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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Tony Roma’s Franchise

Tony Roma’s is a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1972 in North Miami, Florida, known for its slow-cooked Baby Back Ribs. The full-service menu extends to steaks, seafood, and signature dishes including Kicking Shrimp, Onion Loaf, and Romaritas cocktails, served in a family-friendly sit-down format. The brand is owned and franchised by Romacorp, Inc., which operates across the US and internationally.

The chain has built a presence spanning more than 30 countries and five continents, with most locations outside the US. Under newer leadership, the brand has been actively expanding its North American footprint. Its current growth strategy covers two formats: a traditional full-service prototype and Bones & Burgers™, a compact fast-casual concept for higher-traffic or smaller-footprint sites.

Operationally, Tony Roma’s has been investing in digital infrastructure, including digital ordering, contactless payment systems, and data analytics tools. Franchise agreements include exclusive territories, and the model requires hands-on management rather than absentee ownership, making it suited to operators prepared to lead a full restaurant team.

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Why buy a Tony Roma’s Franchise?

Tony Roma’s brings more than five decades of casual dining heritage, with a brand identity built around its signature ribs that remains recognizable across multiple markets. For buyers considering whether to buy a Tony Roma’s franchise, the established name, proprietary menu, and ongoing push into digital ordering and contactless payment represent a system that has been actively updated rather than simply maintained.

The brand has attracted recognition from Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 in 2024, the Newsweek Excellence Index (ranked #2 in the Restaurant & Cafés category in 2025), and Global Franchise’s list of 50 exciting international food and drink franchises to watch in 2025. That level of industry visibility supports customer acquisition and franchisee recruitment in competitive markets.

Tony Roma’s Franchise Costs & Information

  • Minimum Qualifications

    • Initial Franchise Fee

      $35,000

    • Initial Investment

      $1,773,500 - $2,911,000

  • Royalty

    • Royalty Fee

      4%

  • Training & Support

    • 472 hours on the job training

    • 21 hours classroom training

Tony Roma’s – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Tony Roma's provides 472 hours of on-the-job training and 21 hours of classroom instruction as part of its initial franchisee training program. Ongoing support covers operations, marketing, and business management through a dedicated franchise support team. Proprietary systems covering digital ordering, contactless payment, and data analytics are available across the network. National marketing campaigns provide brand-level visibility for franchised locations. Resale buyers should confirm with Romacorp what onboarding and transfer training is available for incoming owners and what system access carries over with the sale.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Tony Roma's suits experienced full-service restaurant operators who are comfortable managing a multi-person team across front- and back-of-house functions. Prior experience in casual dining or full-service restaurant management is strongly preferred, given the demands of overseeing kitchen staff, servers, and guest service in a sit-down environment. The model requires hands-on owner involvement; absentee ownership is not permitted. Comfort with brand standards, franchise compliance, and maintaining consistent food quality and service across a full dining operation is essential.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Tony Roma's was named to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list for 2024 and was ranked #2 in the Restaurant & Cafés category and #437 overall in the Newsweek Excellence Index 2025. The brand was also included in Global Franchise magazine's list of 50 exciting international food and drink franchises to watch in 2025. Media coverage has appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg, and Fortune. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific unit's local reputation, customer reviews, and community visibility.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US full-service restaurant market was valued at approximately $457 billion in 2024, with casual dining representing the largest segment by revenue (Deep Market Insights). Consumer demand is driven by social dining occasions, family dining, and the preference for a hospitality experience that faster formats do not provide. According to YouGov's 2025 casual dining report, 66% of Americans visit a casual dining restaurant monthly. For resale buyers, local market position, nearby competition, and consistent traffic trends are the key due-diligence factors in the casual dining category.

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