Restaurants

Hardee’s franchise

Burgers, biscuits and chicken tenders.

Opening investment: $1,385,000–$2,637,395
Average annual revenue: $1,347,436
U.S. locations: 1,485

Opening costs and fees

$1,385,000–$2,637,395

Opening costs vary by format, location and lease terms.

Operating formats

Traditional Freestanding Restaurant (~2,200 sq ft with drive-thru)

$1,385,000–$2,637,395

2026 FDD Item 7

Excludes land acquisition costs. Includes $25,000 initial franchise fee, $790,000–$1,491,200 building and site improvements, $255,000–$525,000 equipment, and $160,000–$250,000 additional funds for three months.

Revenue and performance

$1,347,436

Avg. Annual Revenue ($1,294,442 median) · 975 franchised freestanding U.S. restaurants (FY2026 Item 19)

Revenue is sales before expenses, not owner income. Compare matching periods, formats and location samples.

Locations

1,485 U.S. locations (2026).

1,485 U.S. restaurants at January 26, 2026, including dual-concept restaurants. International restaurants are excluded.

Existing locations do not establish that a new territory is available. Confirm your market with the franchisor.

Sources and figure notes

Reporting periods and scope

Average annual revenue

2026 FDD Item 19 reports average annual Revenue of $1,347,436 and median of $1,294,442 (range $413,015–$3,599,953; 471 restaurants / 50.1% at or above average) across 975 franchised freestanding Hardee’s Restaurants in the United States for the 53-week FY26 period ended January 26, 2026 (record I19W3-B148-FPR-0001; 194 company-operated freestanding restaurants averaged $1,370,338, record I19W3-B148-FPR-0002).

Opening investment

$1,385,000–$2,637,395 for a Traditional Freestanding Hardee’s Restaurant (approximately 2,200 sq ft with drive-thru on a 22,000–43,000 sq ft lot), excluding land acquisition costs. Includes $25,000 initial franchise fee, $790,000–$1,491,200 building and site improvements, $255,000–$525,000 equipment, and $160,000–$250,000 additional funds for three months.

U.S. locations

Hardee’s reported 1,485 U.S. locations for 2026.

Research snapshot: . Sources and methodology

Compare independent startup vs. franchise economics

Compare Hardee’s’s franchise model against starting or buying an independent business in burgers (line-item CapEx, 0%-royalty owner SDE margins & SBA resale multiples):