Burger King

About Burger King

Burger King is a global quick-service restaurant brand dating back to 1953 and headquartered in Miami. The business began franchising in 1959, expanding internationally from 1963, and opened its first UK franchise in 1977. Its UK estate was reported at approximately 561 restaurants, including 285 company-operated sites, in the information supplied.

Burger King UK is pursuing further expansion, particularly through drive-thru restaurants, alongside smaller urban formats and digital ordering improvements. In December 2025, the business outlined plans to open around 30 restaurants annually from 2026, with roughly 80% of the following year’s openings expected to be drive-thrus. It subsequently announced £60m of funding in April 2026 to support new openings and growth. The brand favours franchise partners with ambitions to develop multiple restaurants and provides structured selection, training and opening support.

Why franchise with Burger King

• ✓Established global burger brand with decades of UK franchising experience and wide consumer recognition.
• ✓Multi-unit franchise development is encouraged, offering scope for ambitious operators to expand.
• ✓Drive-thru expansion is a central UK priority, supported by an established property pipeline.
• ✓Franchise partners undertake a structured 15-week training programme before restaurant opening.
• ✓Opening support includes in-restaurant coaching, staff training and pre-launch assistance.
• ✓The brand is investing in new restaurants, digital ordering and operational improvements.

Investment breakdown

Minimum investment	£250,000
Maximum investment	£800,000
Franchise fee	£42,951
Management service fee	5% of total sales
Marketing contribution	5% of total sales
Agreement term	20 years

What's expected of a franchisee

Property requirements

Burger King UK is prioritising drive-thru locations for new restaurant development while continuing to explore smaller urban formats. Site suitability depends on location, size, access and the proposed operating model. Prospective franchisees undergo a pre-qualification assessment covering their proposed site, available assets and suitability for the brand. Specific minimum floor areas, frontage requirements and parking specifications were not provided in the supplied information.

Training and support

Selected Burger King franchise partners complete a 15-week training programme before opening. The wider application and development process, including pre-qualification and interviews, is expected to take around 12 months to the first restaurant opening. Support includes in-restaurant coaching, additional staff training, pre-opening assistance and help during the restaurant launch. Franchisees must be prepared to follow the brand’s established operating approach.

Operational requirements

Burger King franchisees are expected to operate restaurants in line with the brand’s standards, managing staff, service delivery and day-to-day performance. The business is placing increased emphasis on drive-thru operations, digital ordering and efficient delivery collection, including reducing driver waiting times. Partners should be able to maintain consistent customer experiences and support ongoing operational improvements. Detailed contractual operating requirements were not supplied.

Experience required

Burger King is particularly interested in franchise partners who intend to develop multiple restaurants. Applicants are assessed through a pre-qualification questionnaire covering their proposed site, available assets and suitability to work with the brand, followed by several interview stages. A minimum investment of £250,000 is expected. The supplied information does not specify mandatory previous restaurant experience or minimum net worth beyond the stated investment requirement.

Territory availability

Gallery