Franchise Facts Report → compare → Carl's Jr vs Sbarro
Carl's Jr vs Sbarro
Two quick-service restaurant franchises, compared on the numbers their own Franchise Disclosure Documents put on record — investment, fees, Item 19 earnings, outlet churn, and litigation. Not marketing copy.
| Carl's Jr | Sbarro | |
|---|---|---|
| Total initial investment FDD Item 7 | $1,486,000 – $3,176,500 | $211,900 – $931,000 |
| Initial franchise fee FDD Item 5 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| Royalty FDD Item 6 | 4% | 5% |
| Item 19 earnings disclosed FDD Item 19 | Yes | Not disclosed |
| Avg unit revenue (headline) FDD Item 19 | $1,373,117 | — |
| Franchised outlets FDD Item 20 | 982 | 222 |
| Net outlet change (latest yr) FDD Item 20 | -32 | +25 |
| Closure rate FDD Item 20 | 2.9% | — |
| Franchisee lawsuits FDD Item 3 | 4 | — |
| Risk level our read | High | Medium |
| FDD year registration | 2025 | 2024 |
Are Carl's Jr and Sbarro the same company?
No — Carl's Jr and Sbarro are franchised by separate companies. Carl's Jr's franchisor is CARL'S JR. RESTAURANTS LLC; Sbarro's is SBARRO FRANCHISE CO., LLC. Each registers and files its own Franchise Disclosure Document, and you would be signing with a different entity depending on which you chose. Note that a registry filing names the franchisor, not necessarily its ultimate parent — two brands owned by the same parent company can still have separate franchisors.
Cost to open
Sbarro is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $211,900 – $931,000, against $1,486,000 – $3,176,500 for Carl's Jr.
How much does each make? (Item 19)
Only Carl's Jr disclosed earnings: it makes an Item 19 financial performance representation (headline average unit revenue $1,373,117), while Sbarro's most recent FDD makes none. That asymmetry is itself a data point: one franchisor puts its unit economics on paper, the other doesn't.
Closures & failure rate
Carl's Jr reports 982 franchised outlets, net change -32 in the latest reported year, a 2.9% closure rate (FDD Item 20). Sbarro reports 222 franchised outlets, net change +25 in the latest reported year (FDD Item 20). Outlet churn — closures, terminations, non-renewals — is the closest thing an FDD has to a failure rate.
Litigation
Carl's Jr discloses 4 franchisee-vs-franchisor proceedings in FDD Item 3. Sbarro's Item 3 could not be read from its filing, so we make no claim either way.
Deciding between Carl's Jr and Sbarro?
See what else fits before you choose. Tell us your budget and state and we'll send you the 5–10 quick-service restaurant franchises (or any industries you pick) with the strongest FDD record for it.
Carl's Jr vs Sbarro — frequently asked
Are Carl's Jr and Sbarro the same company?
No — Carl's Jr and Sbarro are franchised by separate companies. Carl's Jr's franchisor is CARL'S JR. RESTAURANTS LLC; Sbarro's is SBARRO FRANCHISE CO., LLC. Each registers and files its own Franchise Disclosure Document, and you would be signing with a different entity depending on which you chose. Note that a registry filing names the franchisor, not necessarily its ultimate parent — two brands owned by the same parent company can still have separate franchisors.
What is the difference between Carl's Jr and Sbarro?
Carl's Jr and Sbarro are quick-service restaurant franchises from different franchisors (CARL'S JR. RESTAURANTS LLC and SBARRO FRANCHISE CO., LLC). Sbarro is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $211,900 – $931,000, against $1,486,000 – $3,176,500 for Carl's Jr. Only Carl's Jr disclosed earnings: it makes an Item 19 financial performance representation (headline average unit revenue $1,373,117), while Sbarro's most recent FDD makes none. That asymmetry is itself a data point: one franchisor puts its unit economics on paper, the other doesn't.
Is Carl's Jr more profitable than Sbarro?
Only Carl's Jr disclosed earnings: it makes an Item 19 financial performance representation (headline average unit revenue $1,373,117), while Sbarro's most recent FDD makes none. That asymmetry is itself a data point: one franchisor puts its unit economics on paper, the other doesn't.
Which is cheaper to open — Carl's Jr or Sbarro?
Sbarro is the cheaper franchise to open: its FDD Item 7 puts the total initial investment at $211,900 – $931,000, against $1,486,000 – $3,176,500 for Carl's Jr.
Is Carl's Jr or Sbarro growing faster?
Carl's Jr reports 982 franchised outlets, net change -32 in the latest reported year, a 2.9% closure rate (FDD Item 20). Sbarro reports 222 franchised outlets, net change +25 in the latest reported year (FDD Item 20).
Go deeper on each brand
Quick-service restaurant rankings
Figures are as disclosed in each brand's most recent registered FDD (Carl's Jr 2025, Sbarro 2024). “—” means the FDD does not disclose it or the table did not parse cleanly — never an estimate.