FRANCHISE RESALES

People enter and leave a Famous Dave’s barbecue restaurant at dusk, with cars parked outside and the building lit by exterior lights.

Buy a Famous Dave’s Franchise

Famous Dave’s is a BBQ restaurant franchise founded in 1994 in Hayward, Wisconsin, and now part of BBQ Holdings, Inc. The brand serves slow-smoked barbecue recipe’s that the brand’s founder spent over 20 years perfecting — St. Louis-style ribs, Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork, and proprietary sauces — at around 100 locations across 30-plus US states, with additional sites in Canada and the UAE. The brand has operated as a franchise since 1997.

Franchisees operate under one of three formats: a full-service casual dining restaurant, a Quick ‘Que fast-casual counter-service concept, and a ghost kitchen. These models differ in footprint, staffing requirements, and investment level, allowing adaptation to different local markets. Revenue comes from dine-in, takeout, third-party delivery, and an established catering program.

The brand’s product is built around live-wood smoking with hickory, hand-rubbed meats, and a portfolio of original sauces. A consumer loyalty rewards app supports repeat visits. BBQ Holdings, Inc. also manages several other restaurant concepts, giving Famous Dave’s access to shared corporate infrastructure and operational resources.

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Why buy a Famous Dave’s Franchise?

A Famous Dave’s franchise offers entry into an award-winning BBQ restaurant business, bringing brand recognition to a category where national names are scarce. Franchisees benefit from a strong national presence, extensive training, and ongoing support from a company focused on innovation. The brand’s product reputation, built through three decades and over 700 competition awards, drives consumer loyalty and repeat visits. The catering program adds a distinct revenue stream, with franchisees serving corporate events, gatherings, and special occasions alongside standard dine-in and delivery.

The multi-format structure means resale buyers may encounter units in different configurations: full-service dining rooms, fast-casual counter-service locations, or ghost kitchen operations. Each format carries a different overhead structure, staffing profile, and revenue mix, so buyers should review the specific unit’s operating model carefully before comparing asking prices across the network.

Famous Dave’s Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1994

    • Franchising Since

      1997

    • New Startup Cost

      $435,000 – $2,865,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details
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  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $35,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      Not Disclosed

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Revenue

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of Gross Revenue

    A man with grey hair and beard, wearing a blue Famous Dave's button-down shirt, stands smiling with arms crossed in a casual Famous Dave's BBQ restaurant setting.

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      100

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      1

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $2,816,498

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD
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Famous Dave’s – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Famous Dave's provides 75 hours of classroom training and 280 hours of on-the-job instruction at certified training locations, covering food preparation, customer service, and operations management. Franchisees receive ongoing support through Franchise Operations Manager visits, operational tools for labor and inventory tracking, and analytics reporting. Marketing resources include social media guidance, digital advertising, and consumer research tools, complemented by a loyalty rewards app. Resale buyers should confirm what initial training and system access Famous Dave's provides to incoming owners upon transfer.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Famous Dave's suits operators with restaurant or foodservice management experience who are capable of leading kitchen teams and managing multi-channel revenue. The brand looks for candidates with strong business acumen, leadership ability, and capacity for multi-unit growth. Owners who enjoy community engagement and sales tend to perform well given the catering program's central role in the revenue mix. Prior franchise experience is a positive signal, though the training programme is structured to support candidates from corporate or independent restaurant backgrounds.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Famous Dave's has earned more than 700 barbecue awards, including a blue ribbon for Best BBQ Sauce in America at the American Royal International Barbeque Contest. The brand's sauces, rubs, and slow-smoked meats carry strong consumer recognition in the BBQ restaurant category. As part of BBQ Holdings, Inc., the franchise benefits from multi-brand corporate infrastructure. For resale buyers, national brand recognition supports consumer awareness, though local reviews and community reputation in the specific trade area are equally important considerations.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US barbecue restaurant industry is a distinct segment within casual dining, with IBISWorld reporting a compound annual growth rate of 1.9% between 2020 and 2025 and approximately 15,450 operators nationwide. Consumer demand for authentic slow-cooked proteins and occasion-driven dining supports recurring traffic for established brands. For resale buyers, the unit's operating format (full-service dining or fast-casual counter service) shapes local competitive positioning and the revenue mix to expect.

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