Fast Food Business Valuation
Fast Food Business Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for Restaurant Owners
We built one platform that tracks your quick service restaurant's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most QSR Owners Have No Idea What Their Restaurant is Actually Worth
Current Fast Food / QSR Valuation Multiples (2026)
Fast food and QSR valuations depend heavily on unit economics and franchise relationships. Here's the current market:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives Fast Food Business Value
Sales volume gets attention, but buyers dig into these specific factors. They determine whether your restaurant sells for 2x or 4x:
Unit Economics
20%+ Cash Flow Margin
Strong unit-level economics are everything. Buyers want to see healthy food costs, controlled labor, and margins that meet or beat brand averages.
Thin margins = limited buyer interest
Drive-Through
Drive-Through Capable
Post-COVID, drive-through capability is worth a premium. Higher volume, faster turns, and proven resilience during disruptions.
No drive-through = lower multiple
Franchise Standing
Good Standing + Long Term
For franchises, buyers verify brand relationship, remaining term, renewal options, and compliance history. Problems here kill deals.
Franchise issues = deal complications
Lease Terms
10+ Years Remaining
Buyers need long lease terms to protect their investment. Short leases or unfavorable renewal terms create risk that reduces offers.
Short lease = major discount
Management Team
Tenured GM + Shift Leads
A stable management team that runs the store without you is critical. High turnover or owner-dependent operations reduce buyer confidence.
No manager = owner-dependent discount
Real Estate
Owned or Long-Term Lease
Owned real estate adds significant value and can be structured separately. It eliminates one of the biggest risk factors buyers worry about.
Leased + short term = risky
How to Value a Fast Food Franchise
The U.S. quick-service restaurant (QSR) market includes over 200,000 locations generating approximately $300 billion in annual revenue. QSR valuations are heavily influenced by whether the location is franchised, the specific brand, and the real estate arrangement.
Seller's Discretionary Earnings (SDE) is the standard valuation method. QSR franchise locations typically sell for 2.0x to 4.0x SDE, with premium brands (Chick-fil-A, McDonald's, Raising Cane's) at the upper end and smaller concepts at the lower end.
Revenue multiples for QSR generally range from 0.30x to 0.60x annual revenue. Average unit volume (AUV) relative to the brand's system average is a critical metric — locations performing above the system AUV command premium multiples.
The unique valuation factor for QSR is the franchise agreement terms, real estate, and brand trajectory. Remaining franchise term length, renewal terms, transfer fees, and franchisor approval requirements all impact value. Whether the franchisee owns or leases the real estate dramatically changes the transaction structure. The brand's overall trajectory matters enormously — a growing brand adding units and increasing same-store sales supports higher valuations than a declining brand losing market share. Multi-unit operators who can demonstrate strong four-wall economics across their portfolio command premium per-unit valuations.
QSR franchise resale is an active market, with multi-unit operators, PE-backed franchise groups, and first-time franchisees all competing for quality locations. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do fast food restaurants sell for?
Most QSR restaurants sell for 2.0x – 3.5x SDE for single units. Strong franchise brands and excellent unit economics can push above 4x. Multi-unit portfolios may be valued on EBITDA at 4x – 6x or higher.
Does the franchise brand affect my restaurant's value?
Significantly. Strong national brands (McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Wingstop) command higher multiples than regional or lesser-known brands. But unit performance and lease terms still matter more than brand alone.
How important is drive-through for QSR value?
Very important. Drive-through capable locations typically sell for 20-30% higher multiples. Post-COVID, buyers have seen drive-through prove its value during disruptions—it's now a major factor in valuation.
What if my franchise agreement is expiring soon?
Short remaining term creates uncertainty. Buyers want 10+ years of combined term plus options. If possible, renew or extend before selling—it removes a major objection and increases your multiple.
Can I sell my franchise without franchisor approval?
No. Most franchise agreements require franchisor approval. The buyer must meet the brand's qualifications and complete training. Start this conversation early—franchisor involvement can delay deals.
How do I improve my fast food restaurant's value?
Focus on unit economics (cut food cost, improve labor efficiency), extend your lease, maintain excellent franchise relations, and build a stable management team. These directly impact offers—often by 20-40%.