If you’re considering owning a franchise, one of your most important questions is likely: How much can I expect to earn? The answer is that franchise owner salary isn’t always straightforward.How Much Do Franchise Owners Make?
The average franchise owner earns between $50,000 and $100,000 per year, but the amount can vary depending on the brand, industry, and your level of involvement in day-to-day operations. For example, a well-known fast food franchise may generate higher revenue due to brand recognition and customer traffic. Still, it can also come with higher fees, staffing, and operating costs. Alternatively, service-based franchises often have lower overhead and fewer fixed costs, which can improve margins, especially for owners who remain very hands-on and involved. Ultimately, your earnings will depend on how these factors balance out.
It’s also important to be clear about the term “salary,” as it can be misleading. Franchise owners don’t always receive a fixed paycheck like traditional employees. Instead, they take home income through a combination of owner’s draws, direct salary (if they’re on payroll), and dividends (if the business is incorporated).
If you run the business yourself, your earnings might be higher than if you hire a manager to oversee operations. For instance, an owner of a fitness franchise who works full-time might be able to take home more than a semi-absentee owner who pays a general manager $60,000–$80,000 per year to run the business.
How Franchise Owners Get Paid
Franchise owner salary and how you will get paid will depend on how hands-on you are. Passive owners who hire a manager and rarely work in the business frequently see smaller take-home amounts. This is due to the expense of payroll and other operational costs. Active owners might take home a salary and collected profits, equating to a much larger compensation amount.
Franchise owner salary is determined in a few different ways:
- Net Profit or Owner’s Draw: After all expenses (including employee wages, rent, royalties, marketing fees, and supplies), whatever is left is business profit. You can draw from this amount regularly or take distributions. This is the most common form of income.
- Owner Salary: Some owners choose to be on payroll and receive a regular salary like other employees. This can make income more predictable and easier to manage. However, taking a salary too early, especially before your business turns a profit, can strain cash flow.
- Dividends or Equity Payouts: For owners with multiple locations or large-scale operations, dividends may be paid out of the company earnings. This is less common but more typical in corporate franchise groups.
Factors That Influence Franchise Owner Earnings
Earning potential isn’t set in stone. Figures can vary by franchise brand and performance. The key is to remember that ownership income isn’t just about sales but about expense management and involvement.
Factors that influence franchise owner earnings include:
- Industry: Depending on the franchise, some require higher startup investments and can have high or low margins. Similarly, others have lower overhead and can have high or low margins. These factors vary depending on industry, startup costs, margin, revenue, ongoing costs, etc.
- Franchise Brand and Location: Some brands will be more profitable than others and your geographic location will matter. Higher traffic areas can bring in more revenue, but also come with increased costs.
- Timeline and Profitability: It could take up to one to three years to reach breakeven. During this period, your take-home amount can be minimal or even non-existent. If you reinvest all earnings and don’t take a salary, you will move up the timeline for breakeven.
- Involvement: A highly involved owner who works 40+ hours per week can see higher earnings than someone running a business semi-passively.
- Structure and Tax Strategy: How you set up your franchise entity (LLC, S-Corp, etc.) and pay yourself will impact your bottom line. Work closely with your CPA to structure compensation in a way that supports your goals.
Franchise Owner Salary: A Quick Comparison
| Franchise Owner Salary: A Quick Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ownership Type | Income Source | Estimated Take-Home Pay |
| Active Owner | Salary + Profits | $75,000–$125,000 |
| Passive Owner | Profits (after paying manager) | $40,000–$80,000 |
| Multi-Unit Owner | Dividends + Salary | $100,000+ |
What Should You Expect?
Franchise ownership can replace and exceed salary in the best case scenarios, but it will take time, effort, and planning. In early phases, you can earn less than you desire. However, with the right franchise structure, a great location, and support, you can earn well above the average in the long run.
If you have questions about franchise owner salary, how to transition out of your current job, or how to evaluate your options, contact us today! We have years of experience advising our clients on how to choose the right franchise for their needs and requirements.
