Bandana's Bar-B-Q franchise
2026 filing · April 22, 2026
Bandana's Bar-B-Q at a glance
A Southern-style barbecue restaurant serving smoked meats with an "Old West" theme.
The business
- Franchisor
- Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchising since
- 2004
- 22 years of selling franchises
- Franchisor based in
- Chesterfield, Missouri
- Typical size
- 3,000–5,500 sq ft
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $380K–$1.23M
- Fee, build-out and opening working capital
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 5%
- 5% of weekly gross sales, paid weekly; the creative marketing fee is currently $0
- Brand fund
- None now
- Not charged at present ($0)
- Renewal fee
- See terms
- 50% of the then current Initial Franchise Fee
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
Where it is
- Franchised, 2025
- 6
- As printed in the filing
From Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Bandana's Bar-B-Q among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Bandana's Bar-B-Q | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $806,350 | Costs more than 79% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $40,000 | Lower than 46% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 5% | Lower than 69% of brands with a set rate |
How much a Bandana's Bar-B-Q franchise costs
Opening one Bandana's Bar-B-Q costs an estimated $380,200 to $1,232,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are leasehold improvements note ($100,000 to $475,000) and furniture, fixtures, Décor and equipment note ($80,000 to $250,000). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee Note | $40,000 | ||
| Lease Deposit and Rent Note | $7,000 | $25,000 | |
| Leasehold Improvements Note | $100,000 | $475,000 | |
| Signage | $5,000 | $35,000 | |
| Furniture, Fixtures, Décor and Equipment Note | $80,000 | $250,000 | |
| POS System Note | $15,000 | $25,000 | |
| Catering Vehicle (Van) Note | $1,200 | $15,000 | |
| Licenses, Dues, deposits, etc. Note | $1,500 | $3,500 | |
| Architectural and Engineering Fees | $5,000 | $15,000 | |
| Insurance Note | $3,000 | $6,000 | |
| Travel and Living Expenses while attending BQ School | $20,000 | $40,000 | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $10,000 | $12,000 | |
| Initial Inventory Note | $10,000 | $15,000 | |
| Opening Team Expenses | $10,000 | $30,000 | |
| Professional Fees Note | $2,500 | $10,000 | |
| Additional Funds – 3 months Note | $70,000 | $245,000 | |
| Total | $380,200 | $1,232,500 | |
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 12
Bandana's Bar-B-Q franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 9
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of weekly gross sales, paid weekly; the creative marketing fee is currently $0. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Not charged at present ($0). |
| Technology Fee | $15 per week |
| Transfer Fee – Franchise | 50% of the then current Initial Franchise Fee |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then current Initial Franchise Fee |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 9
Other fees as filed, from pages 9–10. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
No figures Bandana's Bar-B-Q does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 29
How Bandana's Bar-B-Q compares
Of the 813 restaurant franchises on this site, Bandana's Bar-B-Q is the 373rd cheapest to open.
| Figure | Bandana's Bar-B-Q | Typical restaurant brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $380K | $408K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $1.23M | $866K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $40K | $35K | $40K |
| Royalty | 5% | 5% | 6% |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 474 of 813 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 813 brands in restaurant franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 (+1) | 21 |
| 2024 | 6 (0) | 21 |
| 2025 | 6 (0) | 21 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
These figures don't add up as printed: the 2025 counts come to 27, but the filing shows 26. Worth asking the franchisor.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: franchise failure rates.
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 29
Where Bandana's Bar-B-Q locations are
At the end of 2025, Bandana's Bar-B-Q had locations in 4 states. The most are in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana.
- Missouri19
- Illinois5
- Indiana1
- Kentucky1
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, page 30
Who owns Bandana's Bar-B-Q?
Bandana's Bar-B-Q franchises are sold by Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC. It is a subsidiary of Park Ridge Midwest Restaurants, Inc.
From Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC’s 2026 filing, page 6.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | Yes. The filing describes past or pending cases involving the franchisor, its affiliates or its executives on page 8. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC, 2026 filing, litigation on page 8, bankruptcy on page 8
Bandana's Bar-B-Q filings
The figures on this page come from Bandana's Franchise Systems, LLC’s 2026 filing, issued April 22, 2026, on record with the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 filing | April 22, 2026 | NASAA depository | Costs, fees and locations, 2023–2025 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
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