GOLDEN CORRAL STEAKS, BUFFET & BAKERY

Item 7 lays out a hefty entry: initial investment spans $2,059,717 to $8,528,857, covering franchise fee ($50,000), real estate, equipment, and buildout for those signature GC-11 designs. Ongoing fees bite at 4% royalty on gross sales, 2.4% brand/ad fund, plus $1,630-$1,785 monthly tech fees—equating to roughly 6.4% plus fixed costs on average units. Item 19 shines brightly: average gross revenue hit $4,308,502 with median $4,156,754 across 352 franchised locations (just 3 corporate). Profit zeroes in at an estimated $934,959, a flat figure suggesting tight margins after expenses in this high-volume, labor-intensive casual dining play.

System health per Item 20 reveals contraction: 358 locations in 2022 dropped to 352 in 2023 (-2%), with 7 terminations, 3 non-renewals, 13 transfers, and modest 4 projected new units. Litigation notes in Item 3 flag disputes over contract breaches, NJ franchise law, and fee collections tied to abandonments—painting a picture of operational pressures. Transfers outpace growth, signaling resale activity, while the post-pandemic buffet rebound shows resilience but vulnerability to health trends and competition. For deep-pocketed investors eyeing $4M+ revenue potential, the math tempts, yet shrinkage and fees demand scrutiny before committing millions.