Is Arby’s or Panera Bread cheaper to open?

Arby’s costs $868,550–$2,456,600 and Panera Bread costs $1,266,805–$4,651,324 to open (FDD Item 7). Arby’s has the lower entry cost.

Which earns more, Arby’s or Panera Bread?

Arby’s reports $1,274,787 average annual unit revenue vs $2,595,936 for Panera Bread (FDD Item 19). Panera Bread is higher. For Panera Bread: Reported as net sales, not gross sales.

Which is the better franchise, Arby’s or Panera Bread?

FranchiseVerdict grades Arby’s A and Panera Bread A, from FDD Items 5–7, 19–21 and SBA loan performance. See the full side-by-side above.

Arby’s vs Panera Bread

Franchise Comparison 2026

Both Arby’s and Panera Bread are quick-service restaurants franchises. Arby’s requires an investment of $869K – $2.5M while Panera Bread requires $1.3M – $4.7M. In terms of revenue, Panera Bread reports higher average unit revenue at $2.6M. Note: Reported as net sales, not gross sales. Arby’s has SBA lending data on file with a 18.2% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Arby’s A (Strongest tier) and Panera Bread A (Strongest tier).

Metric	Arby’s	Panera Bread
Verdict Grade	AStrongest tierStrongest tier	AStrongest tierStrongest tier
Investment Range	$869K – $2.5M	$1.3M – $4.7M
Franchise Fee	$38K	$35K
Royalty Rate	4.0%	5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	$1.3M	$2.6M
SBA Charge-Off Rate	18.2% (198 loans)	Limited data
Total Units	3,265	2,206
Unit Growth (YoY)	N/A	N/A
Year Began Franchising	2015	1993
FDD Year	2026	2025