How Cracker Barrel is run
As of September 2026 Cracker Barrel operated 655 stores in 43 states, and no Cracker Barrel store was franchised. (Cracker Barrel annual report, fiscal 2026)
Franchises like Cracker Barrel
If you want to own a family dining business, these franchise brands sell the closest thing to Cracker Barrel, largest first.
| Brand | Cost to open | Fee | Royalty | Locations | Sales a location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IHOPFee $50K · Royalty 4.5% · Sales $2.01M a location | $1.91M–$3.33M | $50K | 4.5% | 1,642−4 in 3 yrs | $2.01M |
| Denny'sFee $30K · Royalty 4.5–7% · Sales $1.95M a location | $1.62M–$3.06M | $30K | 4.5–7% | 1,274−171 in 3 yrs | $1.95M |
| Golden CorralFee $50K · Royalty 4% · Sales $4.92M a location | $3.63M–$4.51M | $50K | 4% | 348−14 in 3 yrs | $4.92M |
| Huddle HouseFee $35K · Royalty 4.75% · Sales $796K a location | $555K–$2.38M | $35K | 4.75% | 269−34 in 3 yrs | $796K |
| Perkins Restaurant & BakeryFee $40K · Royalty 4% · Sales $1.93M a location | $1.31M–$3.28M | $40K | 4% | 257−22 in 3 yrs | $1.93M |
| Black Bear DinerFee $55K · Royalty 4.5% · Sales $2.82M a location | $1.5M–$2.24M | $55K | 4.5% | 169+16 in 3 yrs | $2.82M |
| Village InnFee $35K · Royalty 4% of gross sales · Sales $1.98M a location | $1.08M–$2.75M | $35K | 4% of gross sales | 109−14 in 3 yrs | $1.98M |
Locations are US locations, franchised and company-owned, at the end of the latest year filed. Sales are yearly, before costs, where the brand publishes them.
IHOP is the largest, with 1,642 US locations, and Huddle House costs least to open, from $555,375. Black Bear Diner added the most locations, +16 over 3 years. Of the brands that publish sales, Golden Corral reports the most per location, $4.92M a year. The typical restaurant franchise starts at $408K to open; see where the money goes.
Sources
Questions
Which of these family dining franchises loses the fewest owners?
IHOP. About 2.0% of its franchised locations a year closed, were terminated or weren't renewed over the years its latest filing covers, against 8.8% a year at Huddle House. Buy-backs by the franchisor and sales to new owners don't count as exits. Failure rates by brand