FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

RANKED · 776 BRANDS QUALIFY · FDD FILINGS 2017–2026

Which franchises have the lowest royalties?

Ranked by ongoing royalty — the cut of gross sales you pay the franchisor forever — lowest first, from Item 6 of each brand's latest FDD.

Top 50Royalty · Item 6
#BrandSectorRoyalty · Item 6Franchised unitsSource
1BATH FITTER FRANCHISING INC FRANCHISE AGREEMENTOther0.0%100FDD 2026 ↗
2GoliathtechOther0.0%128FDD 2026 ↗
3MERLE NORMAN COSMETICSOther0.0%757FDD 2026 ↗
4PacLeaseOther1.0%374FDD 2026 ↗
5RE/MAXReal Estate1.0%2,994FDD 2026 ↗
6Smile SourceOther1.4%734FDD 2020 ↗
7CarstarAutomotive1.5%471FDD 2025 ↗
8CulliganOther2.0%438FDD 2026 ↗
9PetSmart Veterinary ServicesOther2.0%43FDD 2026 ↗
10YOUR CBD STORERetail & Products2.0%275FDD 2024 ↗
11Vision SourceHealth & Wellness2.6%3,344FDD 2017 ↗
121-800-TEXTILESRetail & Products3.0%46FDD 2024 ↗
13DREAM DAY DRESSING ROOMSBusiness Services3.0%0FDD 2024 ↗
14Fix AutoAutomotive3.0%212FDD 2025 ↗
15IMPRESA MODULAROther3.0%12FDD 2026 ↗
16Life Saver Pool FenceHome Services3.0%21FDD 2026 ↗
17Nationwide LiftsOther3.0%13FDD 2026 ↗
18Pet Suplies PlusPet Services3.0%429FDD 2023 ↗
19ProColor CollisionAutomotive3.0%19FDD 2024 ↗
20PSPPet Services3.0%502FDD 2025 ↗
21GODFATHER'S PIZZAFood & Dining3.3%592FDD 2025 ↗
22Casago (unit)Other3.5%125FDD 2026 ↗
23CIRCLE KOther3.5%72FDD 2026 ↗
24LABOR FINDERSBusiness Services3.5%83FDD 2024 ↗
25PIZZA RANCHFood & Dining3.5%213FDD 2026 ↗
26VALBRIDGE PROPERTY ADVISORS FRANCHISING SYSTEMReal Estate3.5%0FDD 2024 ↗
27INTEGRA REALTY RESOURCESReal Estate3.7%49FDD 2026 ↗
2830 Minute HitFitness4.0%19FDD 2023 ↗
29BAMBUOther4.0%52FDD 2026 ↗
30Bella BridesmaidsRetail & Products4.0%41FDD 2024 ↗
31BOJANGLES'Other4.0%591FDD 2026 ↗
32BONJANGLES EXPRESSFood & Dining4.0%528FDD 2024 ↗
33Carbone's Pizzeria and Carbone's PizzaFood & Dining4.0%34FDD 2023 ↗
34CARL'S JROther4.0%942FDD 2026 ↗
35CHECKERS RESTAURANT OR RALLY'S RESTAURANTFood & Dining4.0%547FDD 2024 ↗
36DAIRY QUEENOther4.0%74FDD 2026 ↗
37DESI DISTRICTFood & Dining4.0%0FDD 2024 ↗
38Fleet FeetOther4.0%192FDD 2025 ↗
39GENERATOR SUPERCENTEROther4.0%54FDD 2026 ↗
40Green Mill On The GoFood & Dining4.0%4FDD 2024 ↗
41Green Mill RestaurantsFood & Dining4.0%17FDD 2023 ↗
42Griswold Home Care (Full Employment Model)Senior Care4.0%87FDD 2020 ↗
43Hardee'sOther4.0%1,287FDD 2026 ↗
44JIFFY LUBEAutomotive4.0%1,765FDD 2026 ↗
45KUNG FU TEAFood & Dining4.0%378FDD 2024 ↗
46MIDWEST SHOOTING CENTERRecreation & Entertainment4.0%0FDD 2024 ↗
47MINT CONDITIONOther4.0%15FDD 2026 ↗
48PAUL DAVIS RESTORATIONCleaning & Restoration4.0%224FDD 2026 ↗
49PERKINS AND PERKINS RESTAURANT AND BAKERYFood & Dining4.0%175FDD 2025 ↗
50PizzaExpressFood & Dining4.0%0FDD 2025 ↗
Methodology & sourcing

Brands are ranked by the ongoing royalty percentage disclosed in Item 6 of their latest real (verified-extraction) FDD filing, ascending. Brands whose royalty is a flat fee, variable, or not extracted as a percentage are excluded. A low royalty is not automatically a good deal: check the ad-fund and technology fees in Items 6 and 11, and the exit numbers in Item 20.

Universe: every brand tracked here whose latest filing is a verified extraction from a public FDD (state regulator portals, chiefly Minnesota CARDS), filed 2017–2026. Sample/seed data never enters a ranking. Each row's “FDD” link is the official document the figure came from; each brand link leads to the full sourced profile. See the site methodology for extraction and confidence rules.

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