Opening a fast food franchise: the ultimate guide

You're itching to open a fast-food franchise, yet you still haven't taken the plunge. What's holding you back? A little motivation, a practical guide, or more information?

That's perfect—we'll walk you through the entire process of opening a franchise, step by step!

In this article, we’re addressing aspiring restaurant owners who are hesitant to take the plunge, industry professionals whose plans are still unclear, and anyone who simply doesn’t know where to start.

Follow the guide! 👇

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The franchise in a few words 

You're probably already familiar with the term "deductible," but a quick refresher never hurts.

It is simply a contractual relationship between the franchisor on one hand and the franchisee on the other. In practical terms, the franchisor licenses the brand and the know-how it has developed to independent entrepreneurs—the franchisees—so that they can open new retail locations.

Franchisees have the right to use the franchisor's business model and brand to sell its products and/or services. In exchange, the franchisee pays royalties. 

The fast-food industry has seen a sharp increase in the number of franchises. In 2021, France had 210 franchise chains, representing a total of 6,919 franchised locations! Think of brands like Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, and KFC, among others…

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Opening a restaurant franchise—is it right for me?

Today, you may still be torn between two options:

• start your own fast food restaurant,
• or open a fast food franchise.

Together, we're going to look at Option B, which is a somewhat unique type of business venture. 

Advantages of the franchise

Is your personal investment limited? Is your experience in restaurant management just as limited? Don't have time to market and promote your brand?

Everything seems to indicate that this franchise is perfect for you! 

In fact, by opening a franchise restaurant rather than an independent restaurant, you’ll enjoy the following benefits:

• Low startup costs: The initial cost of a franchise is lower than that of opening a restaurant. 
• Ongoing support from the franchisor and a network of peers to help you overcome any obstacles you encounter. 
• Initial training that will enable you to effectively manage your business and maximize its profitability. 
• From the mutualization of investments and therefore from lower operational costs. 
• From the already established brand awareness.

Disadvantages of the franchise

Keep in mind, however, that in exchange for these benefits, you will be required to pay a fee to the franchisor. This fee is quite substantial and can take the following forms: 

• the initial fee,
• monthly royalties,
• the percentage of revenue,
• the margin on purchases made from the franchisor.

You are also required to comply with the franchise’s operations manual and follow strict guidelines regarding how the business is run. This varies by franchise, but the rules may cover inventory management, pricing, employee uniforms, customer service, hygiene standards, and so on. 

If there’s one statistic you should remember, it’s that a study byOhio State University found that the failure rate for restaurant franchisees is 20% within five years of opening, compared to more than 80% for a traditional, independently owned restaurant.

It makes you think...

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The 7 steps to open a fast food franchise

You now know everything there is to know about franchising, and you're absolutely convinced that this business model is right for you. Where do you start?

1. Find THE Franchise

It may seem obvious, but your first task will be to decide on THE franchise you will open.

Start by thinking about the concept of your future restaurant:

• Are you more drawn to a vegetarian restaurant, a burger joint, or a restaurant that specializes in international cuisine?
• Do you want meals to be affordable for everyone, or would you rather focus on the high-end market?
• Will you highlight the local origin of your products, short supply chains, organic products, and/or seasonal availability?

You'll soon realize that defining a concept in as much detail as possible will help you narrow down the large number of existing franchises. 

There are other factors that will help you make your decision:

• The amount of your personal contribution, the admission fees, and the total investment, so you can compare them to your budget.
• Whether you're looking for an established brand or a new one, the number of franchises is something to consider. 
• The location.
• The duration of the franchise agreement.
• The various requirements of the franchisor, particularly with respect to advertising. 
• An estimate of revenue after two years of operation can also be very useful.

You should now have a clearer idea of which fast food restaurant is right for you.

2. Evaluate the business plan

You've chosen your franchise, and the franchisor has given you the go-ahead. But you still have a lot of work ahead of you! Now you need to work on your business plan. It’s important to take this seriously, because this tool will help you lay a solid foundation and run your restaurant smoothly.

Here are the elements to be specified: 

• Financial information: startup costs, cash inflows and outflows, and break-even analysis. 
• A detailed description of the goods and services being marketed and the intended target audience, 
• An analysis of the market research conducted previously,
• Competitive analysis,
• The number of employees required, their duties, and their compensation,
• The structure of the business,
• The marketing mix.

Of course, you will have to do this while taking into account the requirements of the franchise.

3. Legal Considerations

"Legal"—a little word that often causes panic all on its own, but you'll see that it's really not that complicated.

Opening a franchise is the same as creating a new company, so the procedure is the same.

The legal and tax status of your franchise

Limited Liability Company (SARL) or Simplified Joint-Stock Company (SAS)?

