Restaurant & Fast Food Franchises in the USA

It depends on the brand and the building. Dunkin's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) puts a Shopping Center/Storefront restaurant from $443,000 and a Freestanding one from $532,400, both excluding real property. At Taco Bell, a new In-Line or End-Cap starts from $934,750 and a new free-standing Traditional Unit from $1,859,750, both including an estimate for real property; on occasion, Taco Bell or an affiliate also sells existing restaurants, with a total purchase price from $175,000, excluding real property. If you pay cash for all expenditures, a Wendy's restaurant starts from $1,580,457, excluding real property. The initial franchise fee is shown separately on each listing: from $40,000 at Dunkin', $25,000 or $45,000 at Taco Bell depending on the format, and $50,000 at Wendy's.

Every brand in this category charges a royalty as a percentage of sales and requires a separate advertising or marketing contribution, also a percentage of sales. Dunkin' charges a Continuing Franchise Fee of 5.9% of Gross Sales, plus a Continuing Advertising Fee of 5.0% of Gross Sales. Taco Bell's royalty, which it calls the Period Franchise Fee, is 5.5% of the Unit's Gross Sales, with a Period Marketing Fee of 4.25% of Gross Sales and an All Access Fee of $750 per year. Wendy's royalty is 4% of Gross Sales for a traditional restaurant, with higher rates for a restaurant developed under a previously executed Pacesetter Development Agreement, a restaurant on a military base, and one developed or acquired under the Build-to-Suit Program; its Franchise Agreement also requires an Advertising Contribution of 4% of the restaurant's previous month's Gross Sales, spent on or contributed for advertising and promotion. For 2026 and 2027, after a WNAP vote, Wendy's franchisees must contribute 4.0% of Gross Sales to The Wendy's National Advertising Program, Inc. (WNAP) and contribute or spend a minimum of 0.0% of Gross Sales on local advertising and promotion (2026 FDD, Item 6, note 5). Each listing also names other ongoing payments from the brand's FDD, among them technology costs.

That depends on the formats the brand offers. Dunkin's listing covers Shopping Center/Storefront and Freestanding restaurants. Taco Bell's In-Line format is an in-line location with or without a drive-thru (with a drive-thru it is called an End-Cap), while its Traditional Unit is a free-standing building, often with a drive-thru. Wendy's says on its Franchise Opportunities page that it plans "to build more traditional restaurants" and on its FAQs page that the franchisee selects the location for a new restaurant. The franchisor has a say in the site: Dunkin' lets you build only on a site it has accepted, Taco Bell reviews trade areas and possible sites and considers sites for approval, and Wendy's must approve the location and building plans. Item 12 of each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document states whether the franchise is for a specific location or one the franchisor approves, and whether you get an exclusive territory.

Some do. On its Becoming a Franchisee page, Wendy's says it is looking for "experienced restaurant operators" and that ideal candidates possess "a drive for multi-unit growth." Two of Wendy's franchising pages list different capital minimums: at least $5,000,000 in net worth and $2,000,000 in liquidity on its Becoming a Franchisee page, and at least $1,000,000 in net worth and $500,000 in liquid assets on its FAQs page. Every named franchisee, guarantor, and 5%+ owner at Wendy's also goes through a $500 background investigation. To qualify for a Dunkin' franchise, its "Franchise with Dunkin'" page says, you need $250,000 in liquid assets and $500,000 in net worth; the same page lists five steps: Apply, Discuss, Review, Interview, and Sign. Neither Wendy's nor Dunkin's FDD states these capital amounts. Taco Bell must approve you as eligible to become a franchisee, and its parent, Yum! Brands, says on its "Franchising and Real Estate" page that it looks for partners who are "well capitalized, capable and committed"; neither that page nor Taco Bell's FDD states a net worth or liquid capital requirement. Taco Bell's listing also names a background check when you apply (from $500 per person) and an operations training course that you and one manager must complete. Ask each franchisor for its capital requirements before you apply.