Is Circle K or Panera Bread cheaper to open?

Circle K costs $1,463,500–$2,744,650 and Panera Bread costs $1,266,805–$4,651,324 to open (FDD Item 7). Panera Bread has the lower entry cost.

Which earns more, Circle K or Panera Bread?

Circle K reports $1,386,179 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, Circle K or Panera Bread?

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

Circle K vs Panera Bread

Franchise Comparison 2026

Circle K is a retail franchise, while Panera Bread operates in quick-service restaurants. Circle K requires an investment of $1.5M – $2.7M 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. Circle K has SBA lending data on file with a 6.7% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Circle K A (Strongest tier) and Panera Bread A (Strongest tier).

Metric	Circle K	Panera Bread
Verdict Grade	AStrongest tierStrongest tier	AStrongest tierStrongest tier
Investment Range	$1.5M – $2.7M	$1.3M – $4.7M
Franchise Fee	$25K	$35K
Royalty Rate	3.0%	5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	$1.4M	$2.6M
SBA Charge-Off Rate	6.7% (80 loans)	Limited data
Total Units	6,063	2,206
Unit Growth (YoY)	N/A	N/A
Year Began Franchising	1995	1993
FDD Year	2024	2025