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- What it costs to open 12 of the biggest fast-food chains in the US, including McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell
What it costs to open 12 of the biggest fast-food chains in the US, including McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell
McDonald's: $1.3 million to $2.2 million
![What it costs to open 12 of the biggest fast-food chains in the US, including McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-69654069%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-1258472%2Fmcdonalds-1-3-million-to-2-2-million.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Chick-fil-A: $10,000
![Chick-fil-A: $10,000](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654068,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1149119/chick-fil-a-10000.jpg)
Startup costs: $0
Franchise fee: $10,000
Minimum liquid asset requirement: none
Minimum net worth requirement: none
Ongoing fees: Chick-fil-A charges a fee equal to 15% of sales plus 50% of pretax profit remaining, the company told Business Insider.
It's also important to note that Chick-fil-A prohibits most of its franchisees from opening multiple units, which can limit franchisees' potential profits.
Chick-fil-A says this limitation is meant to enable its franchisees to be intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of their restaurants.
Average per-unit sales*: $4.1 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Subway: $116,000 to $263,000
![Subway: $116,000 to $263,000](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654067,width-700,height-525,imgsize-253724/subway-116000-to-263000.jpg)
Startup costs: $116,000 to $263,000
Liquid asset requirement: $80,000 to $90,000
Franchise fee: $15,000
Ongoing fees: Subway charges franchisees a weekly fee of 12.5% of gross sales minus the sales tax. The company says 8% goes toward the franchise royalties and 4.5% goes towards advertising.
Average per-unit sales*: $417,000
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Burger King: $1.9 million to $3.3 million
![Burger King: $1.9 million to $3.3 million](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654066,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1241546/burger-king-1-9-million-to-3-3-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $1.9 million to $3.3 million for a free-standing Burger King.
Franchise fee: $50,000
Ongoing fees: Burger King charges an advertising fee (4% of gross sales) and royalty fee (4.5% of gross sales).
Average per-unit sales*: $1.4 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Taco Bell: $1.2 million to $2.9 million
![Taco Bell: $1.2 million to $2.9 million](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654065,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1274596/taco-bell-1-2-million-to-2-9-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $1.2 million to $2.9 million. This includes the franchise fee and other startup expenses such as real estate and construction. The costs are slightly lower — between $175,000 and $1.8 million — for franchisees to acquire an existing Taco Bell restaurant.
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $750,000 minimum
Minimum net worth requirement: $1.5 million
Franchise fee: $45,000 for a new traditional Taco Bell restaurant. Fees are lower ($25,000) for an in-line or end-cap restaurant.
Ongoing fees: Taco Bell charges a royalty fee equal to 5.5% of gross sales and a marketing fee equal to 4.25% of gross sales.
Average per-unit sales*: $1.5 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Wendy's: $2 million to $3.5 million
![Wendy](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654064,width-700,height-525,imgsize-897815/wendys-2-million-to-3-5-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $2 million to $3.5 million
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $2 million
Minimum net worth requirement: $5 million
Franchise fee: $50,000
Ongoing fees: Wendy's charges franchisees ongoing fees for local and national advertising (4% of gross sales) and royalties (4% of gross sales).
Average per-unit sales*: $1.6 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
KFC: $1.4 million to $2.8 million
![KFC: $1.4 million to $2.8 million](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654062,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1198682/kfc-1-4-million-to-2-8-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $1.4 million to $2.8 million for a "traditional" KFC location.*
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $750,000*
Franchise fee: $45,000*
Ongoing fees: KFC charges franchisees about 10% of gross revenues (5% for royalties and 4.5% for advertising).*
Average per-unit sales**: $1.2 million
*According to Franchise Direct, which cited a 2019 KFC Franchise Disclosure Document.
**2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Dairy Queen: $1.1 million to $1.8 million
![Dairy Queen: $1.1 million to $1.8 million](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654061,width-700,height-525,imgsize-236388/dairy-queen-1-1-million-to-1-8-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $1.1 million to $1.8 million
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $400,000
Minimum net worth requirement: $750,000
Franchise fee: $35,000
Ongoing fees: Dairy Queen charges a royalty fee equal to 4% of sales and a marketing fee equal to 5% to 6% of sales.
Average per-unit sales*: $1.3 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Sonic: $1.22 million to $3.53 million
![Sonic: $1.22 million to $3.53 million](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654060,width-700,height-525,imgsize-943554/sonic-1-22-million-to-3-53-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $356,500 to $977,300 for a "non-traditional" unit and $1.22 million to $3.53 million for a "traditional" unit. These figures exclude the cost of land.
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $500,000
Minimum net worth requirement: $1 million
Franchise fee: $22,500 for a "non-traditional" unit 45,000 for a "traditional" unit. There is an additional area development fee of $10,000 per location.
Ongoing fees: Sonic charges a royalty fee of up to 5% of gross sales and advertising fees of at least 3.25%, according to Franchise Direct.
Average per-unit sales*: $1.3 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Papa John's: $300,000
![Papa John](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654059,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1296803/papa-johns-300000.jpg)
Startup costs: $300,000
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $75,000
Minimum net worth requirement: $250,000
Franchise fee: $25,000
Ongoing fees: Papa John's charges a monthly royalty fee of 5% of net sales that is due on a monthly basis. Papa John's also requires that franchisees spend 8% of net monthly sales on marketing.
Average per-unit sales*: $968,000
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Dunkin' Donuts: $229,000 to $1.7 million
![Dunkin](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654058,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1210169/dunkin-donuts-229000-to-1-7-million.jpg)
Startup costs: $229,000 to $1.7 million
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $250,000
Minimum net worth requirement: $500,000
Franchise fee: $40,000 to $90,000
Ongoing fees: Dunkin' Donuts charges franchisees advertising fees (5% of gross sales) and royalties fees (2% to 6% of gross sales).
Average per-unit sales*: $733,000
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
Arby's: $320,550 to $2 million
![Arby](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-69654057,width-700,height-525,imgsize-919108/arbys-320550-to-2-million.jpg)
Total startup costs: $320,550 to $2 million
Minimum liquid asset requirement: $500,000
Minimum net worth requirement: $1 million
Franchise fee: $6,250 to $40,900
Ongoing fees: Arby's charges a royalty fee equal to 4% of sales and an advertising fee equal to 4.2% of sales.
Average per-unit sales*: $1.1 million
*2017 figures according to QSR Magazine.
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