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QSRRevenue OnlyItem 19: ✓ DisclosedHigh Confidence · 100/100

Famous Dave's Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Famous Dave's.

Based on 2025 FDD · 7 filings in corpus

FranchiseIQ Score
62
C
Moderate Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
D
53/100
6/7 metrics · High confidence
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
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Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Famous Dave's franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Famous Dave's franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $69K – $4.5M. Reported owner economics show $189K. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$69K – $4.5M
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
$189K
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
12.1 years
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
14.3%
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costs →Estimate franchise ROI →Check SBA default rates →Browse QSR franchises →Compare similar franchises →

Quick fee read: $35K franchise fee · 6% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

Free decision snapshot

Before you talk to Famous Dave's, check the numbers buyers usually miss.

The unlocked report ties this brand's FDD disclosures to SBA outcomes, Item 20 movement, fee load, missing-data labels, and buyer assumptions — so you can decide whether this is worth deeper diligence.

FDD disclosure qualitySBA default outcomesItem 20 unit movementFee/cost stressComparable brands
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Total Investment Range$69K – $4.5M
MinMid: $2.3MMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$35K
Royalty Rate
5%
Ad Fund Rate
1%
Total Burden
6.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
80
-3 vs prior yr
Net Unit Growth
↓ -3.3%
Year over year
Net Closure Rate
3.6%
From FDD Item 20
Cash-on-Cash Return
8.3%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
12.1 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
14.3%
vs ~7.2% industry avg
Median Revenue
$2.7M
Item 19 disclosed
Premium Data

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CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
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Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Famous Dave's vs. QSR Average

MetricFamous Dave'sQSR Avg
SBA Default Rate14.3%▼9.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return8.3%▼14.2%
Total Investment$2.3M$380K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

SBA Loan Performance

Real lending data from SBA 7(a) loans (2010-2025). 13 loans across 7 states.

Default Rate
14.3%
High Risk
Total SBA Loans
13
7 states
Total Loan Volume
$19.0M
SBA 7(a) approved
Avg Loan Size
$1.5M
Per franchisee
Loan Status Breakdown
5
Paid in Full (38%)
6
Currently Active
1
Charged Off (20.8% by $)
$3.9M
Total Charged Off ($)
● Paid● Active● Charged Off

Source: SBA 7(a) loan data via FOIA. Default rate = charged-off loans / total originated. Industry avg default rate ~7.2%.

Compare

Famous Dave's vs Chick-fil-A, Inc.Famous Dave's vs Loving CupFamous Dave's vs Donut King

Similar Franchises · QSR

Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Revenue Only
$427K–$2.3M
Loving Cup
No Item 19
$166K–$242K
Donut King
Limited Data
$211K–$332K
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
$427K – $2.3M
Loving Cup
$166K – $242K
Donut King
$211K – $332K
Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar
$210K – $264K

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Founded 2017 - May 2024 · General
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Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Famous Dave's franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Famous Dave's's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Famous Dave's disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Famous Dave's →Validation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

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