programs, in no particular order beyond the first. I work for the first one, so I know it best.

1. Jack in the Box

At Jack in the Box, we participate in VetFran through the Jack in the Box Veterans Program. Under the program, we reduce the Initial Franchise Fee for a qualified veteran's first new restaurant by 25%, or $12,500. That brings the fee from $50,000 to $37,500.

To qualify, a candidate must meet four tests:

• Request the Veterans Program at the time of application.
• Meet our then current qualifications for new franchisees.
• Be at least 51% legally and beneficially owned by persons meeting our qualifying veteran status.
• Not have previously received a similar incentive from us.

The incentive may not be combined with any other incentive program, and we may modify or discontinue it at any time. Full details live in Item 5 of our 2026 FDD.

The discount is one piece. What veteran candidates tell me they value most is the structure. Before your first restaurant opens, you complete a training program built around proficiency, not seat time. It runs about ten to fourteen weeks, and you advance when you show the skill, not when the calendar says so. If you spent your service years in structured training environments, that approach will feel familiar. You can read more on our training and support page.

2. A&W Restaurants

A&W has franchised restaurants since 1925, which makes it the oldest restaurant franchise in the country. The brand is best known for root beer made fresh in each restaurant.

A&W has expanded its veteran incentive since our last update. Per its franchising site, the brand now offers qualified veterans 30% off its $30,000 initial franchise fee, which cuts the fee to $21,000. A&W is a VetFran member.

3. Zaxby's

Zaxby's is a chicken focused brand based in Athens, Georgia. Its menu centers on chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches, and salads, backed by its signature sauces.

Per its IFA listing, Zaxby's offers 20% off the initial franchise fee to qualified veterans.

4. Popeyes

Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972 and built its menu around Louisiana style fried chicken and Cajun flavors.

Popeyes has offered veteran focused incentives in recent years. The brand does not publish current terms on its public franchising pages, though. If Popeyes is on your short list, ask its franchise team for the current veteran offer in writing. Then confirm it appears in the FDD you receive.

5. Checkers & Rally's

Checkers & Rally's runs a double drive thru model with a small building footprint. The two brands joined in 1999 and share a menu.

This is one of the largest published incentives in the category. Per its IFA listing, Checkers & Rally's waives the full $30,000 initial franchise fee on the first location opened by a qualified veteran who is new to its system.

6. Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Freddy's opened its first location in Wichita, Kansas in 2002. The menu features cooked to order steakburgers, shoestring fries, and frozen custard churned throughout the day. The brand is named for co founder Freddy Simon, a decorated World War II veteran.

Per its IFA listing, Freddy's offers a 25% discount off the initial franchise fee to qualified veterans.

7. Captain D's

Captain D's serves seafood at a quick service price point with a fast casual feel, which sets it apart from the burger and chicken brands on this list.

Its published cut is one of the deepest here. The brand's franchising FAQ lists a $35,000 initial franchise fee and states that qualifying veterans may get up to half off. Its IFA listing also describes a royalty reduction of 1.5% for the first two years.

8. Firehouse Subs

Firehouse Subs was founded in 1994 by two brothers who worked as firefighters, and public safety remains central to the brand.

This is the biggest change since our original list. Firehouse Subs replaced its modest fee discount with a Veteran and First Responder Development Incentive Program. Per the brand's newsroom, qualifying veterans and first responders can get up to $100,000 in cash for each new restaurant they open. The program has been extended through 2026. Cash works differently from a fee discount, so read the terms closely.

9. Culver's

Culver's built its reputation on ButterBurgers and frozen custard, along with a strong owner operator culture.

Culver's franchise disclosure materials have described a Veterans Discount of $10,000 off the initial franchise fee. It applies to honorably discharged veterans who open their first restaurant and run it in person. The brand does not post these terms on a public page, so confirm the details with the Culver's franchise team.

10. Wing Zone

Wing Zone is a wing focused brand built around delivery and takeout, and it is now part of the Capriotti's family of brands.

Wing Zone has offered a 15% discount on the initial franchise fee to veterans who provide a copy of their DD-214. As with every brand here, confirm the current terms before you apply.

How Do These Veteran Incentives Compare?

The table below sums up each published program as of July 2026, with a note on where each figure comes from.

All incentives are subject to each franchisor's eligibility rules and may be modified or discontinued at any time. Discounts apply to the franchise fee or stated program only, not the total investment.

What Should Veterans Check Before Choosing a Franchise?

A discount gets your attention. It should not make your decision. This is the checklist I walk candidates through, and it applies to every brand on this list, including ours.

Read the full FDD, not just Item 5. The fee discount sits in Item 5, but the ongoing economics live in Items 6 and 7. Item 7 shows the total estimated initial investment. For Jack in the Box, that range is $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 per our 2026 FDD, and the veteran discount applies to the franchise fee portion only. Our franchise costs page breaks the full picture down.

Know the financial requirements. Most national brands set liquidity and net worth minimums. At Jack in the Box, we look for at least $750,000 in liquidity and $1,500,000 in net worth. Our franchise process page shows where qualification fits in the timeline.

Map your funding early. The VA home loan program covers housing, not businesses. Most candidates fund a restaurant through savings plus financing, such as SBA 7(a) loans or bank lending. Line this up before you fall in love with a brand.

Talk to franchisees who served. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees with contact details. Ask veterans in the system what surprised them and how the support held up after opening day.

Ask about growth from day one. If you plan to build past one restaurant, ask how the brand structures multi unit development and where it wants to grow. You can see our current focus on our available markets page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do fast food franchises give discounts to veterans?

Many do. Published incentives among the brands on this list range from 15% off the initial franchise fee to a full fee waiver, and one brand offers a cash incentive of up to $100,000 per restaurant. Each franchisor sets its own terms and can change them at any time.

How much does the Jack in the Box Veterans Program save?

The program reduces the Initial Franchise Fee for a qualified veteran's first new restaurant by 25%, or $12,500, which brings the fee from $50,000 to $37,500. Eligibility requirements apply, the incentive cannot be combined with other incentive programs, and we may modify or discontinue it at any time.

Can I use a VA loan to buy a fast food franchise?

No. VA home loans apply to housing. Veterans typically fund a franchise with savings, bank financing, or SBA loans such as the 7(a) program.

What is a DD-214 and why do franchisors ask for it?

Form DD-214 is the certificate of release or discharge from active duty. Franchisors use it to verify service and discharge status before applying a veteran incentive.

Does a veteran discount lower the total cost of opening a franchise by much?

It lowers the franchise fee, which is a small share of the total investment. Construction, equipment, and working capital make up most of the cost, so review Item 7 of each brand's FDD for the full picture.

Where Should You Go From Here?

Start by requesting the FDD from two or three brands that fit your budget and your market, then compare Items 5, 6, and 7 side by side. If Jack in the Box makes your short list, here is why operators choose us, and our Veterans Program page covers the incentive in detail. When you are ready to talk, contact our franchise team and mention your service at the time of application.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for informational purposes only. An offer is made only through delivery of a Franchise Disclosure Document that has been registered where required by law. Jack in the Box franchises are offered by Different Rules, LLC.

About the Author

Dustin Thompson works in Franchise Marketing and Development for Jack in the Box, where he helps qualified multi unit operators and first time candidates, including veterans, evaluate the brand. He writes research based guides on franchise costs, markets, and programs for jackintheboxfranchising.com. Nothing in this article is a representation of actual or potential financial performance. See Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document for the financial performance representations we make.