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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Charleys Cheesesteaks Franchise

Charleys Cheesesteaks is a fast-casual franchise built around made-to-order Philly cheesesteaks, gourmet fries, boneless and classic wings, and real-fruit lemonades. Founded in 1986 near The Ohio State University campus, the brand began franchising in 1991 and has since grown into one of the most recognized names in the QSR sandwich segment, with a loyal consumer following built over four decades.

The franchise operates across multiple location formats, including food court kiosks, in-line strip mall units, freestanding drive-thru locations, airports, military bases, travel plazas, and co-branded convenience store sites. This format flexibility has helped build a network of more than 850 locations across the United States and in over 17 countries.

Charleys differentiates through open-grill preparation: all food is cooked fresh in front of customers using 100% USDA choice steak and all-white meat chicken. A loyalty program with more than one million members supports repeat business, and the Charleys Kids Foundation reflects the brand’s community commitment through youth education and mentorship.

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Why buy a Charleys Cheesesteaks Franchise?

Charleys Cheesesteaks holds a distinctive position in the QSR market: cheesesteaks and wings remain under-represented compared with burgers, pizza, and Mexican concepts, giving established units a competitive profile that stands apart in most local markets. The brand’s 40-plus-year operating history has produced streamlined systems, and national brand recognition carries consumer awareness into local markets from the start.

The multi-format location model is relevant for buyers: food court, strip mall, and drive-thru units represent meaningfully different traffic profiles, lease structures, and staffing considerations. Third-party delivery is integrated across the network, adding a revenue channel that does not require additional premises. To buy a Charleys Cheesesteaks franchise means acquiring a well-established operating system with a long franchise track record behind it.

Charleys Cheesesteaks Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1986

    • Franchising Since

      1990

    • New Startup Cost

      $202,690 – $1,004,447

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $24,500

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Sales or $300/week min

    • Marketing Fee

      3–4%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      826

    • New Units Opened *

      45

    • Units Transferred *

      47

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $845,372

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Charleys Cheesesteaks – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Franchisees complete 55 hours of classroom training and 95 hours of on-the-job training as part of an initial three-week in-person programme at a franchise location, covering operations, inventory management, POS system use, team leadership, and customer service. Ongoing support includes field visits, performance coaching, and marketing assistance through the brand's national loyalty program infrastructure. Buyers of an existing Charleys unit should confirm what initial transfer training and POS system access are available when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The strongest fit for a Charleys Cheesesteaks franchise is an operator comfortable managing staff in a high-volume, counter-service food environment. Restaurant experience is not required; the training programme is designed for owners entering from outside the industry. Comfort with shift staffing, inventory oversight, and customer-facing operations is still important. Multi-unit ownership is common within the Charleys network; operators interested in building scale will find the streamlined operating model well-suited to expansion. For resale buyers, retaining existing staff and local customer routines through the ownership transition is key to sustaining unit performance.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings was ranked #58 on Entrepreneur's 2025 Franchise 500 list and was inducted into the Franchise 500 Hall of Fame in 2025 after 32 consecutive years of ranking (one of the longest continuous records in the programme's history). The brand also appears on the Franchise Times Top 400, which tracks the largest franchise systems in the US by revenue. For resale buyers, this depth of recognition across major franchise indices provides a useful indicator of system stability and the brand's long-term presence in the fast-casual category.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US sandwich and sub restaurant industry generates approximately $46.2 billion in annual revenue, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 2.0% according to IBISWorld. Consumer demand for customizable, made-to-order meals and the ongoing expansion of third-party delivery support steady category demand. QSR and fast casual concepts have proved broadly resilient across economic cycles, benefiting from routine lunch and convenience dining occasions. For resale buyers, unit performance within the Charleys network reflects both brand-level demand and location-specific factors: food court, airport, and c-store units each carry different traffic drivers and visit patterns.

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