Carl’s Jr. franchise financing options

Overall costs for Carlu2019s Jr. run anywhere from $1,447,000 to $1,944,500. See how the costs break down and what funding options might be right for your new venture into the franchise foray.

Estimated initial costs

Our cost estimates are accurate as of 2021 from Franchise Direct and include opening fees and expenses only. The location you choose for your Carlu2019s Jr. franchise may result in higher or lower fees.

Franchise fees

Carlu2019s Jr. franchise fees total around $25,000, which beats out the $37,000 average for the 200 largest franchises nationwide.

Franchise	Cost
Initial franchise fee	$15,000 to $35,000
Royalty	4% of Gross Sales.
Estimated total	$15,000 to $35,000

Equipment fees

Equipment fees total $536,000 for Carlu2019s Jr.. This costs more than the $180,023 average for the top 200 franchises.

Equipment	Cost
Equipment	$357,000 to $410,000
Signage	$75,000 to $110,000
Point-of-sale system	$35,000 to $45,000
GB equipment	$8,000 to $13,000
Exterior GB signage	$5,000 to $14,000
Estimated total	$480,000 to $592,000

Real estate fees

Real estate will set you back $959,250 for Carlu2019s Jr., which is more expensive than the average of $788,376 for the top 200 franchises.

Real estate	Cost
Real property	Variable to
Building	$575,000 to $665,000
Site improvements	$250,000 to $415,000
GB construction and improvements	$4,500 to $9,000
Estimated total	$829,500 to $1,089,000

Training fees

Carlu2019s Jr. initial training costs total $50,000 — more than the nationwide average of $9,788.

Training	Cost
Opening training support team free	$0 to $10,000
Initial training	$20,000 to $60,000
GB initial training	$0 to $10,000
Estimated total	$20,000 to $80,000

Inventory costs

Initial inventory for Carlu2019s Jr. shakes out to $1,600. This is less than the nationwide average of $53,119.

Inventory	Cost
GB opening inventory	$1,500 to $1,700
Estimated total	$1,500 to $1,700

Other expenses

Miscellaneous expenses for Carlu2019s Jr. total $123,900 — more than the nationwide average of $69,970.

Other	Cost
Soft costs	$90,000 to $120,000
Pre-opening costs	$8,000 to $23,000
GB miscellaneous opening costs	$3,000 to $3,800
Estimated total	$101,000 to $146,800

All costs were found using the 200 largest franchises nationwide using Franchise Direct's list of more than 300 franchises, and are accurate as of 2021.

How to finance

Since the estimated total for Carlu2019s Jr. is on the more costly side, we recommend following these steps to get fully financed:

1. Go to the Carlu2019s Jr. franchising website and review its financial requirements, including cash-on-hand requirements.
2. Reach out to Carlu2019s Jr. about in-house financing for franchisees.
3. If in-house financing isn't available, look for online loans, bank loans and SBA loans to help meet the $1,695,750 estimated opening costs.
4. Compare lenders based on amounts, interest rates and what types of personal and business credit history they accept.
5. Once you settle on a lender, gather all required documents, including account statements and assets.
6. Apply for financing online or in person as required by the lender.

What types of financing is available?

You have several options when it comes to financing a Carlu2019s Jr. — even if the cost is on the heavier side. What assets you have available will largely determine how much you need to borrow, and which option suits you best.

• Online loan. A number of online business lenders offer amounts up to $1 million, with some extending up to $5 million.
• Bank loan. Your personal credit will typically need to at least be good — 670 or higher — when it comes to getting a bank loan large enough to cover a significant portion of Carlu2019s Jr. opening costs.
• SBA loan. While your personal credit score doesn't need to be as good to qualify for an SBA loan, they usually cost more than standard term loans from banks or online lenders.

Also check if Carlu2019s Jr. franchise financing is available. You may be able to get some of the costs covered for less than you would with other traditional funding options.

Compare small business lenders

You may not need financing to cover the estimated $1,447,000. But if you need funds for other business ventures, select the loan amount, your time in business and revenue and your personal credit score to compare a selection of lenders.

How Carlu2019s Jr. stacks up

Compare how Carlu2019s Jr. holds up against two similarly sized franchises.

	Anago Cleaning	Carlu2019s Jr.	Chili's
Average Franchise fees	$98,000	$25,000	$50,000
Average Equipment fees	$28,500	$536,000	$540,000
Average Real estate fees	$25,000	$959,250	$1,712,500
Average Training fees	$2,500	$50,000	$155,000
Average Inventory fees	NA	$1,600	$14,000
Average Marketing fees	$75,000	NA	$7,500
Average Licenses and permits fees	NA	NA	NA
Average Insurance fees	NA	NA	NA
Average Admin fees	$11,000	NA	NA
Average Personnel fees	NA	NA	$82,500
Average Other fees	$60,000	$123,900	$429,500

Bottom line

Carlu2019s Jr. franchise costs run a total of $1,695,750. Before you decide to become a franchisee, compare the total costs against industry averages. And to learn more about financing read our guide to franchise financing.