Denny's vs Perkins Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Denny's vs Perkins including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Denny's Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Investment $305,000 - $2,404,695$1,557,975 - $2,742,975
Franchise Fee $10,000 - $30,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4.5%-7%4%
Advertising Fee 3%-3.5%-
Year Founded 19531958
Year Franchised 19841958
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Term Of Agreement 20 years20 years
Renewal Fee $10K for 10 years$5000-$7500


Business Experience Requirements
 
Denny's Franchise
Perkins Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Operations experience
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Denny's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    Denny's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 91 hours Classroom Training: 16 hours Additional Training: At existing Denny's restaurants-
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform-
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app-
    Operations 44% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 80

    Absentee Ownership Allowed

    		-

    Expansion Plans
     
    Denny's Franchise
    Perkins Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesNo

    Company Overviews

    About Denny's

    In 1953, Harold Butler opened Danny's Donuts, a Lakewood, California, stand that served coffee and doughnuts 24 hours a day. The following year, the stand grew and its name was changed to Danny's Coffee Shops. Five years later, there were 20 shops in the chain, and the company changed its name to Denny's. Denny's locations serve breakfast, lunch and dinner choices 24 hours a day. Denny's New & Emerging Markets incentive program is designed to help us recruit exceptional new franchisees to seize valuable market share in new & emerging markets. Under the program, new franchisees can save up to $1 million by developing 4 new restaurants in new & emerging markets. The estimated savings include reduced: initial fees, royalty rate, marketing fees, market planning fee, store design fees, NRO training, and MGIP (development fees). With a flexible, cost-effective prototype & best-in-class systems, Denny's is positioned for sustained franchise growth.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Denny’s franchise is from $1,330,525.50 to $2,404,695.50 for a Denny’s Heritage facility; from $305,000 to $826,000 for a nontraditional Denny’s, including The Den; and from $1,025,528.50 to $1,659,695.50 for Denny’s within a Travel Center (these numbers exclude real estate). This includes the initial franchise fee of $10,000 to $30,000 and the New Restaurant Opening fee of $0 to $36,000, for a total of $10,000 to $66,000, which must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.

    "franchiserankingscom"
    #59 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #83 on Franchise 500 for 2021  Not on Franchise 500 for 2020


    About Perkins

    In today’s market, the opportunity to buy a Perkins® restaurant franchise business couldn’t be better for experienced restaurateurs interested in aligning with a concept that has withstood the test of time. Now more than ever, restaurant customers are looking for value without sacrificing selection and taste. A top leader in the family restaurant dining segment since 1958, Perkins offers high quality, flavorful and affordable menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and snack. With more than 440 units across the U.S. and Canada, the heritage of the Perkins brand and the ability to adapt to current consumer trends have placed it among the top performing companies in the family restaurant franchise segment.

    It’s time to take a fresh look at Perkins Restaurants. Find out how you can own one of the best family restaurant franchises in the business, and deliver the Perkins experience to loyal diners, through single-unit operations and multi-unit ownership franchise opportunities. Perkins gives you the chance to bring comfort, value, and great taste to your community - not to mention solid growth potential to your own career in foodservice.

    Perkins has a vision for the future, and wants you to be part of it: our goal is to continue to offer great food and memorable dining experiences to guests across the continent!

    Join Perkins and leverage our name, our established systems, and our special recipes - all while pleasing your guests and charting your future in the industry.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Perkins Restaurant and Bakery franchise is $1,557,975 - $2,742,975. This includes the $50,000 initial fee paid to the franchisor (unless you are participating in the Refranchising Program). Under the Company Restaurant Refranchising Program, in which an existing company-owned restaurant is transferred to a franchisee, the initial franchise fee is negotiable and will vary in amount depending on, among other things, the length of the franchise term and the profitability of the restaurant (additional information about the Refranchising Program is provided in the Disclosure Document).
    In addition, if you sign a Development Agreement for three or more restaurants, the initial franchise fee is $40,000 for the first restaurant, $35,000 for the second restaurant and $30,000 for the third and any subsequent restaurant(s).