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

Per its FDD issued April 24, 2026, a Zaxby’s franchise costs $1,460,000 to $3,810,500 to open, with a $35,000 franchise fee, a 6% weekly royalty and up to 4% of Gross Sales in weekly marketing contributions.

For a one-store opportunity, the startup-costs page, checked October 14, 2026, requires collective net worth of at least $1,000,000 and liquid assets greater than $500,000. Qualification minimums are separate from the opening investment.

How much does a Zaxby’s franchise cost?

The following fees and terms are per its April 24, 2026 FDD, except the separately identified website qualification minimums.

Cost or requirement	Amount and terms
Initial franchise fee, Item 5	$35,000, paid upon execution of the franchise agreement
Total initial investment, Item 7	$1,460,000 to $3,810,500 per restaurant
Amount paid to franchisor or affiliates, cover	$40,200 to $45,000, included in the total investment
Standard royalty, Item 6	6% of the preceding week’s Gross Sales, currently due weekly on Monday
National marketing contribution, Item 6	2.0% of Gross Sales per week, increasing to 2.5% on December 28, 2026; the franchisor may modify it, but it may not exceed 3.5%
Co-op or Multi-DMA advertising, Item 6	Up to 3% of Gross Sales per week; co-op members may vote to exceed that cap
Total weekly marketing contributions, Item 6	Up to 4% of Gross Sales, including national and either co-op or Multi-DMA contributions; the cap does not apply if co-op members vote to contribute more than 3% of Gross Sales to the co-op
Technology Services Fee, Item 6	Currently $0.06 per transaction, paid weekly; the first-partial-year limitation described below applies through December 27, 2026
Initial marketing contribution, Items 5 and 7	$5,200 to $10,000; Item 7 lists payment five days before opening
Development fee, Item 7	$52,500 to $175,000, assuming three to ten restaurants; credited toward initial franchise fees, with restaurant development costs additional
Franchise term, Item 17	10 years from opening, plus one successive 10-year renewal at the franchisor’s discretion and subject to its requirements
One-store liquid assets, startup-costs page checked 2026-10-14	Greater than $500,000
One-store collective net worth, startup-costs page checked 2026-10-14	At least $1,000,000
VetFran, Item 5	20%, or $7,000, off the initial franchise fee for the first five new restaurants a qualifying veteran opens

For how launch spending and approval timing appear in franchise disclosures, see the franchise grand-opening guide.

Item 7 opening budget

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Item 7 breaks down the single-restaurant estimate as follows:

Expenditure	Low	High
Initial franchise fee	$35,000	$35,000
Lease deposit and payment	$10,000	$19,000
Utility deposits	$0	$9,000
Building	$640,000	$1,300,000
Sitework	$150,000	$990,000
Architect and engineer	$45,000	$110,000
Permits and licenses	$2,000	$150,000
Accounting and legal fees	$500	$25,000
Furniture, fixtures and equipment package	$445,000	$497,000
Technology system	$75,000	$217,500
Signage	$23,000	$245,000
Insurance	$1,000	$17,000
Printing/business supplies	$300	$1,000
Initial marketing contribution	$5,200	$10,000
Initial inventory	$5,000	$22,000
Uniforms	$1,500	$5,000
Training expenses	$10,000	$25,000
Pre-opening payroll	$10,000	$37,000
Additional funds, three months	$1,000	$96,000
Total	$1,460,000	$3,810,500

Item 7’s total-investment note assumes leased real estate and that the landlord does not pay for leasehold improvements. It says building and sitework costs can be removed if the landlord pays those costs. The lease-deposit note describes a landlord-funded assumption, so reconcile those notes against the proposed lease and construction budget rather than deducting costs automatically. The franchisor does not offer financing, directly or indirectly, for the initial investment.

Use the SBA franchise loan guide to prepare the financing questions and documents for your lender.

A $1.46M+ build needs a lender-ready plan

Our free franchise business plan template is built for an SBA loan: the sections, projections and debt-service math a lender reviews. Plus the due-diligence kit.

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Weekly royalty, marketing and technology charges

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Item 6 charges the standard royalty on the preceding week’s Gross Sales. The national contribution and co-op or Multi-DMA contribution sit within the total weekly marketing cap; adding their individual maximums would misstate that cap unless the co-op-vote exception applies. The Item 6 guide explains how to review recurring charges together.

