DENNY'S
Denny's operates full-service, family-style restaurants offering a wide variety of moderately priced food in a casual dining atmosphere, with variants like the limited-service 'The Den' concept for nontraditional locations. The business model includes a comprehensive system encompassing trademarks, designs, recipes, training, and operational standards, supplemented by online ordering, delivery, and virtual brands for take-out. It targets a broad spectrum of customers through traditional diners, travel centers, and innovative service models.
Franchise Costs
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How DENNY'S Compares
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
DENNY'S Current | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1,273 |
| IHOP & INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES | $1.8M – $4.5M | $69K | N/A | 1,703 |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS | $2.5M – $4.9M | $25K | 5.0% | 538 |
| GOLDEN CORRAL STEAKS, BUFFET & BAKERY | $2.1M – $8.5M | $50K | 4.0% | 352 |
| GOLDEN CORRAL | $2.2M – $8.7M | $50K | 4.0% | 348 |
| ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE (THE) | $483K – $1.7M | $60K | 2.0% | 146 |
Casual Dining Average 44 franchises | $1.5M – $3.5M | $43K | 4.6% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 44 Casual Dining franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+36 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for DENNY'S franchisees (2010 – 2025)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
17 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
17 Contacts Available
Unlock all DENNY'S franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Breach of contract disputes with franchisees and related parties, including franchise operation rights, royalty and fee disagreements, and claims for specific performance and related torts.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
Balbair Pal (joint debtor) in Chapter 13 bankruptcy (Case No. 2-15-bk-13711BKM), discharged June 12, 2020
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
As of the 2025 FDD, DENNY'S has 1,273 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1963.
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