Denny's Franchise: Cost, Fees & Earnings
1,274 locations (2025), -4.5% YoY(Item 20)
A Denny's franchise requires an estimated total investment of $245,000 to $3,055,925, including a $10,000 initial franchise fee (2026 FDD, Item 7). Franchisees pay an ongoing royalty of 4.5% of revenue (4.5%) / 7% of revenue (7%) (Item 6). The 2026 FDD reports a median unit revenue of $1,829,472 for FY2025 (Item 19).
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Median Revenue (AUV)
$1,829,472
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 19
Initial Investment
$245,000 – $3,055,925
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7
Franchise Fee
$10,000
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5
Royalty
4.5% of revenue (4.5%) / 7% of revenue (7%)
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6
Denny's Franchise Key Facts
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment | $245,000 – $3,055,925Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7 | |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $10,000 – $30,000Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5 | |
| Royalty | 4.5% of revenue (4.5%) / 7% of revenue (7%)Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6 | |
| Median Revenue (AUV) | $1,829,472Source: 2026 FDD, Item 19 | |
| Total Locations | 1,274 (2025)Source: Item 20 |
Denny's Franchise Fees
Initial franchise fee(Item 5)
$10,000 – $30,000
Ongoing royalty(Item 6)
4.5% of revenue (4.5%) / 7% of revenue (7%)
National ad / brand fund(Item 6)
3% exact
Additional Item 5–6 fees (transfer, renewal, area development, and any veteran discounts) are not yet parsed on Franchable — see the brand's FDD for the full fee schedule.
What Denny's FDD Discloses
In 2025, Denny's franchised system recorded 12 franchised openings, 72 closures (Item 20).
Gross Sales by Performance TierSource: 2026 FDD Item 19
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Additional Item 19 Analysis
Deeper Item 19 Analysis (Charts 3–6)
Openings & Closings, Transfer Rates, Franchise vs Corporate Mix
Denny's vs Competitors
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Denny's Franchise FAQ
How much does a Denny's franchise cost?
Per Item 7 of the 2026 FDD Franchise Disclosure Document, the estimated initial investment ranges from $245,000 to $3,055,925.
What is the Denny's franchise fee?
The FDD reports an initial franchise fee of $10,000 to $30,000.
What royalty does Denny's charge?
The FDD reports an ongoing royalty of 4.5% of revenue (4.5%) / 7% of revenue (7%).
How much revenue does a Denny's franchise generate?
The 2026 FDD reports a median revenue per unit of $1,829,472 for fiscal year 2025. Individual results vary.
How much does a Denny's franchise owner make?
Denny's disclosed median unit revenue of $1,829,472 in FY2025 (Item 19). It does not disclose unit-level profit, so a reliable owner-income figure can't be drawn from its FDD. Individual results vary.
Can I finance a Denny's franchise with an SBA loan?
Many franchise purchases are financed with SBA 7(a) loans covering a large share of the total project cost. You can check what you'd qualify for with Franchable's free SBA prequalification.
Data sourced from the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document. Franchable is not affiliated with or endorsed by Denny's. This is not an offer to sell a franchise. Individual results vary.