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Charleys Philly Steaks Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

Charleys Philly Steaks offers made-to-order Philly cheesesteaks, gourmet fries, and lemonades.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

766
+
9%
9%
Franchise fee

?

$24,500
Investment

?

$203,000 - $1,004,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$743,000

+
-13.6%
-13.6%
Sign up

Charleys Philly Steaks, originally named Charley's Steakery, was established by Charley Shin in 1986 after he discovered the deliciousness of a Philly Cheesesteak during a family trip. Inspired by this experience, Charley, a student at Ohio State University, decided to open the first restaurant near the university's campus in Columbus, Ohio, using his mother's life savings for support.

The company's headquarters remain in Columbus, Ohio, underscoring its deep ties to its founding city. Charleys Philly Steaks began franchising in 1991, five years after the first restaurant opened near The Ohio State University campus.

Renowned for its commitment to serving the "#1 Cheesesteak in the World®," the brand has grown significantly, expanding its presence globally. Over the years, Charleys Philly Steaks has not only increased its number of locations but also diversified its menu and business model.

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Initial investment

The initial investment required for a Charleys Philly Steaks franchise is $203,000 - $1,004,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Charleys Philly Steaks offers 3 options:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
CPS Restaurant$203,492 to $696,266
CPSW Restaurant$202,690 to $1,004,447
CPSW Restaurant in a Walmart Location$252,061 to $646,224


The investment information below is based on the estimated initial investment for a CPS Restaurant.

For more information on the costs required to start a Charleys Philly Steaks franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).


Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$24,500
Leasehold Improvements$50,000 to $329,000
Equipment/Furniture/Fixtures$50,931 to $145,000
POS and Kiosk System$12,711 to $15,766
Signage$5,000 to $20,000
Architect & Engineer$8,000 to $16,000
Travel and Living Expenses Associated With Initial Training$4,000 to $8,000
Insurance$3,850 to $11,000
Deposits and Professional Fees$1,000 to $7,000
Real Estate Lease$12,500 to $80,000
Grand Opening Marketing Kit$7,000 to $10,000
Additional Funds - 3 Month Period$24,000 to $30,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment$203,492 to $696,266

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Charleys Philly Steaks offers 3 options:

Type of Restaurant Initial Investment Range
CPS Restaurant$203,492 to $696,266
CPSW Restaurant$202,690 to $1,004,447
CPSW Restaurant in a Walmart Location$252,061 to $646,224


The investment information below is based on the estimated initial investment for a CPS Restaurant.

For more information on the costs required to start a Charleys Philly Steaks franchise, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).


Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$24,500
Leasehold Improvements$50,000 to $329,000
Equipment/Furniture/Fixtures$50,931 to $145,000
POS and Kiosk System$12,711 to $15,766
Signage$5,000 to $20,000
Architect & Engineer$8,000 to $16,000
Travel and Living Expenses Associated With Initial Training$4,000 to $8,000
Insurance$3,850 to $11,000
Deposits and Professional Fees$1,000 to $7,000
Real Estate Lease$12,500 to $80,000
Grand Opening Marketing Kit$7,000 to $10,000
Additional Funds - 3 Month Period$24,000 to $30,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment$203,492 to $696,266

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Charleys Philly Steaks's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Sign up for free to view the document.

Number of units

Charleys Philly Steaks had 826 total units in 2026, of which 766 were franchised-owned and 60 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Charleys Philly Steaks

key competitors in the

Sandwich

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

766

New
+
9%
9%

6.00%

$203,000

-

$1,004,000

$743,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Training 

Charleys Philly Steaks offers a comprehensive training program to ensure franchisees are thoroughly prepared to maintain the brand's high standards and deliver exceptional service. Here is an overview of their training process:

Initial Training

Before opening their restaurant, franchisees must complete an initial training program. This program provides an in-depth understanding of the Charleys Philly Steaks system, including business methods, designs, equipment, ingredients, recipes, preparation techniques, and other operational standards.

The training consists of both classroom sessions and practical on-the-job training.

Classroom Training:

  • Topics include "Positions Certification" and the sessions last approximately 2-3 weeks.
  • Training is conducted in Ohio or other designated locations.

On-the-Job Training:

  • Covers areas such as Shift Management, Quality Assurance, Guest Service Standards, Cleanliness & Sanitation, Team Training, Security, Shift Control Skills, Cost Containment, and Preventive Maintenance.
  • This segment also lasts around 2-3 weeks.

Territory Protection

Franchisees are given the right to own and operate a Charleys Restaurant at a specific location. If the location is not agreed upon at the time of signing the Franchise Agreement, franchisees must choose a location within a designated area.

However, franchisees will not have exclusive or protected rights within this designated area. This means that while franchisees can operate in a designated area, they do not have exclusive territorial rights beyond their specific location.

This lack of territorial exclusivity allows Charleys Philly Steaks to grant additional franchises within the same area, potentially leading to multiple franchise locations in close proximity. While this approach can enhance brand presence and market penetration, it requires franchisees to focus on exceptional service and quality to maintain a competitive edge.

Competitors

Below are some of Charleys Philly Steaks's key competitors in the Sandwich sector.

Supreme Deli

Franchisees

?

24
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$21,000 - $229,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Frank & Furter's

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$351,000 - $875,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$642,000

Abu Omar Halal

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$335,000 - $634,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Extreme Pita

Franchisees

?

1
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$192,000 - $513,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Sub-Ology

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$285,000 - $443,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

Miller's Famous Sandwiches

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$336,000 - $691,000
Revenue

?

Sign up
Undisclosed

$0

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