Opening a restaurant: Germany ranks seventh in EU comparison

Germany ranks seventh for the conditions for opening a restaurant in a comparison of 20 EU markets. This was reported by Tageskarte on 23 September 2026, citing the Restaurant Launch Report from Metro Marktplatz. For franchisors and prospective franchisees considering Germany, the findings provide a broad point of reference. When making decisions about individual restaurants, however, the assessment categories and the limitations of the available information matter more than the ranking alone.

What the comparison says about Germany

Alongside the seventh-place ranking, the available coverage gives two scores: Germany receives 99.9 points for “Competition and property” and 36.9 points for “Business set-up and staffing”. The summary therefore presents two markedly different figures covering different aspects of opening a restaurant.

The ranking places Germany within the 20 EU markets studied. It should not, however, be taken as a comparison covering every European country. Nor does it indicate how attractive a particular city, premises or restaurant concept might be. The ranking relates to a country-level comparison, not a site assessment.

This distinction is essential for franchisors and prospective franchisees: a national comparison can provide an initial framework for exploring a market. It does not yet answer the question of the conditions under which a particular restaurant could open there.

The scores need methodological context

Each of the two assessment categories brings together different topics. “Competition and property” combines market conditions with questions about suitable premises. “Business set-up and staffing” covers other factors relevant to establishing a restaurant business. The available report extract does not explain how the individual components are defined, measured or weighted.

Nor does it explain the scale or precisely how it should be interpreted. It would therefore be premature to read the 99.9-point score as evidence of low rents or limited competition. Equally, the 36.9-point score does not, on its own, establish anything about specific approval times, staffing costs or difficulties filling vacancies.

The figures should not be presented as percentages either. They are reported as points. Without the underlying methodology, it is not possible to calculate the likelihood of a new business succeeding or to say how many times better conditions are in one category than in the other.

The substantiated findings are therefore clearly defined: Germany ranks seventh in the comparison studied, and two different scores have been published for named assessment categories.

What questions arise for franchise projects

For those involved in franchising, the comparison can serve as a prompt to prepare a structured site assessment. The topics named in the report can provide starting points for questions, rather than ready-made answers. What is the competitive landscape in the catchment area? Which premises would suit the concept? What requirements must be met before opening? And what should the staffing plan look like?

These questions are practical considerations drawn from the named topics, not additional findings from the study. The distinction matters: the available summary of the report provides no information on how individual franchise brands perform or which operating format might offer the best prospects of success.

It also lacks regional comparisons. It therefore provides no basis for favouring particular German federal states or cities. Anyone choosing between several sites needs information about the individual properties and local conditions. The national ranking can complement that assessment, but cannot replace it.

Discussions between franchisors and prospective franchisees should therefore draw a clear distinction between the general assessment of the German market on the one hand, and the verifiable assumptions and supporting documents for the specific project on the other.

A guide, not a forecast for new openings

The seventh-place ranking is news about Germany’s position in a particular comparison. It is neither a forecast for the development of franchising in Germany nor a guarantee that new restaurants will be commercially successful. The available information also does not establish any change from previous years, as no comparable figure for the preceding year is given.

A more detailed assessment would require, in particular, the methodology, the weighting of the criteria and the underlying data. Only with that context would it be possible to judge more precisely what the individual scores mean for a specific expansion plan.

Practical takeaway: Use the ranking as a guide, avoid overinterpreting the scores and support every site decision with your own local information. For franchise projects, the real assessment begins where the country comparison ends.