What are the Most Common Franchise Costs and Fees? | Franchise Business Review (2024)

What are the Most Common Franchise Costs and Fees? | Franchise Business Review (1)

There are myriad commonly used terms in franchising related to franchise costs and fees. Like any new business, there are one-time startup costs and ongoing recurring costs that you’ll need to understand as you launch and grow your new franchise business. Having a good understanding of “the numbers” will help you determine what types of business you can potentially afford. In this article we’ll break down the typical costs required to buy and operate a franchise business, and help you understand how to best invest your money.

The Big 3 Franchise Costs

For those considering investing in a franchise business, there are three main categories of costs you need to understand. These include:

1) The Franchise Fee: This is the upfront fee charged by franchise companies to grant you a license to operate their business for a defined period of time. 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. Initial investment costs vary widely from franchise to franchise. There are some low-cost franchise businesses you can launch for under $20,000, and others that cost several million dollars to open. Generally, service businesses will cost far less compared to retail or food businesses due to real estate and buildout costs. The average franchise business will cost $150,000, according to Franchise Business Review data.

3) Recurring Fees: In addition the franchise fee and your initial startup costs, all franchise companies charge ongoing fees in exchange for a host of benefits you’ll receive as a franchisee. These typically include royalty fees, advertising & marketing fees, technology fees, and more. We’ll break down many of these recurring fees later in the article.

Candidate Financial Requirements

Most franchisors require that franchise candidates meet certain fiscal requirements. Typically, they set liquidity and net worth minimums, which will vary from brand to brand.

Liquidity: Since it’ll take time to begin turning a profit, most franchisors require that you have a minimum amount of liquid assets (an asset that can easily be converted into cash in a short amount of time) on hand to cover costs that may occur in your first year.

Net Worth: Franchisors want to ensure you’re financially stable enough to take on the risk of entrepreneurship. Just as you’re investing in the brand, the brand is investing in you and needs assurance that you’re a strong candidate for business ownership.

Franchise Preparation Costs

A franchise lawyer and a business accountant are two critical partners you’ll need as you embark on your franchise journey.

Franchise Attorney: Legally binding franchising documents are chock full of important details that you may miss without an experienced franchise attorney by your side. A franchise lawyer will help you review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and the Franchise Agreement before signing.

Business Accountant: Every business owner should hire a trusted accountant who can offer guidance on setting up your books and records, preparing for taxes, determining working capital requirement, and much more.

Building and Construction Costs: These costs may include real estate fees, zoning, contractor, construction, and furnishing fees. Many franchise brands will work with the franchisee to identify the best location for the new franchise. There may also be an option to lease a location, if that is preferred.

Equipment Costs: Equipment costs will vary significantly depending on the concept you invest in. A Kona Ice franchise, for instance, will require that you purchase a Kona Entertainment Vehicle (K.E.V). The 2021 FDD states that the “truck and installed equipment” is $124,500. Office based concepts may require that you purchase printers, desks, and office supplies while the equipment needed to run a restaurant could come at a significant cost. That’s why some brands like Subway, offer equipment leasing options.

Material Costs: If you’re opening a retail concept, you’ll likely need to purchase your materials to sell. Many brands will offer approved vendors and have bulk purchasing contracts in place.

Additional Franchise Costs

In addition to the costs and fees outlined above, there are additional costs that you may need to consider depending on your franchise investment. You can review all costs and fees in the FDD, in item 21. Although costs and fees may at first feel like a deterrent, it’s important to remember that these are all costs you’ll need to pay if you are starting a business on your own. The difference is that when you invest in a franchise you have the full support and guidance of the franchisor and the franchisee community, plus the brand recognition of an established business.

Royalties: Royalties are an ongoing fee and are typically charged as a percentage of your gross revenue. They can be paid weekly or monthly depending on the franchise agreement. Royalty fees usually range from 4% to 12% of revenue, although some companies charge a flat monthly royalty fee.

