
Arby's
Food & Beverage · Quick-Service Restaurants
- Active units
- 2,286
- Royalty
- 4.0%
Franchised, year-end 2024
of weekly Net Sales
About Arby's
Arby's is a fast food restaurant chain in the United States known for its roast beef sandwiches. Founded in 1964 by Forrest Raffel and Leroy Raffel, Arby's has grown to become a prominent player in the fast food industry. The company's headquarters are located in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Arby's offers a variety of products including roast beef sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, and various sides such as curly fries, milkshakes, and mozzarella sticks. They also serve limited-time menu items and promotions to keep their offerings fresh and interesting. On a global scale, Arby's operates over 3,300 restaurants in several countries, including Canada, Turkey, and Qatar. In 2011, Arby's was acquired by Inspire Brands, a multi-brand restaurant company that owns other well-known chains such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, and Jimmy John's. Arby's market position is competitive, with other fast food chains like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Subway as its main competitors. However, Arby's has established a unique niche in the market by focusing on roast beef sandwiches and positioning itself as a higher-quality, fast-casual alternative to traditional fast food. Over the years, Arby's has experienced significant growth and made notable changes to its brand and strategy. One major event was the acquisition by Inspire Brands, which brought additional resources and opportunities for expansion. Arby's has also undergone rebranding efforts to modernize its image and appeal to a broader audience. As of the latest information available, Arby's continues to expand its global presence and strengthen its market position. The company remains committed to providing high-quality, flavorful sandwiches and innovative menu offerings. Arby's also emphasizes its commitment to corporate social responsibility by promoting sustainable practices, responsible sourcing, and supporting local communities. In conclusion, Arby's is a well-established fast food chain known for its roast beef sandwiches. With a global reach and a competitive market position, the company continues to offer a diverse menu and make strategic moves to drive growth and appeal to consumers.
Key terms
- Franchise fee
$38k
- New Restaurant Opening (NRO)
If conditions met, we will waive the initial franchise fee and reduce royalty and advertising fees
- Relocation Incentive
If conditions met, we will waive the Development Fee, initial franchise fee, and any other initial fees for the relocated Traditional Restaurant
- Footprint
2,400 – 3,000 sq ft
- Standard Traditional Restaurant
$13k
- Non-Traditional Restaurant
$0
- New Restaurant Opening Incentive (NRO)
$13k
- Veteran discount
Not offered
Brand Percentile Rankings
Rankings compare brands in the same operating year. Fee and investment figures come from the FDD (2025 filing); filings on file: 2024, 2025.
Growth
- Total locations—
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings—
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate—
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR—
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio—
Cumulative opens / closures through year-end
Unit economics
- Annual unit volume (Median)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (25th percentile)$969k
AUV/Unit Volume equals Gross Sales for 2024 (Jan 1–Dec 29, 2024). Includes total revenue from all products and services on or from the premises, including comm…
- Annual unit volume (75th percentile)$1.5M
AUV/Unit Volume equals Gross Sales for 2024 (Jan 1–Dec 29, 2024). Includes total revenue from all products and services on or from the premises, including comm…
- 1-year Median AUV growth rate-5.2%
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$1.5M
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open11 months
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
↓ Lower is better - Royalty rate4.0%
Percent of net sales paid to the franchisor
↓ Lower is better - Sales-to-investment ratio—
Median AUV / estimated initial investment midpoint
- Cash-on-cash returns—
Median unit-level EBITDA / estimated initial investment midpoint. Steady-state estimate; year 1 returns will be lower as the unit ramps to median volumes.
Franchisee healthLocked
- Unit closure ratio
- Transfer vs. closure ratio
- Percent multi-unit franchisees
- Litigation rate
- EBITDA multiple on sales & transfers
Create your free Glidepath account to access full brand information.
Sources
Financial and operating figures are sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Documents. Brand percentile rankings are based on comparisons to other brands that include the same metrics in their Franchise Disclosure Documents.