Ending Soon! Save 33% on All Access

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 Entrepreneur 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 survey released Tuesday by Certify, 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

Image Credit: knightnews.com

1. Starbucks

Percent of expenses: 4.9 percent

Average charge: $9.51

Image Credit: cbsnews.com

2. McDonald's

Percent of expenses: 3 percent

Average charge: $7.45

Image Credit: THOMAS METTHE/REPORTER-NEWS

3. Subway

Percent of expenses: 1.9 percent

Average charge: $14.09

Image Credit: jimdonovan.com

4. Panera Bread

Percent of expenses: 1.6 percent

Average charge: $35.35

Image Credit: HMS Host

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 Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

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

Business News

'Creators Left So Much Money on the Table': Kickstarter's CEO Reveals the Story Behind the Company's Biggest Changes in 15 Years

In an interview with Entrepreneur, Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor explains the decision-making behind the changes, how he approaches leading Kickstarter, and his advice for future CEOs.

Business Ideas

87 Service Business Ideas to Start Today

Get started in this growing industry, with options that range from IT consulting to childcare.

Business Models

How to Become an AI-Centric Business (and Why It's Crucial for Long-Term Success)

Learn the essential steps to integrate AI at the core of your operations and stay competitive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Marketing

5 Steps to Preparing an Engaging Industry Presentation

You can make a great impression and generate interest with an exciting, informative presentation. Find out my five secrets to creating an industry presentation guaranteed to wow.