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Applebees FDD Analysis · 2026

Inside the Applebees franchise disclosure

You searched the right thing. The FDD is the document that spells out what a Applebees franchise is really about — what you're committing to, and what they're committing to you. Here's a sampling of what their 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document reveals:

Investment to open
$617K–$5.82M
System size
1,480 1,421 franchised
Financial perf. (Item 19)
Included
Year
2026 analyzed May 8
What changed In 2025, Applebees contracted from 1,507 to 1,480 locations.
01

Here's what their franchise disclosure tells you

Every detail below is drawn straight from Applebees' 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document — and in your Clearly Workspace, Clara links each one back to the exact page in the FDD.

Item 7

Estimated Initial Investment

The full cost to open, low to high, including working capital.
$616,682–$5,822,933
Item 7
Item 19

Financial Performance

What the franchisor discloses about how outlets perform.
Reports average and median gross sales.
Ask Clara what the figures mean →
Item 20

Outlets & Franchisees

Outlet counts, openings and closures, turnover.
1,480 locations
In 2025, opened 11 new locations and closed 33 · Item 20
Item 6

Other Fees

The recurring fees — royalty, brand fund, and the rest.
4% royalty · 4.25% brand fund
See the full fee schedule with Clara →
Item 5

Initial Fees

The upfront fees due before opening.
$35,000 franchise fee
Item 5
Item 12

Territory

Whether you get a protected area, and on what terms.
Does not give you a protected area of your own.
Ask Clara what the terms mean →
02

What changed this year

  • 1
    Applebees contracted from 1,507 locations to 1,480 total locations in 2025. (Item 20.)
  • 2
    In 2025, Applebees opened 11 new locations and closed 33. (Item 20.)
Applebees' franchise agreement is a 20-year commitment — and the FDD is the document that spells out exactly what you're signing up for.

You cannot change the FDD — and that's not the point. The point is to walk into your next conversation with Applebees knowing what you're agreeing to, so you ask the questions that matter most to you. We're not here to talk you out of anything — we're here to make sure your excitement is the clear-eyed kind.

Open Applebees' FDD in the Clearly Workspace — with Clara beside you.

The Workspace is where you and Clara review the FDD together. She's read every page, and she'll walk you through any of it — the basic questions, the ones you're not sure are smart, the ones keeping you up at night. No judgment, ever. Ask her what a royalty really costs you, whether you could sell one day, what happens if you get sick — anything.

It's the smart first step before you sign, or before you spend on an attorney: get into the Workspace for $49, get to know the FDD, then save the legal fees for the parts you want to discuss with your attorney. Ask Clara as many questions as you want for 30 days — there's no limit, and no question is too small.

We're not paid if you sign a franchise agreement. We're here to help you understand it before you do.
$99$49
Launch price Open the Applebees FDD in the Workspace →
The full FDD in your Clearly Workspace · Clara beside you · unlimited questions for 30 days
03

Common questions

How much does it cost to open a Applebees franchise?
Applebees' 2026 FDD estimates a total initial investment of $616,682 to $5,822,933, including the $35,000 franchise fee. (Item 7.)
What are the ongoing fees for a Applebees franchise?
Applebees reports a royalty of 4%, plus a 4.25% brand-fund contribution; the rest of the recurring fees are itemized in Item 6 of the 2026 FDD.
Does Applebees share how its franchises perform financially?
Yes — Applebees' 2026 FDD reports average and median gross sales. The figures themselves are in your Clearly Workspace.
How many Applebees locations are there?
Applebees' 2026 FDD reports 1,480 locations — 1,421 franchised and 59 company-owned (Item 20).
Drawn from Applebees' 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document · last updated May 8, 2026.
Review Applebees' FDD in the Clearly Workspace
Clara's read every page and reviews it with you — ask as many questions as you want for 30 days. No question too small, no judgment.
$99$49
Open in the Workspace →