91³ÉÈË

The 5 Restaurants That Corporate Workers Expense the Most Fast-food chains such as Starbucks, McDonald's and Subway make up the highest percentage of meal expenses on corporate cards.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by 91³ÉÈË contributors are their own.

Rien Meulman Fotografie for Starbucks

Forget business negotiations over elaborate dinners and wine. Today, business people are spending company cash on fast and cheap food.

Starbucks and McDonald's top the list of most-expensed restaurants in a , an expense-management software company.

The average expensed meal was $18.72 in the third quarter, up from $16.72 in the second quarter. Of the top five expensed restaurants, Panera was the restaurant where people spent the most – $35.35 per meal. The cheapest was McDonald's, where expensed meals averaged $7.45.

Of course, spending patterns differed by region. While Starbucks remained on top in most cities, in New York, orders on Seamless reigned supreme, representing 7% of all expenses on average.

Check out the slideshow below to find out which restaurants are making the most off of hungry corporate workers.

Related: From Starbucks to Domino's: 6 Tasty Companies With Awesome Mobile Apps

1. Starbucks

Percent of expenses: 4.9 percent

Average charge: $9.51

2. McDonald's

Percent of expenses: 3 percent

Average charge: $7.45

3. Subway

Percent of expenses: 1.9 percent

Average charge: $14.09

4. Panera Bread

Percent of expenses: 1.6 percent

Average charge: $35.35

5. HMS Host

Percent of expenses: 1.3 percent

Average charge: $16.26

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at 91³ÉÈË. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an 91³ÉÈË Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Fundraising

4 Trends In Fundraising That Will Impact the Future of Philanthropy

Increasing the success of your nonprofit requires you to adapt to changes.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Money & Finance

Founders Obsess Over Cash Flow — But There's a Threat That's Even More Dangerous

There's a silent business risk every entrepreneur underestimates, and it can shut you down faster than a cash crunch.

Innovation

It's Time to Rethink Research and Development. Here's What Must Change.

R&D can't live in a lab anymore. Today's leaders fuse science, strategy, sustainability and people to turn discovery into real-world value.

Growing a Business

Don't Rely on Instinct to Make Hiring Decisions — Use This Smart Strategy Instead

Here's the data-driven hiring playbook every business owner needs.