THE MELTING POT

Entry hits hard per Item 7: $1,617,128-$2,740,600 total investment, anchored by a $45,000 franchise fee. Ongoing fees include 5% royalty on gross sales, 2.2% brand development fund (sliding to 1.7% post-June 2026), plus $210-$365 monthly for tech, software, and training. Item 19 shines brightest—average gross revenue clocks $2,168,708 across units, with median at $1,919,716, positioning it well above many full-service peers where $1.5M-$2M is solid. Subtract typical 30% food/beverage costs, 25-30% labor, and 10% occupancy, and EBITDA could range 15-20% for top performers, but rent and buildout in prime spots eat margins fast.

System vitality shows maturity over hypergrowth: 85 franchised units, 4 corporate, with 7 projected openings signaling cautious expansion. Low turbulence—3 terminations, 3 transfers—beats volatile chains shedding 10%+ annually. SBA stats bolster case: 35 loans averaging $869,083, mere 2.9% default rate, proving banks back Melting Pot despite seven-figure asks. In a post-pandemic dine-in rebound, its beverage program and group appeal thrive in suburban markets, but buyers must drill into AUV variance and competition from steakhouses or tapas spots to gauge local viability.