The top three fast food franchises for yearly U.S. sales, according to the 2018 QSR Magazine Report, which breaks down sales numbers from the previous year, were McDonald's, Starbucks and Subway. Here's how the numbers shook out:
- McDonald's -- 14,036 units, $37,480,670,000 in sales, or $2,670,320 in sales per unit.
- Starbucks -- 13,930 units, $13,167,610,000 in sales, or $945,270 in sales per unit.
- Subway -- 25,908 units, $10,800,000,000 in sales, or $416,860 in sales per unit.
Now, if you were starting your own business, you'd be pretty happy with any of those numbers. The worst of them, Subway, is reeling in nearly $11 billion in sales each year.
Related: 5 Things You Need to Know Before Investing in a Chick-fil-A Franchise
Chick-fil-A was ranked a not-too-shabby eighth by QSR, after taking in $9 billion in sales. That number trailed Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy's and Dunkin' Donuts in addition to the top three.
But, the most amazing part of this is that Chick-fil-A only operates 2,225 restaurants. That's less than one-sixth as many as the top-three earning restaurants -- less than half as many as the rest of the franchises ahead of it. Of the top-50 earning restaurants, Chick-fil-A ranked 21st in the number of units.
So, how did Chick-fil-A rank so highly in total U.S. sales? By earning more per store than any other restaurant. A lot more. In fact, the average Chick-fil-A unit made around $4,090,900 in 2017. By contrast, the total sales for a McDonald's ($2,670,320 per unit), Starbucks ($945,270) and Subway ($416,860) is $4,032,450.
Related: 24 Interesting Facts You Should Know About Chick-fil-A
That's crazy -- especially since Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays.
Most people would assume that closing one day per week could hurt company profits. However, it's clear by the per-unit sales numbers that something about Chick-fil-A makes it more attractive than its competitors. Could it be that closing its doors one day a week actually helps Chick-fil-A make more money, not less? Here are three reasons why that might be the case.
- Closing creates a craving. It's like the old saying: "You never know what you have until it's gone," and sometimes, when you want Chick-fil-A on a Sunday and can't have it, it only makes you more likely to get it on Monday.
- It helps attract better employees. When S. Truett Cathy founded Chick-fil-A, he wanted employees who would stick around for the long haul. According to a piece in The Washington Post, Cathy used to tell applicants, "If you don't intend to be here for life, you needn't apply." By allowing employees to have a day off -- to go to church or an NFL game or simply live their lives -- Chick-fil-A can create a healthier environment and provide better service to its customers.
- Its customers appreciate the mindfulness. While many customers find Chick-fil-A problematic due to Chairman Dan Cathy's stance on same-sex marriage, many others also appreciate that the company gives its workers a break. As S. Truett Cathy once said, "We aren't really in the chicken business, we are in the people's business."
Related: You Can't Own a Chick-fil-A Franchise. Here Are 3 Solid Alternatives.
Perhaps Chick-fil-A is as popular as it is because it has food that customers like, has chosen good leadership or has a good marketing team. Maybe it has little to do with being closed once a week. But, based on the numbers, it sure doesn't seem to hurt.
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The brand generated nearly $19 billion in systemwide sales. Chick-fil-A generated $18.814 billion in U.S. sales across 2022, a figure that trailed only McDonald's ($48.7 billion) and Starbucks ($28.1 billion) and illustrated what's been one of the industry's fastest climbs.
Does Starbucks make more money than Chick-fil-A? ›
The report estimates Chick-fil-A brought in $11.3 billion in sales in 2019. Starbucks was ranked second, with $21.4 billion in US sales and McDonald's was in the top spot, with a whopping $40.4 billion.
How much does a Chick-fil-A restaurant make in a day? ›
Chick-fil-A makes millions of dollars a day.
A single Chik-fil-A location earns approximately $19,442 per day, meaning an average Chik-fil-A location's annual profits are slightly over $7 million. The franchise has thousands of locations across the country, meaning that it is pulling in millions of dollars daily.
