The Top 8 Most Expensive Franchises to Buy

Franchising is a big business endeavor, but one that is rewarding, the reason many people get into it. According to statistics, there are over 750,000 franchise establishments in the US alone. Let’s now find out the most expensive franchise and learn a little about them.

1. Culver’s Restaurant 

With an annual revenue of $3.2 billion, Culver’s requires franchisees a total investment amount of $2,349,000 to $5,356,000. Its franchising systems have over 25,000 employees working in 862 locations across the US. It is a privately-owned corporation serving butter burgers and frozen custard, among its many offerings.

Wisconsin husband and wife team, George and Ruth Culver founded Culver’s in 1984 in Sauk City. And, in 2013, Culver’s received the No. 1 in franchisee satisfaction rating among restaurant franchises, according to a survey conducted by the Franchise Business Review.

2. KFC 

Generating an annual revenue of $2.79 billion in 2021, it’s no surprise that KFC Corp. is among this list of the most expensive franchises. It is the second-largest fast-food chain after McDonald’s. Franchisees would need an investment of $1,440,600 to $3,163,550 to start their own KFC restaurant. 

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) operates in 149 countries around the globe in 24,104 locations with over 160,000 employees. This restaurant specializes in fried chicken but also offers burgers, wraps, salads, and many others. It was founded by Colonel Harland Sanders and Pete Harman in 1930.

3. Denny’s

A diner-style restaurant chain, Denny’s, reported a $541.39 million revenue in 2019. It initially opened as a coffee shop named Denny’s Donuts and has since evolved into a diner serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 24 hours. It started franchising in 1963, and today, you would need $1.2 million to $2.6 million to own and operate one.

Denny’s was founded by Harold Butler and Richard Jezak in 1953. It is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and has restaurants in 1,702 locations, employing 3,110 people. The chain specializes in hamburgers, fresh salads, handmade sandwiches, and many others.

4. Carl’s Jr.

An American-style restaurant chain, Carl’s Jr. has a $590 million annual revenue. Its total investment costs amounts to $1,607,000 to $2,194,500. It is listed as No. 54 on Entrepreneur’s Top Franchise 500 based on financial stability, strength, and growth rate. 

Carl’s Jr. specializes in hamburgers, chicken, sandwiches, milkshakes, and many others. It was founded in 1941 by Carl Karcher and Margaret Karcher in Carpinteria, California. So far, it has a total of 3,186 locations worldwide and over 2,000 employees that each generate an estimated revenue of $245,000 per year.

5. Hardee’s

Operating mainly in the South and Midwest states, Hardee’s requires franchisees to have an estimated total investment amount of $1,499,000 to $2,158,500. It was founded by Wilber Hardee in 1960 and now has headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. The restaurant chain reported a $220 million revenue in 2021.

Hardee’s is operated by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. after undergoing several corporate ownerships through the years. Today, it now has more than 5,812 locations and 2,930 employees.

6. McDonald’s

To own and operate a McDonald’s restaurant, you’ll be needing an investment amount of between $1,314,500 and $2,306,500. By 2021, the most popular fast-food chain recorded a $23.223 billion revenue. It has 38,695 restaurants in over 119 countries across the globe.

McDonald’s was founded by Richard and Maurice McDonald in 1940. It has its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, it is the world’s second-largest private employer with 1.7 million employees, Walmart’s being the first with 2.3 million employees.

7. Dunkin’

With its massive brand recognition, it’s no wonder Dunkin’ is one of the most expensive franchises today. Franchise costs can amount to $395,500 to $1,597,200 or more. However, this would be an excellent investment as Dunkin’ is considered one of the world’s largest coffee and donut shops.

So far, it has 12,871 shops all over the world, with revenues totaling $201.6 million in 2021 alone. Its global reach has given employment to over 270,000 people.

8. Ace Hardware

The only non-food franchise on this list, Ace Hardware, will require you to have between $650,000 to $1,000,000 or more of total investment capital. It is the world’s largest hardware retail cooperative and non-grocery retail cooperative. For the year 2021, it recorded an $8.6 billion revenue with a 10.7% increase from its sales of $931.4 million the past year.

Ace Hardware was founded in 1924 by a group of businessmen from Chicago, Illinois, led by Richard Hesse. It has 7,577 employees in 5,600 retail outlets worldwide.

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