What is a Burger Franchise?
1. McDonald’s
McDonald’s was the ninth biggest global brand in 2019 and is the largest fast-food restaurant chain in the world. With more than 39,000 locations across 100 countries, the dominance of McDonald’s is undeniable. With annual revenue that surpasses that of a small country, their success is based on their international franchise model.
In the UK, there are 1,250 stores already, with an impressive infrastructure to support new franchisees. Let’s look at the McDonald’s franchise opportunity in a little more depth.
It’s reasonable to say that this is not a budget option, with an anticipated investment requirement of between £400,000 and £800,000, with at least £110,000 required upfront. In addition to this, the training program costs £750, with a refundable £5,000 deposit.
In return for this investment though, you get a world-class 26-week training program and help to set up your location and supply chain. Traceability and welfare is a critical element here. You will also have the benefit of the marketing expertise of one of the most recognised brands on the planet.
It’s worth bearing in mind that there are fairly considerable ongoing fees due, as a proportion of your sales, plus the agreement is long-term. You’re tied in for 20 years unless you can find a buyer for your store. So it’s a big commitment. But if you have the funds available and are able to demonstrate the required leadership skills, this could be a very lucrative investment.
WENDY’S
In 1969, Dave Thomas opened the first Wendy’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. It didn’t take long for their quick-service chain restaurant to become famous for square beef patties and Frosty desserts.
Today, they operate 7,000 restaurants worldwide and are looking for new and diverse franchisees to join their team.
They have a variety of limited and available markets throughout the U.S. with a focus on California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Alabama, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts.
BURGER KING
Burger King currently has more than 7,000 restaurants across the U.S. with opportunities for growth across the U.S. and international markets.
This burger franchise is known for creating signature recipes and providing family-friending dining experiences. Every day, more than 11 million guests visit Burger King restaurants around the world.
They empower franchisees with built-in support for ongoing operations along with training to gain access and know-how across all aspects of the business.
CARL’S JR & HARDEE’S
Since 1997, Carl’s Jr and Hardee’s have been sister companies of, CKE Restaurants, their parent company.
Hardee’s is known as the East Coast equivalent of Carl’s Jr. However, both of these burger franchises can be found around the world.
As of 2016, CKE Restaurants has a total of 3,664 franchised and company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 38 foreign countries.
CULVER’S
Culver’s is a drive-thru burger franchise known for their frozen custard, butter burgers, and cheese curds.
Since 1984, they have grown from their first location in Sauk City, Wisconsin to more than 800 restaurant locations in 25 different states.
They are looking for owner-operators with the skills to take a team of people and operate Culver’s according to their high standards.
SONIC
Sonic has been one of America’s favorite drive-in burger franchises for more than 65 years.
Since 1959, they have grown their number of drive-in restaurants to 32,000 locations across the world.
If you’re interested in a burger franchise with a unique dining experience, you should consider Sonic.
WHATABURGER
The story of Whataburger began at a 24-hour burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. 70 years later, they have grown to more than 890 locations throughout the United States.
Their original idea was to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold, and so good it caused customers to exclaim, “What a burger!” after their first bite.
Whataburger was family-owned until its recent acquisition by an investment company. This has allowed for more franchises to open in new markets.
SMASHBURGER
If you had to guess how Smashburger prepares their burgers, you’d probably figure it out on the first try.
At Smashburger, you order at the counter and then sit while your burger is prepared. Ground beef is smashed on the grill then seasoned and cooked within 3 minutes.
They set the record as the quickest fast-casual concept to hit the 200-restaurant milestone. You can find their +340 locations in 38 states and 9 countries.
CHECKERS & RALLY’S
Not too long ago, these two burger franchises used to be independent drive-thru restaurants.
In 1999, Checkers acquired Rally and joined the two brands to create one unique franchise opportunity.
Both restaurants offer dual drive-thru lanes and operate with the same menu provided by the same distributors.
As of 2022, they are headquartered in Tampa, FL, and have a combined 878 locations throughout the United States.
FREDDY’S
Freddy’s is a nostalgic fast-casual restaurant with cooked-to-order steakburgers, hot dogs, shoestring fries, and frozen custard.
They are one of the fastest-growing franchises in the United States with 400 locations around the world.
Currently, they offer exclusive territories that are available across the U.S. along with international opportunities.
STEAK ‘N SHAKE
Steak ‘n Shake is an American casual restaurant famous for its steakburgers and milkshakes.
They operate 414 corporate restaurants with 214 franchised establishments for a total of 628 in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
They are currently looking for “Franchise Partners” to take over operations for company-owned Steak ‘n Shake locations.
What food franchises are popular in Kenya?
In Kenya alone, there is an established presence of the United States-based Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Burger King, Subway, and Domino Pizza chains, as well as Japan’s Toridoll and select South African outlets. The presence of these brands in Kenya is a testament to the popularity of fast food in the country.
How to start a franchise business in Kenya?
There are no specific approval, registration, or filing requirements for franchise agreements. Franchise agreements in Kenya are governed by the law of contracts. However, any trademarks that are the subject of a franchise agreement should first be registered.