Non-Exclusive Territory Franchises
Territory terms can shape how a franchise feels to operate day to day. In this group, the common thread is territory language that appears non-exclusive, which can matter if you are weighing local competition, customer reach, and how much protection you want around a market. That does not point to one single business model, though. It spans 612 brands across restaurant chains, service concepts, travel businesses, fitness operators, and more.
The mix leans heavily toward Food & Beverage, with 216 brands, followed by Home Services, Hospitality & Travel, Business Services, Fitness, and Health & Wellness. The cost spread is wide enough to require careful sorting. Median startup investment sits at $245,700, while the full range runs from $0 to $845,773,369. That means this group includes both low-cost, flexible models and large, infrastructure-heavy systems. Cruise Planners, for example, shows a startup range of $1,945 to $20,505 with 0.0% royalty, while restaurant brands such as Burger King, Wendy's, Papa Johns Pizza, and Jimmy John's sit at much higher investment levels and large outlet counts.
Recurring fees also vary, but the middle of the market is fairly clear: the median royalty is 6.0% and the median marketing fee is 2.0%. Outlet scale is mixed as well. The median brand in this set has 49 outlets, yet several well-known systems are much larger, including Burger King at 6,701 outlets, Wendy's at 5,933, Papa Johns Pizza at 3,291, and Cruise Planners at 3,009. That contrast is useful if you are deciding between an established national network and a smaller system where local execution may feel more central.
One more practical point: this is a disclosure-oriented grouping, so the territory language should be read carefully in each brand's documents. In broad terms, non-exclusive territory language may mean more flexibility for the franchisor and less geographic protection for the franchisee. For some buyers, that is manageable if the brand, model, and economics fit. For others, territory protection will be a more important screening factor from the start.
Representative brands
A small route-safe sample from this group, with the basic economics and operating context most readers look for first.
Burger King
Food & Beverage
Operates quick-service restaurants specializing in flame-grilled burgers and fast food items.
- Initial investment
- $2,064,200 to $4,730,500
- Royalty
- 4.5%
- Marketing fee
- 4.5%
- Outlet count
- 6701
Wendy's or Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restau
Food & Beverage
Operates quick-service restaurants specializing in hamburgers and related food items under the Wendy's brand.
- Initial investment
- $393,191 to $2,992,000
- Royalty
- 4.0%
- Marketing fee
- 2.0%
- Outlet count
- 5933
Papa Johns Pizza
Food & Beverage
Operates pizza restaurants delivering a variety of pizzas and related food items to customers.
- Initial investment
- $261,165 to $853,365
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- Marketing fee
- 6.0%
- Outlet count
- 3291
Cruise Planners
Hospitality & Travel
Offers travel planning services specializing in cruise vacations through a network of independent agents.
- Initial investment
- $1,945 to $20,505
- Royalty
- 0.0%
- Marketing fee
- Not clearly disclosed
- Outlet count
- 3009
The Salon Professional Academy
Education & Training
Provides education and training programs focused on beauty and personal care skills.
- Initial investment
- $1,028,900 to $2,022,800
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Marketing fee
- Not clearly disclosed
- Outlet count
- 2950
Jimmy John's
Food & Beverage
Operates sandwich shops delivering a variety of sandwiches and related food items to customers.
- Initial investment
- $366,200 to $728,200
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- Marketing fee
- 4.5%
- Outlet count
- 2689
FAQ
What does non-exclusive territory usually mean when comparing franchises?
It generally means the territory language appears to provide less geographic exclusivity than a fully protected territory. In practical terms, that can affect how you think about nearby operators, alternative sales channels, and long-term market coverage.
Are non-exclusive territory franchises mostly restaurants?
Restaurants are the largest category here, with Food & Beverage accounting for 216 brands, but the group is broader than that. Home Services, Hospitality & Travel, Business Services, Fitness, and Health & Wellness are all meaningfully represented.
How expensive are these franchises to start?
The middle of the group is much lower than the top end. Median startup investment is $245,700, but the overall range stretches from $0 to $845,773,369. Some concepts are relatively low-cost, while others require substantial buildout, equipment, or facility investment.
What fees are typical in this group?
The median royalty is 6.0% and the median marketing fee is 2.0%. Individual brands can differ materially, so it helps to compare both fees alongside startup cost and outlet scale rather than looking at any one number in isolation.
Do these brands tend to be large franchise systems?
Some are, but not all. The median outlet count is 49, which suggests many are still modest in size. At the same time, this group also includes very large systems with thousands of outlets, so there is a wide range of operating scale.