FAMOUS DAVE'S
Famous Dave’s of America, Inc. franchises authentic, down-home barbecue restaurants featuring genuine smoked barbecue, including hickory-smoked spareribs, baby back ribs, beef brisket, herb-roasted chicken, barbecue sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, sides like cornbread and coleslaw, desserts, specialty cocktails, and other food and beverage items. The business model involves granting franchises for full-service, counter-service, line-service restaurants, or add-on ghost/cloud kitchens, with initial investments ranging from $68,500 to $4,510,750 depending on format and ownership, including fees paid to the franchisor and requirements for approved suppliers and brand technology. It targets barbecue enthusiasts seeking a consistent, high-quality BBQ dining experience in various formats.
Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 1% ad fund + $300-$600/mo performance evaluations
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 FAMOUS DAVE'S Compares
Key Insights
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Casual Dining
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FAMOUS DAVE'S Current | $1.3M – $2.9M | $35K | 5.0% | 77 |
| 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
+15 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for FAMOUS DAVE'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
83 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 |
83 Contacts Available
Unlock all FAMOUS DAVE'S franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a FAMOUS DAVE'S franchise ranges from $1,299,250 to $2,910,750. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
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