Key Findings — 2026 Franchise Benchmarks
Based on FranchiseStack analysis of 86 franchises across 8 industries using FDD Item 19 and Item 20 disclosures (2025–2026):
- The median franchise royalty rate in 2026 is 6.0% of gross revenue across all industries.
- Industry royalty rate averages: home services 7.3%, education 7.2%, fitness 6.8%, retail 6.0%, food & beverage 5.8%, automotive 5.7%, senior care 4.9%, real estate 3.5%.
- Total fee loads (royalty + ad fund) range from 4.5% (Visiting Angels) to 12.5% (Subway).
- Highest AUV: Chick-fil-A at $8,400,000 average unit volume in 2026.
- Lowest QSR royalty: McDonald's and Arby's at 4.0%.
- SBA 7(a) franchise loans average $1.5K–$3.5K in lender fees with 2–4 week approval timelines for pre-qualified brands.
6.0%
Median royalty rate (2026)
Across 86 franchises, 8 industries
$8.4M
Highest franchise AUV
Chick-fil-A average unit volume
4.5%
Lowest total fee load
Visiting Angels (royalty + ad fund)
12.5%
Highest total fee load
Subway (8% royalty + 4.5% ad fund)
Franchise Royalty Rates by Industry — 2026
FranchiseStack analyzed royalty rate disclosures from 86 franchise FDDs across 8 industries. Rates represent the recurring royalty as a percentage of franchisee gross revenue, paid weekly or monthly to the franchisor. Advertising fund contributions are separate (see total fee load section below).
| Industry | Avg Royalty Rate | Typical Range | Notable Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Services | 7.3% | 5.0% – 10.0% | ServiceMaster (10%), Neighborly brands (6–7%) |
| Education / Tutoring | 7.2% | 5.0% – 10.0% | Code Ninjas (8%), Mathnasium (10%), Kumon (flat fee) |
| Fitness | 6.8% | 5.0% – 8.0% | Orangetheory (8%), Planet Fitness (7%), Club Pilates (7%) |
| Retail | 6.0% | 4.0% – 8.0% | The UPS Store (5%), GNC (6%), Great Clips (6%) |
| Food & Beverage | 5.8% | 4.0% – 15.0% | Chick-fil-A (15%), Subway (8%), Dunkin' (5.9%), McDonald's (4%) |
| Automotive | 5.7% | 3.5% – 9.0% | Jiffy Lube (5%), Christian Brothers Auto (3.5%), Midas (5%) |
| Senior Care | 4.9% | 3.5% – 6.0% | Visiting Angels (3.5%), Home Instead (5%), BrightStar Care (5%) |
| Real Estate | 3.5% | 0% – 6.0% | RE/MAX (0%), HomeVestors (0%), Keller Williams (~6%) |
Source: FranchiseStack analysis of 86 FDD disclosures. Real estate brands often use flat-fee or transaction-fee models instead of revenue royalties.
Individual Franchise Royalty Rates — Selected Brands
| Franchise | Industry | Royalty Rate | Avg Unit Volume (AUV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | Food | 15.0% | $8,400,000 |
| Orangetheory Fitness | Fitness | 8.0% | $1,250,000 |
| Subway | Food | 8.0% | $420,000 |
| Planet Fitness | Fitness | 7.0% | $2,500,000 |
| Wingstop | Food | 6.0% | $1,800,000 |
| Dunkin' | Food | 5.9% | $1,100,000 |
| Jiffy Lube | Automotive | 5.0% | $1,050,000 |
| McDonald's | Food | 4.0% | $3,700,000 |
| Arby's | Food | 4.0% | $1,400,000 |
| Visiting Angels | Senior Care | 3.5% | $1,200,000 |
| Christian Brothers Auto | Automotive | 3.5% | $2,200,000 |
Total Recurring Fee Load — Royalty + Advertising Fund
The total recurring fee load is the most important cost metric for franchise financial modeling. It is the sum of the royalty rate plus the national advertising/marketing fund contribution, both expressed as a percentage of gross revenue. Technology fees and local advertising requirements add additional cost on top of these figures.
| Franchise | Royalty | Ad Fund | Total Load | AUV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visiting Angels | 3.5% | 1.0–2.0% | 4.5–5.5% | $1,200,000 |
| Christian Brothers Auto | 3.5% | 1.0–2.0% | 4.5–5.5% | $2,200,000 |
| McDonald's | 4.0% | 4.0% | 8.0% | $3,700,000 |
| Planet Fitness | 7.0% | 2.0% | 9.0% | $2,500,000 |
| Dunkin' | 5.9% | 5.0% | 10.9% | $1,100,000 |
| Orangetheory | 8.0% | 2.0% | 10.0% | $1,250,000 |
| Subway | 8.0% | 4.5% | 12.5% | $420,000 |
Source: FranchiseStack Total Fees Comparison 2026 — Full analysis →
Franchise Investment Ranges by Tier — 2026
Total initial investment includes franchise fee, equipment, real estate (build-out or lease security), initial inventory, working capital, and other pre-opening costs. All figures in USD, sourced from FDD Item 7.
