Franchise funding
For franchisees running charbroiled-burger restaurants, freestanding or co-branded inside a travel center: what to fund and how the review reads it.
✓ Merchant Fund Express starts with a soft credit pull. Terms depend on your location's revenue and history.
Updated October 21, 2026 · Merchant Fund Express
Merchant Fund Express funds existing Carl's Jr. owners with working capital, equipment financing, business loans, lines of credit, revenue-based financing and merchant cash advances, from $25,000 to $5,000,000. Because many franchisees are on development schedules, we read open units' deposits after royalty, advertising and any host-site rent, and size payments around them. A complete file gets a same-day decision, and funding often follows the next business day.
Franchisees with open Carl's Jr. restaurants, from one store to a group on a multi-unit development schedule. The brand sells freestanding restaurants and co-branded units in travel centers and convenience stores, so one owner's stores can deposit very differently. The kitchen centers on the charbroiler, and CKE is pushing drive-thru technology, including AI order-taking.
Read this with the burger franchise sector guide and our restaurant funding overview.
Checked Oct 2026 against official sources: the franchisor's own franchising site, its FDD or SEC filings, or the SBA Franchise Directory. Figures change; confirm current numbers in the latest Franchise Disclosure Document. Figures we could not confirm from an official source are left out.
Already running a Carl's Jr. location and need capital? Merchant Fund Express funds existing franchise owners with every product below. Terms depend on the business's revenue and history.
The charbroiler defines the menu. Equipment financing on a quote replaces it; working capital covers repairs meanwhile. See repair or replace.
AI order-taking and outdoor menu boards cost money up front. Shorter-life tech fits shorter terms; see POS and tech upgrade funding.
Open restaurants carry the overhead while new ones come online. Pre-opening payroll is a common need; see second location funding.
| Need | Product | Published requirement it leans on | What to send |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charbroiler, fryers, refrigeration | Equipment financing | Vendor quote and useful life | Quote, 3 months of statements |
| Drive-thru AI and digital menu boards | Equipment financing or working capital | Quote; Tier 2: 6+ months, FICO 600+ | Quote, statements |
| Pre-opening payroll at the next unit | Working capital | Tier 2: $60K verifiable revenue, $800 minimum daily balance | Statements of open units |
| Reimage of an existing store | Business loan | Tier 1: 3+ years, FICO 650+, applicant owns 50%+ | Statements, contractor bid |
| Seasonal travel-center unit | Revenue-based financing | Tier 2; up to 2 current advances | Statements for that entity |
Tax returns are not part of a typical first review. Spanish-speaking support is available for owners and general managers.
Take one freestanding restaurant depositing $118,000 a month. Food and paper cost $36,000, payroll $34,000, royalty and advertising $11,000, rent $9,500 and existing payments $2,800. The owner wants drive-thru AI hardware and new outdoor menu boards quoted at $38,000.
Figures in this example are illustrations of the arithmetic, not an offer, quote or approval. Real terms depend on the file and the funder.
A first Carl's Jr. with no deposits yet needs operating history before Merchant Fund Express can review it; start with opening a restaurant franchise. If your current stores are open and depositing, they carry the review for the next opening under your schedule. Buying an operating store from another franchisee is covered on franchise transfer financing.
Yes, based on the restaurants already open. Their deposits carry the review; units still under construction have no history to read yet.
Yes, if the franchise entity has its own business account with regular deposits. We read how and when the host site settles sales to you.
Yes, on a vendor quote. Technology usually suits a shorter term than a charbroiler.
About three months per entity to start.
No. Merchant Fund Express is independent. We use the Carl's Jr. name only to identify the owners this page is for; it does not mean the franchisor endorses or works with us.
Merchant Fund Express is independent. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Carl's Jr. or its franchisor. Brand names identify the owner audience only.
Merchant Fund Express reviews your location's revenue, deposits and existing payments. Same-day decision on a complete file; funding often the next business day. About five minutes to apply.
