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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Burger 21 Franchise

Burger 21 is a fast-casual “better burger” restaurant chain founded in Tampa, Florida, where its first location opened in 2010 and franchising began in 2011. The brand was created by Front Burner Brands, the Tampa operator behind The Melting Pot fondue restaurants, and trades on a chef-driven menu positioned a step above typical quick-service burger fare.

The concept centres on 21 signature burgers built from Certified Angus Beef alongside chicken, turkey, veggie, shrimp and tuna options, plus hand-breaded tenders, all-beef hot dogs, fresh salads, and a shake bar of hand-spun shakes, floats and sundaes. Gluten-free choices, rotating monthly specials and table-touch service round out a model aimed at guests wanting more variety than a standard burger counter.

Burger 21 runs a modest US footprint concentrated in Florida, with additional restaurants in Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia and New Mexico, operated through a mix of company-owned and franchised units. After rapid early growth, the network has since consolidated to a smaller base of established locations.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no Burger 21 resales available
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Why buy a Burger 21 Franchise?

Burger 21 offers a differentiated angle in a crowded category: a chef-led “better burger” menu with real breadth—beef, poultry, seafood and vegetarian builds plus a dedicated shake bar—giving a single location wider appeal than a one-note burger stand. That variety supports repeat visits and a broader guest and daypart mix.

The brand also carries the operational backing of Front Burner Brands, a multi-brand restaurant operator with decades of franchising experience, giving owners access to established systems, supplier relationships and a tested operating playbook rather than building from scratch.

Burger 21 Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $27,000 - $40,000

    • Initial Investment

      $428,247 - $1,085,164

    • Net Worth Requirement

      $600,000

    • Cash Requirement

      $250,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

  • Training & Support

    • 2 weeks on the job training

    • 4-6 weeks classroom training

    • Ongoing support

    • Marketing support

Burger 21 – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming Burger 21 owners are trained through four to six weeks of classroom instruction plus two weeks of on-the-job training. Ongoing support spans field operations visits, a purchasing co-op, supplier relationships, online resources, a toll-free support line, newsletters and franchisee conventions, with marketing delivered through co-op advertising, ad templates and regional campaigns. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training Burger 21 provides to incoming owners and whether trained staff stay on through the sale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Burger 21 is best suited to hands-on, operations-led restaurant owners comfortable running a full kitchen and front-of-house team to consistent quality standards. Foodservice or restaurant experience is preferred, and the model is built for both single-unit operators and multi-unit developers. Owners should be people-focused and service-driven—able to recruit, train and retain crew, manage food costs and margins, and uphold the brand's premium, guest-experience positioning in a competitive local market.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Burger 21 earned early industry attention as one of Entrepreneur's Top New Franchises in 2016 and appeared in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 listings through its growth years, recognised for helping define the "beyond the better burger" niche. It also carries the credibility of parent Front Burner Brands, the long-established operator behind The Melting Pot. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific location's local reputation, online reviews and community following, which drive day-to-day sales more directly than national rankings.

  4. Industry / Market

    Burger 21 competes in the US burger restaurant sector, which IBISWorld estimates at around $174 billion in 2025 after roughly 3.3% annual growth over the prior five years. Burgers remain among the most-ordered restaurant items in America, and the fast-casual "better burger" niche has drawn diners trading up from quick-service on quality and customisation. Demand is broad but locally driven, so for resale buyers the strength of a specific restaurant's trade area, traffic and nearby competition matters as much as category-wide trends.

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