Average unit volume (AUV)
What it means
Average unit volume is total system sales divided by the number of outlets, giving the typical annual turnover of one unit. It is one of the most useful benchmarks a prospective franchisee can get, because it grounds expectations in the network's real performance.
AUV is an average, so it hides the spread between the best and worst outlets. A high AUV pulled up by a few flagship sites can mislead if most outlets earn far less.
In practice
Ask for AUV and, more importantly, the range and median. Compare it against the specific site and territory you are considering, not just the network average.
A real example
A franchisor quotes an AUV of $850,000, but when the buyer asks for the distribution, the median outlet turns over $620,000, a more realistic planning figure for a typical new site.
Average unit volume (AUV), FAQs
What is average unit volume in franchising?
The average annual sales of a single outlet, total system sales divided by outlet count. It benchmarks what one unit typically turns over.
Is AUV a reliable guide to what I will earn?
Only partly. It is an average that hides the spread. Ask for the range and median, and compare against your specific site, not just the network average.
See the full franchise glossary, the Fee Index or our buyer guides.