Smashburger franchise
Smashburger is a fast-casual burger chain that smashes fresh beef on a hot grill to sear in flavor, serving it with fries, salads and shakes. It is owned by Jollibee Foods. At the end of 2025 there were 172 Smashburger locations in the US, 53 franchised and 119 company-owned, so most are run by the company itself.
- Cost to open
- $1.24M–$2.26M
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- Locations, 2025
- 172
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 2008
- Franchisor based in
- Denver, Colorado
- Time to open
- 6 to 10 months after signing
- Financing
- None offered
From Smashburger Franchising LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Smashburger franchise costs
Opening one Smashburger restaurant costs an estimated $1,239,500 to $2,255,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Smashburger Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 20
Smashburger franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000, per restaurant. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Smashburger Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 13
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5.5% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 10% of gross sales |
Source: Smashburger Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 14
Sales and earnings
No figures Smashburger does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Smashburger Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 49
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 78 (−4) | 133 |
| 2024 | 65 (−13) | 129 |
| 2025 | 53 (−12) | 119 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Smashburger Franchising LLC, 2026 filing, page 49
How Smashburger compares
Of the 11 burger franchises on this site, Smashburger is the 5th cheapest to open and the smallest by number of locations.
| Measure | Smashburger | Typical burger |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $1.24M | $1.39M |
| Royalty | 5.5% | 4.8% |
| Change in franchised locations, 0 yrs | −35.4% | −2.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 9 of 11 |
Typical is the median across the 11 brands in burger franchises.
Other burger franchises
Smashburger franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Smashburger?
6 to 10 months after signing, according to Smashburger's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Smashburger help with financing?
No. Smashburger does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How does Smashburger compare with other burger franchises?
Of the 11 burger franchises here, Smashburger is the 5th cheapest to open (low end $1.24M against a $1.39M median) and the smallest by number of locations. Its 5.5% royalty is above the 4.8% median.
Does Smashburger say how much franchisees make?
No, Smashburger doesn't publish sales or profit figures for its locations, while 9 of the 11 burger brands here do. Current and former owners are the best source.
Where is Smashburger based?
Smashburger Franchising LLC is based in Denver, Colorado and the brand has sold franchises since 2008.