Best Restaurant Franchises of 2021

The restaurant industry had a rough year in 2020, but franchise brands outperformed their indie counterparts, and everyone still needs to eat. The pandemic forced restaurants to innovate away from traditional dine-in settings and come up with offerings that translate well off-premise. 

Now is an especially interesting time to invest in restaurants, as the big brands of tomorrow are probably just getting going today. Below, 1851 Franchise has compiled a list of some of the best restaurants to invest in right now. 

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar

• Startup costs: $252,700-$776,750
• Units: 16
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Checkers* & Rally’s

• Startup costs: $254,000-$1,431,000
• Units: 820+
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Slim Chickens

• Startup costs: $915,900-$1,714,000
• Units: 121+

Teriyaki Madness

• Startup costs: $322,000-$862,000
• Units: 200+

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s

• Startup costs: $806,825-$1,288,350
• Units: 150

Famous Toastery

• Startup costs: $601,500-$1,029,500
• Units: 25+
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Toppers Pizza*

• Startup costs: $315,550-$528,500
• Units: 83

Famous Dave’s*

• Startup costs: $482,000-$4,200,000
• Units: 120+ 
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Mighty Quinn’s BBQ

• Startup costs: $738,488-$896,334
• Units: 7

The Greene Turtle Bar & Grille

• Startup costs: $1,455,000-$1,757,500
• Units: 37

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes

• Startup costs: $403,750-$639,100
• Units: 83
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Cheba Hut

• Startup costs: $463,500-$746,500
• Units: 42
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Atomic Wings*

• Startup costs: $170,400-$377,355
• Units: 21  
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Little Caesars Pizza

• Startup costs: $221,000-$654,000
• Units: 5,463  
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Wing Zone

• Startup costs: $250,000
• Units: 90+ 
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Buffalo Wings & Rings

• Startup costs: $1,280,000-$2,412,000
• Units: 80+
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Foster’s Freeze

• Startup costs: $611,500-$1,009,000
• Units: 65+
• 1851 Brand Newsroom

Taco Bell

• Startup costs: $570,600-$3,049,100
• Units: 7,100+

Dunkin’

• Startup costs: $97,500-$1,717,103
• Units: 12,960

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

• Startup costs: $383,500-$2,620,800
• Units: 3,315

Culver’s

• Startup costs: $2,349,000-$5,356,000
• Units: 735 

Jersey Mike’s Subs

• Startup costs: $169,001-$804,045
• Units: 1,870+

McDonald’s

• Startup costs: $1,008,000-$2,214,080
• Units: 38,695

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

• Startup costs: $198,500-$543,500
• Units: 830+

Wingstop Restaurants, Inc.

• Startup costs: $374,089-$782,442
• Units: 30

KFC US LLC

• Startup costs: $1,300,000-$2,500,000
• Units: 22,621

Sonic Drive-In

• Startup costs: $361,900-$978,700
• Units: 3,496

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

• Startup costs: $640,552-$1,131,726
• Units: 380