What Are the Total Upfront Costs of Popular US Burger Franchises?

Total upfront investment for the major US burger franchises in 2026 runs from roughly $452,050 at the low end for a leased fast casual space to $10,294,100 at the high end for a ground up build that includes land. Every figure in this article comes from Item 7 of each brand's current Franchise Disclosure Document. Nothing here is an estimate I made up or a number scraped from an aggregator site.

I work in franchise development for Jack in the Box, and the first question serious candidates ask me is almost never about the brand. It is about the check they need to write. So I pulled the 2026 FDDs for nine burger brands, went straight to Item 7 in each one, and lined the numbers up side by side. Here is what the documents actually say.

Key Takeaways

• Item 7 of the FDD is the only standardized source for a franchise's total estimated initial investment. Comparing brand websites or third party lists will mislead you.
• Across the nine 2026 FDDs reviewed here, total estimated initial investment ranges span $452,050 (MOOYAH, leased space) to $10,294,100 (Culver's, including land purchase).
• The Jack in the Box total estimated initial investment is $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 for a new build, excluding land, per the March 13, 2026 FDD issued by Different Rules, LLC.
• Ranges are not directly comparable. Some brands include land purchase, some exclude real property entirely, and facility types differ from 1,250 square foot drive ins to 4,300 square foot sit down buildings.
• Initial franchise fees cluster between $15,000 and $65,000, a small fraction of total project cost. Construction, equipment, and site work drive the real number.
• Several brands, including Jack in the Box, publish development incentives that can reduce certain costs for qualifying multi unit operators. Eligibility rules apply and programs can change or end.

What Do Popular Burger Franchises Cost to Open in 2026?

The table below shows the total estimated initial investment disclosed in Item 7 of each brand's 2026 FDD, along with what each range assumes. Read the basis column carefully. It matters more than the dollar figures.

Source: Item 7 of each brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Jack in the Box figures from the FDD issued March 13, 2026 by Different Rules, LLC.

Why Do These Investment Ranges Look So Different?

Because the brands are not measuring the same project. This is the single biggest mistake I see candidates make when they compare FDDs, and I review these documents for a living.

Three basis differences explain most of the spread:

1. Land treatment. Culver's includes buying the dirt, which is why its high end reaches eight figures. Jack in the Box, Wendy's, Hardee's, and SONIC exclude land or real property from the total. McDonald's goes a different direction entirely: the company typically controls the real estate and the franchisee pays rent, so property purchase never enters the franchisee's Item 7 range.

2. Facility type. A SONIC drive in building runs 1,250 to 1,500 square feet. A Culver's prototype runs over 4,000. A MOOYAH sits in about 2,000 square feet of leased inline space with no drive thru at all. Smaller box, smaller build cost, but also a very different real estate strategy and operating model.

3. What counts as opening costs. Working capital assumptions vary from $10,000 to $452,000 across these nine documents. Training cost estimates vary just as widely. Each franchisor sets its own assumptions, and the FDD notes explain them.

The practical takeaway: never rank brands by the headline range alone. Open each FDD, read the Item 7 notes, and rebuild the comparison on a like for like basis for the specific real estate strategy you plan to use. The FTC's Consumer Guide to Buying a Franchise walks through how to read these disclosures if you have never worked with one.

How Much Is the Initial Franchise Fee for Each Burger Brand?

The initial franchise fee gets outsized attention because it is the number brands put on their websites. In reality it is usually 1 to 4 percent of the total project. Here is what each 2026 FDD discloses for a standard single unit:

Two caveats from the documents themselves. Culver's discloses a fee range of $35,000 to $65,000 depending on program and discounts, with $65,000 as the standard figure. And most brands publish reduced fees for veterans or multi unit commitments, so the standard fee is a starting point, not a fixed price for every buyer.

What Does It Cost to Open a Jack in the Box Franchise?

Since this is the FDD I know line by line, I will break ours down the way I do on calls with candidates. Per Item 7 of the March 13, 2026 FDD from Different Rules, LLC, the total estimated initial investment for a new prototypical Jack in the Box restaurant is $1,909,500 to $4,041,500, excluding land, financing, and certain other costs. The major line items:

Selected line items from Item 7, 2026 Jack in the Box FDD (Different Rules, LLC). The table above is not the complete Item 7 schedule. See the full breakdown on our franchise costs page.