The Technology Services Fee applies to each transaction at or through the restaurant, including on-site and digital transactions. Through December 27, 2026, the first partial year of operation is charged at the lesser of $0.06 per transaction or 0.33% of Gross Sales at the fiscal year-end. Item 6 states that the TSF rate will not be modified before December 31, 2028.

Opening incentives and VetFran

The following programs are per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 6. Development incentives require good standing, eligibility and a signed Development Incentive Program Addendum.

New Restaurant Opening Incentive Program

The franchise agreement and incentive addendum must be signed, and Real Estate Committee Approval for the new site received, by June 30, 2025. That deadline has passed. The restaurant must open in a Core Market by December 31, 2026, in full compliance with the development schedule, if applicable, and the franchise agreement’s Real Estate Committee Approval, Construction Commencement and Opening Deadlines.

The incentive refunds the initial franchise fee paid when the restaurant opens and reduces the royalty to 2% of Gross Sales in the first year and 4% in the second year after opening. Thereafter, the royalty is 6%.

Select Market Incentive Program

The franchise agreement and incentive addendum must be signed, and the new restaurant must open by December 31, 2028, in either:

• A state approved for development outside the Core Markets of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee; or
• The Fort Meyers, West Palm Beach or Miami, Florida designated market areas, as defined by Nielsen Media Research, Inc. The FDD spells the first market ‘Fort Meyers’.

The restaurant must comply fully with the applicable development schedule and the franchise agreement’s Real Estate Committee Approval, Construction Commencement and Opening Deadlines. The incentive refunds the initial franchise fee paid at opening and reduces the royalty to 0% of Gross Sales in the first year and 3% in the second year after opening. Thereafter, the royalty is 6%.

VetFran discount and repayment conditions

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Item 5 offers 20%, or $7,000, off the initial franchise fee for the first five new restaurants a qualifying veteran opens. The franchisee, or a holder of at least 25% of its ownership interests, must document honorable discharge with DD Form 214 or other documentation the franchisor considers adequate and sign the VetFran Addendum.

The $7,000 reduction must be repaid if, before the first anniversary of opening, the restaurant is transferred, equity interests in an entity franchisee are transferred, or the franchisor terminates the franchise agreement. See the VetFran guide for program background.

Term and restaurant count

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Item 17 gives the franchise a 10-year term from opening. The franchisor may permit one additional successive 10-year term, subject to its requirements; renewal is not automatic.

Per its April 24, 2026 FDD, Item 20 reports 865 franchised restaurants, 140 affiliate-owned restaurants and 1,005 total restaurants at the end of 2025. The franchisor itself states that it does “… not operate any Restaurants.” The affiliate-owned category covers restaurants operated by Zax Restaurants or its predecessors.

What its site says

The startup-costs page, checked October 14, 2026, still states $1,445,000 to $3,810,500, citing the April 25, 2025 FDD. The April 24, 2026 FDD governs the investment figures in this guide: $1,460,000 to $3,810,500. The site’s one-store financial minimums are identified separately above.

Compare the disclosed costs and requirements in the Church’s Texas Chicken, Bojangles and Buffalo Wild Wings guides, or start with the chicken franchise comparison.

For SBA financing, have the lender check the SBA Franchise Directory and assess the proposed loan. The directory eligibility guide explains the distinction between brand listing and borrower approval.

Questions to ask Zaxby’s before you sign

• Which Item 7 costs change for the proposed site, format and landlord contribution, and what contractor quotes support the budget?
• Which incentive requirements does the proposed restaurant satisfy, and how will those terms appear in the signed addendum?
• What contribution has the applicable co-op voted to require, and does that vote trigger the exception to the total marketing cap?
• What did current and former franchisees experience with working-capital needs, signing-to-opening timelines and franchisor support?
• What renewal upgrades and other conditions should a franchise attorney review before signing?

Call Zaxby's franchisees before you sign

Our free validation call script lists the questions to ask current and former franchisees about working capital, opening timelines and support. Plus the due-diligence kit.

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Optional: connect me with a vetted franchise-development partner if I match what they're looking for. FranchiseFeast may be paid a referral fee for this. It is never required to get what you asked for, and you can withdraw at any time.Your background (optional)Prefer not to sayCorporate or executive backgroundEntrepreneur, no food experience yetI already operate multiple unitsSomething else

Company

The kit is educational only, not legal or financial advice. By subscribing you agree to ourterms and privacy policy. How we're paid, including referral fees:affiliate & referral disclosure.