Is Hardee's or LaRosa’s cheaper to open?

Hardee's costs $1,385,000–$2,637,395 and LaRosa’s costs $1,431,000–$2,595,000 to open (FDD Item 7). Hardee's has the lower entry cost.

Which is the better franchise, Hardee's or LaRosa’s?

FranchiseVerdict grades Hardee's C and LaRosa’s B, from FDD Items 5–7, 19–21 and SBA loan performance. See the full side-by-side above.

Hardee's vs LaRosa’s

Franchise Comparison 2026

Both Hardee's and LaRosa’s are quick-service restaurants franchises. Hardee's requires an investment of $1.4M – $2.6M while LaRosa’s requires $1.4M – $2.6M. Hardee's discloses average revenue of $1.3M; LaRosa’s makes no financial performance representation in its Item 19, which is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule. Hardee's has SBA lending data on file with a 39.0% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Hardee's C (Average) and LaRosa’s B (Above average).

Metric	Hardee's	LaRosa’s
Verdict Grade	CAverage	BAbove average
Investment Range	$1.4M – $2.6M	$1.4M – $2.6M
Franchise Fee	$25K	$25K
Royalty Rate	4.0%	4.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	$1.3M	N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate	39.0% (55 loans)	Limited data
Total Units	1,485	64
Unit Growth (YoY)	-82 units	-2 units
Year Began Franchising	2013	1967
FDD Year	2026	2024