Who makes more revenue McDonald's or Starbucks? ›
McDonald's locations are on top of the world
It's also, unsurprisingly, the world leader in terms of total sales. Restaurant Business notes that McDonald's generated nearly $120 billion in global systemwide sales in 2022, while Starbucks generated $28.1 billion, and Subway only $15.6 billion.
What restaurant chain makes the most money? ›
These are the largest fast-food chains by revenue in the United States, including all system-wide sales (which includes franchise sales) as reported by QSR Magazine: McDonald's: $37 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Starbucks: $13 billion in system-wide U.S. sales. Subway: $10.8 billion in system-wide U.S. sales.
Why is it only $10000 to open a Chick-fil-A? ›
The franchisee only pays the $10k franchise fee. Chick-fil-A pays for (and retains ownership of) everything — real estate, equipment, inventory — and in return, it takes a MUCH bigger piece of the pie. While a franchise like KFC takes 5% of sales, Chick-fil-A commands 15% of sales + 50% of any profit.
What is the richest fast-food chain? ›
McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about 196.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. That same year, the brand value of Starbucks amounted to approximately 61.7 billion U.S. dollars.
Is it better to work at Chick-fil-A or Starbucks? ›
Starbucks scored higher in 1 area: Compensation & Benefits. Chick-fil-A scored higher in 9 areas: Overall Rating, Culture & Values, Diversity & Inclusion, Work-life balance, Senior Management, Career Opportunities, CEO Approval, Recommend to a friend and Positive Business Outlook.
Is working at Chick-fil-A better than Mcdonalds? ›
Employee Ratings
Chick-fil-A scored higher in 10 areas: Overall Rating, Culture & Values, Diversity & Inclusion, Work-life balance, Senior Management, Compensation & Benefits, Career Opportunities, CEO Approval, Recommend to a friend and Positive Business Outlook.
How much does McDonald's make per day? ›
Revenue: 2021 Revenue: In 2021, McDonald's reported total revenue of $23.22 billion. Dividing this by 365 days gives an estimated daily revenue of $63.625 million. Average Restaurant: On average, McDonald's restaurants generate around $2.4 million in annual revenue, translating to roughly $6,500 per day.
Because Chick-fil-A wants to maintain ownership of the franchise, the company chooses the location, buys the real estate, constructs the restaurant, and purchases the equipment. All you have to pay is a $10,000 franchise fee.
How much does an owner of a Chick-fil-A make a year? ›
Chick Fil A Franchise Owner Salary
| Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|
| Top Earners | $242,000 | $116 |
| 75th Percentile | $125,000 | $60 |
| Average | $86,197 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,500 | $13 |
Leading quick service restaurant chains in the U.S. in 2022, by sales per unit. In 2022, the leading quick service restaurant (QSR) chain in the United States by sales per unit was Chick-fil-A. The chicken chain reported approximately 6.71 million U.S. dollars in sales per unit that year.
Which fast-food franchise makes the most money per restaurant? ›
To be in the fast-food chain making the most money per store, you'll have to eat mor chikin. That's right: Chick-fil-A stores are the highest earners in the industry. With only about 2,225 stores around the country making a $9 billion total, each one rakes in $4.1 million in a year.
What is the least popular fast food restaurant? ›
McDonald's
The ACSI data shows McDonald's satisfaction score has dropped from 70 to 68, putting it at the very bottom of the list of customer favorites among fast-food chains.
Who is the richest fast-food company? ›
McDonald's was the most valuable fast food brand in the world with an estimated brand value of about 196.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.
What is the highest paid fast food restaurant? ›
Highest paid fast-food jobs
- Burger King.
- In-N-Out Burger.
- Wendy's.
- Chick-fil-A.
- Arby's.
- Domino's.
- McDonald's.
- Taco Bell.
The largest restaurant companies in the world are primarily chain operations with an international presence. Compass Group and Starbucks are the two largest restaurant companies as of 2023. McDonald's is the largest fast-food chain.