We’ll leave it up to you to make the decision with a certified public accountant. No one is better suited than a CPA to explain the pros and cons of each legal structure and help you make the right choice.

The permits and licenses required to operate your restaurant

Here are the 3 essential prerequisites to launch your business:

1. Find out more about the declaration of existence by contacting the DDPP (Departmental Directorate for Population Protection) or the DDCSPP (Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Population Protection) at the prefecture where your business is located.
2. You must provide proof of training in “food safety for commercial food service establishments.”
3. Finally, you must obtain a license to sell alcoholic beverages, if that is your intention, as well as an operating permit.

Signing a Franchise Agreement

This agreement sets forth the obligations and rights of the franchisor and the franchisee. This contract is binding on you as an entrepreneur. The term varies, but it may be renewed with the agreement of both parties.

4. The financing

One more step towards the realization of your project: financing.

To open your fast-food franchise, you must make a personal investment. To join their network, franchisors generally require an investment equal to 30% of the total investment amount.

If your own resources are not enough, please note that there are grants and subsidies available for starting a business:

• ACRE (assistance for starting or taking over a business),
• the NACRE (new support for the creation or takeover of a company),
• the honor loan,
• BPIFrance solutions,
• microcredit,
• participatory financing,
• leasing,
• etc.

You must also pay an entry fee, the amount of which varies by franchise chain.

Here are some examples of the amounts to invest to join the most common franchise networks in France:

McDonald's

• Personal contribution: 300,000 €
• Entry fee: 45,000 €
• Total investment: 850,000 €
• Operating fee : 10 % of the turnover before tax
• Advertising royalty: 5% of sales before tax

Burger King

• Personal contribution: 300,000 €
• Entry fee: 50,000 €
• Total investment: 800,000 €
• Operating fee : 5 % of the turnover before tax
• Advertising royalty: 5% of sales before tax

Subway

• Personal contribution: 80,000 €
• Entry fee: 10,000 €
• Total investment: 330,000 €
• Operating fee : 8 % of the turnover before tax
• Advertising royalty: 4.5% of sales before tax

If these amounts seem high to you, don't panic! Keep in mind that we're talking about the most well-known franchises here. Further down in this article, you'll find figures for other franchises, some of which are significantly more affordable.

5. The room and the equipment

As soon as you get your funding, you will have to spend it.

To open a restaurant franchise, you'll definitely need a location. Before you go ahead with buying, renting, or building a property, take the timeto carefully consider its location .

First, make sure traffic flows smoothly around the premises and that there is parking available; otherwise, potential customers won't even bother to come by, let alone return. 

Also pay attention to yourrestaurant's competitive environment . Don't open it in an area where there are already many fast-food restaurants, because you'll have a hard time gaining market share. 

Also be sure to verify that the chosen location meets the franchisor's requirements. The franchisor may have a say in the restaurant's location. 

Finally, keep in mind that your target audience (you know, the one you defined in your business plan) can provide valuable insights into where to locate your business.

Here’s a very concrete example: if your restaurant’s concept is aimed at young professionals, then look for a location near office buildings. Their dining habits (dining in, takeout, click-and-collect, and delivery via online ordering) will help you organize your restaurant and determine your daily seating capacity. 

Next, you will need to equip the kitchen and the different areas of your restaurant.

6. Human resources

In your business plan, you have likely already determined the number of employees needed to launch your restaurant. Now that the project is taking shape, you’ll need to define each person’s role and responsibilities , specifying: 

• the job title, 
• the status of the position (supervisor, manager, etc.),
• his position in the organizational chart,
• working conditions (location, hours, vacations, etc.), 
• missions and responsibilities,
• the technical and human skills required.

Then you can get started with recruitment!

LinkedIn and job boards can help you. For kitchen staff, don’t hesitate to reach out to culinary schools, recruitment agencies specializing in the industry, or vocational training organizations. All of this is to ensure you find candidates who are a 100% match for your requirements.

👉 9 Tips for Hiring Restaurant Staff!

7. Boom: go for it!

You've followed along this far—now all you have to do is get started!

You’ll find that this step is far from being the most complicated. In fact, the more thorough and detailed your preparation is beforehand, the easier the rest will be—or almost… You’ll also develop your expertise as you gain experience in the field. Little by little, you’ll become familiar with team management, accounting, communication, inventory management, procurement, and more. There’s little room for routine in a restaurant manager’s day, whether the restaurant is a franchise or not.

You will obviously wear many hats, but for each of these roles, you will be well supported by the franchisor.

👉 Find out more in our webinar How to boost productivity in fast food?

One last piece of advice, but by no means the least: don't neglect the digital transformation of your restaurant!

