How many THE MELTING POT franchise locations are there?

As of the 2026 FDD, THE MELTING POT has 85 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1984.

Can you get an SBA loan for a THE MELTING POT franchise?

Yes, SBA loans are available for THE MELTING POT franchises. Historical data shows 35 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for THE MELTING POT franchisees, with an average loan amount of $869,083. The historical default rate is 2.9%.

Is THE MELTING POT a good franchise to buy?

THE MELTING POT shows several positive indicators: low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.

THE MELTING POT

FDD Year:

The Melting Pot franchise allows operators to establish and run polished casual restaurants specializing in fondue dining, featuring cheese fondue, beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetable fondues, chocolate fondue, salads, breads, and a variety of imported and domestic beers, wines, and cocktails, with guests cooking some items at the table for an interactive experience. The business model centers on franchising single-location restaurants that follow the company's proprietary system, standards, designs, menus, and Core Beverage Program requiring alcoholic beverages. It targets individual consumers and the general public seeking relaxed, conversational dining in a unique ambiance.

Locations

$1617K–$2741K

Investment

Since 1984

Franchising

Food & BeverageTampa, FLwww.meltingpot.comDisclaimer

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee

$45,000

Item 5 of FDD

Initial Investment Range

$1,617,128 – $2,740,600

Low: $1,617,128High: $2,740,600

Item 7 of FDD

Royalty Rate

5.00%

of gross sales

Brand Fund

2.20%

Item 6 of FDD

Fixed Monthly Fees

$211 – $365

Item 6 of FDD

5% royalty + 2.2% BDF (decreasing to 1.7% on June 1, 2026) + $210-$365/mo fixed technology, software, and e-learning fees.

How THE MELTING POT Compares

Franchise	Investment	Fee	Royalty	Locations
THE MELTING POT Current	$1.6M – $2.7M	$45K	5.0%	85
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	$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.

SBA Loan History

Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for THE MELTING POT franchisees (2010 – 2025)

Total Loans

Average Loan

$869,083

Total Volume

$30.4M

Default Rate

2.9%

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

92 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

Name	Address	Phone	Email	SBA Loan
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC	123 Main St Anytown, CA 90210	(555) 123-4567	john@example.com	$350,000 2023 · Active

92 Contacts Available

Unlock all THE MELTING POT franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Due Diligence

Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0

No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo

No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations

Non-Renewals

Reacquired

Ceased Ops

Transfers

Sold to Franchisees

Projected New

Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a THE MELTING POT franchise ranges from $1,617,128 to $2,740,600. This includes a franchise fee of $45,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.0% of gross sales.