Advertising & Marketing Fees: One of the great allures of a franchise is the brand recognition. Franchise companies spend a lot of time and money marketing their brand to potential customers, which of course should help you as the franchisee. In exchange for this marketing support, you’ll typically pay monthly marketing and advertising fees, which are usually a percentage of your revenue. Common marketing fees range from 2% to 5% of gross revenue.

Other Fees: It’s more and more common for franchise companies to charge monthly fees for things like technology, software, insurance, additional training, etc. All detailed list of any additional fees charged by the franchise company will be outlined in Item 6 of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).

It’s important to understand the numerous common terms used in franchising. Also, be aware that each franchise sets its own fee structure which will be clearly defined in Item 5 of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Item 7 of the FDD will include detailed initial investment costs of any franchise. Be sure to read the fine print.

For more insights, trends, and reports on all things franchising, check out the articles in our Resources & Insights section.

What are the Most Common Franchise Costs and Fees? | Franchise Business Review (2024)

FAQs

What are the Most Common Franchise Costs and Fees? | Franchise Business Review? ›

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.

What are typically franchise fees? ›

Franchise royalties are usually collected by your franchisor on a monthly basis. Like marketing fees, these fees are based on a percentage of your revenue. But there's one major difference; the percentages are higher. Franchise royalties range from 4% of your revenue all the way up to 12% or more.

What are the three costs commonly associated with most franchises? ›

Let's take look at a few of them, so you can get a general idea of what they'll be.
  1. Inventory. Most franchise businesses require inventory, and it will be one of your biggest expenses. ...
  2. Payroll. ...
  3. Marketing and Advertising. ...
  4. Rent/Utilities. ...
  5. Loans.
Apr 22, 2019

What do franchisees typically have to pay to the franchisor? ›

A franchisee will only be required to pay the legal fees of the Franchisor that are associated with the preparation, negotiation and execution of the Franchise Agreement.

What does a business owner purchase when paying a franchise fee? ›

The initial franchise fee is a one-time payment for the right to a franchise's trademarks, operating systems, proprietary materials, and more. Employee recruitment and training assistance, pre-opening support, marketing tools, site build-out assistance, and more are covered by the franchise fee.

Why are franchise fees so high? ›

One obvious reason that a franchise might be more expensive is because of the construction and property required. Finding and developing a suitable location for a franchise can be a complex and expensive process. But not all franchise opportunities require you to build new.

How do you value a franchise fee? ›

Franchises are often valued based on a multiple of revenue, cash flow, or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). As the name implies, the EBITDA method adds back some expenses to the earnings total, and a franchise can be valued at 4 to 5 times EBITDA.

What percentage do franchises take? ›

Fixed Percentage of the Gross Sales

Typically, the franchisee takes home 90% or more of their gross sales, with the remaining 10% going to the franchisor. In this model, the franchisor collects a percentage of total sales, usually between 4-6% of gross sales.

Do franchisees pay royalties? ›

In addition to charging an upfront franchise fee, franchises also charge ongoing royalties. If you're looking at investing in a franchise, it's time to start getting comfortable with the idea of paying both. A royalty fee is an ongoing fee that a franchisee pays to the franchisor.

Can you negotiate franchise fees? ›

Yes, franchise agreements are negotiable.

Which fees are not associated with a franchise? ›

Trademarks cost is catered for by the franchisor during the initial stages of a franchise formation; therefore, it's not part of the costs incurred during a franchise purchase.

What is the 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.

How do franchisees pay themselves? ›

A franchise owner makes money through profits received from sales and service transactions. This is generally the left-over amount of money received from revenue after overhead costs are taken out.

What are the 3 mode of payments made to a franchisor? ›

Three important payments are made to a franchisor: (a) a royalty for the trademark, (b) reimbursem*nt for the training and advisory services given to the franchisee, and (c) a percentage of the individual business unit's sales. These three fees may be combined in a single 'management' fee.

