Invest in Proven High-Volume Performance
Award-Winning MeltBurgers. Exceptional Unit Economics. Built for Serious Multi-Unit Operators.
Key stats
- Average Unit Volume: $3.45M+ (company stores, full-year 2025, mean)
- Top 1/3 Tier Stores: Over $5M AUV (mean) and median average of over $4.75M+
- Prime Cost Control: COGS ~29–30% | Labor ~25–26% (industry-leading efficiency)
- Late-Night Power: Nearly 40% of sales after 8 PM via Melt After Dark
- Delivery Strength: Significant portion of sales, Top Tier at 43.1%, average of 38.4%
Why Experienced Operators Should Choose The Melt
High-Volume, Multi-Daypart Engine
Our company restaurants deliver median AUV over $3M, with a mean AUV over $3.4M+, and top performers exceeding $5–6M. Strong lunch, dinner, and a differentiated Melt After Dark program drives nearly 40% of sales after 8 PM—turning slow nights into profit centers most fast-casual brands miss.
Best-in-Class Cost Structure
Prime costs remain tightly controlled: COGS averages ~29.6% and total labor ~25.5% across measured stores—even at high volume. This efficiency, paired with a simplified kitchen (no complex equipment), supports strong EBITDAR and scalability for multi-unit growth.
Delivery & Off-Premise Momentum
Delivery represents a meaningful and growing share of sales (with strong margins after fees), complementing in-store traffic and extending reach without added complexity.
Proven, Operator-Friendly Model
Small footprint, streamlined operations, premium check average (~$24.45), and a craveable menu (Angus & Wagyu melts, more than just burgers) create repeatable success in high-density markets. Average check is much higher depending on revenue channel.
Investment Snapshot
- Required Liquid Capital: $300,000+
- Opportunity: Multi-unit development for qualified operators
- Next Step: Serious inquiries receive the full FDD and detailed 2025 performance substantiation during discovery.
Realistic Investment for a Premium Concept
Our 19 corporate stores were built in California’s high-cost construction market with a quality-first focus. Franchise builds will use refined, cost-optimized prototypes for more typical markets, targeting the lower end of Item 7 ($1,377,166 total estimated investment). ~$300,000 liquid capital guideline.
19 Corporate Stores = De-Risked Model for Franchisees
We intentionally perfected the concept with 19 corporate locations before launching franchising. Item 19 provides detailed financial transparency most new franchisors cannot offer. While we have zero franchise units yet, our corporate execution is battle-tested and our training/support systems are ready to help franchisees succeed from day one.
Important Considerations
- Early-stage franchising (no franchise units yet) – mitigated by deep corporate proof and robust training/opening support.
- Standard restaurant industry risks (labor, food costs, competition).
- How we reduce them: small footprint, streamlined kitchen, Item 19 visibility, and an experienced corporate team.
- In FDD Section Item 3, the FDD discloses that no litigation of any kind has been experienced.
Full details and risks are disclosed in the 2026 FDD.
Franchise Fees and Expenses
Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee is $40,000 for each restaurant. This fee is payable upon signing the franchise agreement.
Franchisees are required to enter into a development agreement that requires them to develop an agreed number of franchises (typically five). A $20,000 fee for each franchised restaurant must be paid upon signing the development agreement. This fee will be credited against the $40,000 franchise fee for each developed restaurant.
Ongoing Fees: Detailed in the 2026 FDD, The Melt franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:
| Type of Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 5% of gross sales/week |
| Advertising Fund Fee | 2.5% of gross sales/week |
| Advertising Cooperatives | Up to 2% of gross sales/week |
| Technology Fee (Franchisor) | $500/month |
| Technology Fee (Suppliers/Vendors) | $1,623 - $1,653/month |
| Marketing and Technology Fees | $599/month |
ROI Potential: According to the 2026 FDD, the 14 affiliate restaurants operating for the entirety of FY 2025 reported the following annual gross sales:
| Band | Average | Median | High | Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top 1/3 (5) | $5,032,438 | $4,746,735 | $6,119,036 | $3,718,018 |
| Middle 1/3 (5) | $3,069,331 | $3,020,383 | $3,424,488 | $2,801,723 |
| Bottom 1/3 (4) | $1,961,644 | $2,015,258 | $2,052,451 | $1,763,608 |
| Total (14) | $3,453,958 | $3,066,113 | $6,119,036 | $1,763,608 |
Basic Restaurant Layout and Kitchen Design
The Melt Simplified Kitchen
Clamshell Grills
Two Fryers
Two Impingers
One Shake Machine
Refrigerated Sandwich Table
Standard Kitchen Line