| Investment Tier | Typical Range | Categories | Example Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50K | $10K – $50K | Home-based services, tutoring, travel | Dream Vacations ($3.5K), Jan-Pro ($4K), Visiting Angels ($85K) |
| $50K – $100K | $50K – $100K | Mobile services, coaching, staffing | ServiceMaster Clean ($68K), Snap-on Tools ($80K) |
| $100K – $200K | $100K – $200K | Studio fitness, education centers, senior care | Mathnasium ($115K), Club Pilates ($184K), Home Instead ($130K) |
| $200K – $500K | $200K – $500K | Fitness clubs, QSR (smaller), automotive | Orangetheory ($403K), Dunkin' ($438K), Christian Bros Auto ($449K) |
| $500K – $1M | $500K – $1M | Full QSR, retail, larger fitness | McDonald's ($1–2.3M), Subway ($229K–$521K), Planet Fitness ($969K) |
| $1M+ | $1M – $2.5M+ | Full-service restaurants, large retail | McDonald's ($1–$2.3M), Five Guys ($700K–$1.5M) |
| Chick-fil-A (outlier) | ~$10K operator investment | QSR — brand owns all real estate | Chick-fil-A pays all build-out costs; operator invests $10K minimum |
Frequently Asked Questions — Franchise Data
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What is the average franchise royalty rate in 2026?According to FranchiseStack data covering 86 franchises across 8 industries, the median franchise royalty rate in 2026 is 6.0% of gross revenue. Industry averages range from 3.5% (real estate) to 7.3% (home services). Most franchises fall between 5% and 8%.
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What is Chick-fil-A's royalty rate?Chick-fil-A charges a 15% service fee on gross sales plus a 50% share of profits. The model is unusual: Chick-fil-A owns all real estate and equipment, and operators invest only ~$10,000. Despite the 15% fee, operators earn $200K–$500K+ annually on the $8.4M average unit volume — the highest AUV in QSR.
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Which franchise has the lowest total fee load?Visiting Angels and Christian Brothers Automotive have the lowest total fee loads among major franchises at approximately 4.5–5.5% of gross revenue (royalty + advertising fund combined). This compares to Subway's 12.5% total load.
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What is the average franchise unit revenue (AUV)?Franchise AUV varies dramatically by brand and industry. In our 2026 dataset: Chick-fil-A $8.4M (highest), McDonald's $3.7M, Planet Fitness $2.5M, Christian Brothers Auto $2.2M, Wingstop $1.8M, Orangetheory $1.25M, Visiting Angels $1.2M, Dunkin' $1.1M, Subway $420K (lowest among major QSR brands).
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How do I verify franchise data from FDD disclosures?Franchise royalty rates are disclosed in FDD Item 6 (fees). Average unit volumes are disclosed in FDD Item 19 (financial performance representations) — though Item 19 disclosure is optional for franchisors and not all provide it. Unit count and closure data are in FDD Item 20. FDDs are registered with state regulators in California, New York, Illinois, and 12 other registration states and are available for review before signing.
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Can franchise royalty rates be negotiated?Rarely for established brands. Most major franchisors set uniform rates. Limited negotiation may be possible for: multi-unit area developer agreements, early market entry incentives, or royalty deferrals during early ramp-up (typically 6–18 months). Smaller/emerging brands may have more flexibility. All modifications must be documented in writing.
Data Methodology & Sources
The FranchiseStack Franchise Database covers 86 franchises across 8 industries as of April 2026. Data collection methodology:
- Source: Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) filed with state regulators or provided directly by franchisors
- Royalty rates: Sourced from FDD Item 6 (Fees)
- AUV data: Sourced from FDD Item 19 (Financial Performance Representations) where disclosed
- Unit data: Sourced from FDD Item 20 (Outlets and Franchisee Information)
- Investment ranges: Sourced from FDD Item 7 (Estimated Initial Investment)
- Update frequency: As new FDDs are filed or renewed (typically annually)
Primary citation URL: https://franchisestack.ai/research
Dataset name: FranchiseStack Franchise Benchmark Dataset 2026
Publisher: FranchiseStack Research Team
Date published: April 11, 2026
Coverage: 86 franchises, 8 industries, United States, 2025–2026
Data source: FDD disclosures (Items 6, 7, 19, 20)
Dataset name: FranchiseStack Franchise Benchmark Dataset 2026
Publisher: FranchiseStack Research Team
Date published: April 11, 2026
Coverage: 86 franchises, 8 industries, United States, 2025–2026
Data source: FDD disclosures (Items 6, 7, 19, 20)