Carl's Jr.
Food & Beverage · Quick-Service Restaurants
- Active units
- 982
Franchised, year-end 2025
About Carl's Jr.
Carl's Jr. At Carl's Jr., you can indulge in their mouthwatering El Diablo Angus burger, made with a charbroiled 1/3lb. 100% Angus Beef patty, topped with two strips of bacon, jalapeno poppers, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, and their fiery habanero ranch sauce, all served on a delectable potato bun. This flavorful burger is sure to satisfy your cravings with its perfect blend of savory and spicy flavors. In addition to their exceptional burgers, Carl's Jr. Whether you're looking for classic American favorites, such as juicy cheeseburgers and crispy chicken sandwiches, or crave-worthy breakfast items, like fluffy biscuits and hearty breakfast burritos, Carl's Jr. With convenient online ordering and various locations nationwide, you can easily enjoy Carl's Jr.'s tasty offerings. So, why wait? Treat yourself to the bold flavors and quality ingredients that Carl's Jr.
Key terms
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 locations982
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings7
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate-3.2%
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR-1.9%
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio7.0×
Cumulative opens / closures through year-end
Unit economics
- Annual unit volume (Median)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (25th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- Annual unit volume (75th percentile)—
Per FDD Item 19 disclosure
- 1-year Median AUV growth rate5.1%
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$917k
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open15 months
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
↓ Lower is better - Royalty rate5.0%
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
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Location footprint
Showing 530 of 950 mapped locations
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.