Low-Cost Food Franchises: The Cheapest Options Compared

Best Salad and Bowl Franchises 2026: Who Is Actually Open

Compare availability for six brands: Saladworks, Playa Bowls, Robeks, Pokeworks, Freshii and Chop Stop, with FDD costs and single-unit options.

Bubble Tea Franchise Costs 2026: 6 Brands' FDD Fees Compared

Compare six bubble tea brands using 2026 FDD fees, investment ranges, royalties and marketing charges, with dated Chatime and Happy Lemon disclosure limits.

Chop Stop Franchise: Cost, Availability and Locations (2026)

As of October 14, 2026, Chop Stop has paused franchise applications. Review its wait list, unpublished costs, California registry history and nine locations.

Food Franchise Investment Tiers: What Changes as Cost Rises

Across the brands on this site, single-unit ownership systematically disappears as the capital tier rises. That, not the price, is what separates the tiers.

Which Food Franchise Vertical Is Cheapest to Open? (2026)

Add-on and mobile formats start at $15,500 and $16,500 in 2026 FDDs. Compare six food franchise verticals and same-brand formats before choosing.

Freshii Franchise Cost: Its FDD Carries a Risk Statement

Freshii's 2023 disclosure document carries the franchisor's own warning about its financial condition, and Item 20 shows US franchised units falling 121 to 52.

Great American Cookies Franchise Cost 2026: New Owner, Fees

Great American Cookies' FDD lists a $340,500 to $462,650 traditional investment. Compare format costs, fees and disclosures before the June 2026 sale.

IHOP Franchise Cost 2026: Fees, Net Worth, Total Investment

IHOP's FDD lists single-store investment of $616,682 to $4,823,457 by format, a $50,000 standard franchise fee, 4.5% royalty and 3.5% national ads.

Jamba Franchise Cost 2026: Fee, Royalty, Liquid Capital

Jamba franchise cost: March 2026 FDD fee $35,500, total $480,850 to $941,300, 6% net-sales royalty; GoTo minimums $120,000 liquid / $300,000 net worth.

Jimmy John's vs Wayback Burgers: Ongoing Fees Nearly Match

Jimmy John's and Wayback Burgers both publish their fees, and ongoing rates sit within half a point. Wayback's own page gives two different investment ranges.

Krispy Kreme Franchise Cost: US Status in 2026

Krispy Kreme's March 2026 WKS refranchising changed its US status. See Q2 shop counts, royalty terms, and what remains unpublished for single-unit buyers.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Franchise Cost 2026: Fee and Royalty

Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise cost per its 2026 FDD: $45,000 fee, $475,200 to $1,156,200 by size, 6% royalty + 5% funds on weekly net revenues.

Philly Pretzel Factory Franchise Cost: $60,000 Liquid Tier

Philly Pretzel Factory lists three formats from $176,000. Its April 30, 2026 FDD states a $40,000 first-territory fee and 6% royalty on Gross Sales.

Playa Bowls vs Sobol Franchise: Cost, Fees and FDD Risks Compared

Compare Playa Bowls and SoBol using their 2026 FDDs: investment, franchise fees, royalty, marketing, outlet counts and each brand's Special Risks.

Pokeworks Franchise Cost 2026: $270K-$600K and a $40K Fee

Pokeworks' April 2026 FDD: $270,435 to $599,661 per restaurant, a $40,000 fee, 6% royalty and 1.5% marketing, plus the $400K-$450K target it publishes.

Blaze Pizza Franchise Cost 2026: Fee, Investment, Royalty

Blaze Pizza’s April 2026 FDD lists a $30,000 fee, $757,000 to $1,297,100 investment and 5% gross-sales royalty plus a Creative Fund, currently 2%.

Bojangles Franchise Cost 2026: Fee, Investment, Incentives

Bojangles' April 20, 2026 FDD lists $2,851,880-$3,951,200 traditional and $780,780-$1,858,700 Express investments, plus a 4% standard royalty.

Buffalo Wild Wings Franchise Cost 2026: BWW vs BWW GO

March 2026 FDDs put Buffalo Wild Wings investment at $2,463,945 to $4,900,320 and BWW GO at $375,845 to $919,500. Compare fees, terms and sales.

BurgerFi Franchise Cost 2026: Fees, Investment, Ownership

BurgerFi's FDD lists $704,750-$1,171,500 investment and a $35,000 fee. Its predecessor filed Chapter 11 in 2024; franchised units were excluded, per the company.

