How much does a A&W franchise cost?

The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $301,095–$1,640,034, including a $30,000 initial franchise fee.

Is a A&W franchise worth it?

It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. A&W scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 10% of sales in ongoing fees. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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The real numbers on owning a A&W franchise

Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) - Burger/Beverage Franchise · FDD 2026 · from public state filings

CDisclosure honesty

This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.

★★★☆☆ FranchiseValidate transparency rating: 3/5

Investment

$301,095–$1,640,034

Total fees

10% of sales

Outlets

407

Closure signals

4 ceased, 6 terminated

Lawsuits

Is A&W worth it? How it compares to 60 similar franchises

Ongoing fees	10% of sales	steeper than 78% of quick service restaurants franchises
Startup cost	from $301,095	cheaper than most (median $564,600)
Disclosure honesty	Grade C	typical for the category
Closure rate	1.0% of outlets	better than most (median 1.2%)
Disclosed lawsuits	0	fewer than most

Benchmarked against every quick service restaurants franchise we've graded from public FDDs — the context the franchisor's pitch never gives you.

What their own earnings claim actually says

Net sales data for 59 freestanding and 52 C&G restaurants (2025). P&L for 17 freestanding restaurants. Average net sales $1.3M (freestanding), $783K (C&G). EBITDAR 16-17%. Note: excludes seasonal, non-drive-thru, co-brand establishments.

Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)

5 net outlet decline (2025). 6 terminations, 4 non-renewals, 4 ceased operations. Declining co-brand segment.

Get the full A&W validation report — $149

The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.

Franchisor's framing: Net sales data for 59 freestanding and 52 C&G restaurants (2025). P&L for 17 freestanding resta…

🔒 Real estimated owner take-home (low / median / high) — unlocked in the report

Reconstructed owner P&L — net take-home after royalty, ad fund, rent, labor & debt
Break-even timeline + cash-on-cash ROI on your investment
Full fee stack + required-purchase markups
Decoded real failure / closure rate
How it ranks vs comparable franchises
Validation-call playbook — who to call + the exact questions

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A&W franchise — frequently asked

How much does a A&W franchise cost?: The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $301,095–$1,640,034, including a $30,000 initial franchise fee.
How much do A&W franchise owners make?: Net sales data for 59 freestanding and 52 C&G restaurants (2025). P&L for 17 freestanding restaurants. Average net sales $1.3M (freestanding), $783K (C&G). EBITDAR 16-17%. Note: excludes seasonal, non-drive-thru, co-brand establishments. We grade this disclosure C for honesty.
What is the A&W franchise failure rate?: 5 net outlet decline (2025). 6 terminations, 4 non-renewals, 4 ceased operations. Declining co-brand segment.
Is a A&W franchise worth it?: It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. A&W scores C on disclosure honesty, carries about 10% of sales in ongoing fees. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.

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Compare A&W to similar franchises

McDonald'sC Del TacoC Tropical Smoothie CafeD Culver'sF

See all franchises ranked by disclosure honesty →

Source: WI DFI Franchise Registration (2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with A&W or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.