How much does a MOOYAH franchise cost?
A single MOOYAH Restaurant has a 2026 Estimated Initial Investment of $452,050 to $990,600. The range is for one leased restaurant and covers the franchise fee, opening marketing, premises work, equipment, technology, opening inventory, training-related expenses and the disclosed three-month reserve after opening. It does not resolve land acquisition, construction of a new building, debt service or a drive-thru build-out.
Single Restaurant, 2026 FDD. Item 7 states that $40,000 to $41,000 of this range is paid to MOOYAH Franchising LLC or an affiliate. The estimate assumes a roughly 2,000-square-foot leased premises and expressly excludes drive-thru locations from the leasehold-improvement assumptions. Source: 2026 MOOYAH Franchise Disclosure Document, cover and Item 7, pp. 11-13.
Data basis. The legal franchisor is MOOYAH Franchising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of MOOYAH Parent LLC. The FDD was issued April 17, 2026. This cost analysis uses Items 5, 6 and 7, plus cost-relevant disclosures in Items 8, 10, 11 and 17. The offer paths are a single Restaurant Franchise Agreement and an Area Development Agreement, normally for three Restaurants. Information was checked July 22, 2026.
The franchisor does not publish the matching disclosure on a franchise-controlled public webpage. Document citations in this article are therefore unlinked and identify the year, Item and page. Current headline figures can be cross-checked against the official MOOYAH investment information. The FTC explains that an FDD must be delivered at least 14 calendar days before a buyer signs or pays the franchisor or an affiliate in its Consumer's Guide to Buying a Franchise.
Key cost figures
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 5-7, pp. 5-13; current liquidity and net-worth figures: official MOOYAH investment page, checked July 22, 2026.
What is included in the $452,050-$990,600 range?
The official total combines fixed opening payments with highly variable premises, equipment and working-capital categories. Leasehold Improvements and Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, and Signage account for most of the disclosed variation; the franchise fee is only one component.
Floating bars show the official low and high endpoints. Scale: $0 to $500,000.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 11-13. Interpretation: the $370,500 width of the Leasehold Improvements range is a derived calculation from the official endpoints; it is not a separate franchisor estimate.
Premises, equipment and opening assets
| Item 7 category | 2026 range | Timing and payee | What the estimate covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent and Security Deposit | $7,000-$10,600 | As arranged; unaffiliated lessor | Initial rent and deposit for leased premises. |
| Leasehold Improvements | $100,000-$470,500 | As arranged; contractor, architects and designers | Adaptation of prototype plans for about 2,000 square feet; includes a designated architect cost of $20,000. |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment, and Signage | $200,000-$293,000 | As invoiced; unaffiliated suppliers | Restaurant equipment, furnishings, fixtures and signs. |
| Computer Hardware and Software | $30,000-$35,000 | As arranged; approved suppliers | POS and computer system, setup and specified initial subscriptions. |
| Initial Inventory/Supplies | $20,000-$25,000 | As arranged; approved suppliers | Smallwares plus food, beverage, condiments and supplies for roughly the first 2 to 10 operating days. |
| Uniforms | $750-$1,000 | As arranged; unaffiliated suppliers | Opening uniforms. |
Contract payments, pre-opening expenses and working capital
| Item 7 category | 2026 amount | When due | Cost interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30,000 | At Franchise Agreement signing | Reduced to $15,000 for a qualified veteran's first Restaurant. |
| New Restaurant Marketing Program Fee | $10,000 | When the premises lease is signed | Non-refundable lump sum for the opening marketing program. |
| One-Time Extension Fee of Possession Deadline | $0-$1,000 | With an approved extension request | Applies only if the franchisor grants the one-time 180-day extension. |
| Initial Training Costs | $12,000-$20,000 | As invoiced before opening | No franchisor training fee for up to three people, but the franchisee pays travel, lodging, meals, wages and benefits; a designated franchised training Restaurant may charge $500 per trainee. |
| Professional Services | $1,000-$5,500 | As arranged | Entity formation and review of franchise documents. |
| Insurance | $600-$3,000 | As arranged | Estimated down payment for annual policies covering the first three months. |
| Licenses and Permits | $700-$6,000 | As required | Local business licenses; occupancy and construction permits are included in Leasehold Improvements. |
| Additional Funds | $40,000-$80,000 | As incurred during first three months | Included in the official total; not a separate amount to add again. |
The low and high endpoints should be read as boundaries around a disclosed package, not as a ready-made local budget. A buyer should avoid selecting the lowest figure from every row and treating the result as a likely outcome without checking whether the underlying assumptions can occur together at the chosen site. The more useful method is to map each contractor proposal, landlord term sheet and supplier quotation to the scope described in the table. That comparison shows whether a quote includes design work, utility connections, installation, freight, taxes, deposits, setup, opening quantities and other items that can otherwise appear under different labels. It also prevents a cost already included in one proposal from being counted a second time elsewhere.
The footnote for the three-month reserve says it is intended to pay employees, buy supplies and cover other start-up expenses, but the same footnote also says the estimate does not include payroll costs. It also excludes debt service, finance charges, interest and any revenue during the three-month period. A buyer should obtain a written schedule defining which employee and payroll amounts are inside or outside the $40,000-$80,000 estimate. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 13.