It's no coincidence that McDonald's is such a huge success! Yes, their burgers are good, and yes, they market themselves constantly, but they've also understood the connection between digital technology and fast food. The equation is simple: the smoother the order delivery process, the faster customers are served and satisfied, and the more meals are sold. 

The result? Improved profitability for your business.

Order taking (at the order counter, online, or click-and-collect), payment processing, and order preparation in the kitchen—digital technology supports you every step of the way throughout the customer journey! You can also rely on it to improve the oversight and management of your restaurant.

That’s perfect—that’s exactly what we do at Innovorder: we help restaurant owners with their digital transformation by offering digital solutions tailored to their needs. And our clients are therefore in a great position to tell you just how much this impacts their restaurant’s productivity.

👉 Discover Nampla's testimony

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4 successful fast food franchise concepts 

Theory is all well and good, but what speaks louder than concrete examples that are a huge hit? Among the best-known success stories are, of course, Burger King, Amorino, La Mie Câline, and Chamas Tacos.

For a broader view of the industry, check out the 6 most profitable fast-food business models in 2026.

1. Burger King 

What if you became a Burger King franchisee (or BK, for those in the know)?

All of the chain’s restaurants are based on the same concept, which has made this brand the number two burger chain in France. Burger King certainly offers a quick meal—whether you eat a burger in the restaurant or take it to go— but that’s not all… It also features flame-grilled meat and fresh ingredients , presented on a menu that caters to all tastes and budgets.

To join the Burger King franchise network, you'll need to budget for a total investment of approximately 1 million euros, including a €33,000 franchise fee and a €300,000 personal contribution.

This funding will be used, in particular, to purchase a space of at least 300 m² located on the outskirts of a city, in a commercial area, or along major thoroughfares. You will then need to demonstrate a track record of success as a business owner. The recruitment team will also evaluate your ability to manage teams, make decisions, and manage a business’s finances. Finally, you’ll be required to complete 250 hours of training in Burger King’s methods. 

In return, you are accompanied by a franchise advisor who will support you in the daily management of your restaurant: profitability, team management, recruitment advice, sales growth, etc. The brand has big growth ambitions, so the opportunities are numerous and assure you of good profitability prospects.

2. Amorino

Amorino—a name that screams Italy! And rightly so, since this brand has been offering gelato made in the purest Italian tradition since 2002. With more than 200 locations worldwide, the two Italian founders have every reason to be proud of their success! The brand is the world’s number one seller of Italian ice cream. It also offers hot chocolate and gourmet coffees paired with panettone and other Italian specialties for the coldest months of the year.

Would you like to embark on the delicious Amorino adventure?

There are numerous opportunities, as the brand aims to reach 400 stores by 2025. Please note that the personal contribution is €200,000 for a total investment ranging from €500,000 to €600,000. The franchise fee is €30,000. By joining the network, you can count on Amorino’s unwavering support in selecting a location, completing the fit-out, and growing your revenue.

3. La Mie Câline

La Mie Câline needs no introduction—it’s a brand with a name that makes your mouth water! It’s known for its selection of breads, pastries, Viennese pastries, and ready-to-eat meals. It caters to a very broad audience, from students to busy corporate executives and families alike. The brand, founded by André Barreteau in 1985, has really grown! It now has more than 240 stores, 95% of which are franchises. To expand its nationwide network, the brand aims to reach 300 locations by 2025, so don’t hesitate to submit your applications.

To apply to join La Mie Câline, you must demonstrate that you have €80,000 in personal capital for a total investment of €460,000 (excluding lease rights). The franchise fee, meanwhile, is €30,000. Candidates with a background in the restaurant industry are preferred, but you’ll also have a chance if you come from a different professional background. The training program is comprehensive and structured enough to enable you to acquire the skills and knowledge required to manage a La Mie Câline store. The only requirements, of course, are that you embrace the company’s philosophy and possess the qualities of both a retailer and a business owner.

4. Chamas Tacos

Do you prefer cheese sauce over Big Mac sauce? Tacos over hamburgers? If so, Chamas Tacos might be right up your alley. This restaurant opened in 2014 and, as its name suggests, serves tacos—but tacos made to order.

This brand offers franchisees the option to choose between two concepts, depending on their goals and budget: the classic model and the takeout model. The former requires a total investment of €200,000 or €250,000, and the latter, €100,000. The personal contribution amounts to €70,000 and €35,000, respectively. The franchise fee remains the same at €35,000.

To find out the franchise fees, please visit the page for each franchise. You will also have access to information on revenue, average floor space, and the potential profitability of the store.

And you—which fast-food chain would you like to join as a franchisee?

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