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Culver’s Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Culver's is a fast-food franchise known for its butterburgers and frozen custard, offering a menu of flavorful sandwiches, sides, and desserts.

Culver's stands out in the fast-food industry, renowned for its unique menu and unwavering commitment to quality. Founded in 1984 by Craig Culver and his family in Sauk City, Wisconsin, the franchise has grown significantly, now spanning 26 states. Culver's began with a clear vision: to offer outstanding ButterBurgers® and Fresh Frozen Custard with genuine hospitality, supporting the Culver family's livelihood.

Culver's differentiates itself in the competitive fast-food market through its steadfast dedication to freshness and quality. Its hallmark offerings include ButterBurgers crafted from fresh, never frozen beef, and Fresh Frozen Custard made daily in each restaurant from premium family farm-fresh dairy. 

This commitment to quality permeates the entire menu, featuring whole, white meat chicken and Wisconsin-sourced Cheese Curds, ensuring every meal reflects high standards of taste and excellence.

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.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $20,000 to $55,000
Land $240,000 to $2,700,000
Site Work $95,000 to $1,590,000
Building $1,507,000 to $2,946,000
Travel, Living and Expenses during Training $20,000 to $80,000
Initial Inventory $50,000 to $65,000
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Supplies (excluding Sign Package and POS) $467,000 to $590,000
Sign Package $120,000 to $336,000
POS System $38,500 to $51,000
Miscellaneous Expenses $20,000 to $40,000
Additional Funds (working capital) - for 3 months $65,000 to $120,000
Totals $2,642,500 to $8,573,000
Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $20,000 to $55,000
Land $240,000 to $2,700,000
Site Work $95,000 to $1,590,000
Building $1,507,000 to $2,946,000
Travel, Living and Expenses during Training $20,000 to $80,000
Initial Inventory $50,000 to $65,000
Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Supplies (excluding Sign Package and POS) $467,000 to $590,000
Sign Package $120,000 to $336,000
POS System $38,500 to $51,000
Miscellaneous Expenses $20,000 to $40,000
Additional Funds (working capital) - for 3 months $65,000 to $120,000
Totals $2,642,500 to $8,573,000

Culver’s

2025

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

The franchisee, or their designated operator, must complete a comprehensive Franchisee Development Program at one of the company-owned restaurants.

This program is available in three 16-week sessions annually, designed to thoroughly equip the franchisee or operator with the knowledge needed to successfully manage a Culver’s® Restaurant. While there is no fee for the Franchisee Development Program itself, the franchisee is responsible for covering all travel and living expenses during the training period.

Additionally, the franchisee is required to attend or participate in periodic reconnection training courses or programs as specified by the franchisor. There may be associated costs for any extra training requested or needed for new or existing managers hired post-opening.

Moreover, the franchisee must enroll in any electronic training programs offered through the franchisor's online support center, which includes all future updates, supplements, and modifications to the training curriculum.

Territory Protection

Franchisees are permitted to operate their Restaurant at a specific location and are generally granted a "Designated Territory," typically encompassing a 3-mile radius around the Restaurant. This radius may be adjusted based on factors such as physical barriers or population density.

Despite having a Designated Territory, franchisees may experience situations where other Culver’s® locations serve customers from within their territory without any compensation to them.

Furthermore, franchisees are allowed to sell certain Culver’s® menu items from authorized locations other than their Restaurant within the Designated Territory, but this requires the company's prior written consent and must adhere to its established guidelines.

Competitors

Below are some of

Culver’s

key competitors in the

Burger

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Sign up
Gross Profit
Sign up
EBITDA
Sign up

990

New
+
12%
12%

$55,000

$2,643,000

$8,573,000

n.a.

$3,694,000

$xxx,xxx

66.5%

xx%

n.a.

12.3%

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

Sammy's Sliders

Sammy's Sliders is a fast-casual restaurant brand offering gourmet sliders, fries, and shakes, serving burger lovers seeking smaller portions and variety, and known for customizable mini-sandwich combinations, playful branding, and efficient service suited to urban and neighborhood locations.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$328,000 - $713,000

Home Frite

Home Frite is a fast-casual franchise offering gourmet fries, burgers, chicken sandwiches and milkshakes, serving urban diners and comfort-food lovers, and known for hand-cut potatoes, signature sauces, and scalable franchise model.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$351,000 - $506,000

iniBurger

iniBurger is a burger-restaurant franchise offering gourmet burgers, shakes, and innovative sides, serving millennials and casual diners, and known for bold menu items, modern branding and strong franchisee support.

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$302,000 - $686,000

Harlem Shake

Harlem Shake is a burger-and-shake chain franchise offering premium burgers, fries, shakes and craft menu items, serving families and casual diners, and known for nostalgic branding, community vibe, and scalable restaurant prototype.

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$412,000 - $849,000

Good Stuff Eatery

Good Stuff Eatery is a fast-casual burger franchise offering handcrafted burgers, crispy fries and shakes, serving casual diners and burger-lovers, and known for chef-driven quality, fun branding and a mission to bring “goodness everywhere”.

Franchisees

?

5
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$633,000 - $962,000

Built Custom Burgers

Built Custom Burgers provides fast-casual, build-your-own burger meals featuring premium ingredients and a streamlined assembly-line format, allowing customers to customize burgers, fries, and shakes for a fresh and satisfying dining experience.

Franchisees

?

3
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$409,000 - $1,297,000

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