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Carl's Jr. FDD Analysis · 2026

Carl's Jr. Franchise Cost (2026 FDD)

Inside the Carl's Jr. franchise disclosure

You searched the right thing. The FDD is the document that spells out what a Carl's Jr. franchise is really about — what you're committing to, and what they're committing to you. Here's a sampling of what their 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document reveals:

Investment to open
$1.8M–$3.4M
System size
992942 franchised
Financial perf. (Item 19)
Included
Year
2026analyzed Apr 12

§What changed — in 2025, Carl's Jr. contracted from 1,032 to 992 locations. (Item 20.)

§Already a Carl's Jr. franchisee? See everything that changed since you signed →

01 · From the filing

Here's what their franchise disclosure tells you

Six of the items Carl's Jr.'s 2026 FDD has to answer, drawn straight from the filing. The rest of the document — and the figures behind these — open in the Workspace. See what that looks like →

§
Item 7
·

Estimated Initial Investment

The full cost to open, low to high, including working capital.
$1,816,500–$3,304,700
§
Item 19
·

Financial Performance

Reports the distribution of locations across sales bands.
Ask Clara what the figures mean →
§
Item 20
·

Outlets & Franchisees

Outlet counts, openings and closures, turnover.
992 locations
In 2025, opened 5 new locations and closed 45.
§
Item 6
·

Other Fees

The recurring fees — royalty, brand fund, and the rest.
4% royalty · 6% brand fund
See the full fee schedule with Clara →
§
Item 5
·

Initial Fees

The upfront fees due before opening.
$25,000 franchise fee
§
Item 12
·

Territory

Does not give you a protected area of your own.
Ask Clara what the terms mean →

Carl's Jr.'s $1.8M–$3.4M sits against a median of $1,152,000 across the 17 fast food franchises on file that disclose an investment range.

02 · Read it with Clara

Open Carl's Jr.'s FDD in the Clearly Workspace — with Clara beside you.

Carl's Jr.'s franchise agreement is a 20-year commitment — and the FDD spells out exactly what you're signing up for. You cannot change the FDD, and that's not the point. The point is to walk into your attorney conversation already knowing the document, so you ask the questions that matter most to you.

Clara is an expert FDD assistant. Ask her anything about Carl's Jr.'s filing and she answers from the document itself, with the item and page she read it in — so you can check her.

People ask Clara —

  • What does it actually cost to open?
  • What fees come after the franchise fee?
  • How do their locations perform?
  • Do I get a protected territory?
  • What happens if I want out?

The Carl's Jr. Workspace

$49

Intro price · one-time · yours to keep

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The full FDD · Clara beside you · saved to your Clearly Library. We're not paid if you sign — we're here to help you understand it before you do.

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03 · Common questions

Common questions

How much does it cost to open a Carl's Jr. franchise?

Carl's Jr.'s 2026 FDD estimates a total initial investment of $1,816,500 to $3,304,700, including the $25,000 franchise fee. (Item 7.)

What are the ongoing fees for a Carl's Jr. franchise?

Carl's Jr. reports a royalty of 4%, plus a 6% brand-fund contribution; the rest of the recurring fees are itemized in Item 6 of the 2026 FDD.

Does Carl's Jr. share how its franchises perform financially?

Yes — Carl's Jr.'s 2026 FDD reports the distribution of locations across sales bands. The figures themselves are in your Clearly Workspace.

How many Carl's Jr. locations are there?

Carl's Jr.'s 2026 FDD reports 992 locations — 942 franchised and 50 company-owned (Item 20).

Drawn from Carl's Jr.'s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document · last updated April 12, 2026.

Keep reading

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