● HOLD

Jack in the Box

QSR · Est. 1951 · 2,200 US Locations
⚠️ SBA Default Rate: 5.4%📊 SBA Default Rate Data Available — Unlock
Ideal Investor: Single-unit West Coast operator
63
$515K – $1.1M
Total Investment
$20K
Franchise Fee
5.0%
Royalty Rate
2,200
US Units
QSR
Category
+1.5%
Growth Rate

What is Jack in the Box?

Founded in 1951, Jack in the Box operates 2,200 US locations emphasizing innovative menu items, late-night service, and value pricing. The brand has maintained relevance through menu diversity and operates across multiple daypart occasions.

Visit Jack in the Box franchise website

Investment & Fee Data

Investment Overview

Franchise Fee$20K
Total Investment$515K – $1.1M
Royalty Rate5.0%
Ad/Marketing Fund4.0%
Total Fee Burden9.0%

System Size & Growth

US Locations2,200
Unit Growth Rate+1.5%
Founded1951
Franchising Since1963
FDD Item 19Yes ✓

🔒 Premium Data Available

Avg Unit Volume (AUV)$1.7M
Owner Earnings$130K
SBA Default Rate5.4%
5-Year Survival93%
Unlock All Data →
💡 What This Means For You
The combined fee burden of 9.0% is within the industry average of 8-10%. Beyond the listed investment, expect approximately $183K in hidden costs (working capital, legal, insurance, tech fees) — bringing your realistic total closer to $965K.

Financial Performance & Risk Analysis

Financial Performance

Avg Unit Volume (AUV)$1.7M
Net Profit Margin13%
Est. Owner Earnings$130K
Breakeven18-24 months
Payback Period4-6 years

Capital Requirements & Operations

Liquid Capital Required$250K
Net Worth Required$750K
Staff Required20-35
Training8 weeks
TerritoryAssigned territory
Multi-Unit RequiredNo
Term Length20 years

Risk & SBA Safety Data

SBA Default Rate5.4%
5-Year Survival93%
Renewal Fee$5,000
Transfer Fee$5,000
💡 Financial Analysis
A revenue-to-investment ratio of 2.2x is solid and in line with industry norms. At estimated owner earnings of $130K/year, the simple payback period is approximately 6.0 years.
🔒

Premium Data

AUV, owner earnings, SBA default rates, breakeven analysis, and operational details for Jack in the Box.

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Due Diligence Deep Dive

The data franchise brokers don't show you — real costs, owner lifestyle, franchisee satisfaction, exit options, and FDD transparency.

💰 True Cost of Ownership

Working Capital (6 mo)$110K
Legal & Accounting$15K
Insurance (Annual)$12K
Tech/Software (Monthly)$800/mo
Lease Deposit Est.$25K
Grand Opening$15K
Total Hidden Costs$183K

👤 Owner Reality Check

Hours Per Week50-65
Absentee Owner Friendly?No ✗
Manager-Run Possible?Yes ✓
Seasonal VariationLow
Labor Cost (% of Revenue)33%
Owner-operator or manager-run. Menu complexity requires strong training program. 50-65 hours/week for hands-on owner.

📊 Franchisee Health

Satisfaction Score70/100 (Good)
Annual Turnover Rate5.8%
Litigation Count (Item 3)12 cases
5-Year Closure Rate5%
Avg Franchisee Tenure6 years
Franchisee AssociationYes ✓

🚪 Exit Strategy & Resale

Resale Value Multiple2.0-2.8xx earnings
Transfer RestrictionsFranchisor approval required
Non-Compete Period2 years
Non-Compete Radius5 miles
Avg Time to Sell9-15 months
Exit DifficultyModerate

📋 FDD Transparency Report

Item 19 QualityModerate
Item 19 Includes:
✓ Revenue ranges
✓ Operating costs
Territory ProtectionLimited
Territory assigned; limited exclusivity
Required Suppliers?Yes
Supplier Markup RiskLow
Renewal Terms20-year renewal possible

🚩 FDD Red Flags & Green Flags

⚠️ Watch Out For:
5.4% SBA default rateRegional concentration
✅ Positive Signals:
$1.7M AUV13% marginsEstablished system
🔍

Due Diligence Data

Hidden costs, owner hours, franchisee satisfaction, exit strategy, FDD red flags — the data that matters for Jack in the Box.

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AI Disruption Risk Assessment

⚠️ AI Disruption Risk: Moderate

48/100
AI-Proof Disruption Timeline: 5-10 years High Risk
Stable mid-term; monitor automation trends
AI Threats:
Kitchen automationOrder kiosk replacement of laborDelivery cannibalization
Defensive Moat:
Regional presence, menu variety
🤖

AI Risk Analysis

See how AI will impact Jack in the Box over the next 5-10 years — threats, moats, and disruption timeline.

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Territory Saturation Analysis

0.66
Units per 100K pop.
0.02x
Saturation Index
vs. QSR avg (27.06/100K)
48
States with Presence
Low Saturation
Jack in the Box has significant whitespace opportunity relative to its category.

Geographic Distribution

No units
High density

Most Saturated States

State Units Population Per 100K
Washington DC46671,0006.86
Vermont38645,0005.89
North Dakota43781,0005.51
Alaska36733,0004.91
Rhode Island501,095,0004.57

Least Saturated States

State Units Population Per 100K
California6139,029,0000.16
Texas9630,503,0000.31
Georgia3611,370,0000.32
North Carolina4210,849,0000.39
Florida9723,555,0000.41

Growth Opportunity States

High-population states where Jack in the Box has minimal or no presence — potential expansion territories.

New Mexico Nebraska Wyoming
🗺️

Premium Territory Intelligence

Interactive density heatmap, saturation metrics, and growth opportunities for Jack in the Box.

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Investment Thesis

Jack in the Box carries a HOLD signal with a FutureScore of 63/100. A regional QSR player with solid unit economics. $1.7M AUV and 13% margins make it viable. Limited geographic footprint and 1.5% growth mean steady-state opportunity, not growth play.

Ideal Investor Profile: Single-unit West Coast operator

Strengths

$1.7M AUV with 13% margins9% combined fees (reasonable)Established West Coast presenceMenu diversity (breakfast to late-night)

Risk Factors

Regional concentration (West Coast heavy)5.4% SBA default rate (moderate-high)Menu complexity = training burdenCompetition from premium burger chains

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