What's Our Franchise Development Schedule for 2026?

When you buy a Jack in the Box franchise, how soon do you have to open your stores? 

I'm consistently asked "Do I have to open all those stores in the first year? and the answer is no. The timeline to open your stores is called a Development Schedule.

I'll break down our development schedule and clarify the timeline for opening your Jack in the Box locations.

Jack in the Box Development Schedule

When you sign a multi-store development agreement with most franchise brands, including Jack in the Box, you'll be provided with a development schedule. Think of this as a roadmap and timeline for your store openings. It outlines the expected dates for each store launch, giving you a clear picture of your obligations.

At Jack in the Box, you'll receive a detailed copy of this timeline. To further illustrate, let's walk through typical development schedules for both a three-store and a five-store commitment.

Three-Store Development Schedule

• Store 1: 26 months from the date you sign your development agreement.
• Store 2: After that 26 months for Store 1, you have 12 additional months to open Store 2.
• Store 3: At the end of the 12 months Store 2, you have 12 additional months to open Store 3.

In summary, your development timeline for three stores will be a total of 42 months.

If you have signed a Development Agreement and you will not be able to timely meet your Development Schedule, provided that you are in full compliance with all agreements with us, you may, by providing us six months’ advance written notice, request a twelve-month extension of one or more of the development deadlines in the development schedule. Please see our FDD for more information.

Five-Store Development Schedule

• Store 1: 26 months from the date you sign your development agreement.
• Store 2: After that 26 months for Store 1, you have 12 additional months to open Store 2.
• Stores 3 & 4: At the end of the 12 months for Store 2, you have 12 additional months to open Store 3 & 4.
• Store 5: At the end of the 12 months Stores 3 & 4, you have 12 additional months to open Store 5.

In summary, your development timeline for five stores will be a total of 54 months.

Putting the Timeline in Perspective

As you can see, a five-store development schedule typically spans a little less than five years. This structured approach allows you to strategically plan and execute your franchise expansion, rather than rushing to open all locations within a single year.

Key Takeaways

• Jack in the Box requires a three to five store minimum commitment in new markets.
• You are provided with a development schedule outlining the timeline for store openings.
• The schedules are designed to allow for a phased approach to opening multiple locations.
• Opening multiple stores happens over multiple years, and not all in the first year.

Check Out These Additional Resources

We hope this article and video gave you a better understanding of our development schedule.

At Jack in the Box, we work with our franchisees every step of the way in order to get their restaurants up and running.

Here are some additional online resources you may like to check out:

• 5 Reasons to Buy a Burger Franchise
• How Much Does a Jack in the Box Franchise Cost?
• Which Burger Franchise Makes the Most Money?

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Jack in the Box franchise team.