What start-up costs and franchise fees are franchisees required to pay? ›

For most franchises, the franchise fee is due in full when the franchise agreement is signed. Typically, franchise fees range from $10,000-$50,000 and in order to be recognized as a franchisee, there must be a minimum of $500 paid as a franchise fee.

What are 3 disadvantages of buying a franchise? ›

Disadvantages of Franchising
  • Limited creative opportunities. ...
  • Financial information is shared with the franchisor. ...
  • Varied levels of support. ...
  • Initial investments and start-up costs can be expensive. ...
  • Contracts aren't permanent. ...
  • You're your own boss, but you have less individual control.
Aug 30, 2021

What is the success rate of a franchise? ›

There's no real consensus on exact franchise success statistics out there, but for years franchises, brokers, and other websites have claimed a 90% to 95% success rate for franchisors.

Why is it difficult to sell a franchise? ›

A franchisor may place a number of restrictions on a franchisee's business sale. The franchisor wants to identify franchisees who can manage each franchise successfully. Purchasers need financial resources to pay for the franchise, and they must invest the time required to learn the business.

What is the valuable asset of a franchise? ›

The brand is the franchisor's most valuable asset.

Customers decide which business to shop at and how often to frequent that business based on what they know, or think they know, about the brand.

What is a good profit margin for a franchise? ›

The end game is profit. Franchise.com suggests that the expected range of return on investment of a good franchise should be at least between 25 percent and 50 percent.

What are the monthly royalties for a franchise? ›

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. Royalty fees typically range between 4% to 12%.

Can a franchise make you a millionaire? ›

The bottom line is that while a franchise can make you independently wealthy, it isn't a guarantee. Choosing the right business in the right industry, and going in with preexisting entrepreneurial experience and/or existing wealth can help, but your income-generating potential may still be somewhat limited.

What is a typical royalty fee? ›

Royalty fees typically range between 5 and 9 percent of the franchisee's gross sales. In some cases, the franchisor may set a minimum amount, which must be paid regardless of whether your business is deriving any revenue.

How long does the average franchise contract run? ›

The typical length of a franchise agreement is between five and 20 years. A common reason for this general length of time is often the size of the franchisee's initial investment, though market conditions and the type of franchise can also be factors.

Do franchisees own the property? ›

No, the franchisor is the entity that owns the intellectual property, patents, and trademarks of the brand or business being franchised. A franchisee buys the right to operate a location of the franchisor.

Can a franchise owner be fired? ›

While franchisees are not technically employees of a franchise brand, they can be “fired” by franchisors, who reserve the right to terminate their contract “for cause.” This involves ending the relationship based upon a default under the franchise agreement.

Can I get a refund on a franchise? ›

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.

What makes a good franchise agreement? ›

The agreement should detail the upfront fees you will be responsible for, as well as royalties you will be required to pay and expenses, such as advertising, that will be your responsibility. It's essential that you have a complete understanding of all costs.

What is a negative of owning a franchise? ›

Less flexibility than running a business on your own.

Some franchisors exert a level of control that you may find too restricting. Franchisees often have restrictions on where they can sell their products or services, as well as requirements on the suppliers to be used or operating hours.

Which is a major disadvantage of buying a franchise? ›

For most franchisees, the most frustrating disadvantage that they face is that they must follow the restrictions laid out in the franchise agreement. The franchisor can exert a degree of control over the majority of the franchise business and decisions made by the franchisee.

What is a drawback of the franchise ownership? ›

Franchise Drawbacks

While the purchase of a franchise may cost less, there are additional expenses such as materials, inventory and labor. These must be factored in when buying the location. If the new owner is not aware of other costs, he or she may lose revenue before the ability to accrue it.

What does a Taco Bell franchise cost? ›

Franchising fee: It costs between $25,000 and close to $50,000 for the initial franchise fee. This, too, will vary depending on the details of your specific Taco Bell franchise. Net worth: The current net-worth requirement is around $1.5 million worth of assets.

