Top burger franchise opportunities in 2025
If you’re looking to get started in the culinary world, burger franchises might be right for you. Let’s take a look at some of the top burger franchise opportunities.
Exciting and lucrative burger franchises
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The Brits are a nation of burger lovers. The burger market in the UK is now worth a whopping £3.3bn a year. Burgers remain the fast food of choice for many when at events, out shopping or for a late-night snack.
Burger offerings vary from traditional fast food outlets, high-end gourmet options and everything in between, including increasingly popular meat-free options. With the top-end burgers costing over £10, running a burger restaurant can be a lucrative business.
Burger franchises are a popular option, enabling you to run your own restaurant but under the auspices of an established brand, with training and guidance provided. Interested in this as an investment opportunity? Read on to find out more.
Benefits of investing in a burger franchise in the UK
Starting a restaurant or takeaway from scratch is a risky business and it’s a very competitive market. It’s estimated that a staggering 80 per cent of UK companies fail within their first year and this is partly due to the struggle to build up a respected reputation.
Franchises are a much safer bet, as they give you the opportunity to adopt a business model that is already well-established. The research into menu choices and the operating framework for the restaurant already exist. A lot of the hard work has already been done.
Most franchises are well-known brands, and customers will be familiar with the service offering. Customers are more likely to choose a familiar brand where they know what to expect, so franchisees can benefit from this and take advantage of a strong brand reputation.
Running a successful burger franchise can be profitable and rewarding. If this sounds like an investment opportunity you’d like to pursue, check out our burger franchises list to see which one could suit your budget, style and aspirations.
1. McDonald’s
McDonald’s was the ninth biggest global brand in 2019 and is the largest fast-food restaurant chain in the world. With more than 39,000 locations across 100 countries, the dominance of McDonald’s is undeniable. With annual revenue which surpasses that of a small country, their success is based on their international franchise model.
In the UK, there are 1,250 stores already, with an impressive infrastructure to support new franchisees. Let’s look at the McDonald’s franchise opportunity in a little more depth.
It’s reasonable to say that this is not a budget option, with an anticipated investment requirement of between £400,000 and £800,000, with at least £110,000 required upfront. In addition to this, the training programme costs £750, with a refundable £5,000 deposit.
In return for this investment though, you get a world-class 26-week training programme and help to set up your location and supply chain. Traceability and welfare is a critical element here. You will also have the benefit of the marketing expertise of one of the most recognised brands on the planet.
It’s worth bearing in mind that there are fairly considerable ongoing fees due, as a proportion of your sales, plus the agreement is long-term. You’re tied in for 20 years unless you can find a buyer for your store. So it’s a big commitment. But if you have the funds available and are able to demonstrate the required leadership skills, this could be a very lucrative investment.
2. Burger King
Another big hitter in the global market is Burger King, the fifth-largest fast-food chain in the world, with 15,000 restaurants across the globe. Burger King was founded in Florida in 1953 and has become a worldwide phenomenon, with 11 million people worldwide visiting a Burger King outlet every day.
A Burger King franchise is a safe bet in terms of brand, reputation and return on investment. However, it’s also one of the more expensive options in terms of the financial outlay required. You would need at least £250,000 available for the initial investment, and the total cost could be up to £800,000 depending on the size of the restaurant.
In return for this, franchisees get a 440-hour training programme in an existing restaurant and support from a field team in every aspect of setting up their new location. Franchisees also benefit from national marketing campaigns and the security of working under an internationally-recognised brand.
3. Wimpy
Those of us that grew up in the UK in the 80s will remember Wimpy being the dominant fast-food presence on the High Street. Once there were over 500 Wimpy stores, but McDonald’s and KFC took over and Wimpy lost market share. Wimpy now has ambitious plans to expand through a franchising model.
Wimpy’s offering is still that of a traditional fast-food outlet, prioritising value for money and speed of service as its unique selling points in a competitive market. With branches across 23 countries, it’s an established name with a trusted reputation by many customers.
Of the bigger names, Wimpy’s franchise offering is the most affordable. A standard Wimpy franchise requires an upfront investment of around £220,000, but a Wimpy Express franchise can be set up for as little as £80,000. This includes the franchise fee, ongoing support and a two-week training course.
4. The Burger Priest
The Burger Priest is a new kid on the bock in the burger franchise market in the UK. Launched in 2015, the founders wanted to offer something new to the burger sector. They chose to focus on sustainability and quality.
All of their beef burgers are made from 100 per cent Aberdeen Angus beef, which is free from steroids and antibiotics. Their meat products have never been frozen prior to being served and all products are free from artificial preservatives. There are also gluten-free options on the menu.
The Burger Priest range also includes vegetarian and vegan options. The meat-free market grew by 40 per cent between 2014 and 2019, so this area has huge growth potential.
A franchise fee for The Burger Priest will cost you a minimum of £14,995, and you need to have additional liquid assets of £100,000 to be considered as a franchisee. The company currently has two outlets in the UK, with plans to open a further ten stores.
Franchisees benefit from a full training programme, including training for the staff that you recruit. New franchisees also get support at every stage prior to opening. This includes help with choosing your location, marketing your launch and recruiting your team. Assistance is also available for business planning and financial forecasting.
Business acumen would be required to open up a new franchise under such a young company, without the established mega-brand behind you. But with an estimated revenue of £500,000 in the first year and 65% gross profit, this franchise could be a lucrative enterprise for the right type of person.
5. Loaded Burgers
Loaded Burgers is another new burger franchise in the UK. The first restaurant opened in Ilford, East London, and there are now six outlets across the UK. Their offering is all about quality - big, juicy burgers made of fresh ingredients, at an affordable price.
As this brand is still in the relatively early stages, their start-up costs for new franchises are much lower than international brands. You’ll need a minimum investment of £20,000. This gives the franchisee the rights to use the branding, name and identity. This also includes some equipment and the support of a dedicated franchise specialist.
As with all burger franchises, there is an extensive training package and support from the central team on marketing and growth strategies. Loaded Burgers are looking for entrepreneurial, commercially-minded franchisees, ideally with experience in the food and beverage sector.
6. Rocket’s
Last on our list of the best burger franchises on offer is Rocket’s, part of the Irish restaurant group RocketRestaurants and the most popular hamburger restaurant in Ireland.
The unique offering at Rocket’s is speed and quality. They promise a waiting time of just six minutes and serve only fresh Irish meat which has never been frozen.
Rocket’s won the Irish Franchise of the Year award in 2017 and they pride themselves on the help and support they give to franchisees, including intensive support in choosing the right location for their restaurant.
The financial outlay required depends on the size of the outlet. For smaller sites, it could be as little as 200,000 Euros, but for larger sites, this could increase to 1.4 million Euros. This gives franchisees access to training programmes and intensive support to set up a successful enterprise.
Making a decision about buying a burger franchise
Now you’re familiar with the best burger franchises available in the UK, you can move towards making a decision about which one might suit your needs best. It’s important to be realistic about your budget and consider your working style too. You should choose a franchise which matches your own values and aspirations.
Make sure you’re fully informed on all the details of the franchise agreement before you make a final decision. After all, it’s a big investment we’re talking about here, and a long-term commitment. Make sure you keep up-to-date on the latest news about franchises in the UK by signing up for our newsletter now!
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