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Hardee's FDD Analysis · 2026

Inside the Hardee's franchise disclosure

You searched the right thing. The FDD is the document that spells out what a Hardee's 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
$1.38M–$2.64M
System size
1,571 1,369 franchised
Financial perf. (Item 19)
Included
Year
2026 analyzed May 8
What changed In 2025, Hardee's opened 8 new locations and closed 33.
01

Here's what their franchise disclosure tells you

Every detail below is drawn straight from Hardee's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document — and in your Clearly Workspace, Clara links each one back to the exact page in the FDD.

Item 7

Estimated Initial Investment

The full cost to open, low to high, including working capital.
$1,375,000–$2,637,395
Item 7
Item 19

Financial Performance

What the franchisor discloses about how outlets perform.
Includes a financial performance representation.
Ask Clara what the figures mean →
Item 20

Outlets & Franchisees

Outlet counts, openings and closures, turnover.
1,571 locations
In 2025, opened 8 new locations and closed 33 · Item 20
Item 6

Other Fees

The recurring fees — royalty, brand fund, and the rest.
4% royalty · 4.25% brand fund
See the full fee schedule with Clara →
Item 5

Initial Fees

The upfront fees due before opening.
$25,000 franchise fee
Item 5
Item 12

Territory

Whether you get a protected area, and on what terms.
Does not give you a protected area of your own.
Ask Clara what the terms mean →
02

What Hardee's 2026 FDD shows

  • 1
    In 2025, Hardee's opened 8 new locations and closed 33. (Item 20.)
Hardee's franchise agreement is a 20-year commitment — and the FDD is the document that 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 next conversation with Hardee's knowing what you're agreeing to, so you ask the questions that matter most to you. We're not here to talk you out of anything — we're here to make sure your excitement is the clear-eyed kind.

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

The Workspace is where you and Clara review the FDD together. She's read every page, and she'll walk you through any of it — the basic questions, the ones you're not sure are smart, the ones keeping you up at night. No judgment, ever. Ask her what a royalty really costs you, whether you could sell one day, what happens if you get sick — anything.

It's the smart first step before you sign, or before you spend on an attorney: get into the Workspace for $49, get to know the FDD, then save the legal fees for the parts you want to discuss with your attorney. Ask Clara as many questions as you want for 30 days — there's no limit, and no question is too small.

We're not paid if you sign a franchise agreement. We're here to help you understand it before you do.
$99$49
Launch price Open the Hardee's FDD in the Workspace →
The full FDD in your Clearly Workspace · Clara beside you · unlimited questions for 30 days
03

Common questions

How much does it cost to open a Hardee's franchise?
Hardee's 2026 FDD estimates a total initial investment of $1,375,000 to $2,637,395, including the $25,000 franchise fee. (Item 7.)
What are the ongoing fees for a Hardee's franchise?
Hardee's reports a royalty of 4%, plus a 4.25% brand-fund contribution; the rest of the recurring fees are itemized in Item 6 of the 2026 FDD.
Does Hardee's share how its franchises perform financially?
Yes — Hardee's 2026 FDD includes a financial performance representation. The figures themselves are in your Clearly Workspace.
How many Hardee's locations are there?
Hardee's 2026 FDD reports 1,571 locations — 1,369 franchised and 202 company-owned (Item 20).
Drawn from Hardee's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document · last updated May 8, 2026.
Review Hardee's FDD in the Clearly Workspace
Clara's read every page and reviews it with you — ask as many questions as you want for 30 days. No question too small, no judgment.
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