Can I buy a In-N-Out Burger franchise?

In-N-Out Burger has never offered franchises; all of its locations are owned by the company. Since opening its first location in 1948, In-N-Out has been 100% company-owned; it has never had a franchise division accepting applications.

How much would a In-N-Out Burger franchise cost?

In-N-Out has never sold a franchise, so there is no franchise fee to list. Because every location is company-owned, there is also no investment range, FDD, or application process.

Is owning a In-N-Out Burger location profitable?

There is no public unit-economics number available to cite. As a privately held, company-operated business, In-N-Out has never released the financial-performance disclosure franchisors provide in FDD Item 19, so no return figure is available.

What franchise can I buy instead of In-N-Out Burger?

US brands that DO accept individual franchise applications in the same category: , , , , , . Each has a verified profile on FRANticc with investment figures traced to its current FDD.

Has In-N-Out ever franchised in its history?

No. From the Baldwin Park stand opened by Harry and Esther Snyder in 1948 through today’s 430+ restaurants in 10 states, every In-N-Out location has been company-owned. The company has never sold franchises at any time.

Is the 'In-N-Out franchise' offer I found online real?

No. In-N-Out has never sold a franchise, so no website, broker, or listing offering one is affiliated with the company. That risk is real, not theoretical: an Orange County man received two years in prison after collecting $4.27 million by selling fake In-N-Out franchise rights.

In-N-Out Franchise: Why You Can't Buy One

US Locations

430+ (10 states)

Founded

1948

Ownership

Private (Snyder family)

Individual Franchise

Not Offered

How In-N-Out Burger Actually Operates in the US

In-N-Out Burgers

10 Western/Southern states · 100% company-owned

In-N-Out directly owns and runs every location and has remained under Snyder family control since 1948. It has no franchise division, application, or fee schedule, because the company has never sold an In-N-Out location to an individual.

Why There's No In-N-Out Franchise Fee to Quote

Since opening its first location in 1948, In-N-Out has been 100% company-owned; it has never had a franchise division accepting applications.
Because the company has never offered a franchise, it has never published a franchise agreement, franchise fee, or FDD.
The point was established in a federal criminal case: a man was given two years in federal prison after selling In-N-Out franchises that did not exist. He collected $4.27 million from victims by falsely saying he held Middle East franchise rights.
A website or listing that offers an "In-N-Out franchise" for a fee is not connected to the company; no legitimate offer of that kind exists.

Documented In-N-Out franchise fraud

In-N-Out has never offered franchises, and an actual federal prosecution demonstrates what can happen when someone says it has.

An Orange County man received a two-year federal prison sentence for selling In-N-Out Burger franchises that did not exist. By falsely claiming Middle East franchise rights, he collected $4.27 million from victims.U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California (justice.gov)

Burger franchises that DO accept individual applications

For a similar drive-thru burger model, these brands operate comparable concepts and are currently seeking franchisees. Their investment figures come from their current FDDs.

McDonald's 13,062 units · $1.5M–$2.8M Burger King 5,518 units · $2.2M–$3.3M Wendy's 5,546 units · $1.5M–$2.9M Five Guys 945 units · $978K–$1.4M Sonic 3,120 units · $1.5M–$2.5M Carl's Jr. 942 units · $1.5M–$3.3M

See All US Franchises

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Data: U.S. Attorney's Office, Central District of California — DOJ press release on the In-N-Out franchise fraud prosecution (justice.gov). Store count and founding facts are secondary-sourced pending a confirmed fetch of in-n-out.com's own franchise-inquiry page.
If any data is incorrect, write to [email protected]