KFC (2026 FDD) Popeyes (2026 FDD) Side-by-Side Comparison
KFC vs Popeyes Franchise Cost (2026)
Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum? Popeyes lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $1,222,045, compared with $2,107,575 for KFC (a difference of $885,530). Their high estimates are $3,923,245 and $4,155,000, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
How do Item 6 percentage fees compare? No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. KFC: royalty 4% – 5.25% of Gross Revenue; brand fund 5.8% of Gross Revenue. Popeyes: royalty 5% of Gross Sales; brand fund 5% of Gross Sales.
Which provides Item 19 financial disclosures? Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: KFC reports Lowest Actual Annual Net Sales: $387,000 (Fiscal year ended December 29, 2025; 2,227 single-brand drive-thru outlets (2,167 franchisee-owned, 60 company-owned), built/remodeled in American Showman or Next Gen image and open for at least 1 year at fiscal year-end), while Popeyes reports Arithmetic Average Sales - Franchised Free-Standing Restaurants: $1,893,675 (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; 2,248 U.S. franchised free-standing restaurants continuously operated throughout the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2025; excludes U.S. territories and restaurants without full-period operation). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
Side-by-side cost & fee comparison
Investment and fee figures use the formats recorded in each linked FDD analysis. Combined percentages, annualized fees and comparable outlet changes are calculations from those records. Fee conditions and samples can differ.
| Disclosure Metric | KFC | Popeyes |
|---|---|---|
| FDD Year & Filing State | 2026 FDD (MN) | 2026 FDD (MN) |
| Category | Restaurants & Food | Restaurants & Food |
| Item 7 Total Investment | $2,107,575 – $4,155,000 | $1,222,045 – $3,923,245 |
| Item 5 Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $50,000 |
| Item 6 Royalty | 4% – 5.25% of Gross Revenue | 5% of Gross Sales |
| Item 6 Brand / Advertising Fund | 5.8% of Gross Revenue | 5% of Gross Sales |
| Sales-Based Percentage FeesFixed fees, minimums and sales-subset charges are separate. | 9.8%–11.05% of sales | Not a single percentage of sales |
| Recurring Fixed Fees (Annual) | See Item 6 conditions | See Item 6 conditions |
| Required Liquid Capital | Not specified | Not specified |
| Required Net Worth | Not specified | Not specified |
| Capital Requirement Source & Conditions | Not specified | Not specified |
| Item 19 Financial Disclosures? | Yes Lowest Actual Annual Net Sales: $387,000 (Fiscal year ended December 29, 2025; 2,227 single-brand drive-thru outlets (2,167 franchisee-owned, 60 company-owned), built/remodeled in American Showman or Next Gen image and open for at least 1 year at fiscal year-end) View KFC earnings | Yes Arithmetic Average Sales - Franchised Free-Standing Restaurants: $1,893,675 (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; 2,248 U.S. franchised free-standing restaurants continuously operated throughout the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2025; excludes U.S. territories and restaurants without full-period operation) View Popeyes earnings |
| Total System Outlets | 3,490 units | Not comparable |
| 3-Year Net Unit Growth | -438 franchised | Not comparable |
| 3-Year Average Franchise Exit Rate | 4.5% / yr | Not comparable |
| Initial Agreement Term | 20 years | 20 years |
| FDD Verification Status | Verified FDD Data | Source review hold |
Item 20 outlet histories and comparison limits
In Item 20 for 2023–2025, KFC contracted by a net 438 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 4.5%. Popeyes is on source-review hold. The FDD's printed outlet rows remain below, but calculated system totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld from this comparison. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.
| System | Year | Start Outlets | Opened | Reported Exits | End Outlets | Franchise Exit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KFC | 2023 | 3,842 | +30 | -157 | 3,715 | 4.1% |
| KFC | 2024 | 3,715 | +28 | -185 | 3,558 | 5.0% |
| KFC | 2025 | 3,558 | +9 | -163 | 3,404 | 4.6% |
| Popeyes | 2023 | 2,905 | +165 | -35 | 3,035 | — |
| Popeyes | 2024 | 3,035 | +136 | -92 | 3,079 | — |
| Popeyes | 2025 | 3,079 | +104 | -49 | 3,134 | — |
Detailed brand guides and earnings disclosures
Review our full itemized analysis for each system, including complete Item 7 line-by-line tables and Item 6 fee rules.
Official FDD sources
Franchise costs, fees and outlet records on this comparison page were compiled from the respective brand's official Franchise Disclosure Document filed with state regulators. Capital and net-worth requirements may instead come from the franchisor website when the FDD does not state them; those sources and conditions appear in the table above.
- KFC: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-03-25 , filed with MN regulators. View KFC filing record.
- Popeyes: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-03-20 , filed with MN regulators. View Popeyes filing record. Notice: Provisional publication — source review is in progress.
Frequently Asked Questions: KFC vs Popeyes
These answers include records with unresolved source checks. Read the KFC source qualifications and Popeyes source qualifications before using the figures.
- Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum, KFC or Popeyes?
- Popeyes lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $1,222,045, compared with $2,107,575 for KFC (a difference of $885,530). Their high estimates are $3,923,245 and $4,155,000, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
- How do KFC and Popeyes Item 6 percentage fees compare?
- No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. KFC: royalty 4% – 5.25% of Gross Revenue; brand fund 5.8% of Gross Revenue. Popeyes: royalty 5% of Gross Sales; brand fund 5% of Gross Sales.
- Do KFC or Popeyes provide Item 19 financial disclosures?
- Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: KFC reports Lowest Actual Annual Net Sales: $387,000 (Fiscal year ended December 29, 2025; 2,227 single-brand drive-thru outlets (2,167 franchisee-owned, 60 company-owned), built/remodeled in American Showman or Next Gen image and open for at least 1 year at fiscal year-end), while Popeyes reports Arithmetic Average Sales - Franchised Free-Standing Restaurants: $1,893,675 (January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025; 2,248 U.S. franchised free-standing restaurants continuously operated throughout the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2025; excludes U.S. territories and restaurants without full-period operation). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
- What do the Item 20 outlet records show for KFC and Popeyes?
- In Item 20 for 2023–2025, KFC contracted by a net 438 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 4.5%. Popeyes is on source-review hold. The FDD's printed outlet rows remain below, but calculated system totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld from this comparison. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.