Hawaiian Bros Island Grill^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

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What Is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a quick-service concept offering traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and island comfort food in a modern Hawaiian-themed atmosphere. Restaurants operate as dine-in and carry-out establishments and may include drive-thru service. Primary revenue derives from food and beverage sales, with additional sales of branded apparel/merchandise and a gift card program. Locations are primarily in metropolitan areas, typically in re-purposed free-standing permanent buildings or shopping center spaces.

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor's exceptional support, with a perfect 100 training/support score and 396 initial training hours, shows heavy operator preparation, but the big risk is very high entry costs: Item 7 startup estimates range from $1.54M to $4.82M, with minimum assets of about $600.7k and reserves around $114k.

Pros

A 100 training/support score and 396 initial training hours — both well above industry norms — indicate the franchisor invests heavily in operator preparation and hands-on support.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisor-initiated enforcement actions, and no government penalties — an unusually clean legal and compliance record for a food & beverage franchisor.

Zero outlet terminations, zero franchisee-initiated judgments, and zero reacquired outlets — a strong signal that existing operators are not exiting via terminations or litigation.

Cons

24 company-owned units — a high proportion relative to peers — which may indicate the franchisor favors corporate expansion and warrants further investigation into their commitment to growing the franchise model.

A $50,000 initial franchise fee — well above typical for food & beverage — raises the upfront cash required compared with most peers.

Very high Item 7 estimates: total startup costs range from $1.54M (min) to $4.82M (max), with asset requirements (min ~$600.7k) and reserves (min ~$114k) all well above industry norms, implying considerably higher financing and cash-on-hand needs.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

48/100

NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains the right to develop nearby units, acquire/convert sites, sell via e-commerce and alternative distribution channels, use different trademarks, and make protection contingent on meeting performance quotas that influence market density and site-specific rights.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 396-hour training curriculum designed to prepare franchise personnel, with no trainees included in the initial franchise fee. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness, with franchisees responsible for travel and lodging and liable for any additional fees associated with on-site support; specific pre- and post-launch on-site day counts were not specified in the provided materials.

Unit Growth Analysis

this franchise doubled units from 21 in 2022 to 42 in 2024, showing strong expansion, but growth is decelerating: year‑over‑year growth fell from 52.4% (2022→2023) to 31.2% (2023→2024). For investors this signals a healthy, scalable concept with substantial recent additions, though the ~21.2 percentage‑point (≈40% relative) drop in growth rate suggests expansion is normalizing and warrants monitoring of franchisee pipeline and market capacity.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise?

Opening a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise requires a total initial investment of $1,539,160 to $4,818,991, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$1,539,160

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$4,818,991

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$25,000

Real Estate$667,000

Equipment & Assets$600,700

Reserves$114,000

Training$74,000

Other$58,460

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$50,000

Real Estate$3,065,572

Equipment & Assets$1,241,119

Reserves$277,000

Training$115,000

Other$70,300

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise Owners Make?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise locations reported average gross sales of $3,094,855 and median gross sales of $2,888,845 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$3,094,855

Median Gross Sales:

$2,888,845

High Gross Sales:

$5,937,467

Low Gross Sales:

$1,712,137

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

34.4%

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The FDD does not provide a franchised-only performance table; the presented averages are for a combined sample of company and franchise restaurants, so differences between franchisee and affiliate performance cannot be isolated from these figures.

Performance Variability Analysis: Gross sales vary substantially across the sample, with the highest restaurant at 5,937,467 and the lowest at 1,712,137, indicating meaningful dispersion in unit performance within the 32-restaurant sample.

Data Scope and Limitations: Data cover a single 12-month period ending 12/31/2023 and include restaurants that changed ownership during the period; there is no audited statement or expense-level P&L data provided, limiting detailed profitability analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise?

The total initial investment for a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise ranges from $1,539,160 to $4,818,991, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the Hawaiian Bros Island Grill initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is $50,000, as stated in the 2024 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise owners make?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise locations reported average gross sales of $3,094,855 and median gross sales of $2,888,845 in 2024, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does Hawaiian Bros Island Grill have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2024 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does Hawaiian Bros Island Grill offer exclusive franchise territories?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill received a territory protection score of 48 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does Hawaiian Bros Island Grill provide to new franchisees?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides a comprehensive 396-hour training curriculum designed to prepare franchise personnel, with no trainees included in the initial franchise fee.

How many Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise locations are there?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill had 42 total locations as of the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a quick-service concept offering traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and island comfort food in a modern Hawaiian-themed atmosphere.

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