Charleys Franchise Cost (2026): Fees, Investment, 3-Unit Rule

Charleys franchise cost: $24,500 first fee; $202,690-$1,004,447 across April 2026 FDD formats. See format costs and the site's three-license rule.

Church's Chicken Franchise Cost 2026: Fees, Investment

Church's FDD: $659,725-$1,970,300 excluding real estate, $20,000 franchise fee, $10,000 development fee, 5% royalty, 5% ad fee. Site figures differ; FDD governs.

Culver's Franchise Cost 2026: $3.4M+ to Open, $65K Fee

Culver's 2026 FDD puts opening costs at $3,406,350 to $10,294,100. Compare land assumptions, franchise fees, royalties and liquidity requirements.

Del Taco Franchise Cost 2026: $1.46M+, 5% Net, Markets

Del Taco's April 13, 2026 FDD lists $1,461,200-$3,313,500 for a traditional restaurant, a $35,000 franchise fee and 5% net-sales royalty and marketing fees.

Firehouse Subs Franchise Cost 2026: $20K Fee, Formats, Fees

Firehouse Subs 2026 FDD costs by format: $405,350 to $1,577,750, a $20,000 franchise fee, 6% royalty, 5% ad fund, and conditional veteran incentives.

Freddy's Franchise Cost 2026: Single-Unit Tier, Fees by Format

Freddy's 2026 FDD costs by format, a $35,000 fee, 5% royalty, marketing changes, single-unit qualification conflicts and territory limits.

Habit Burger Franchise Cost 2026: Multi-Unit Terms, Fees

Habit Burger's April 3, 2026 FDD lists $1,031,500 to $2,864,500 for one restaurant. See development costs, royalties, advertising fees and renewal terms.

Jersey Mike's Franchise Cost 2026: FDD Fees + IPO Filing

Jersey Mike's April 10, 2026 FDD lists $436,176 to $1,162,228 to open, a $20,000 franchise fee, $10,000 development fee and ongoing fees.

Playa Bowls Franchise Cost 2026: $281,960 to $1.06M (FDD)

Playa Bowls' April 2026 FDD: $281,960 to $1,055,594 for one shop, a $35,000 fee discounted to $12,500-$30,000 for 20 signings in 2025, and a 6% royalty.

Qdoba Franchise Cost 2026: $548K-$1.29M, $40K Fee, 5% Royalty

Qdoba's December 2025 FDD: $548,100 to $1,294,000 traditional, $234,500 to $898,000 non-traditional, $40,000 fee, 5% royalty, and where its web pages differ.

Robeks Franchise Cost 2026: $299K-$539K, 7% Royalty (FDD)

Robeks' April 2026 FDD: $299,050 to $538,500 per store, a $30,000 fee ($20,000 for veterans), 7% of net sales falling to 5.5% at five stores, 2.5% marketing.

Smoothie King Franchise Cost 2026: $329,850 to $1.28M by Format

Smoothie King's April 2026 FDD: $329,850 to $1,278,900 by format, a $30,000 fee, 6% royalty with a $500 monthly minimum, and marketing fees up to 7%.

Tropical Smoothie Franchise Cost 2026: $275.5K, Cafe Count Varies

Tropical Smoothie costs $275,500-$770,500 per cafe; multi-cafe commitments vary by agreement. $35,000 first fee; 11-12% royalty and national marketing.

Whataburger Franchise Cost 2026: $12.5M Net Worth, 5 Units

Whataburger requires $12.5M net worth, $5M liquid and five restaurants in five years. See October 2026 registry checks and burger franchise comparisons.

Which Wich Franchise Cost 2026: $253K-$822K, $30K Fee, 6% Royalty

Which Wich costs $253,500-$822,250 with a $30,000 first-store fee. Item 12 grants no exclusive territory; compare FDD fees and website requirements.

Wing Snob Franchise Cost 2026: $338K-$616K, $30K Fee

Wing Snob's April 30, 2026 FDD estimates $338,200-$615,500 for one restaurant, including a $30,000 fee. See royalties, development rights and renewal terms.

Wings Etc Franchise Cost 2026: $39,500 Fee, $373K-$2.9M

Wings Etc's April 20, 2026 FDD breaks out Grill and Pub and 2Go investment costs, royalty tiers, advertising fees, renewal terms, and outlet counts.

