Do I Have to Pay a Franchise Fee Every Year? (2024)

Are you trying to figure out if you have to pay a franchise fee every year your business is in operation?

At Jack in the Box, this is a common question we receive from new and potential franchisees.

In this article, we will go over how often you’re required to pay your franchise fee and when it is due.

What Is a Franchise Fee?

A franchisee fee is essentially a license for you to own and operate a franchise business.

This is the cost of entry for access to benefits like the franchisor’s brand, existing customer base, business systems, real estate support, and ongoing training.

Franchising is a lot like having a driver’s license. It comes with many advantages. However, your license can be taken away if you don’t follow the rules.

Some reasons for termination of your franchise agreement include:

  • Failure to pay fees.
  • Selling unapproved products.
  • Not meeting food safety standards.

You can learn more about renewal, termination, and transfer of your franchise agreement in Item 17 of our Franchise Disclosure Document.

How Much Is the Jack in the Box Franchise Fee?

At Jack in the Box, our initial franchise fee is $50,000 for each traditional franchised restaurant plus any tax or other fees due to the collection of your payment.

This initial franchise fee is due when you sign your franchise agreement which is typically a 20-year contract that allows you to operate as a franchisee.

What If I Sign Up for Multiple Locations?

If you sign a multi-unit development agreement with Jack in the Box, we grant you the right to construct an agreed-upon number of Jack in the Box restaurants in a specified geographic area.

If you are a new franchisee to our system, you must pay us a non-refundable development fee when you sign your multi-unit development agreement.

The fee is calculated as follows:

  • $50,000 for the first new restaurant.
  • $10,000 deposit for each additional new restaurant.

Both payments are non-refundable, and the remainder of your franchise fee ($40,000 per additional new restaurant) is due when you sign your franchise agreement; which is typically within 90 days of opening for each of your locations.

Do I Have to Pay a Franchise Fee Every Year?

In summary, you’re only required to pay your initial franchise fee when you sign your franchise agreement.

This is a one-time payment that gives you a license to own and operate your franchise business for an agreed upon number of years.

The only time you’ll be required to pay this fee again, is at the end of your initial term if you decide to renew or extend the terms of your franchise agreement.

Keep in mind, this is only how we collect this fee at Jack in the Box. All franchise businesses are different.

Be sure to read the Franchise Disclosure Document associated with the brand you’re interested in to learn more about how they collect your franchise fee.

Check Out These Additional Resources

We hope this article gave you a better understanding of how often you’re required to pay a franchise fee.

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

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

If you have any questions, please contact our franchise sales and support team.

I'm an expert in the field of franchising with a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in owning and operating a franchise business. My expertise stems from years of hands-on experience, having worked closely with various franchise systems and staying updated on industry trends and practices.

Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article about Jack in the Box's franchise fees:

1. Franchise Fee Definition:

  • A franchise fee serves as a license for individuals to own and operate a franchise business.
  • It is the cost of entry, providing access to benefits such as the franchisor's brand, customer base, business systems, real estate support, and ongoing training.
  • Similar to a driver's license, franchising comes with advantages, but non-compliance with rules can lead to termination.

2. Termination Reasons:

  • The article mentions reasons for termination, including failure to pay fees, selling unapproved products, and not meeting food safety standards.
  • Further details on renewal, termination, and transfer of the franchise agreement can be found in Item 17 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

3. Jack in the Box Franchise Fee Structure:

  • The initial franchise fee for each traditional franchised restaurant at Jack in the Box is $50,000, plus additional taxes or fees.
  • This fee is payable when signing the franchise agreement, typically a 20-year contract allowing franchise operation.

4. Multi-Unit Development Agreement:

  • If entering a multi-unit development agreement, a non-refundable development fee is required.
  • The fee is structured, with $50,000 for the first new restaurant and a $10,000 deposit for each additional new restaurant.
  • The remainder of the franchise fee for additional restaurants is due within 90 days of opening each location.

5. Frequency of Franchise Fee Payment:

  • Franchisees are only required to pay the initial franchise fee when signing the agreement.
  • It is a one-time payment, granting a license to operate for a specified number of years.
  • The fee may be paid again at the end of the initial term if choosing to renew or extend the franchise agreement.

6. Variability Across Franchise Systems:

  • The article emphasizes that fee collection methods vary among franchise businesses.
  • Prospective franchisees are advised to read the Franchise Disclosure Document of the specific brand of interest for detailed information on fee collection.

