Panera Bread Franchise Analysis

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Made the Grade

Panera Bread is a Franchise Grade Made The Grade™ franchise, which means it's ranked well by our analysts.

Franchise Info

Panera Bread Bakery-Cafes specialize in the retail sale of fresh bakery goods, sandwiches, soups, salads, and custom-roasted coffees.

What is the upfront requirements to own an Panera Bread franchise?

Panera Bread has a franchise fee of up to $35,000, with a overall upfront investment range from $1,059,915 to $3,606,025.

  • Initial Franchise Fee: $35,000
  • Total Investment: $1,059,915 to $3,606,025
  • Working Capital: $175,000 to $245,000
  • Royalty Fee: 5.0%

The upfront purchase price of any franchise opportunity includes many fees. Check out this franchise opportunity to better understand the initial costs required to buy an Panera Bread, such as franchise fees, leasehold improvement costs, pre-opening advertising, and technology fees. It should be noted that, franchisors must to provide you with details about all upfront fees. These fees include those that are actually paid when signing the franchise agreement and commitments to fees you are required to pay.

Can you Afford This Franchise. Complete our Affordability Calculator to find out!

How much does an Panera Bread franchisee make?

As with any new franchised business, the franchise owner's salary and the revenue from a Panera Bread business depends on many factors. One way to confirm the potential revenues or profits earned from a Panera Bread franchise investment is to review the franchisor's Item 19 within their FDD. Typically, profits and owner's salary are equitable to the size of the investment and number of locations you own. Demand for your products, the labor costs, commercial lease rates and several other variables also play a large role in your bottom line and your personal salary

For additional information and franchise specific on the revenue of an Panera Bread franchise opportunity, unlock this franchise

How many franchise locations does Panera Bread franchise system have?

As of the 2016 Franchise Disclosure Document, there are 1,045 franchised Panera Bread locations throughout the USA.

Did you know there are over 3,000 franchise opportunities across the United States. More than 80% have less than 10 locations.

Are there any Panera Bread franchise opportunities in my area?

Based on 2016 FDD data, Panera Bread has franchise locations in 38 states. There may be no locations in several states as each franchise plans their growth strategy differently. Certain states also require franchise companies to register their franchise opportunity and file their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) with state examiners prior to awarding franchise opportunities to residents in that state. These registration states have examiners review a franchise company's FDD to confirm it satisfies state regulatory requirements. In addition to registration states, additional states have enacted supplemental franchise or business opportunity laws that require franchise companies to file their franchise within the state. In most instances the filing is simply a notice with the state. Unlike franchise registration states, the franchise filing states do not review the FDD.

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Based on our research Panera Bread is expanding into new markets and might be available near you. While planning your franchise purchase, you always need to be considering what is a good location for my business. Review the potential customer base to assess that your city has a need or customers for this franchise. Even the most popular franchises have states that they are not successful in. The reasons why a specific franchised location can fail are plentiful. You need to analyze not only the franchised business itself, but review locations where you believe it has a more profitable opportunity.

One of our franchise advisors will have detailed knowledge about this franchise opportunity. Unlock to learn more and connect with our experts.

Last Reviewed: 2016

Panera Bread Franchise INFORMATION

Total Investment
$1,059,915 - $3,606,025
Franchise Fee
$35,000
Franchise agreement
Initial Term
20 Years
Renewal Term
20 Years
Franchise outlet growth
2013
881
2015
1,045
Ongoing fees
Royalty
5.0%
ad fees
3.0%
# of franchised outlets
1,045

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Does this opportunity provide any initial training and opening assistance?

Yes, they have an initial training program of 891 hours. This includes 96 hours of classroom training, 795 hours of on-the-job training, and N/A hours of online training. In their FDD they outline who's in charge of the training. Unlock to find out more.


Online N/A
On-the-Job 795
Classroom 96
Total 891

Does this opportunity offer Territory Rights?

Panera Bread offers territory protections. For an explanation of territory rights, unlock this franchise for important details.

Do they have computer and technology support in place?

Yes, Panera Bread offers comprehensive support for franchisees. Unlock this franchise to find out more.


How long ago did Panera Bread begin franchising?

They began franchising in 1993. The average Subs, Sandwiches, Soups and Salads franchise began franchising in 2005.


Do they offer lending options?

No, but you can click here to fill out our affordability calculator and understand your financing options.

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  • How much do franchise owners historically earn?
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  • Is this brand affiliated with any other franchise brands or private equity investment groups?
  • How many new outlets have they sold within the last 5 years?
  • How many franchised outlets have closed within the last 5 years?
  • How many new outlets have they sold in the last 5 years?
  • How many franchised outlets have terminated within the last 5 years?
  • Does this brand operate any corporate or affiliate owned outlets?
  • How long is their initial and renewal term lengths?
  • Do you have a legal dispute resolution process?
  • How long has the franchisor been in business?
  • Are they actively selling franchises in the US?
  • How often are royalties and advertising fees paid to the franchisor?
  • How are territories defined?
  • What support can you expect to receive from the franchisor?
  • Why has new franchisee growth been so low?
  • What are the critical requirements for managing a successful franchised location in this brand?
  • Are you required to work as an owner-operator or is this a passive franchise opportunity?
  • Will they refund any upfront fees under certain circumstances?
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