FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
Based on 2024 FDD · 5 filings in corpus
Cost and profit at a glance
Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Dickey's Barbecue Pit franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $210K – $529K. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.
Quick fee read: $20K franchise fee · 9% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit requires a total initial investment of $210K to $529K (midpoint approximately $369K), with an initial franchise fee of $20K. The ongoing fee burden is 9% (6% royalty plus 3% advertising fund). This is below the industry average of approximately 14.2%, leaving more margin for the operator.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit does not publicly disclose Item 19 financial performance data in their FDD. This is a significant transparency gap — franchisees must rely on validation calls and personal research rather than audited financial representations. Prospective buyers should demand current unit-level financials from existing operators during due diligence.
Dickey's Barbecue Pit operates approximately 459 franchised units. The SBA 7(a) loan default rate of 28.5% is above the franchise industry average of approximately 9.4%, suggesting elevated financial risk for franchisees relying on debt financing.
Prospective franchisees should verify all figures against the most recent FDD, conduct validation calls with multiple existing franchisees, and consult with a franchise attorney before signing any agreement.
Analysis based on 2024 FDD filing. FDDIQ Editorial Team · Methodology
Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.
Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.
Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2013-2026). 268 loans across 38 states.
Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.
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