---
title: "Top 15 Quick-Service Chains with the Highest Revenue per Restaurant"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/bd0e4d56-542a-4531-a0f2-96a60f8ad22d
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/top-15-us-quick-service-chains-earning-the-most-per-restaurant-2727308
category: "QSR"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "QSR"
topics: ["Finance & M&A"]
published: 2024-09-12T12:07:33.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T01:05:35.936Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/7a5c2c99ad7336391eb79c0453796aec6430.jpg
---

# Top 15 Quick-Service Chains with the Highest Revenue per Restaurant

**TL;DR:** Chick-fil-A leads the top 15 quick-service chains with the highest revenue per restaurant, with an average sales per unit of $7.45 million. The top 15 list includes other notable chains such as McDonald's, Whataburger, and Culver's.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2024-09-12. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/top-15-us-quick-service-chains-earning-the-most-per-restaurant-2727308).*

## Story

QSR Magazine's recently released ranking of the top 50 highest-grossing brands includes the top 15 chains that generate the most revenue per location, with franchises like Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Whataburger and Culver’s topping the list.

With an astounding $7.45 million in average sales per unit, Chick-fil-A leads the pack. The brand operates 2,552 units, with 2,494 being franchised.

**2. Raising Cane's**

Raising Cane's averages $5.69 million per unit, predominantly through its 703 company-owned stores. This brand is not currently franchising.

McDonald's, a global giant, generates $4 million per unit across its 13,457 locations, with 12,772 franchised. The brand’s franchising model continues to fuel its dominance, with systemwide sales of $53.1 billion.

Averaging $3.96 million per unit, Whataburger operates nearly 1,000 locations, with a balance of franchised and company-owned stores.

**5. Shake Shack**

Known for premium burgers, Shake Shack brings in $3.9 million per unit across 334 locations, with a focus on high-traffic areas. This brand is not currently franchising in the U.S.

With an AUV of $3.49 million, Culver's operates 944 units, primarily franchised, making it a key player in the QSR industry.

Panera Bread, with an AUV of $3.3 million, operates over 2,000 units, split between franchised and company-owned locations.

**8. In-N-Out Burger**

In-N-Out Burger averages $3.13 million per unit across its 398 company-owned locations, maintaining its no-franchise policy.

**9. Chipotle**

Chipotle's $3.02 million per unit across 3,437 company-owned locations highlights its strong brand presence without franchising.

Zaxby’s, with $2.69 million in sales per unit, leverages its 756 franchised units to achieve growth.

**11. Panda Express**

Averaging $2.55 million per unit, Panda Express operates 2,420 units, with a growing number of 172 licensed locations. The brand is not currently franchising.

Bojangles sees $2.27 million per unit across its 813 units, with 528 franchised.

El Pollo Loco, averaging $2.2 million per unit, operates 495 units, with 172 franchised locations.

Taco Bell, with $2.1 million per unit, operates over 7,000 units, most of which are franchised (6,922).

Rounding out the top 15, Wendy’s averages $2.06 million per unit across 6,030 locations, with 5,627 franchised units.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- franchising (topic)
- McDonald's (company)
- Taco Bell (company)
- Wendy's (company)
- Chick-fil-A (company)
- Chipotle (company)
- Zaxby's (company)
- Panera Bread (company)
- Shake Shack (company)
- Bojangles (company)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/top-15-us-quick-service-chains-earning-the-most-per-restaurant-2727308). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/bd0e4d56-542a-4531-a0f2-96a60f8ad22d).