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Perkins®

Food & Beverage Year: 2026
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What Is Perkins?

Perkins is a full-service restaurant and bakery offering a broad menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees. The business operates through on‑premises dining, personal carry‑out, delivery, off‑site catering and, in some locations, drive‑through services, and permits participation in delivery‑focused virtual product offerings. Perkins units include traditional brick‑and‑mortar restaurants and Non‑Traditional Units located in or within host facilities such as convenience stores, airports, hospitals, stadiums, hotels, and standalone locations.

Perkins Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor scored 100 on training and support, delivering unusually comprehensive onboarding and field assistance that reduces first-year execution risk, but the Item 7 Total Max is $3,581,375—well above typical Food & Beverage—so your total startup investment and financing needs could be materially higher.

Pros

Training and support scored 100, well above what's typical across franchising, indicating you’ll receive unusually comprehensive onboarding and field support that reduces the first-year execution risk.
There are zero franchisee‑initiated judgments, settlements, government penalties, franchisor enforcement actions, or fraud cases — an unusually quiet legal and regulatory record compared with peers, which lowers litigation and compliance friction.
Initial franchise fees are refundable (uncommon in Food & Beverage), which reduces your upfront financial risk if the deal falls through.

Cons

Item 7 Total Max is $3,581,375, well above typical for Food & Beverage, meaning your total startup investment could be several times industry norms and will materially increase the cash and financing you must secure.
Sixty signed-but-not-open outlets is unusually high for this sector and may reflect the franchisor selling agreements faster than it can support openings or ongoing delays in site approvals and buildouts.
There are 82 company‑owned units, well above typical for Food & Beverage, which may indicate the franchisor prioritizes corporate expansion over growing the franchised base—verify how that strategy affects local marketing, territory value, and resale prospects.

Territory Protection

48/100
NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units affecting market density, sell via e-commerce, retail and alternative channels, acquire/convert locations and use different trademarks; protection is contingent on performance contingencies and franchisee may relocate the site.

Training & Support

100
Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 200-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four managerial staff for launch. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness that incurs additional fees, and franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses.

Unit Growth Analysis

Unit Growth Chart

This franchise shows a clear declining trajectory from 279 units in 2022 to 257 in 2026 (a net drop of 22 units, −7.9%); year-over-year declines were −2.5% (2023), −3.3% (2024), and −2.3% (2025) before flattening to 0.0% in 2026. For investors, the multi-year contraction suggests persistent retention or development headwinds, but the 2026 stabilization at 257 units indicates the decline may have halted—worth watching for confirmation or signs of renewed growth.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Perkins Franchise?

Opening a Perkins franchise requires a total initial investment of $1,443,890 to $3,581,375, according to the 2026 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

$1,443,890
Minimum Investment Breakdown
Franchise Fee
Real Estate
Equipment & Assets
Reserves
Training
Other

Maximum Investment

$3,581,375
Maximum Investment Breakdown

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000
Real Estate$57,500
Equipment & Assets$456,175
Reserves$100,000
Training$40,000
Other$750,215

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$40,000
Real Estate$125,000
Equipment & Assets$835,625
Reserves$150,000
Training$60,750
Other$2,370,000

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 Perkins Franchise Owners Make?

Perkins franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,933,346 and median gross sales of $1,929,925 in 2026, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:
$1,933,346
Median Gross Sales:
$1,929,925
High Gross Sales:
$4,240,320
Low Gross Sales:
$589,679
Sample Size:
168
Percent Attaining Average:
49.0%
Franchise vs Corporate Performance: In 2024 franchised units had average Net Sales of 1,933,346 versus company-owned units averaging 2,103,055, indicating company-operated restaurants outperformed franchised restaurants on average that year.
Performance Variability Analysis: Franchised unit Net Sales show substantial spread with a high of 4,240,320 and a low of 589,679, though the median (1,929,925) is nearly equal to the mean, suggesting the overall distribution is not heavily skewed despite wide top-to-bottom variation.
Data Scope and Limitations: The tables report Net Sales for units meeting inclusion criteria (open at least 50% of the year) and exclude certain units; franchisee-provided figures are not audited and expense/P&L details are not provided in Item 19.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a Perkins franchise?

The total initial investment for a Perkins franchise ranges from $1,443,890 to $3,581,375, according to the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the Perkins initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Perkins is $40,000, as stated in the 2026 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do Perkins franchise owners make?

Perkins franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,933,346 and median gross sales of $1,929,925 in 2026, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does Perkins have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Perkins received a legal risk score of 91 out of 100 in the 2026 FDD analysis. The Facts: Recent PAGA and wage‑and‑hour claims against the predecessor franchisor allege unpaid overtime, off‑the‑clock work, missed meal/rest breaks, inaccurate wage statements, and unreimbursed expenses; two matters settled without admission of liability, while others remain unresolved and were stayed in bankruptcy.

Does Perkins offer exclusive franchise territories?

Perkins 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 Perkins provide to new franchisees?

Perkins received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides a comprehensive 200-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four managerial staff for launch.

How many Perkins franchise locations are there?

Perkins had 257 total locations as of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is Perkins?

Perkins is a full-service restaurant and bakery offering a broad menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees.

Interested in Perkins?

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