About MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Franchise
Mr.
Charlie's is a plant based fast food restaurant franchise that reimagines classic American drive thru favorites using entirely vegan ingredients.
The brand gained widespread attention for its creative takes on burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, and shakes, all made without animal products.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$280K
Average Investment
$491K
Maximum Investment
$702K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of Gross Sales | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $279,765 – $702,100 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $280K–$702K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (2% of Gross Sales) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Security Deposit | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Initial Training Expenses | $500 | $10,000 |
| Lease Deposit & 3 Months’ Rent | $12,000 | $80,000 |
| Architect Fees | $8,500 | $11,200 |
| Construction | $100,000 | $300,000 |
| Exterior & Interior Signage | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Décor | $9,000 | $20,000 |
| Technology Systems | $5,565 | $21,200 |
| Kitchen Equipment | $32,000 | $57,000 |
| Employee Uniforms | $600 | $1,500 |
| Opening Inventory | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $5,000 | $12,000 |
| Office Supplies | $500 | $900 |
| Utility Deposits | $3,500 | $5,000 |
| Business Licenses & Permits | $2,000 | $6,000 |
| Professional Fees | $5,000 | $16,000 |
| Insurance | $600 | $1,300 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $15,000 | $35,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 (Franchise Agreement), $10,000 (ADA) |
| Renewal Fee | Greater of $17,500 or 50% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | Varies (currently $150 per month for programming of Menu Screens) |
| Audit Fee | Actual cost of audit (including Travel Expenses for audit team) |
| Local Marketing Commitment | Greater of (a) 1% of monthly Gross Sales or (b) $500 per month |
| Cooperative Advertising Fee | Monthly amount set by us or the cooperative (not currently imposed) |
| Training Fee | Up to $500 per person per day (plus Travel Expenses for onsite training) |
| Conference Registration Fee | Up to $1,000 per person per conference (we do not currently intend to charge this fee but we reserve the right to do so) |
| System Program Fees | Varies (not currently charged) |
| Call Center Program | Reasonable setup and monthly fees charged by service provider or us, if we administer call center (not currently imposed) |
| Product Purchases | Varies depending on item purchased |
| New Product or Supplier Testing | Actual cost of inspection and testing, with $1,000 paid as a deposit (estimated to range from $100 to $1,000 per test) |
| Relocation Fee | $5,000 |
| Reimbursement of Quality Assurance Program Costs | Actual cost paid to company we hire |
| Reimbursement of Reinspection Costs | All Travel Expenses and other costs we incur to inspect your Restaurant |
| Late Fee | $100 plus default interest at lesser of (a) 18% per annum (prorated on daily basis) or (b) highest rate allowed by applicable law |
| Noncompliance fee | Up to $500 per incident |
| Default Reimbursements | All costs we incur to cure your default |
| Management Fee | $500 per day plus Travel Expenses |
| Indemnification | Amount of our damages, losses or expenses |
| Attorneys’ Fees and Costs | Amount of attorneys’ fees and costs we incur |
| Liquidated Damages | Up to 2 years of royalty and brand fund fees |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 5 to 7 days of training that takes place at a company-owned Restaurant... and up to 5 additional days of onsite training at your Restaurant. |
| Classroom Training | 44 |
| On-the-Job Training | 120 |
| Training Location | San Francisco or Los Angeles |
| Additional Training | We may offer periodic refresher or supplemental training courses for your Managing Owner and management personnel. You may also request that we provide additional training (either at our corporate headquarters or at your Restaurant). We are not required to provide additional training you request. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | 3-mile radius from your Restaurant or geographic area comprised by the Captive Venue |
| Description | We will grant you a territory that includes the geographic area within a 3-mile radius from your Restaurant. However, if your Restaurant is located within a Captive Venue (a non-traditional outlet within another establishment or facility), then your territory will be limited to the geographic area comprised by the Captive Venue. Upon renewal, we reserve the right to modify the boundaries of your territory in accordance with our then-current territory guidelines and criteria. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Fee | Greater of $17,500 or 50% of then-current initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | You must: not be in default; give us timely notice; sign then-current form of franchise agreement; sign general release (subject to state law); pay renewal fee; remodel Restaurant and upgrade furniture, fixtures and equipment to current standards; and extend lease term. |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee must: meet our qualifications; successfully complete training (or arrange to do so); obtain required licenses and permits; agree to assume your obligations under agreements relating to the Business; sign then-current form of franchise agreement for remainder of term or, at our option, assume your Franchise Agreement; and remodel Restaurant and upgrade furniture, fixtures and equipment to current standards within 1 year of Transfer or such shorter period of time we specify. You must: be in compliance with Franchise Agreement; assign lease (if applicable); pay transfer fee; subordinate transferee’s ongoing payments owed to you (if any) to transferee’s financial obligations owed to us; and sign general release (subject to state law). We must notify you that we will not exercise our right of first refusal. |
