After surveying more than 4,300 franchisees from almost 100 foodservice brands and analyzing 18 months of data, Franchise Business Review has named the Top 40 Food and Beverage Franchises for franchisee satisfaction.
Every segment of the restaurant market was represented, from pizza and burgers to ice cream and soup. Though many of the biggest brands in the industry have made the list, like McDonald’s and Subway, smaller chains, such as Lenny’s Subs and East Coast Wings & Grill, were also strong players due to intense focus on company cultures.
These are the year’s Top 40 franchisees in alphabetical order:
Bahama Buck’s
Startup Investment: $223,346 – $720,825
Cash Requirement: $90,000
Total Units: 89
Biggby Coffee
Startup Investment: $220,000
Cash Requirement: $70,000
Total Units: 254
Billy Sims Barbecue
Startup Investment: $169,000 – $433,000
Cash Requirement: $60,000
Total Units: 59
Buffalo Wings & Rings
Startup Investment: $1,224,000 – $3,085,000
Cash Requirement: $300,000
Total Units: 57
Captain D’s
Startup Investment: $771,000 – $1,003,000
Cash Requirement: $350,000
Total Units: 523
Checkers & Rally’s
Startup Investment: $96,414 – $1,501,265
Cash Requirement: $250,000
Total Units: 855
Dick’s Wings & Grill
Startup Investment: $237,500 – $772,500
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 23
Donatos Pizza
Startup Investment: $449,000 – $667,000
Cash Requirement: $449,000 – $667,000
Total Units: 152
East Coast Wings & Grill
Startup Investment: $658,875 – $1,133,502
Cash Requirement: $250,000
Total Units: 35
Fazoli’s Restaurants
Startup Investment: $883,000 – $1,399,000
Cash Requirement: $250,000
Total Units: 334
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
Startup Investment: $335,000 – $1,035,000
Cash Requirement: $250,000
Total Units: 112
Golden Corral Buffet & Grill
Startup Investment: $2,120,644 – $6,170,713
Cash Requirement: $500,000
Total Units: 482
Ground Round Grill & Bar
Startup Investment: $450,000 – $2,200,000
Cash Requirement: $350,000
Total Units: 27
Happy & Healthy Products, Inc.
Startup Investment: $45,000 – $90,000
Cash Requirement: $45,000 – $90,000
Total Units: 65
Hungry Howie’s Pizza
Startup Investment: $251,375 – $495,850
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 548
Hwy 55 Burgers Shakes & Fries
Startup Investment: $191,255 – $385,155
Cash Requirement: $125,000
Total Units: 137
Jamba Juice
Startup Investment: $201,000 – $619,300
Cash Requirement: $350,000
Total Units: 953
Jason’s Deli
Startup Investment: $905,891
Cash Requirement: $905,891
Total Units: 261
Kona Ice
Startup Investment: $120,225 – $143,025
Cash Requirement: $20,000
Total Units: 941
LaRosa’s Pizzeria
Startup Investment: $800,000 – $1,000,000
Cash Requirement: $500,000
Total Units: 66
Lenny’s Sub Shop
Startup Investment: $188,216 – $396,146
Cash Requirement: $75,000
Total Units: 96
Marco’s Pizza
Investment Level: $222,830 – $436,830 limited seating
Financial Requirements: $100,000 in capital and $350,000 in assets to be preapproved
Total Units: 854
Mooyah Burgers & Fries
Startup Investment: $412,750 – $620,000
Cash Requirement: $250,000
Total Units: 98
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Startup Investment: $392,875 – $545,475
Cash Requirement: $150,000
Total Units: 168
Penn Station
Startup Investment: $293,102 – $593,027
Cash Requirement: $300,000
Total Units: 310
Pizza Factory
Startup Investment: $156,000 – $643,500
Cash Requirement: $90,000
Total Units: 109
Planet Sub
Startup Investment: $182,500 – $402,000
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 58
Scooter’s Coffee
Startup Investment: $334,000 – $514,000
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 167
Smoothie King
Startup Investment: $225,650 – $426,185
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 907
The Häagen-Dazs Company
Startup Investment: $154,158 – $542,408
Cash Requirement: $154,158 – $542,408
Total Units: 206
The Honeybaked Ham Co. and Cafe
Startup Investment: $299,200 – $468,200
Cash Requirement: $100,000
Total Units: 405
The Wendy’s Company
Startup Investment: $300,000 – $3,000,000
Cash Requirement: $2,000,000
Total Units: 6,564
Toppers Pizza
Startup Investment: $291,666 – $527,152
Cash Requirement: $150,000
Total Units: 99
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Startup Investment: $198,050 – $478,550
Cash Requirement: $125,000
Total Units: 541
Uno Chicago Grill
Startup Investment: $736,000 – $1,850,500
Cash Requirement: $750,000
Total Units: 196
Wings Etc.
Startup Investment: $300,000 – $780,000
Cash Requirement: $300,000 – $780,000
Total Units: 40
Wingstop
Startup Investment: $346,775 – $733,249
Required net worth: $1,200,000; $600,000 liquid
Total Units: 1,056—21 are corporate-owned stores, and the rest are franchise
Zaxby’s
Startup Investment: $352,000 – $664,300
Cash Requirement: $300,000
Total Units: 946
Zoup!
Startup Investment: $321,400 – $609,400
Cash Requirement: $321,400 – $609,400
Total Units: 87
