Checkers & Rally's franchise
Checkers & Rally's is a double drive-thru burger chain known for seasoned fries, burgers and low prices, with little or no indoor seating. The two brands are nearly identical and operate in different regions. At the end of 2025 there were 453 Checkers & Rally's locations in the US, 332 franchised and 121 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $449K–$1.92M
- Franchise fee
- $30,000
- Royalty
- 4%
- Locations, 2025
- 453−52 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1986
- First location
- 1985
- Franchisor based in
- Tampa, Florida
- Agreement length
- 20 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc’s 2026 filing.
How much a Checkers & Rally's franchise costs
Opening one Checkers or Rally's restaurant, excluding real estate costs an estimated $449,000 to $1,915,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, 2026 filing, page 31
Checkers & Rally's franchise fee
The franchise fee is $30,000, the standard fee ($15,000 at a non-traditional site). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, 2026 filing, page 17
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 4% of net sales (2% at a non-traditional site), paid twice a month. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Up to 3% of net sales to the national production fund (currently 2.65%), counted toward a 4.5% total advertising requirement. |
Source: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, 2026 filing, page 21
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Checkers & Rally's publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives average and median net sales for Checkers and Rally's restaurants. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, 2026 filing, page 72
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 377 (−7) | 126 | 25 |
| 2024 | 357 (−20) | 123 | 40 |
| 2025 | 332 (−25) | 121 | 37 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc, 2026 filing, page 77
How Checkers & Rally's compares
Of the 11 burger franchises on this site, Checkers & Rally's is the 2nd cheapest to open and the 10th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Checkers & Rally's | Typical burger |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $449K | $1.39M |
| Royalty | 4% | 4.8% |
| Closed or left per year | 9.2% | 1.9% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −13.5% | −2.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in burger franchises.
Other burger franchises
Checkers & Rally's franchise questions
Does Checkers & Rally's help with financing?
No. Checkers & Rally's does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Checkers & Rally's franchise agreement?
The initial term is 20 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Checkers & Rally's growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 50 franchised locations opened and 102 closed or left, a net change of −13.5%. About 9.2% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 1.9% typical for burger franchises.
How does Checkers & Rally's compare with other burger franchises?
Of the 11 burger franchises here, Checkers & Rally's is the 2nd cheapest to open (low end $449K against a $1.39M median) and the 10th largest by number of locations. Its 4% royalty is below the 4.8% median.
Does Checkers & Rally's say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives average and median net sales for Checkers and Rally's restaurants. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Checkers & Rally's based?
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc is based in Tampa, Florida and the brand has sold franchises since 1986; the first location opened in 1985.