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How Much Does a Lee’s Famous Recipe Franchise Cost?

2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Data

A Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise costs between $517,200 and $2,353,900 in total initial investment, according to the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. The initial franchise fee is $35,000.

$517,200

Minimum Investment

$2,353,900

Maximum Investment

$35,000

Franchise Fee

Lee’s Famous Recipe Franchise Fee

Initial Franchise Fee $35,000

Item 7 Fee Estimate $35,000

Lee’s Famous Recipe Total Investment Breakdown

Here is the itemized breakdown of costs to open a Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise, as reported in the 2026 FDD Item 7 (Estimated Initial Investment).

Minimum Investment

Maximum Investment

Franchise Fee $35,000

Initial Franchise Fee Lump sum · At signing of Franchise Agreement $35,000

Real Estate $907,500 – $1,750,000

Building and Improvement As agreed $800,000 – $1,200,000

Site Work As agreed $100,000 – $500,000

Utility Deposits, Permits, Business Licenses and Miscellaneous Opening Costs As agreed $7,500 – $50,000

Real Estate (leased or purchased) As agreed · As agreed $0

Equipment & Assets $343,100 – $461,900

Equipment, Furniture and Signage As agreed $296,100 – $389,900

POS System As agreed $35,000 – $40,000

Opening Inventory As agreed · Before opening $12,000 – $32,000

Training $20,000 – $27,000

Training Expenses As agreed $15,000 – $22,000

Training Fee Lump Sum · Prior to attending training $5,000

Working Capital & Reserves $15,000 – $50,000

Additional Funds - 3 Months $15,000 – $50,000

Other Costs $-803,400 – $30,000

Insurance As agreed $10,000 – $20,000

Restaurant Opening Campaign As agreed $10,000

Total Estimated Investment $517,200 – $2,353,900

How Does Lee’s Famous Recipe Compare to Other Food & Beverage Franchises?

Lee’s Famous Recipe's minimum investment of $517,200 is above the Food & Beverage industry median. The median minimum investment for Food & Beverage franchises is $316,000.

$517,200

Lee’s Famous Recipe Min

$316,000

Food & Beverage Median Min

$2,353,900

Lee’s Famous Recipe Max

$696,000

Food & Beverage Median Max

Investment Analysis

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Lee’s Famous Recipe?

The total startup cost for a Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise ranges from $517,200 to $2,353,900, according to the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 7. The largest cost category is Real Estate at $907,500 to $1,750,000.

How much is the Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise fee?

The Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise fee is $35,000, as disclosed in the 2026 FDD. This is a one-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor and is separate from the total initial investment.

Is Lee’s Famous Recipe a good investment?

Lee’s Famous Recipe requires a total franchise investment of $517,200 to $2,353,900 and scores Legal Risk: 100/100, Training: 100/100 in our FDD analysis. See our full Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise review for a detailed assessment of risks, territory, and support.

How much does a Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise owner make?

Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise locations report median gross sales of $1,685,674 per the 2026 FDD Item 19. See our Lee’s Famous Recipe franchise earnings breakdown for the full financial performance data.