Owning a restaurant franchise could be incredibly lucrative. But as with any franchise, you will need quite a bit of cash. Even those who own some of the cheapest restaurant franchises can tell you that you need to prepare for other costs.
The total investment fee varies depending on the restaurant, and the cost can go towards real estate, technology, equipment, inventory, supplies, advertising, and more. It also includes the franchising fee, the cost for being a part of the franchise system.
However, even if you have the money ready, some of these restaurant franchises are difficult to get your hands on. Many restaurants have strenuous vetting procedures. That said, you could possibly be one in a pool of a thousand waiting to be chosen to be a franchise owner.
But if you are up for the challenge, keep reading. Here is a list of restaurant franchises that are low cost (potentially less than $1m) with links to their application process provided below.
1. Chester’s Chicken $12,000 – $296,600
Initial Franchise Fee: $3,500
Total Initial Investment: $12,000 – $296,600
Franchising Info: www.chestersinternational.com/franchising
Chester’s International, known as Chester’s or Chester’s Chicken, is a fried chicken quick-service restaurant based in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. W.O. The initial investment makes this one of the cheapest restaurant franchises in this list.
2. 7-Eleven $50,000 – $750,000
Initial Franchise Fee: depends on location
Total Initial Investment: $50,000 to $750,000
Franchising Info: https://franchise.7-eleven.com/franchise/home
7-Eleven, Inc. is a Japanese-American multinational chain of convenience stores, headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
3. Checkers & Rally’s $94,350 – $402,200
Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000
Total Initial Investment: $94,350 – $402,200
Franchising Info: https://checkersfranchising.com/
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. is a chain of double drive-thru restaurants in the United States. So far, the company operates Checkers and Rally’s restaurants in 28 states, and the District of Columbia. They specialize in hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and milkshakes.
4. Dunkin’ $109,700 – $1,637,700
Initial Franchise Fee: $40,000 – $90,000
Total Initial Investment: $109,700 – $1,637,700
Franchising Info: https://www.dunkinfranchising.com/franchisee/en/process.html
Dunkin’ is an American multinational coffee and doughnut company, as well as a quick service restaurant.
5. Papa John’s $115,120 – $794,420
Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000
Total Initial Investment: $115,120 – $794,420
Franchising Info: https://www.papajohns.com/franchise/
Papa John’s is an US-based pizza restaurant franchise. It is the fourth largest pizza delivery restaurant chain in the United States, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Despite its worldwide recognition, Papa John’s is still one of the cheapest restaurant franchises to start.
6. Quizno’s $211,859 – $326,549
Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000
Total Initial Investment: $211,859 – $326,549
Franchising Info: https://ownaquiznos.com/
Quiznos is an American franchised fast-food restaurant based in Denver, Colorado, that specializes in offering toasted submarine sandwiches. They earn their place here in this list of cheapest restaurant franchises because of the total initial investment.
7. Popeyes $235,000 – $454,000
Initial Franchise Fee: $50,000
Total Initial Investment: $235,000 – $454,000
Franchising Info: https://www.popeyes.com/franchise
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., also known as Popeyes and formerly named Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits., is an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants. It was founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana and headquartered in Miami, Florida.
8. Arby’s $314,550 – $1,844,200
Initial Franchise Fee: $6,250 – $40,900
Total Initial Investment: $314,550 – $1,844,200
Franchising Info: https://arbysfranchising.com/
Arby’s is an American fast food sandwich restaurant chain with more than 3,300 restaurants system wide and third in terms of revenue. In October 2017, Food & Wine called Arby’s “America’s second largest sandwich chain”.
9. Sonic Drive-In $361,900 – $3,537,700
Initial Franchise Fee: Traditional: $45,000 ; Non-traditional: $22,500
Total Initial Investment: Traditional: $1,242,200 – $3,537,700 ; Non-traditional: $361,900 – $978,700
Franchising Info: https://sonicfranchising.com/
Sonic Drive-In and more commonly known as Sonic, is an American drive-in fast-food restaurant chain owned by Inspire Brands. It’s the parent company of Arby’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.
10. Taco Bell $530,000 – $3,000,000
Initial Franchise Fee: $25,000 – $50,000
Total Initial Investment: $530,000 – $3,000,000
Franchising Info: https://www.tacobellfranchise.com/
Taco Bell is an American-based chain of fast food restaurants originating in Irvine, California in 1962. Glen Bell founded the popular restaurant.
11. Chick-fil-A $582,360 – $2,025,400
Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000
Total Initial Investment: $582,360 – $2,025,400
Franchising Info: https://www.chick-fil-a.com/franchise
Chick-fil-A is one of the largest American fast food restaurant chains and the largest whose specialty is chicken sandwiches. At present, its headquarters is in College Park, Georgia.
12. Baskin Robbins $724,523 – $2,009,400
Initial Franchise Fee: $20,000 – $30,000
Total Initial Investment: $724,523 – $2,009,400
Franchising Info: https://www.baskinrobbinsfranchising.com/
Baskin-Robbins is an American multinational chain of ice cream and cake specialty shop restaurants owned by Inspire Brands. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, Baskin-Robbins was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California.
