Famous Dave's franchise: cost, fees and total investment
Short answer: The Famous Dave's franchise fee is $28,000 to $35,000 and the total initial investment ranges from $1,299,250 to $4,510,750, with about $420,000 in liquid cash required, based on franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. Confirm current figures in Items 5 and 7 of the Famous Dave's FDD.
What are the Famous Dave's franchise fees and investment?
The Famous Dave's franchise requires a franchise fee of $28,000 to $35,000 and a total initial investment of $1,299,250 to $4,510,750. The franchise fee is one line inside the total investment, which also covers location, equipment, opening inventory and working capital.
| Franchise fee (FDD Item 5) | $28,000 to $35,000 |
|---|---|
| Total initial investment (FDD Item 7) | $1,299,250 to $4,510,750 |
| Minimum liquid cash | $420,000 |
| US locations | 109 |
| Industry | Food & Restaurant (Desserts) |
| Headquarters | Minnetonka, Minnesota |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Franchising since | 1998 |
How does the Famous Dave's investment compare with other food & restaurant franchises?
Famous Dave's's minimum investment of $1,299,250 is above the median minimum investment of $297,082 across the 1213 food & restaurant franchises in the SelectFranchiseList database. 81 of the other 1211 brands in this industry start at a higher investment. Its franchise fee starting at $28,000 compares with an industry median of $35,000.
By minimum investment, Famous Dave's belongs with franchises over $500,000.
What should you verify in the Famous Dave's FDD?
Verify six parts of the Famous Dave's Franchise Disclosure Document before you sign, because figures change with every annual FDD:
- Item 5 and Item 6: the current franchise fee, royalty, marketing fund and technology fees.
- Item 7: the full investment range by expense line, including working capital.
- Item 19: whether Famous Dave's discloses financial performance data, and which units it covers.
- Item 20: openings, closures and transfers, plus contacts for current and former franchisees.
- Item 21: the franchisor's audited financial statements.
- Item 12: whether your territory is protected.
The full list of Items is in the FDD guide. You must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before you sign a binding agreement or pay any money.
Which franchises are similar to Famous Dave's?
These food & restaurant franchises have the closest minimum investment to Famous Dave's:
| Franchise | Franchise fee | Total investment |
|---|---|---|
| Smalls Sliders | $35,000 | $1,297,825 to $1,993,734 |
| Shakey's | $35,000 | $1,279,000 to $3,529,500 |
| Sirloin Stockade | $20,000 to $35,000 | $1,269,000 to $3,158,000 |
| Sizzler | $35,000 | $1,329,750 to $2,607,750 |
| Kajiken | $50,000 | $1,337,500 to $2,612,500 |
See every brand in food & restaurant franchises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Famous Dave's franchise cost?
The total initial investment for a Famous Dave's franchise ranges from $1,299,250 to $4,510,750, including a franchise fee of $28,000 to $35,000, according to franchise disclosure data compiled in October 2026. The exact amount depends on location, build-out and working capital, as shown in Item 7 of the FDD.
How much cash do you need to open a Famous Dave's franchise?
Famous Dave's lists a minimum of about $420,000 in liquid cash. Lenders usually finance part of the remaining investment, and the franchisor confirms its capital requirements during qualification.
How many Famous Dave's locations are there?
Famous Dave's reported 109 US locations in the data compiled in October 2026. Item 20 of the FDD shows openings, closures and transfers for the last three years.
How long has Famous Dave's been franchising?
Famous Dave's started offering franchises in 1998 after the company was founded in 1994.
Figures are compiled from franchise disclosure data and public franchise listings as of October 2026 and may have changed. Famous Dave's and its trademarks belong to their owner; SelectFranchiseList is not affiliated with or endorsed by Famous Dave's. This page is not an offer to sell a franchise. Only the franchisor's current FDD is authoritative.