Restaurants & Food Service · BBQ & Smokehouse
Famous Dave's Franchises for Sale
A full-service smoked-barbecue restaurant with a bar, 50 to 210 seats and a seven-figure build. A mature, MTY-owned system that has been shrinking on both the franchised and company side.
Brand Performance Snapshot
Franchised and company-owned unit counts for 2023 through 2025, as reported in the franchisor's FDD.
Existing Famous Dave's Franchises for Sale
Operating Famous Dave's territories listed for sale by their owners or brokers, reviewed before publishing.
Existing territories come up for sale as owners retire or relocate. Tell us where you're looking and we'll email you when a Famous Dave's resale is verified and published.
Famous Dave's Franchise Model Overview
Famous Dave's restaurants serve hickory-smoked ribs, brisket, chicken, burgers and classic sides, with cocktails where licensed, in freestanding buildings or retail end caps of roughly 2,400 to 6,200 square feet. The franchisor also offers counter-service, line-service and ghost-kitchen formats, but the full-service dining room is the heavy-asset core: build-out, kitchen equipment, smokers, décor, signage and a liquor license push a leased location well into seven figures. An operating partner with at least 20 percent equity must work full time in the restaurant, the operating entity must be dedicated solely to Famous Dave's, and owners and spouses sign personal guarantees. Royalty is 5 percent with a 1 percent marketing fund and 1.5 percent local advertising minimum. The system has contracted every year, from 112 to 100 restaurants, with company stores about 30 percent of the base. Buyers should expect a required remodel every five to ten years, a transfer fee and franchisor approval on any sale.
Ideal owner profile
Investment Snapshot
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Brand information on this page — including unit counts, fees, and investment ranges — was compiled by Verified Franchise Resales from the brand's most recent Franchise Disclosure Document and has not been independently verified. Verified Franchise Resales is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Famous Dave's. Prospective buyers should obtain and review the current FDD, consult qualified legal and financial advisors, and confirm all terms before responding. This page is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy a franchise; offers are made only through the FDD in applicable jurisdictions. Read VFR’s Terms of Use before responding to any franchise.