
Jack in the Box
Food & Beverage · Quick-Service Restaurants
- Active units
- 2,040
- Avg unit volume
- $2.0M
- Royalty
- 5.0%
Franchised, year-end 2024
of weekly Net Sales
About Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is a fast-food restaurant chain headquartered in San Diego, California, United States. The restaurant was founded by Robert O. Peterson in 1951 in San Diego, originally as a drive-through hamburger stand. It quickly became popular for its innovative menu and the concept of offering both fast food and fast casual dining options. The headquarters of Jack in the Box are located in San Diego, California. The company operates over 2,200 locations across 21 states in the United States. It primarily serves customers in the western and southwestern regions of the country. The main products offered by Jack in the Box include a variety of hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, tacos, and breakfast items. It is known for its famous Jumbo Jack hamburger and popular sides like curly fries and milkshakes. In addition, it also offers a wide selection of salads, desserts, and beverages. Jack in the Box operates primarily in the United States and does not have a significant global presence. The company does not have any noteworthy subsidiaries, joint ventures, or partnerships. In terms of market position, Jack in the Box is one of the largest hamburger chains in the United States. It competes with other fast-food giants such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's. While it may not have the same global sales as some of its competitors, Jack in the Box has a strong presence in its target markets. Over the years, Jack in the Box has undergone significant changes to its strategy and product lineup. In the 1990s, it rebranded itself as a fast-casual dining restaurant, offering a wider range of menu options. However, the company later decided to refocus on its core fast food offerings and closed many of its sit-down restaurants. Currently, Jack in the Box continues to expand its footprint in the United States. It regularly updates its menu to cater to changing consumer preferences and trends. The latest updates on the company include the addition of new limited-time offerings and the expansion of its delivery services. In conclusion, Jack in the Box is a well-established fast-food restaurant chain based in the United States. With its headquarters in San Diego, it offers a wide range of fast food and fast casual dining options. While primarily operating in the United States, it has a strong market presence and continues to evolve its menu and services to meet customer demands.
Key terms
- Franchise fee
$50k
- Development Incentive Program
0% interest loan of $150,000 per opened restaurant; repaid by crediting 100% of royalty payments until paid in full
- Select Market Incentive Program
Royalty reduced to 2% of Gross Sales for first five years for qualifying Restaurants in Select Markets
- Brand fund
5.0% of Net Sales
- Footprint
1,372 – 2,440 sq ft
- Single Unit Development Agreement - Development Fee
$50k
- Multi-Unit Development Agreement - New developer
$50k
- Multi-Unit Development Agreement - Existing developer
$10k
- Veteran discount
25.0% off franchise fee — 25% off first new Restaurant (Initial Franchise Fee reduced by $12,500 to $37,500)
Brand Percentile Rankings
Rankings compare brands in the same operating year. Fee and investment figures come from the FDD (2026 filing); filings on file: 2024, 2025, 2026.
Growth
- Total locations1985
Franchised units open at year-end
- New openings20
Gross new units opened during the calendar year
- 1-year unit growth rate-2.7%
Net unit growth versus prior year
- 3-year unit CAGR-1.4%
Compound annual growth rate of unit count over the trailing 3 years
- Unit growth ratio20.0×
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 rate-0.5%
Year-over-year change in median AUV
- Store-level EBITDA Margin—
Median unit-level EBITDA / AUV
Investment profile
- Estimated initial investment$3.0M
Midpoint of estimated initial investment range
↓ Lower is better - Time to open—
Midpoint of average time from agreement to opening
- 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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