Can You Buy a Raising Cane’s Franchise in 2025? Costs & Availability Explained

Category: News

Can You Own a Raising Cane’s Franchise in 2025?

Short answer: No.

Raising Cane’s is a well-known fast food restaurant chain. It serves fried chicken fingers and focuses on drive-thru service. While Raising Cane’s does have franchise locations, the brand is not awarding new franchises. They have made it clear that they’re focused on growing through company-owned restaurants only.

Their official statement:

“We are not entertaining franchise or development opportunities at this time.”

So if you’re looking to open a Cane’s location, it’s not going to happen right now.

Historical Franchise Costs (for Reference)

If Raising Cane’s ever reopens franchising, these were the general requirements:

Initial Franchise Fee: $45,000
Total Investment: $768,000 to $1.9 million
Royalty Fee: 5%
Marketing Fee: 4%
Net Worth Required: $1.5 million
Liquid Capital: $750,000

Many franchisees in the fast food chains category use an SBA loan or other financing options to help cover the initial investment and working capital requirements. These numbers give you a benchmark for building your business plan, but they’re not currently actionable.

Fun Facts about Raising Canes history

Raising Cane’s was founded by Todd Graves in Baton Rouge, with the first location opening on Highland Road, a site now known as “The Mothership.”
The name “Raising Cane” comes from Graves’ beloved dog, Cane, who became a memorable part of the franchise brand’s identity and logo.
Before starting Raising Cane’s, Graves worked at an oil refinery and spent time fishing for sockeye salmon in Alaska, experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial journey.

How Much Does a Raising Cane’s Make?

Raising Cane’s is known for huge average unit volume:

Average Unit Volume (AUV): Estimated around $5–6 million
2023 Revenue: $3.3 billion
2024 Goal: $5 billion+ systemwide
Typical Profit Estimates: $500K+ per location (internal estimates)

This puts them among the top performers in the QSR space right behind Chick-fil-A in terms of AUV.

The profitability for a Raising Cane's franchise owner or Raising Cane's franchisee depends on factors such as the cost of opening a Raising Cane's restaurant, the specific Raising Cane's location, and operational efficiency. The popularity of Raising Cane's as a fast food restaurant brand contribute to the impressive financial results.

What Should Prospective Franchisees Do

If you were hoping to invest in Raising Cane’s, your best option is to consider similar established brands.

Some top alternatives:

Layne’s Chicken Fingers (similar menu, still franchising)
Dave’s Hot Chicken (fast-growing with strong financials)
Huey Magoo’s (chicken tenders-focused with franchise support)

Final Thoughts

Raising Cane’s is one of the strongest restaurant brands in the QSR space, but it’s currently closed to new franchise development. If they ever reopen, it will be extremely competitive. Until then, you’re better off exploring other franchise opportunities that offer strong support, open territories, and a proven franchise system for growth.

Want help becoming a business owner?

Schedule a free call to explore high-performing food and non-food franchises available now.