Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Carl's Jr. vs Hardee's
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #51
Carl's Jr.
Charbroiled Thickburgers
Feast on the Flavors
Parent Holding:CKE Restaurants (Roark Capital)
Contender 2Rank #43
Hardee's
Thickburgers & Hand-Crafted Biscuits
Feed Your Happy
Parent Holding:CKE Restaurants (Roark Capital)
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Carl's Jr. | Hardee's | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.76M | $4.77M | Hardee's (+0%) |
| Active Store Locations | 992 | 1,485 | Hardee's (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $2.20M – $4.80M | $2.20M – $4.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $750k | $750k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 4.5% | 4.5% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.0% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $4.70B | $7.10B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Carl's Jr.:Brink POS (PAR Technology)
Hardee's:Brink POS (PAR Technology)
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Carl's Jr.:Brink KDS
Hardee's:Brink KDS
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Carl's Jr.:0% (0 stores)
Hardee's:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Carl's Jr.:0% (0 stores)
Hardee's:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.