Which obligations can move the opening cost beyond the headline range?
Real estate format, landlord terms, construction conditions and required purchasing channels are the principal unresolved variables. The opening table assumes leased premises and excludes the cost of acquiring land or constructing a building. Its site-improvement estimate is based on a roughly 2,000-square-foot prototype and excludes drive-thru locations.
Drive-thru design is promoted, but not priced separately in the opening table
The official MOOYAH territories and restaurant-design page describes development options that include drive-thrus, to-go and third-party pickup areas, digital menu boards and flexible seating. The current disclosure does not provide a separate opening range for those configurations. A proposed drive-thru should therefore be budgeted from site-specific plans and bids rather than assumed to fit the disclosed site-improvement range.
The official range does not include land acquisition, construction of a new building, debt service, finance charges or interest. A landlord contribution may reduce build-out spending: the disclosure reports that some franchisees negotiated tenant-improvement allowances averaging $71,100 in the last fiscal year, but that historical figure is not a promised allowance. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 12-13.
Required suppliers narrow the buyer's cost discretion
The sourcing disclosure permits MOOYAH Franchising LLC to approve or designate suppliers for Operating Assets. The current designated categories include food and paper products, equipment such as grills and ovens, soft drinks, branded merchandise, gift-card services, site-selection services, computer hardware and software, and restaurant design and build-out. The FDD estimates that required sources account for approximately 85% to 90% of initial purchases or leases and 90% or more of annual operating purchases or leases. Those percentages describe sourcing concentration, not an additional fee. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 8, pp. 14-15.
Site quotations should be reconciled on scope as well as price. A low contractor proposal may exclude work assigned to the landlord, architect, equipment installer or utility provider, while a higher proposal may bundle those responsibilities. The disclosed boundaries do not decide which allocation will apply to a particular lease. Before relying on a proposal, the buyer should place each included and excluded task beside the corresponding opening category, identify who bears change orders and confirm whether taxes, freight, permits and installation are included. This produces a traceable comparison without substituting an unsupported local estimate for the franchisor's published range.
How much capital does the standard Area Development Agreement require?
The area-development table publishes $482,050 to $1,020,600 to enter the standard three-Restaurant Area Development Agreement and open the first Restaurant through its initial three-month operating period. This is not the cost of building all three Restaurants. The document is internally inconsistent about the separate development payment, so that payment should not be treated as resolved without written confirmation.
The standard three-Restaurant entry calculation
The fee formula and detailed table indicate a payment based on $15,000 for each committed Restaurant after the first, with a credit against the initial fee for later Restaurants. Other passages state a different amount. The published entry total is shown above exactly as disclosed, but it does not cure the conflict in the payment description.
The cover and one footnote sentence state $45,000 for three Restaurants, while the fee formula and detailed table indicate $30,000. The article does not select either amount as controlling. A prospective area developer should obtain written confirmation of the payment and credit schedule before paying or signing. Sources: 2026 FDD cover; Item 5, p. 6; Item 7, p. 13.
When is the money paid?
The cash requirement does not arrive as one invoice. Contract fees are paid first, premises and build-out amounts follow as negotiated or invoiced, and recurring percentage fees begin after sales start.
Before any binding agreement or franchisor payment: receive the then-current disclosure document at least 14 calendar days in advance. This federal disclosure period does not postpone third-party diligence expenses that a buyer voluntarily incurs.
At Franchise Agreement signing: pay the $30,000 Initial Franchise Fee, or $15,000 if the veteran incentive applies to the first Restaurant. A standard area developer also pays the development amount at contract signing, but the exact figure requires written confirmation because the disclosure is internally inconsistent.
At premises lease signing: pay the $10,000 New Restaurant Marketing Program Fee. Rent and the Security Deposit are paid under the lease arrangements.
During design, construction and pre-opening: site work, equipment, signage, technology, insurance, permits, professional services, training travel and opening inventory are paid as arranged or invoiced.
At opening and during the first three months: use the included $40,000-$80,000 reserve while weekly percentage charges and required local promotion spending begin. The site timetable generally requires possession within 180 days and opening by the earlier specified deadline; missing that deadline can trigger $150 per day.
A total opening budget and the amount needed on a particular date are different questions. Some payments are fixed by the contract, while third-party payments depend on lease negotiations, invoice schedules, deposits and construction progress. A lender commitment or landlord allowance also may be received later than an invoice becomes due. The buyer's cash schedule should therefore show the payment date, responsible payee, refundability, source of funds and any condition that must be satisfied before the money is released. That schedule can expose a temporary funding gap even when the overall project remains within the published boundaries.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7, pp. 5-13; Item 11, pp. 18-19; Item 6, p. 9; FTC Franchise Rule disclosure timing.
Which fees continue after the Restaurant opens?
The continuing cost structure combines percentage-based obligations with fixed technology and supplier subscription charges. Two weekly charges are remitted to the franchisor; the separate local promotion requirement is spending in the Restaurant's market rather than a payment into the systemwide fund.
