ScorecardWorth It?HistoryDatabaseCompareDistress Signals
QSRRevenue OnlyItem 19: ✓ DisclosedQuality: 100/100

Hardee's

Based on 2025 FDD · 15 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
57
C
Moderate Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
Get Access to Pro →Already have access? Sign in →
Total Investment Range$1.4M – $2.6M
MinMid: $2.0MMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$25K
Royalty Rate
4%
Ad Fund Rate
5.5%
Total Burden
9.5%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
1,512
-26 vs prior yr
Net Unit Growth
→ -1.7%
Year over year
Net Closure Rate
1.7%
From FDD Item 20
Cash-on-Cash Return
2.2%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
46.3 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
25.0%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
$1.2M
Item 19 disclosed
Red Flags Assessment
HIGH: SBA default rate 25%
HIGH ×1
Premium Data

Unlock Full Franchise Analysis

Get cash-on-cash return, payback period, SBA default rate, and red flag details for Hardee's.

CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
Get Access - $49/mo

Or sign in if you already purchased

Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Hardee's vs. QSR Average

MetricHardee'sQSR Avg
SBA Default Rate25.0%▼9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return2.2%▼14.2%
Total Investment$2.0M$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

Compare

Hardee's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Hardee's vs Loving CupHardee's vs Donut King

Similar Franchises · QSR

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Revenue Only
$427K–$2.3M
Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
$427K – $2.3M
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K

Related Blog Posts

Xponential Fitness Explores Sale: What Franchisees and Investors Should Know (2026) | FranchiseIQ

Xponential Fitness (NYSE: XPOF) announced a strategic review on April 6, 2026, with Jefferies eng...

Founded 2017 - May 2024 · General
📬 Get notified when Hardee's changes fees
Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Hardee's franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Hardee's's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Hardee's disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Hardee's →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

Explore More

All QSR FranchisesBest Fast Food FranchisesLow-Cost FranchisesHardee's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Franchises With Item 19Industry Benchmarks