| Termination for Cause | The franchisor may terminate the agreement for reasons including insolvency, bankruptcy, seizure of assets, failure to complete training, failure to open on time, abandonment, conviction of certain crimes, violation of material law, acts adversely affecting reputation, health or safety hazards, material misrepresentation, underreporting Gross Sales by 2% or more, unauthorized transfers, unauthorized use of intellectual property, breach of brand protection covenants, failure to notify of reportable events, breach of representations, breach of Franchise Owner Agreement, lease termination due to default, three or more default notices in 12 months, or termination of other agreements due to default. Cure periods vary from 24 hours to 30 days depending on the default type, with some defaults being non-curable. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | No involvement for 2 years in a competing business operated from the Restaurant site or from any location within 10 miles of your Restaurant or any other Restaurant that is open or under development at the time. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | You must designate an owner with overall responsibility for the management and operation of your Restaurant (the “Managing Owner”). The Managing Owner must: (a) be approved by us; (b) successfully complete all training programs we require; (c) dedicate full-time efforts to the Business; and (d) at all times hold at least a 20% ownership interest in the Business (or the entity that is the franchisee under the Franchise Agreement) unless we waive this requirement. The Managing Owner is not required to provide onsite management of your Restaurant as long as a general manager is onsite. |
| Required Suppliers | You must purchase or lease certain “source-restricted” goods and services for the development and operation of your Restaurant. By “source-restricted”, we mean the good or service must meet our specifications and/or must be purchased from an approved or designated supplier (in some cases, an exclusive designated supplier, which may be us or an affiliate). |
| Supply Restrictions | We are currently the exclusive designated supplier for: employee uniforms; branded merchandise, apparel and packaging; and programming services for digital menus screens. We may designate ourselves as an approved or designated supplier for other items in the future. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | We and our affiliates may generate a profit from these purchases. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, neither we nor any affiliate of ours generated any revenue as a result of franchisee purchases or leases of goods or services from designated or approved suppliers (including purchases from us or our affiliates). |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee any of your notes, leases or obligations. |
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Franchise Earnings — Item 19
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Litigation & Risk Flags
1 Pending Action ListedReview the full FDD for details on pending litigation.
Bankruptcy History DisclosedA bankruptcy disclosure is present in this FDD.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME System Growth
Total Units
2
Franchised
0
Company-Owned
2
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME currently operates 0 franchised locations and 2 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 14 states: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Total Assets
$203K
Audited by Metwally CPA PLLC for year ending December 31st.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME franchise ranges from $279,765 to $702,100, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $35,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 2% of Gross Sales contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME has been franchising since 2024. The FDD shows an investment range of $279,765-$702,100, a 5% of Gross Sales royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There are 1 pending litigation action(s). Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $35,000 and the total investment ranges from $279,765 to $702,100 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $54,600 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
Similar Food & Beverage Franchises
Interested in MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME?
Get free info on this franchise. We will send you a detailed FDD report by email.
Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with MR. CHARLIE’S TOLD ME or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com