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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.

STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL

STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL

Steak Escape Sandwich Grill is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in the retail sale of made-to-order specialty sandwiches, salads, potatoes, fresh-cut french fries, and fresh-made lemonade, utilizing unique in-store merchandising techniques and strict uniform procedures to ensure high product quality. The franchisor, Escape Enterprises, Ltd., sells franchises for operating these retail food outlets, with options for single units or multi-unit development agreements. It targets consumers seeking customizable, high-quality quick-service meals in various locations.

19locations
Since 1996
Food & BeverageColumbus, OHEscape Enterprises, Inc.www.steakescape.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$25,000
Initial Investment
N/A
Royalty Rate
6.00%
Brand Fund
1.50%

6% royalty + currently 0.5% (mall) or 1.5% (non-mall) marketing fund (subject to increase up to 2%/3%); no fixed monthly fees listed.

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

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STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL Franchise Analysis

Philly cheesesteaks grilled to order and fresh lemonade set Steak Escape Sandwich Grill apart in fast-casual dining, but its small scale raises eyebrows amid a contracting system. The 2025 FDD skips Item 19 earnings disclosure, forcing reliance on SBA financing history and unit trends for clues. Is this 1996 veteran poised for revival or stuck in neutral?

Financial entry starts with a $25,000 franchise fee, followed by 6% royalties and marketing fees of 0.5% (mall units) or 1.5% (non-mall), which could climb to 2% or 3%. Absent Item 19 data means no official revenue or profit figures, a red flag for buyers craving transparency—many competitors provide this to benchmark AUVs around $800K-$1M in sandwiches. SBA records show 7 loans averaging $246,943 to fund builds, but a 28.6% default rate hints at cash flow strains, possibly from high food costs or soft traffic in its 23 locations (2023) down to 19 franchised plus 4 corporate (2024).

System vitality falters with -17% growth, 1 termination, 1 non-renewal, and 2 transfers, though 4 projected new units signal franchisor pushback. A litigation note flags a royalty collection suit against a franchisee, underscoring payment discipline needs. For a buyer eyeing quick-serve customization, low franchise fee tempts, but shrinking footprint and financing risks demand scrutiny of site selection in high-traffic spots like Columbus, OH headquarters area—could multi-unit deals revive momentum?

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL Compares

FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL
Current
N/A$25K6.0%19
MCDONALD'S$1.5M – $2.6M$45KN/A12,772
LITTLE CAESARS$377K – $1.8M$20K6.0%3,788
AFC$45K – $151K$6K9.5%3,572
KFC (NON-TRADITIONAL)$1.2M – $4.2M$45KN/A3,404
SONIC DRIVE-IN$1.5M – $2.5M$15K5.0%3,120
Fast Food Average
132 franchises
$602K – $1.6M$35K6.1%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 132 Fast Food 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

Top States
1MS
6
2OH
4
3TN
3
4WI
2
5WV
2
6SD
1
7NC
1
8LA
0
9MD
0
10AR
0
11NJ
0
12MN
0
13AZ
0
14CA
0
15CO
0

+3 more states

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SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL franchisees (20112016)

Total Loans
7
Average Loan
$246,943
Total Volume
$1.7M
Default Rate
28.6%

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.

7 SBA loans on record

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Franchisee Contacts

23 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

23 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases1

Suit to collect royalty payments from franchisee.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
1
Non-Renewals
1
Reacquired
0
Ceased Ops
4
Transfers
2
Sold to Franchisees
0
Projected New
4

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Frequently Asked Questions

As of the 2025 FDD, STEAK ESCAPE SANDWICH GRILL has 19 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1996.