Franchises

Franchises in South Africa: fees and investment

Updated 7 November 2026

On this page: prices

A fast-food franchise in South Africa starts with an upfront fee of about R 50,000 to R 250,000, and the average total investment is R 1.9 million to R 2.9 million. Across sectors, investment generally starts around R 500,000 and can exceed R 1 million. The exact figure depends on the brand, the store format and the city, so for current offers describe the sector and budget on BlaBlaPrice.

What the upfront fee does and does not cover

The upfront fee is only part of the cost. One listing describes the joining fee as a one-time fee for the brand licence, and another puts the set-up cost of a standard fast-food store at about R 2.24 million. Working capital of R 150,000 is recommended on top of the fee in one example. The royalty is a share of turnover, so the ongoing cost rises with sales. Ask the franchisor for a written breakdown of every amount before you compare two franchises.

Rules and fees to check

A franchise agreement gives the franchisee the right to carry on business within a specific area of South Africa, so check the territory written into the contract. Franchise fees are often quoted excluding VAT, so ask whether the figure you compare includes it. Opening a business also brings licence fees, usually R 30 to R 250, an annual return fee of R 100 and annual CIPC fees, so budget for them too.

Season and timing

Summer runs from December to February and winter from June to August, so a store opened in November trades through winter in its first year. Plan the first year across both seasons, and ask the franchisor how stores in cities like yours performed in each.

What to put in your request

Name the sector, the investment you can cover, the city where you want to open (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria or Gqeberha) and the premises you need in square metres. Say how much business experience you have, whether you want franchisor support with training and marketing, and the payback period you expect, so that sellers reply with terms that fit.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the franchise you are looking for in your own words in a chat, and you can add a photo. Sellers reply in the chat with their offer: the fee, the terms and the support they give. Your contact details stay hidden until you choose which seller to exchange them with, and you can send your request link to a franchisor you already know. Start with businesses for sale or create a request on the home page.