Directory Results 0 Matches
Refine filters to see logos.
Any Budget
Any Size
Any Footprint
Any Year
0Passive
LLow
MMedium
HFull-Time
Venues only ↓
📸 Update Logo

Panda ExpressFranchise Cost 2026

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.

Panda Express franchise cost in the US (2026): $515K–$3.3M investment · $25K franchise fee · 8% royalty — verified from primary sources · data as of Oct 2026

No Main Street Panda: licences are for airports, bases and campuses.

Panda Express offers franchises, though its FDD refers to a franchise as a licence. Its parent company operates 2,423 of the 2,607 US restaurants. The remaining 184 are licensed, mainly in captive locations including airports, military bases and universities.

The licensee finds and leases the site, pays a $25,000 fee, and funds the restaurant buildout. Required funding ranges from $514,500 to $3,275,500. Panda collects 8% of sales, with a minimum payment of $4,000 every four weeks.

Licence fee$25,000per restaurantFDD Item 5, p.21
Total to open$514,500–$3,275,500build-out, kit, first 3 monthsFDD Item 7, p.29
Royalty8% of salesmin. $4,000 per 4 weeksFDD Item 6, p.22
FY2025 average sales$1,715,919167 licensed venue restaurantsFDD Item 19, p.82
Licensed restaurants184 of 2,607the rest are company-runFDD Item 20, p.86
How the money flows, and how to get a licence ↓
Every figure: Panda Express FDD (issued Apr 17, 2026). FRANticc is not the franchisor.

Core Investment

Compare
Total Stores
Format i
Space Req. i
Total Commitment i
Working Capital i
Owner's Involvement i
0
L
M
H
PassiveLowMedFull-Time

Due Diligence & Legal

Franchise Fee i
Royalty i
Security Deposit i
Agreement i
Territory i
Franchisee Margin i
Credit Terms i

Operations & Training

Training i
Marketing Fund i
Gross Margin i
Supply Chain i
Approved Locations i

Investor Pro Tools

PRO
Every Pro tool, on all 184 brands
One-time · no auto-renew Sign in

Operating Locations

FRANticc · BrandFit AI

Is actually the right fit for you?

BrandFit asks 6 visual questions about your operator profile, capital, location, and risk appetite — then ranks all 184 brands by predicted success-fit for your specific situation. shows up where it actually fits, not just where it can afford.

Run BrandFit on my situation
Syncing Database...
0% Complete
Upload Gallery Photos

Select the category to assign these 0 photos to:

Edit Gallery Categories
Edit Industry Registry

More in this category

Denny's
Denny's
 IHOP
IHOP
 Applebee's
Applebee's
 Golden Corral
Golden Corral
 Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings
 Checkers
Checkers
 Burger King
Burger King
 Sonic
Sonic
Go deeper
Casual & Family Dining Franchises hub 6 brands Compare any 2 US brands
Frequently asked · Panda Express
What does a Panda Express franchise cost in the US?
The total investment for a Panda Express franchise for the Licensed captive-venue restaurant format is $515K–$3.3M. That total includes a $25K franchise fee.
What royalty does Panda Express charge?
Panda Express charges an 8% royalty.
How many Panda Express outlets are there in the US?
Panda Express operates 2,607 outlets in the US, and has been trading since 1983.
How long is the Panda Express franchise agreement?
Agreement terms: 10-year operating term per restaurant · one 5-year successor term ($10,000) · licence lapses after 2 years if no site is authorized. Renewal fee: $10K.
How does a Panda Express franchisee earn?
A Panda Express franchisee earns from customer sales at their own outlet through the Licensed captive-venue restaurant format. You keep outlet takings and pay the brand a royalty on sales. FRANticc does not publish per-outlet earnings for US brands unless the franchisor discloses them.
Is the Panda Express franchise offer genuine?
Panda Express' franchise programme is verified against a primary source. FRANticc links the source rather than relaying agent claims — https://www.pandaexpress.com/licensing-opportunities. Always confirm terms directly with the franchisor before paying any fee.
How current is Panda Express' franchise disclosure?
These figures come from Panda Express' Franchise Disclosure Document for fiscal year 2025, filed with state regulators.
Have a different question? Ask Franchise Pixie.

According to FRANticc's verified franchise database, Panda Express requires a minimum investment of $515K under a Licensed captive-venue restaurant model. Panda Express operates 2607 outlets across the US, established in 1983. Data confidence: Reported. FRANticc provides the full franchise prospectus including verified FDD earnings, fee-load and capital-ask breakdowns, and franchisee contacts at franticc.com.

Panda Express — Panda Restaurant Group, Inc.

Panda Express is a Food & Beverage brand operating in the US. This page is the editorial franchise profile, covering operating format, investment range, store distribution, and side-by-side comparisons with peer brands. The data is independent — FRANticc never accepts payment from brands to influence coverage.

Compare Panda Express with other franchise opportunities on FRANticc. FRANticc turns each brand's FDD into source-verified investment data — every figure traceable to the franchisor's own filing.

Premium tools available for Panda Express: Verified Earnings (FDD Item 19 unit economics), the Capital Ask and Captive-Economy breakdowns, Franchisee Connect (talk to existing Panda Express operators), Legal Vault (litigation, directors, financials), and SBA loan-eligibility signals. Visit franticc.com/brands/panda-express.html for the full interactive prospectus.