Wingstop Franchise Cost 2026: $310K-$1.05M, $5M Net Worth

Wingstop's April 2026 FDD: $310,400 to $1,048,500 to open, $25,000 fee plus $25,000 development fee, 6% royalty, 5.5% ad fund, and a $5M net worth bar.

Your Pie Franchise Cost 2026: Fee, Investment, Royalty

Your Pie publishes a $35,000 franchise fee, $404,750 to $1,249,000 investment excluding real estate, and a 5% royalty on net sales. Compare its ad fees.

Zaxby's Franchise Cost 2026: $1.46M-$3.81M, $35K Fee

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Zaxby's costs $1.46M-$3.81M, with a $35,000 fee, 6% weekly royalty and up to 4% weekly marketing contributions.

Does In-N-Out Franchise? No, Not in 2026

In-N-Out's own site shows no franchise program, no public FDD, no franchise fee. Roughly 400 locations are all company-owned, run by the founding Snyder family.

Does Insomnia Cookies Franchise? Not as of 2026

As of October 14, 2026, Insomnia Cookies offers no franchise: its site has no franchise page, and Minnesota and California registries list no Insomnia franchisor.

Does MOD Pizza Franchise in 2026? Yes, and It Is Refranchising

Yes, MOD Pizza franchises and is refranchising in 2026. April 2026 FDD: $30,000 fee, $924,732 to $1,220,633 total; 449 US outlets at fiscal 2025 year-end.

Five Guys Franchise Availability in the US (October 2026)

As of October 14, 2026, Five Guys invites franchise inquiries for select North America markets. Its June 30, 2026 FDD puts one restaurant at $927,850-$1,375,750.

Is Cracker Barrel a Franchise? No, Here Is Why

No. Cracker Barrel's fiscal 2026 10-K says none of its 655 stores were franchised as of September 11, 2026. Diner brands that do franchise, compared.

PizzaForno Franchise Cost 2026: A License, Not a Franchise

PizzaForno lists $85,000-$109,000 on its licensing page, has no public FDD, and publishes conflicting fee statements. Compare costs and the legal test.

Bakery Franchise Cost 2026: Kiosk to Full Cafe, Ranked

Compare bakery franchise costs from $29,250 to $1,860,550 for one location, with FDD fees, format budgets, royalties and ad funds.

The Cheapest Boba Tea Franchises to Open, Ranked

Compare four boba franchises using 2026 FDD costs, from Kung Fu Tea's $169,000 standalone shop, plus fees and royalties.

The Cheapest Chicken Franchises to Open, Ranked by Cost

Compare chicken franchises ranked by 2026 FDDs: Item 7 investment, fees, royalties, ad funds, and unranked convenience-store programs.

Ghost Kitchen Franchise Cost: What It Really Takes (2026)

$99,612 to $212,900 for one delivery-only format per Dog Haus's March 2025 FDD. What ghost kitchens mean and what delivery app commissions cost.

Cheapest Pizza Franchises to Open: Low-Cost Options Ranked

Compare cheap and low-cost pizza franchises ranked using 2026 FDDs, with Item 7 investment ranges, initial fees, format differences, and buyer eligibility.

Cheapest Food Franchises Under $25,000: 6 FDDs Checked

The cheapest food franchises to open, from six FDDs: only add-on formats like Chester's ($15,500) and Rita's mobile ($16,500) total under $25,000, and why.

Pizza Franchise Cost 2026: Startup Costs, Fees, Royalty by Brand

Pizza franchise startup costs from 2026 FDDs: franchise fee, total investment, royalty and which brands sell to new operators, sourced and dated.

Why 'Cheapest Franchise' Lists Disagree, and the Item 7 Fix

Cheapest franchise lists disagree when figures are undated, cover different formats, or show a fee as the total. Compare dated Item 7 ranges.

Food Franchises Under $100K (2026): The Ones That Actually Qualify

Built from FDDs: food franchise formats starting under $100K, with exact investment ranges, filing dates, and restrictions on who can buy them.

Food Truck Franchises: Costs vs. Going Independent

Compare food truck franchise and independent startup costs using current FDDs, commissary costs, and how seasonality changes the math.

Ice Cream and Dessert Franchise Costs (2026): 7 Brands + Seasonality

Compare seven dessert franchise costs using five 2026 FDDs and two franchise sites, with format-specific investments, fees, outlet counts, and seasonality.