FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a City Barbeque Franchise

City Barbeque is a fast‑casual barbecue franchise founded in Columbus, Ohio in 1999 by Rick Malir and Bonnie Coley‑Malir, built on a legacy of competition‑level barbecue combined with “backyard hospitality.” The brand hand‑smokes meats daily using traditional methods and offers a streamlined menu of ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and signature sides, with a strong emphasis on catering, takeout, and delivery. City Barbeque has grown to over 70 locations across the U.S., with a reputation for consistent quality, community engagement, and a people‑first culture recognized by industry bodies.

Latest Resales

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Why buy a City Barbeque Franchise?

A City Barbeque franchise offers a differentiated barbecue concept with a rich awards pedigree, scalable catering and delivery operations, and a people‑centric culture that supports retention and guest loyalty. Buyers gain entry to a maturing, fast‑casual segment with multiple revenue streams—dine‑in, takeout, catering, and holidays—under a proven system that emphasizes quality, consistency, and community‑based growth.

City Barbeque Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $35,000 – $40,000

    • Initial Investment (Total)

      $500,000 – $750,000

    • Cash Requirement

      Typically $500K+

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of gross sales

  • Training & Support

    • Operations training

    • Ongoing support

    • Marketing support

    • Ongoing franchise assistance

City Barbeque – Additional  Information

  1. Franchisee Support

    City Barbeque equips franchisees with a proven operating model, comprehensive training, and centralized support for menu execution, marketing, and technology systems. Franchisees receive hands‑on onboarding, ongoing operations guidance, and tools to optimize labor, food cost, and catering workflows, plus access to best‑practice insights from the brand’s multi‑unit leadership.

  2. Accolades & Awards

    City Barbeque has won multiple “best of” honors regionally and nationally, including recognition from Men’s Journal as one of America’s top barbecue joints and awards from the National Turkey Federation for its turkey offerings. The chain was named to QSR’s 40/40 list, ranked on Restaurant Business’ Future 50, and won the Nation’s Restaurant News Barbeque Showdown; it also earned TDn2K’s Best Practices Award for workplace excellence in the fast‑casual segment.

  3. Industry / Market

    The U.S. barbecue restaurant segment reached roughly $4.9 billion in 2025, growing at about 1.5% annually over the prior five years, while the broader barbecue grill and smoked‑meat market continues to expand faster, driven by consumer demand for premium, slow‑smoked flavors and convenient takeout options. City Barbeque’s fast‑casual, catering‑focused model positions franchisees to capture share in this steady‑growing niche.

  4. Ideal Owner

    The ideal City Barbeque franchisee is a hands‑on operator with strong leadership and customer‑service skills who values food quality, team culture, and community presence. Restaurant or multi‑unit experience is helpful but not required for candidates who are coachable, detail‑oriented, and committed to executing standardized processes that drive repeat visits and catering growth.

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