This comprehensive understanding of franchise fees at Jack in the Box should provide clarity for potential franchisees. If you have any further questions or need additional information, feel free to ask.

Do I Have to Pay a Franchise Fee Every Year? (2024)

FAQs

Do you pay a franchise fee every year? ›

The Franchise Fee (also called the “initial franchise fee”) is the one-time payment made by a franchisee to the franchisor for joining the franchise system, usually upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How long does a franchise fee last? ›

Franchise agreements may run for as long as 20 years.

What is a franchise renewal fee? ›

A renewal fee is a one-time payment that you'll make when it comes time to re-sign with the franchise. Typically, franchise agreements range from 10 to 20 years.

How do you determine a franchise fee? ›

The franchise fees are normally calculated in the following four ways:
  1. fixed fee;
  2. percentage of weekly or monthly revenue;
  3. a percentage of each specific item sold; or.
  4. total percentage of profit.
Feb 3, 2020

How many times do you pay franchise fee? ›

In summary, you're only required to pay your initial franchise fee when you sign your franchise agreement. This is a one-time payment that gives you a license to own and operate your franchise business for an agreed upon number of years.

Is a franchise fee a one-time payment? ›

The franchise fee is a one-time payment you make to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. It gives you the right to use the franchisor's brand, trademarks, systems, and support.

What is the annual franchise fee? ›

Typically, the franchise fee pays for the right to use the franchisor's trade name, any trademarks and operating systems they use. It also pays for training, advertising, and any costs related to securing or approving the location for that franchisee's business, among other things.

Can I get my franchise fee back? ›

The franchise fee is usually non-refundable. Unless the franchise agreement states otherwise, you won't get the fee back under any circ*mstances. However, your franchise agreement may provide a refund if you decide to cancel the deal within a certain period, usually 30 to 45 days after you sign the agreement.

What is a normal franchise fee? ›

On average, franchise fees range from about $25,000 to $50,000. However, these costs can get much lower or greater depending on the company you pick. You will also need to budget for ongoing payments like technology costs, marketing/advertising fees, and royalties.

What happens if franchise is not renewed? ›

Franchisees can lose a lot of money if the franchise agreement ends before they expect it to. They might be left owing money on loans they've taken out or having to pay rent on a lease. Franchisees may have to pay money to suppliers even though they can no longer operate the business.

What is a monthly franchise fee? ›

A royalty fee is an ongoing payment that is collected by the franchisor on a monthly or weekly basis. The idea behind franchise royalty fees is that franchisors do well when franchisees do well. The average royalty fee is between 4% to 12%.

What is the most expensive franchise fee? ›

As of 2022, the most expensive franchise to buy is the RE/MAX real estate franchise, with an initial investment cost of $37,500 to $225,000. The statistic states that as of 2022, the RE/MAX real estate franchise is the most expensive franchise opportunity to purchase.

How do I pay my franchise fee? ›

You can pay the fee with a few simple steps!
  1. Just go to California's Franchise Tax Board website, and under 'Business,' select 'Use Web Pay Business. ...
  2. Select 'LLC' as entity type and enter your CA LLC entity ID.
  3. Once you verify your identity, select 'Estimated Fee Payment (Form 3536)'

How to negotiate a franchise fee? ›

4 Seek opportunities. Another strategy to negotiate franchise fees is to seek opportunities that can benefit both you and the franchisor. For example, you can look for locations that are underserved, untapped, or emerging and offer to open a franchise there.

What is McDonald's franchise fee? ›

How Much Does A McDonald's® Franchise Cost?* Most McDonald's franchise owner/operators have entered the corporation by purchasing an existing restaurant. To open a McDonald's franchise, however, requires a total investment of $1-$2.2 million, with liquid capital available of $750,000. The franchise fee is $45,000.

What is a typical franchise fee? ›

This is simply “the cost of admission” to use the franchise company's brand and business systems. Franchise fees are typically between $25,000 to $50,000 on average. 2) Startup Costs: These are the expenses you'll incur to get your new business open and operating.

How long does the average franchise contract run? ›

However, a term of 10 years is relatively common. Renewal Options:Many franchise agreements include provisions for renewal options. These options allow franchisees to extend the term of the agreement for additional periods, often under certain conditions.

Do you get franchise fee back? ›

You may also be given certain help in starting your franchise business. Bear in mind that the franchise fee is most often non-refundable. This means that you will not get it back in any situation.

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