Jack in the Box vs MOOYAH: Comparing Two Burger Franchises (2026)

This is a comparison of scale versus accessibility. Jack in the Box is a legacy quick-service chain with more than 2,100 restaurants and a multi-daypart, drive-thru-first model. MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes is a smaller fast-casual "better burger" brand with 72 franchised restaurants, a lower entry cost, and a build-your-own menu. They are not really competing for the same operator, but plenty of prospects weigh them against each other, so here is the honest breakdown, updated with the 2026 FDD. 

Key Takeaways

• Jack in the Box reports a higher AUV. Our 2025 franchise AUV was $1,913,335. MOOYAH's 2026 FDD reports an average unit volume of $1,118,334 across 62 traditional franchised restaurants, with a median of $1,016,595 and a top quartile averaging $1,666,659.
• MOOYAH has a much lower entry cost. Its 2026 FDD lists a total investment of $452,050 to $990,600, versus Jack in the Box's $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 for a restaurant you build.
• MOOYAH lowered its franchise fee. The 2026 FDD sets the initial franchise fee at $30,000 (down from $40,000), with a $15,000 fee for qualified veterans.
• MOOYAH also trimmed its ongoing fees. Royalty is now 5.75% (down from 6%) and the advertising fee is 2.75%. Jack in the Box charges a 5% royalty and a 5% marketing fee.
• MOOYAH's financial bar is lower: roughly $1,000,000 net worth and $250,000 liquidity per its published materials, versus our $1,500,000 net worth and $750,000 liquidity. Those minimums are screening criteria, not FDD line items.
• Different formats, different operators. MOOYAH is a smaller-footprint fast-casual concept. Jack in the Box is a drive-thru, all-daypart system for multi-unit developers.

Side-by-Side: The Core Numbers

Entry Cost: The Most Obvious Difference

If your deciding factor is upfront capital, MOOYAH wins on the sticker. Its 2026 FDD lists a total initial investment of $452,050 to $990,600 for a single restaurant, and the brand markets itself as more accessible than many better-burger concepts. Jack in the Box's FDD lists $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 to build a restaurant, excluding land.

That gap is the heart of the decision. A MOOYAH location is a smaller-footprint fast-casual build. A Jack in the Box is a full drive-thru quick-service restaurant. You are comparing two different real estate and construction commitments, not two versions of the same store.

MOOYAH also lowered its entry fees in the 2026 FDD. The initial franchise fee is now $30,000, down from $40,000, with a $15,000 fee for qualified U.S. military veterans. There is also a one-time $10,000 New Restaurant Marketing Program Fee, due at lease signing, that funds your grand-opening marketing. If you sign an Area Development Agreement, the development fee runs $15,000 per restaurant beyond the first, so a standard three-restaurant commitment carries a $30,000 development fee.

Sales Volume and Fee Load

MOOYAH's 2026 FDD reports an average unit volume of $1,118,334 across 62 traditional franchised restaurants for fiscal year 2025, with a median of $1,016,595. The top quartile averaged $1,666,659, while the lowest single restaurant in the data set recorded $377,926. Of the 62 restaurants, 27 (44%) exceeded the average. Jack in the Box reported a 2025 franchise AUV of $1,913,335 (and $1,986,186 for 2024).

On fees, MOOYAH now charges a 5.75% royalty and a 2.75% advertising fee, for 8.5% off the top. Jack in the Box charges 5% royalty and 5% marketing, for 10% off the top.

Here is the factual takeaway, with no opinion attached. MOOYAH's lower fee percentage applies to lower average sales. Jack in the Box's higher fee percentage applies to higher average sales. A lower percentage on a smaller number and a higher percentage on a larger number can land in very different places once you account for your real operating costs. Neither brand's Item 19 reports profit, so build your own pro forma for both before drawing conclusions.

Format and Daypart Coverage

MOOYAH runs a fast-casual, build-your-own model with burgers, hand-cut fries, and shakes, concentrated around lunch and dinner with a dine-in element.

Jack in the Box runs a drive-thru-first quick-service model serving all dayparts, including late night, with a menu that spans burgers, tacos, breakfast, and more. The all-daypart structure spreads revenue across more parts of the day, which is a different operating rhythm and labor model than a lunch-and-dinner fast-casual store.

Who Each Brand Is Built For

MOOYAH fits an operator who wants a lower-capital entry into the better-burger category, a smaller footprint, and a hands-on single or small multi-unit start. The financial bar is more accessible at roughly $1M net worth and $250K liquidity, and the 2026 fee reductions lower the entry math further.

Jack in the Box fits multi-unit operators who want an established, large-scale drive-thru system with all-daypart revenue and a development path backed by a public company. We typically look for a three-to-five-restaurant commitment and offer market-entry incentive programs that can reduce the royalty rate for a defined period.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper to open, Jack in the Box or MOOYAH? MOOYAH is cheaper to open. Its 2026 FDD lists a total investment of $452,050 to $990,600, while Jack in the Box's FDD lists $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 for a restaurant you build, excluding land.

Which has higher average sales? Jack in the Box reported a 2025 franchise AUV of $1,913,335. MOOYAH's 2026 FDD reports an average unit volume of $1,118,334 across 62 traditional franchised restaurants, with a top quartile averaging $1,666,659.

What are the royalty and marketing fees? Jack in the Box charges a 5% royalty and a 5% marketing fee. MOOYAH charges a 5.75% royalty and a 2.75% advertising fee in its 2026 FDD.

What does it cost to open a MOOYAH franchise? MOOYAH's 2026 FDD lists a $30,000 initial franchise fee ($15,000 for veterans), a one-time $10,000 new restaurant marketing fee, and a total initial investment of $452,050 to $990,600.

How many MOOYAH locations are there? MOOYAH's 2026 FDD reports 72 franchised restaurants in operation at the end of fiscal year 2025. Jack in the Box operates roughly 2,160 restaurants across 22 states.

The Bottom Line

MOOYAH is the lower-capital, smaller-footprint, fast-casual option with an accessible financial bar, and its 2026 FDD lowered both the franchise fee and the royalty. Jack in the Box is the larger-scale, drive-thru, all-daypart system with higher reported average sales and a multi-unit development path. The right answer depends on your capital, your real estate, and the number of units you want to run. Compare both Item 19 tables against your target market and model the economics yourself.