How much does it cost to open a franchise?

Total initial investments for the 146 franchise brands listed on FranchiseCloser currently range from $25K – $8.8M, depending on the industry and build-out. Each brand's estimate is disclosed in Item 7 of its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) — always verify against the current FDD.

What is an initial franchise fee?

A one-time fee paid to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement, disclosed in Item 5 of the FDD. It is separate from — and usually included within — the total initial investment estimate in Item 7.

What ongoing fees do franchisees pay?

Most franchise systems charge an ongoing royalty (typically a percentage of gross sales) plus a marketing or ad-fund contribution, both disclosed in Item 6 of the FDD. Confirm the exact percentages and any minimums in the brand's current FDD.

Franchise Costs

How Much Does a Franchise Cost?

Total initial investments for the 146 franchise brands listed on FranchiseCloser currently range from $25K – $8.8M, depending on the industry, real-estate footprint, and build-out. Below: what each fee means, and real fee data by category and by brand.

Fees and costs only — FranchiseCloser never projects earnings for any brand.

The three numbers that matter in every FDD

Initial Franchise Fee

FDD Item 5

A one-time fee paid to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. It buys entry into the system — training, the brand, and your territory rights are typically tied to it.

Total Initial Investment

FDD Item 7

The franchisor's estimated all-in range to open one unit — usually including the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, initial inventory, training travel, and several months of working capital.

Ongoing Royalty

FDD Item 6

A recurring fee, usually a percentage of gross sales, paid for the life of the agreement. Most brands also charge a marketing or ad-fund contribution — confirm both in Item 6.

Franchise costs by category

Category	Brands	Total Investment Range
Food & Beverage	26	$178.7K – $7.1M	See Food & Beverage costs →
Health & Fitness	11	$172.1K – $2.3M	See Health & Fitness costs →
Home Services	48	$43K – $450K	See Home Services costs →
Beauty & Wellness	5	$175K – $1.2M	See Beauty & Wellness costs →
Automotive	4	$111K – $7M	See Automotive costs →
Education & Tutoring	25	$30K – $8.8M	See Education & Tutoring costs →
Pet Care	17	$25K – $1.3M	See Pet Care costs →
Senior Care	4	$48.2K – $250K	See Senior Care costs →
B2B Services	4	$60K – $213K	See B2B Services costs →
Retail	1	$66.7K – $97.5K	See Retail costs →

Popular brand cost breakdowns

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Franchises Under $50K Franchises Under $100K Franchises Under $250K Franchises Under $500K

Free Download: The Franchise Cost Guide

Every franchise fee explained in plain English — the initial fee, the total investment, royalties, and the costs first-time buyers forget to plan for — plus the questions to ask before you sign anything.

Get the Free Cost Guide (PDF)

All figures are aggregated from public franchise disclosure sources or provided by the brands themselves, and are estimates only. Always verify every figure against the brand's current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with a licensed franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseCloser does not project, estimate, or interpret earnings for any brand.

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