One thing candidates consistently tell me they did not expect: pre opening training carries a real budget. Ours is estimated at $110,000 to $115,000 because operators and their management teams go through a structured program before doors open. You can read what that covers on our training and support page. If you are earlier in the research phase, start with why operators choose Jack in the Box.

What Financial Requirements Do You Need to Qualify?

Investment ranges tell you the project cost. Qualification standards tell you whether a franchisor will talk to you. For Jack in the Box, candidates need minimum liquidity of $750,000 and minimum net worth of $1,500,000. Other brands in this comparison set their own thresholds in their FDDs and application processes, and several of the larger legacy brands screen specifically for multi unit restaurant experience. If you are weighing a multi unit commitment, our multi unit development page explains how we structure development agreements.

Are There Incentives That Reduce Upfront Costs?

Yes, and this is where the fine print earns its keep. Current Jack in the Box programs include:

• Development Incentive: $150,000 at 0 percent interest for qualifying operators who commit to develop three or more restaurants.
• Select Market Incentive: royalty reduced to 2 percent of gross sales for five years in qualifying markets. See our available markets page for where we are actively developing.
• VetFran: a 25 percent reduction of the initial franchise fee for qualifying veterans. Details on our veterans page.

Eligibility requirements apply to each program, and incentive programs can be modified or discontinued. The controlling terms are always the ones in the current FDD and your signed agreements, not a blog post, including this one. Other brands in this comparison publish their own incentive structures in Items 5 and 6 of their FDDs, so check each document rather than assuming the standard fee applies to you.

How Should You Verify These Numbers Yourself?

Do not take my word for any of this, and definitely do not take a listing site's word for it. Here is the verification process I recommend to every candidate:

Request the current FDD directly from each franchisor. Under the FTC Franchise Rule, you must receive the FDD at least 14 days before signing or paying anything.

Use a state registry for independent copies. Several registration states publish FDDs. Minnesota's Commerce Department CARDS system is free and searchable, and it is the registry I used to cross check filings for this article.

Read Item 7 notes, not just the table. The notes disclose whether land is in or out, what square footage is assumed, and how working capital was estimated. Franchising remains a large and growing sector, with the International Franchise Association's Franchising Economic Outlook tracking output across hundreds of thousands of franchised establishments, and disclosure quality is what separates informed buyers from optimistic ones.

When you are ready to see our numbers in full context, the franchise process page shows exactly where FDD review fits in our timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest burger franchise to open among major US brands?

Among the nine 2026 FDDs reviewed here, MOOYAH discloses the lowest total estimated initial investment at $452,050 to $990,600 for a leased space of about 2,000 square feet with no drive thru. The trade off is a fast casual leased format rather than a freestanding drive thru building, which is a different real estate and operations model.

How much does a Jack in the Box franchise cost in 2026?

Per Item 7 of the March 13, 2026 FDD issued by Different Rules, LLC, the total estimated initial investment for a new prototypical Jack in the Box restaurant is $1,909,500 to $4,041,500, excluding land, financing, and certain other costs. The initial franchise fee is $50,000. Candidates need minimum liquidity of $750,000 and minimum net worth of $1,500,000.

Why does Culver's cost so much more than other burger franchises?

The Culver's Item 7 range of $3,406,350 to $10,294,100 includes land purchase of $225,000 to $2,400,000 plus site work and construction of a building over 4,000 square feet. Most other brands in this comparison exclude land or real property from their totals, so the Culver's figure covers a larger scope, not necessarily a more expensive like for like project.

Does the initial franchise fee cover the cost of opening the restaurant?

No. Initial franchise fees among these nine brands run $15,000 to $65,000, while total project costs run from the mid six figures into the millions. Construction, equipment, site improvements, and working capital make up the large majority of the investment in every FDD reviewed.

Where can I read these FDDs myself for free?

Request the current FDD directly from each franchisor, or search a public state registry such as Minnesota's Commerce Department CARDS system. Federal law requires that you receive the FDD at least 14 days before signing an agreement or making a payment.