The most expensive fast food franchise to open in 2026 is Jack in the Box, where a traditional restaurant costs up to about $4.04 million, excluding land. Wendy’s (up to about $3.8 million) and Carl’s Jr. (up to about $3.4 million) follow. This list ranks 10 well-known US chains by the upper end of their published total investment for a new restaurant, and shows the franchise fee too.
All figures come from brand disclosure documents as reported in 2024 to 2026. Treat them as ranges, not quotes: your location, size and format decide the real bill.
| Rank | Brand | Typical new-restaurant investment | Franchise fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jack in the Box | $1.9M to $4.04M | $50,000 |
| 2 | Wendy’s | $2.0M to $3.8M | $50,000 |
| 3 | Carl’s Jr. | $1.3M to $3.44M | Not confirmed |
| 4 | Sonic Drive-In | $1.71M to $3.37M | Not confirmed |
| 5 | Taco Bell | $575K to about $3.4M | Not confirmed |
| 6 | Burger King | $2.25M to $3.32M | $50,000 |
| 7 | KFC | $1.4M to $3.1M | $45,000 |
| 8 | McDonald’s | $1.3M to $2.7M | $45,000 |
| 9 | Dairy Queen | $1.5M to $2.5M | $45,000 |
| 10 | Dunkin’ | $527K to $1.8M | $40,000 to $90,000 |
1. Jack in the Box: up to about $4.04 million
Jack in the Box discloses the widest and highest range of any big burger chain: $1,909,500 to $4,041,500 for a traditional restaurant, and that excludes the land. The franchise fee is $50,000 for a 20-year term, royalties run 5% of sales, and candidates are expected to show $750,000 in liquid capital and a $1.5 million net worth. Smaller non-traditional units (think a kiosk or a spot inside another venue) are far cheaper, at roughly $990,000 to $2.3 million.
How we ranked it: top of the disclosed new-restaurant range, land excluded.
2. Wendy’s: up to about $3.8 million
A ground-up Wendy’s build is estimated at roughly $2.0 million to $3.8 million. The franchise fee is $50,000 and the chain asks for about $500,000 in liquid capital and a $1 million net worth. Wendy’s is also the brand that pushed hardest into drive-thru-only and dual-lane formats, which is where a lot of that spend goes.
How we ranked it: top of an estimated range based on recent disclosure documents for new builds.
3. Carl’s Jr.: up to about $3.44 million
Carl’s Jr. is listed at roughly $1.3 million to $3.4 million for a new restaurant. The figure appears in one burger-chain roundup and is identical to a sister brand’s entry, so we treat it as an estimate and place it by its upper end only.
How we ranked it: our estimate from a single published range; treat as approximate.
4. Sonic Drive-In: up to about $3.37 million
Sonic’s disclosure document (2024 edition) puts total initial investment at $1,714,200 to $3,370,900. The cost is high because a Sonic needs a large lot, covered stalls and a lot of equipment before the first Tots go out. Other published tables show slightly different bounds, so read the figures as a range.
How we ranked it: upper end of the range in the brand’s 2024 disclosure document.
5. Taco Bell: roughly $575,000 to $3.4 million
Taco Bell has one of the widest spreads on the list because it franchises everything from small express units to full freestanding restaurants. Published figures disagree on the ceiling, from about $3 million to about $3.4 million, so we place it by the upper estimate and flag it as the least certain top-five number.
How we ranked it: our estimate from conflicting published ranges.
6. Burger King: $2.25 million to $3.32 million for a traditional restaurant
Burger King’s freestanding format is disclosed at $2,249,200 to $3,320,600. Across every format, including small non-traditional units and excluding real estate, the range stretches from about $363,400 to $4.73 million. The fee is $50,000 and applicants need around $500,000 liquid and a $1.5 million net worth.
How we ranked it: traditional freestanding range from the brand’s disclosure figures; the all-format ceiling would push it higher.
7. KFC: $1.4 million to $3.1 million
KFC lists a $45,000 franchise fee and a total investment of about $1.4 million to $3.1 million. Royalties run 5% of sales plus another 5% into national advertising, a combined 10% before you pay rent or staff.
How we ranked it: published range from the brand’s franchise figures.