How much is a Starbucks franchise? ›

Starbuck's Franchise (Licensing) Costs

A licensed Starbucks has an initial licensing fee/startup fee of around $315,000. That includes some of the equipment you'll need to operate your coffee shop. But your total investment tm open a new store will approach $1,000,000.

Does it really only cost 10k 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.

Who pays employees in a franchise? ›

Franchise employees, much like workers in any other type of business or industry, are paid by their employer. In most cases, this is the franchisee, but in others, it's the franchisor. Those in the franchise business should know the full extent of their payroll responsibilities.

How many hours do franchise owners work? ›

Owning a franchise unit can be demanding, requiring work of 60 to 70 hours a week, but owners have the satisfaction of knowing that their business's success is a result of their own hard work. Some people look for franchise opportunities that are less demanding and may only require a part-time commitment.

What does the average Mcdonalds franchise owner make? ›

The average McDonald's restaurant franchise owner in an existing restaurant makes $150,000/year. However, this figure can vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the restaurant and the owner's level of experience.

How much does a Starbucks franchise cost? ›

Starbuck's Franchise (Licensing) Costs

A licensed Starbucks has an initial licensing fee/startup fee of around $315,000. That includes some of the equipment you'll need to operate your coffee shop. But your total investment tm open a new store will approach $1,000,000.

How much does a McDonald's franchise cost? ›

McDonald's franchisee applicants must have a minimum of $500,000 available in liquid assets and pay a $45,000 franchise fee. Those looking to launch a new McDonald's franchise can expect to shell out between $1,314,500 and $2,306,500. Existing franchise operations can cost upwards of $1 million.

How much is a Chick Fil A franchise? ›

While operating a Chick-fil-A restaurant requires a relatively modest $10,000 initial financial commitment ($15,000 CAD in Canada), it requires a holistic commitment to own and operate the business in a hands-on manner. We are in the restaurant industry - the quick-service restaurant industry, at that.

What is the failure rate for a franchise? ›

A widely publicized statistic from a 1987 International Franchise Association (IFA) study showed that franchises have a failure rate of 5% (which would equate to an unbelievable success rate of 95%).

What does a Dunkin Donuts franchise cost? ›

To begin operating a Dunkin' Donuts franchise, you'll need to invest between $121,400 and $1,787,700 upfront. Dunkin' does not provide financing directly, but does partner with lenders to offer a variety of types of small business loans, including equipment loans and commercial real estate loans.

How much does it cost to open a subway? ›

What Does a Subway® Franchise Cost? To buy a franchise with Subway®, you'll need to have at least liquid capital of $40,000 and a minimum net worth of $80,000. Franchisees can expect to make a total investment of $150,050 - $328,700.

How much does a Chick-fil-A owner make? ›

According to Franchise Business Review, the average Chick-fil-A owner-operator earns $200,000 per year. However, the range of earnings can vary widely, with some owners reporting earnings of over $1 million per year.

How much does Wendy's franchise cost? ›

What does the initial franchisee fee cover? Does it include start-up supplies and training? The standard franchise fee in the U.S. and Canada is $50,000 for a franchise agreement with a term of 20 years.

How much can a McDonald's owner make a year? ›

The average McDonald's restaurant franchise owner in an existing restaurant makes $150,000/year. However, this figure can vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the restaurant and the owner's level of experience.

How much is Chipotle franchise? ›

Financial Requirements and Fees
Fees/ExpensesFinancial Amount
Total Investment$800,000 – $1,000,000
Franchise Fee$20,000 to $75,000
Nov 3, 2021

Why is it only cost $10 K to own a Chick-fil-A franchise? ›

Startup costs for Chick-fil-A franchises are relatively low. That's because, unlike other franchises, Chick-fil-A actually purchases the real estate and all of the equipment required to open the business, and then leases them to you via monthly rent payments.

How much money does a Subway owner make? ›

On average, a typical Subway store will gross about $420,000 a year, based on Subway's own figures and industry estimates. While that may sound like a lot of money, $420,000 is a small per unit revenue compared with other restaurant franchise opportunities.

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