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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an Applebee’s Grill + Bar Franchise

Applebee’s Grill + Bar is a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1980 and franchising since 1983. The brand serves American grill cuisine and a full bar program in table-service restaurants positioned as a neighborhood gathering place, targeting a broad consumer base seeking affordable sit-down dining. The system is owned by Dine Brands Global, one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies, which also operates IHOP.

The model is brick-and-mortar table-service dining. Franchisees operate restaurants in free-standing, street-front, mall, and non-traditional locations, with formats flexible enough for a range of market environments. Applebee’s has concentrated its domestic franchise development on multi-unit operators, with franchisees typically running multiple locations under a development agreement in designated markets.

Dine Brands provides franchisees with centralized supply chain services, proprietary technology platforms, national marketing programs, and operational support through its Restaurant Support Center in Pasadena, California. With over 1,500 US locations operating on a nearly fully franchised basis, Applebee’s is one of the larger casual dining franchise networks in the country.

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Why buy an Applebee’s Grill + Bar Franchise?

Deciding to buy an Applebee’s franchise means backing one of the most recognized names in US casual dining, with over four decades of operating history and a nearly fully franchised network. The system reports an average franchisee tenure of over 20 years, indicating an experienced operator base and a stable ownership culture. The brand’s scale and national advertising presence provide consumer recognition that independent restaurants cannot replicate.

The Dine Brands framework gives franchisees access to centralized supply chain services, proprietary point-of-sale and management technology, national marketing calendar access, and field support from the Pasadena-based Restaurant Support Center. This infrastructure is particularly relevant for multi-unit operators looking to scale efficiently across a region.

Applebee’s Grill + Bar Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1980

    • Franchising Since

      1988

    • New Startup Cost

      $3,192,516 – $5,822,933

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $2,500

    • Royalty Fee

      4%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      4.25%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      1480

    • New Units Opened *

      11

    • Units Transferred *

      23

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $2,954,522

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Applebee’s Grill + Bar – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Franchisees receive a management and operations training program covering restaurant management, guest service, and kitchen and bar operations. Ongoing support from Dine Brands includes field operational guidance, national marketing calendar access, local marketing services, centralized supply chain and quality assurance, and proprietary technology systems covering guest-facing operations and financial management. Dine Brands hosts an annual Franchise Conference for system-wide updates. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training and system access Dine Brands makes available to incoming owners.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Applebee's targets seasoned restaurant or hospitality operators with multi-unit experience and a strong grasp of guest service, kitchen operations, and team management. The model is operations- and sales-led, requiring franchisees to manage multiple locations, maintain brand standards across sites, and build local community presence. Familiarity with staffing and managing high-volume table-service restaurants is central to day-to-day success. Buyers with a background in restaurant group management or franchised foodservice operations are well positioned.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Applebee's Grill + Bar earned the Best Food & Drink Franchise award at the Global Franchise Awards 2025, recognizing its standing within the international franchise community. The brand ranks #27 on the Franchise Times Top 400 in 2025, a list tracking the largest franchise systems by global systemwide sales. Dine Brands Global brings over 100 years of combined hospitality brand experience across its portfolio. An average franchisee tenure of over 20 years reflects a stable, experienced operator base, and the brand's four-decade consumer presence gives resale buyers a nationally recognized name.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US casual dining sector sits within a large full-service restaurant market driven by consistent demand for affordable sit-down dining. Casual dining chains benefit from name recognition and value-oriented pricing that attracts repeat guests across broad demographic groups. The National Restaurant Association reported positive same-store sales for restaurant operators across multiple months in 2025, a sign of improving consumer confidence. For resale buyers, local market factors including competition from quick-service alternatives and proximity to retail traffic drivers are key indicators of a unit's revenue potential.

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