8. McDonald’s: $1.3 million to $2.7 million
McDonald’s looks cheaper than its rivals, and the reason is its model. It buys or leases the real estate and builds the restaurant, so the franchisee pays rent rather than land. The fee is $45,000, you need $500,000 in non-borrowed funds, and a new restaurant typically needs a 40% down payment on the total. Published ceilings range from about $2.7 million to $2.8 million.
How we ranked it: upper end of the published range, real estate excluded.
9. Dairy Queen: $1.5 million to $2.5 million
Dairy Queen franchises charge a $45,000 fee and need $400,000 in liquid assets. Total startup runs about $1.5 million to $2.5 million for a full-size store, with smaller treat-only formats costing much less.
How we ranked it: published range, upper end.
10. Dunkin’: $527,000 to $1.8 million
Dunkin’ is the entry point to this list. The franchise fee ranges from $40,000 to $90,000, liquid capital of $250,000 is required, and total startup is about $526,900 to $1.8 million. Dunkin’ is mostly about drive-thru volume, which keeps footprints and build costs lower than burger restaurants.
How we ranked it: published range, upper end.
What about Chick-fil-A and Subway?
Chick-fil-A is the odd one out. Its operator fee is only $10,000 and the company funds most of the build, so an operator’s personal outlay is tiny. The trade is steep: operators pay 15% of sales plus half of net profit. One 2026 guide puts the all-in investment as high as $3.5 million, but older disclosures show far lower numbers, so we left it unranked.
At the other end, Subway is the cheapest of the big names, with a $15,000 fee and a total investment of about $150,000 to $328,000. It shows how wide the category is: the same word, franchise, can mean a $150,000 shop or a $4 million restaurant.
What changed since the old list?
The old version of this article ranked chains by menu prices. We rebuilt it around the question people actually have: which fast food franchises cost the most to open? The numbers have also shifted. A new traditional restaurant at a major burger chain now commonly reaches $3 million or more, excluding land, because of drive-thru technology, kitchen equipment and construction costs.
What drives these prices
- Real estate and format. Freestanding drive-thru restaurants cost far more than kiosks or inline stores, and brands that leave land out of the number look cheaper than they are.
- Kitchen and technology. Fryers, grills, dual-lane drive-thrus and ordering systems add up fast. Chains with large menus tend to sit at the top.
- Who owns the building. McDonald’s takes on the real estate itself, which lowers the franchisee’s entry cost but adds rent.
- Wide format ranges. A brand that offers tiny units and full restaurants, like Taco Bell, shows a huge spread between its low and high number.
FAQ
What is the most expensive fast food franchise to open?
Based on published ranges, Jack in the Box is the most expensive, with a traditional restaurant costing $1.9 million to about $4.04 million excluding land. Burger King’s all-format ceiling is higher at about $4.73 million, but that spans many formats.
How much does a McDonald’s franchise cost?
The franchise fee is $45,000 and total investment is roughly $1.3 million to $2.7 million. McDonald’s requires $500,000 in non-borrowed funds, and the franchisee pays rent because the company owns the real estate.
What is the cheapest big fast food franchise?
Subway, with a $15,000 fee and an estimated total investment of about $150,000 to $328,000. Dunkin’ is next on our list at roughly $527,000 to $1.8 million.
Why do some franchises cost millions?
A new restaurant needs land or a long lease, construction, kitchen equipment, signage, technology and opening inventory. A drive-thru restaurant at a major burger chain commonly costs $2 million to $4 million.
Do franchise fees count toward total investment?
Yes. The franchise fee, usually $40,000 to $90,000 for these brands, is only a small slice of the total. Royalties of about 4% to 8% of sales are paid on top, plus marketing contributions.
Are these exact costs?
No. They are ranges from brand disclosure documents and published summaries, and they change every year. Always check the latest official disclosure document before making any decision.
How we put this list together
We ranked chains by the upper end of the published estimated initial investment for a new restaurant, using franchise disclosure figures and published summaries compiled in an internal model. Figures are approximate, differ slightly by source and change every year.
Keep reading
- The world’s most expensive cities: location drives real estate cost for any business.
- How to start a profitable business fast: if a $3 million franchise is out of reach, start here.
Last updated: October 2026.
