Five Guys grows in Spain with company-owned restaurants, not franchises

Five Guys continues to expand its presence in Spain, but its growth does not offer an opportunity for prospective franchisees to join the business. The burger chain recorded turnover of €105.9 million in 2025, up 10.3%, and all 43 of its Spanish restaurants remain company-operated. Sales growth contrasted with a sharp fall in net profit.

Higher sales, but lower net profit

According to an article published by L’Express Franchise on 17 September 2026, citing figures attributed to Spanish business newspaper Expansión, Five Guys exceeded €100 million in annual turnover in Spain for the first time in 2025. Revenue reached €105.9 million, an increase of 10.3% on the previous financial year.

Profit followed a different trajectory. Net profit stood at almost €700,000, compared with €4.16 million a year earlier. Increased trading activity therefore did not translate into an improved bottom line for the Spanish subsidiary.

The available information does not explain the reasons for this decline. It does not establish whether new openings, specific costs or investment decisions were responsible. The conclusion supported by the figures is narrower: Five Guys sold more in Spain during 2025, but ended the year with considerably lower net profit.

For those assessing restaurant franchise opportunities, this distinction matters. Turnover and profit answer different questions, and growth in the former is not enough to establish a business’s profitability.

A network of 43 company-operated restaurants

The subsidiary Five Guys Spain operates 43 restaurants in Spain, all company-run, according to the report. This distinction is essential: a brand’s presence across several cities and its intention to keep growing do not mean that it offers franchises.

In this case, the information is explicit: it is not currently possible to open a Five Guys franchise in Spain. Its expansion plans should therefore be understood as the development of a company-owned network, not an invitation to prospective franchisees.

For anyone comparing franchise opportunities, the news is also a reminder of a basic check: confirm a brand’s operating model before considering it as a potential investment. Brand recognition and the availability of franchise opportunities are separate matters.

Andalusia, the Balearic Islands and a move into airports

During 2025, Five Guys opened three restaurants in Spain, with a particular focus on Andalusia. For 2026, the report says the chain will continue adding sites across several Spanish regions, including the Balearic Islands.

The expansion also includes a move into airports. According to the report, dated September, the company opened a restaurant at Barcelona’s El Prat Airport in August 2026, adding an airport location to its Spanish network.

The source does not provide a full schedule of forthcoming openings or a confirmed total for 2026. Nor does it identify every planned location. It is therefore important to distinguish between the restaurant already open at El Prat and the expansion plans announced for other destinations.

Spain remains important to the group’s plans

According to Expansión, as cited by L’Express Franchise, Spain is the European Union market where the group achieves its strongest financial results. The report places this performance within the operations of its parent company, Five Guys Europe Ltd.

The article also states that, from 2016 to the end of 2025, excluding the pandemic years, the chain opened an average of seven restaurants a year in Spain. According to the same source, the company expects to accelerate its expansion over the coming years, both on mainland Spain and on the islands. This is an expectation, rather than a set of confirmed openings.

Practical takeaway: anyone looking for a restaurant franchise should first check whether the brand accepts franchisees. Five Guys is continuing to grow in Spain, but through company-owned restaurants. Its figures also underline the importance of analysing sales and profit separately.