Loading FDD preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals
We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.
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.
Loading preview...
Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase
Franchise Costs
5% royalty + 1% marketing fund + $200-$325/mo technology support fee
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
Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock financial performance dataFAMOUS DAVE'S Franchise Analysis
From the hickory pits of Minnesota, Famous Dave's built an empire on smoked ribs and Southern soul, now franchising everything from full-service joints to ghost kitchens under MTY USA. Yet the 2026 FDD signals turbulence, with system size shrinking and no Item 19 earnings data to light the way. What does the SBA loan track record whisper about barbecue dreams turning to financial brisket?
Item 7 lays out a hefty entry: $1,254,500-$2,865,000 total investment for traditional formats, spiking to $4.51M max with real estate, plus $35,000 franchise fee. Ongoing bites include 5% royalty, 1% ad fund, and $200-$325 monthly tech fee—standard for casual dining but piling up on $1M+ startups. With 70 franchised locations (30 corporate-owned) down 8% from 76 in 2024 to 70 in 2025, projected at just 5 new units and 1 transfer, the system's contracting amid casual dining headwinds—no Item 19 means no disclosed revenues or profits, forcing buyers to dig elsewhere for validation.
SBA stats add grit: 13 loans averaging $1,463,085 with a 7.7% default rate, below many food chains but signaling big capital hurdles for franchisees. This isn't explosive growth like fast-casual peers; it's a mature BBQ brand pivoting to counter/line service and clouds for survival. Buyers eyeing Famous Dave's must probe why units dipped, validate local demand for full-menu BBQ, and crunch unverified comps against those fees—potentially rewarding for pitmasters, risky for the uninitiated.
Analysis based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.
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% | 70 |
| IHOP & INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES | $1.8M – $4.5M | $69K | N/A | 1,703 |
| BUFFALO WILD WINGS | $2.5M – $4.9M | $25K | 5.0% | 549 |
| GOLDEN CORRAL STEAKS, BUFFET & BAKERY | $2.1M – $8.5M | $50K | 4.0% | 352 |
| GOLDEN CORRAL | $1.5M – $6.2M | $50K | 4.0% | 344 |
| ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE (THE) | $483K – $1.7M | $60K | 2.0% | 150 |
Casual Dining Average 44 franchises | $1.5M – $3.5M | $44K | 4.7% | – |
* 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 (2025)
Outlets by state across the United States
+15 more states
Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock location growth dataSBA 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.
13 SBA loans on record
Unlock SBA loan history with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock SBA loan historyFranchisee Contacts
82 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
82 Contacts Available
Unlock all FAMOUS DAVE'S franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Unlock contactsDue Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports
Unlock due diligence reportsFrequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a FAMOUS DAVE'S franchise ranges from $1,254,500 to $2,865,000. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.
More Food & Beverage Franchises
Subway
Food & Beverage
MCDONALD'S
Food & Beverage
DUNKIN'
Food & Beverage
DOMINO'S PIZZA
Food & Beverage
Burger King
Food & Beverage
LITTLE CAESARS
Food & Beverage