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Culver’s Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)

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

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

Franchisees

?

990
+
12%
12%
Franchise fee

?

$55,000
Investment

?

$2,643,000 - $8,573,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$3,694,000

+
14.8%
14.8%
Upgrade

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

The initial investment required for a Culver’s franchise is $2,643,000 - $8,573,000. 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.

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

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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

Franchise Disclosure Document

Below is Culver’s's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.

Number of units

Culver’s had 997 total units in 2025, of which 990 were franchised-owned and 7 company-owned.

Frequently Asked Questions

Competitors

Below are some of

Culver’s

key competitors in the

Burger

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Royalty fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

990

New
+
12%
12%

4.00%

$2,643,000

-

$8,573,000

$3,694,000

n.a.

$xxx,xxx

12.3%

xx%

n.a.

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

Culver’s 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's key competitors in the Burger sector.

Buns on Fire

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$255,000 - $462,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

Sammy's Sliders

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$328,000 - $713,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

Home Frite

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$351,000 - $506,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

iniBurger

Franchisees

?

3
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$302,000 - $686,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

Harlem Shake

Franchisees

?

0
+
n.a.
n.a.
Investment

?

$412,000 - $849,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

Good Stuff Eatery

Franchisees

?

5
+
0%
0%
Investment

?

$633,000 - $962,000
Revenue

?

Upgrade

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