What was the total number of company-owned Burger King outlets at the end of 2024?
Burger_King Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Outlet Type | Year | Outlets at the Start of the Year | Outlets at the End of the Year | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchised | 2022 | 7,053 | 6,992 | -61 |
| 2023 | 6,992 | 6,640 | -352 | |
| 2024 | 6,640 | 5,524 | -1,116 | |
| Company-Owned | 2022 | 51 | 50 | -1 |
| 2023 | 50 | 138 | +88 | |
| 2024 | 138 | 1,177 | +1,039 | |
| Total Outlets | 2022 | 7,104 | 7,042 | -62 |
| 2023 | 7,042 | 6,778 | -264 | |
| 2024 | 6,778 | 6,701 | -77 |
Source: Item 20 — OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION (FDD pages 109–124)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Burger King's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, at the end of 2024, there were 1,177 company-owned Burger King restaurants. This is a significant increase from the 138 company-owned restaurants at the beginning of 2024, representing a net change of +1,039 outlets. This substantial growth in company-owned restaurants is partly attributed to RBI's acquisition of Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. on May 16, 2024, which resulted in 1,023 franchised restaurants becoming company-owned.
For a prospective franchisee, this indicates a strategic shift by Burger King towards increasing its corporate-owned store portfolio. This could mean several things: Burger King may be focusing on improving operational efficiency and brand consistency through company-owned stores, or they may be looking to increase profitability by directly managing more locations. It's also worth noting the decrease in the number of franchised outlets during the same period.
Specifically, the number of franchised Burger King restaurants decreased from 6,640 at the start of 2024 to 5,524 by the end of the year, a net decrease of -1,116. This decrease, combined with the increase in company-owned stores, suggests a possible rebalancing of Burger King's business model. A potential franchisee should investigate the reasons behind this shift and how it might affect their franchise operations and support from the franchisor.
Overall, the increase in company-owned restaurants and the decrease in franchised locations could impact the support, resources, and strategic direction for franchisees. Understanding the long-term implications of this shift is crucial for anyone considering investing in a Burger King franchise.