Burger King Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Burger King is a fast-food franchise famous for its flame-grilled burgers, crispy fries, and signature Whopper sandwich.

Burger King, founded in 1954, has cemented its position as a leader in the fast food sector, with the Whopper® being one of its most renowned offerings. The brand began franchising in 1959 and is based in Miami, Florida. It operates under the Burger King Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International Limited Partnership.

In 1978, Burger King underwent a significant restructuring under the leadership of Donald N. Smith, a former McDonald's executive. This restructuring aimed to standardize operations and maintain quality control, implementing restrictions on franchise ownership to ensure proximity to restaurants and prevent large franchises from dominating the brand.

Burger King offers various franchising opportunities, including traditional standalone restaurants, non-traditional outlets within other businesses, institutional locations, and delivery-only services. A standard franchise agreement for a standalone restaurant typically spans 20 years, with renewal contingent on compliance with the franchisor's standards and agreements.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Burger King offers various types of franchises:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
Big-Box $579,600 to $1,004,000
Mall Food Court $650,720 to $1,156,600
Indoor MRS $363,400 to $814,000
Co-Brand $906,200 to $1,652,700
In-Line / End Cap $934,800 to $1,965,200
Freestanding $2,064,200 to $4,730,500

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a Burger King Freestanding Traditional Facility franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

Burger King Freestanding Traditional Facility

Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $50,000
Training, Travel, and Living Expenses $7,500 – $25,000
Real Property / Occupancy Charge $300,000 – $1,500,000
Civil & Architectural Drawings $50,000 – $100,000
Zoning Expenses $5,000 – $40,000
Improvements / Construction $1,000,000 – $1,800,000
Landscaping $25,000 – $60,000
Equipment $250,600 – $304,600
Décor Package $48,000 – $95,000
Signage & Drive Thru $150,000 – $230,000
Pre-Opening Wages $67,100 – $72,500
Opening Inventory $6,400 – $12,800
Cash, Inventory & Order System $35,000 – $50,000
Insurance $14,000 – $25,000
Working Capital / Additional Funds $45,000 – $90,000
Licenses, Utility & Lease Deposits $10,000 – $30,000
2-Story Interior Playground (optional) $0 – $245,000
BK® University / Training Materials $600
Total Estimated Initial Investment $2,064,200 – $4,730,500

Franchise Disclosure Document

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Training 

Burger King offers a comprehensive training program to equip its franchisees with the necessary skills for successful franchise operation.

Conducted in Miami, Florida, or other designated locations, the program includes hands-on experience at authorized Training Restaurants.

The training encompasses operational procedures, the use of essential equipment and software, and adherence to Burger King's operational standards.

The cost for the training program is $7,500 for the first participant and $3,000 for each additional participant. Franchisees are responsible for covering all associated expenses, including travel, accommodation, wages, and insurance.

Territory Protection

Franchisees can open multiple Burger King Restaurants within a designated area, known as a "Territory," under an Area Development Agreement. Within this Territory, they are required to develop Franchised Restaurants.

However, the Territory does not grant exclusivity. Franchisees do not have any express or implied territorial rights to develop Burger King restaurants in any area. Burger King Corporation (BKC) retains the unrestricted right to directly or indirectly develop, establish, and/or approve other franchisees to develop Burger King restaurants both within and outside of the designated Territory.

Number of units

2025
Franchised units

6992

6640

5524

Company-owned units

50

138

1177

Total units

7042

6778

6701

Competitors

Burger Village

Investment required
$484,000
-
$802,000
Franchisees
2
+
0%
0%

Smalls Sliders

Investment required
$1,274,000
-
$1,778,000
Franchisees
9
+
n.a.
n.a.

JL Beers

Investment required
$857,000
-
$2,235,000
Franchisees
3
+
0%
0%

Jollibee

Investment required
$1,635,000
-
$4,888,000
Franchisees
2
+
100%
100%

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