Bars are scaled to 6% of Gross Sales. Local Advertising is required local spending, not a remittance to the franchisor.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 6-10 and Item 11, pp. 20-22. Derived calculation: the current three obligations sum to 9.5% on the disclosed sales basis; 8.5% is remitted and 1% is required local spending.
| Ongoing obligation | Amount or basis | Payment timing | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 5.75% of Gross Sales | Weekly | Paid by electronic funds transfer on the designated day. |
| Advertising Fee | 2.75% of Gross Sales | Weekly | May increase to 4% on 60 days' written notice and may exceed that cap following the disclosed franchisee vote. |
| Local Advertising | 1% of Gross Sales | Weekly required spend | Separate from the Advertising Fee; expenditure records may be requested. |
| Technology and Support Fee | $170 per month | Monthly | The fee may be increased by up to $750 per year on a compounding basis. |
| POS support and maintenance | About $2,600 per year | Annual supplier subscription | The first year is included in the opening computer-system estimate. |
| Database management services | About $271-$510 per month | Supplier subscription | The first year is included in the opening estimate; the amount varies by system requirements. |
The computer-system line requires a separate timing check because several supplier subscriptions are included for an initial period. Inclusion in the opening estimate does not mean those services are free, and it does not remove the later renewal obligation. A buyer should ask each vendor for the service start date, billing cycle, renewal date, setup amount, hardware replacement policy and cancellation terms. The post-opening forecast should begin each invoice only after the prepaid or included period ends, so the same subscription is not counted twice during the first year.
Which fees apply only after a trigger or later event?
The contract disclosures add costs for transfers, renewal, late payment, non-compliance, extra training, management intervention, delays and required updates. These amounts are outside the initial opening total unless that table expressly includes an initial payment.
Submitted with the transfer application for either the Franchise Agreement or Area Development Agreement.
Due when the renewal Franchise Agreement is signed; renewal also requires updating or upgrading the Restaurant.
The Franchise Agreement permits a required remodel no more frequently than every five years during the term, except in a transfer, with completion generally due within three months of notice.
Accrues if the Restaurant fails to open by the Opening Deadline.
Continues until the franchisor determines the default has been cured.
Applies after required-report failures or an understatement of Gross Sales greater than 2%.
The higher annual rate applies when the payment is late by 45 days or more.
Due for requested or required new, additional or refresher training.
Applies if required coverage is not maintained and the franchisor elects to procure it.
May apply when the franchisor or a designee assumes management under the disclosed circumstances.
After a breach termination, the formula uses remaining months up to 24, the Royalty Fee plus Advertising Fee percentages, and the defined average monthly Gross Sales basis.
May include indemnification, enforcement attorneys' fees, gift-card program costs, correction of deficiencies and franchisor-completed Restaurant updates.
Due if the franchisor permits an individual to be added as a principal owner.
Due when a lost copy must be replaced.
Travel, lodging, meals and attendee wages remain the franchisee's responsibility.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 7-10; Item 17, pp. 33-38; Franchise Agreement Section 6.3, Exhibit A p. 12.
Are liquidity and net worth part of the franchise cost?
No. MOOYAH's current official franchise site states a $250,000 liquidity qualification and $1 million net worth qualification, but those are screening criteria rather than opening-table expenditure categories. Liquidity is capital that can be made available; net worth is assets minus liabilities and is not equivalent to cash.
Passing either screen does not demonstrate that a buyer can fund a specific location, satisfy lender conditions or absorb a high-end construction result. The comparison should be made against the buyer's available cash after reserving personal obligations, financing fees and contingencies that are not covered by the published estimate. Conversely, a project budget should not add the qualification thresholds as though they were invoices. They answer whether the candidate meets an initial financial profile, not what the restaurant will cost.
The official site figures are presented alongside the current investment range on the MOOYAH investment page. The current disclosure does not state a separate non-borrowed-funds minimum in its opening-fee and investment sections. Its guaranty provisions and special-risk notice indicate personal asset exposure, including a spousal guaranty requirement; that is not a fee, but it is a material funding and liability consideration.
Does MOOYAH provide financing?
No direct or indirect financing is disclosed. Item 10 says MOOYAH Franchising LLC does not guarantee promissory notes, mortgages, leases or other obligations. The official franchise FAQ says the franchisor has relationships with several banks that routinely work with franchisees, but it names no provider and does not promise approval, terms or funding.
What should be verified before relying on the official range?
The 2026 Item 7 range is the correct starting disclosure, but a site-specific capital plan requires written confirmation of several unresolved items.
Official documents and regulatory tools
What is the practical capital takeaway?
The verified starting range is $452,050 to $990,600 for one leased Restaurant. Site adaptation, equipment and signage are the largest opening-cost drivers, and the three-month reserve is already inside that total. The multi-unit entry figure covers the agreement and first location, not construction of every committed location.
The opening total is distinct from the official-site capital screens. After launch, remitted percentage charges, required local promotion, technology subscriptions and event-triggered amounts continue separately. The principal unresolved questions are the multi-unit payment inconsistency, the payroll wording inside the three-month reserve, and any site plan outside the published premises assumptions.