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Applebee's FDD Analysis · 2026

Applebee's Franchise Cost (2026 FDD)

Inside the Applebee's franchise disclosure

You searched the right thing. The FDD is the document that spells out what a Applebee's 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
$616K–$5.9M
System size
1,4801,421 franchised
Financial perf. (Item 19)
Included
Year
2026analyzed May 8

§What changed — in 2025, Applebee's contracted from 1,507 to 1,480 locations. (Item 20.)

§Already a Applebee's franchisee? See everything that changed since you signed →

01 · From the filing

Here's what their franchise disclosure tells you

Six of the items Applebee's 2026 FDD has to answer, drawn straight from the filing. The rest of the document — and the figures behind these — open in your Clearly™ Workspace.

§
Item 7
·

Estimated Initial Investment

The full cost to open, low to high, including working capital.
$616,682–$5,822,933
Item 7 · Brand-wide, across both prototypes.
§
Item 19
·

Financial Performance

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 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 12
·

Territory

Does not give you a protected area of your own.
Ask Clara what the terms mean →

Applebee's $616K–$5.9M sits against a median of $652,000 across the 477 food franchises on file that disclose an investment range.

02 · Read it with Clara

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

Applebee's franchise agreement is a 20-year commitment — and the FDD 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 attorney conversation already knowing the document, so you ask the questions that matter most to you.

Clara is an expert FDD assistant. Ask her anything about Applebee's filing and she answers from the document itself, with the item and page she read it in — so you can check her.

You don't have to know what to ask first.

Open the Workspace and Clara offers to walk you through the filing, Item by Item: what it says, why it matters, and what to verify. Every answer links to the Item and page in the FDD. Ask your own questions whenever you want, and your Guided Review progress is saved, so you can stop and come back to it.

People ask Clara —

  • What does it actually cost to open?
  • What fees come after the franchise fee?
  • How do their locations perform?
  • Do I get a protected territory?
  • What happens if I want out?

The Applebee's Workspace

$19

One-time · yours to keep

Get FDD + Workspace — $19
A Clearly Workspace for McDonald's showing the Clearly Report, both FDD filings, and the Year-over-Year report, with Clara offering to start Guided Review
Shown: McDonald's, with both filings and the Year-over-Year report.
See how Guided Review works

The full FDD in your Clearly Workspace · Guided Review through the 23 Items · Clara beside you, unlimited questions · Year-over-Year report included · saved to your Clearly Library · yours to keep

§Evaluating more than a couple of brands? Professional gives you unlimited access from $149/mo.

03 · Common questions

Common questions

How much does it cost to open a Applebee's franchise?

Applebee's 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 Applebee's franchise?

Applebee's 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 Applebee's share how its franchises perform financially?

Yes — Applebee's 2026 FDD reports average and median gross sales. The figures themselves are in your Clearly Workspace.

How many Applebee's locations are there?

Applebee's 2026 FDD reports 1,480 locations — 1,421 franchised and 59 company-owned (Item 20).

Can Clearly help me review the Applebee's FDD?

Yes. Open the Applebee's Workspace and Guided Review walks through the filing Item by Item: what each Item discloses, why it matters, and what to verify, with a link to the page in the FDD. Your progress is saved, and you can ask Clara unlimited follow-up questions along the way. Clearly explains what the FDD says. It does not score the franchise or give legal advice.

Drawn from Applebee's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document · last updated May 8, 2026.

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