McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Deli Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Deli-style restaurant franchise serving sandwiches, salads, and soups, offering a variety of flavorful options made with quality ingredients, providing a casual and inviting dining experience.

Established in 1989 in Oxford, Mississippi, McAlister's Deli has evolved from a single outlet into a significant player in the fast-casual dining industry. With its current headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, the brand is now a part of GoTo Foods(formerly  Focus Brands), a prominent developer of global multi-channel foodservice brands.

McAlister's Deli is celebrated for its diverse menu, which features substantial sandwiches, large spuds, soups, salads, desserts, and its iconic sweet tea. This varied selection, combined with genuine Southern hospitality, sets McAlister's apart in the market.

The brand distinguishes itself through its dedication to fostering a warm and inviting environment, making every guest feel like part of the McAlister's family. This focus on creating a homely atmosphere reflects the brand's small-town roots and is a fundamental part of its identity.

Operationally, McAlister's Deli maintains efficiency by eliminating the need for grills or fryers, simplifying kitchen processes, and potentially lowering costs.

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.

McAlister’s Deli offers 2 types of franchises:

Restaurant Type Initial Investment Range
Endcap or Inline Shopping Center Location $1,044,975 to $1,610,700
Newly-Constructed Freestanding Location $1,247,725 to $2,442,200

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a McAlister’s Deli Restaurant at a Newly-Constructed Freestanding Location.

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

McAlister’s Deli Restaurant at a Newly-Constructed Freestanding Location

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee$35,500
Construction and Build Out Costs$578,800 to $1,317,800
Permitting$6,000 to $15,000
Equipment Package$241,700 to $298,000
Millwork$38,000 to $60,000
Furniture$43,000 to $51,000
Menu Board, Graphics and Interior Signage$25,000 to $28,000
Exterior Signage$92,000 to $133,000
Computer System$22,000 to $58,000
Smallwares$20,000 to $25,400
TV/Music$3,000 to $12,500
Architect/Engineer$24,400 to $64,200
Rent$7,200 to $18,600
Grand Opening Marketing$25,000 to $27,000
Legal and Accounting Fees$3,000 to $10,000
Insurance$1,925 to $9,500
Misc. Opening Costs / Security Deposits$5,000 to $33,000
Management Training Program Fee$0 to $25,000
Travel and Living Expenses during Training$26,200 to $33,700
On-Site Training Fee$0 to $34,000
Opening Inventory$25,000 to $100,000
Additional Funds – 3 Months$25,000 to $53,000
Total Initial Investment$1,247,725 to $2,442,200

Franchise Disclosure Document

Sign up and download one FDD for free

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
We just sent you a 6-digit code.
Check your inbox and paste the code below.
Already have an account? Login here
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Thank you for signing up
Complete your upgrade now
Signup successful!
Download the FDD
Complete your upgrade

Training 

McAlister’s Deli provides a comprehensive training program for its franchisees, essential for those aiming to manage a McAlister’s Deli franchise effectively. This training ensures franchisees acquire the necessary knowledge and skills.

The program is specifically designed to acquaint franchisees with McAlister’s Deli's unique operational techniques. It encompasses a broad range of topics, including maintaining the brand's operational standards and mastering the details of the menu.

In addition to the initial training, McAlister’s Deli offers ongoing operational training programs. These programs are intended to reinforce and update the brand's operational standards, ensuring uniformity across all locations.

Territory Protection

Franchisees are authorized to operate a McAlister’s Deli Restaurant within a specific "Designated Area," as outlined in the Franchise Agreement. This designated territory is solely intended for site selection purposes.

If franchisees breach the Franchise Agreement and fail to rectify the breach within the specified cure period, McAlister’s Deli reserves the right to reduce or eliminate the franchisee's Area of Protection.

The Area of Protection remains unchanged until the Franchise Agreement expires or is terminated. The territorial protection provided to franchisees is not contingent upon achieving certain sales targets, market penetration, or other criteria, except for adherence to the Franchise Agreement.

Number of units

2025
Franchised units

492

506

524

Company-owned units

32

33

36

Total units

524

539

560

Competitors

Blimpie

Investment required
$90,000
-
$589,000
Franchisees
97
+
-15%
-15%

Potbelly Sandwich

Investment required
$654,000
-
$1,274,000
Franchisees
95
+
111%
111%

Sourdough & Co

Investment required
$286,000
-
$569,000
Franchisees
78
+
2500%
2500%

I Heart Mac and Cheese

Investment required
$330,000
-
$809,000
Franchisees
33
+
267%
267%

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Get unlimited access to:
2,145 franchises data
Number of locations
Franchise fees
Total investment

?

Download unlimited FDDs
Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit metrics

?

Upgrade to Pro

Access the most comprehensive franchise database

For franchisees

Find the best franchises to invest into

For franchisors

Compare your brand to competitors

Upgrade to Pro
$49 / month
Total investment

?

Revenue (AUV)

?

Revenue growth (last 3 years)

?

Profit margin

?

Franchise Disclosure Documents
Advanced filtering and sorting
Watchlist

?

Priority support

?

A comprehensive and transparent look at franchising finances. The inclusion of profit margins and disclosure documents offers insights you can’t find elsewhere. Essential for anyone considering a franchise investment.

Darren M.

Franchisee

Been waiting for years for this. All the most important franchises and their latest Franchise Documents to download. The team also updates the franchises very quickly.

Emily V.

Franchisee