Huddle House franchise
Huddle House is a Southern diner chain serving breakfast all day and full meals such as steaks, burgers and chicken, often open 24 hours, with table service, carryout and catering. At the end of its 2024 fiscal year there were 269 Huddle House locations in the US, 212 franchised and 57 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $555K–$2.38M
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 4.75%
- Locations, 2024
- 269−41 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1966
- First location
- 1964
- Franchisor based in
- Sandy Springs, Georgia
- Agreement length
- 15 years
- Financing
- Some financing offered
From Huddle House, Inc’s 2025 filing.
How much a Huddle House franchise costs
Opening a newly developed Huddle House costs an estimated $555,375 to $2,381,275. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Huddle House, Inc, 2025 filing, page 30
Huddle House franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000, for a new franchisee's standard unit ($25,000 for an Express unit, $15,000 non-traditional). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Huddle House, Inc, 2025 filing, page 17
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 4.75% of net sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 3.5% of net sales to the advertising fund (1% for non-traditional units), plus 0.5% local advertising. |
Source: Huddle House, Inc, 2025 filing, page 21
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Huddle House publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives net sales for franchised and company restaurants for calendar 2022, 2023 and 2024. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Huddle House, Inc, 2025 filing, page 75
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 231 (−22) | 55 | 28 |
| 2023 | 216 (−15) | 56 | 22 |
| 2024 | 212 (−4) | 57 | 18 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating. Years are the franchisor's fiscal years, which run from May to April.
Source: Huddle House, Inc, 2025 filing, page 82
How Huddle House compares
Of the 59 restaurant franchises on this site, Huddle House is the 21st cheapest to open and the 48th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Huddle House | Typical restaurant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $555K | $846K |
| Royalty | 4.8% | 5% |
| Closed or left per year | 9.6% | 2.3% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −16.2% | +5.3% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 49 of 59 |
Typical is the median across the 59 brands in restaurant franchises.
Other restaurant franchises
Huddle House franchise questions
Does Huddle House help with financing?
Yes, in some cases. Huddle House may finance part of the cost, such as the franchise fee, for qualified buyers; terms are in its filing.
How long is a Huddle House franchise agreement?
The initial term is 15 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Huddle House growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 27 franchised locations opened and 68 closed or left, a net change of −16.2%. About 9.6% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 2.3% typical for restaurant franchises.
How does Huddle House compare with other restaurant franchises?
Of the 59 restaurant franchises here, Huddle House is the 21st cheapest to open (low end $555K against a $846K median) and the 48th largest by number of locations. Its 4.8% royalty is in line with the 5% median.
Does Huddle House say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives net sales for franchised and company restaurants for calendar 2022, 2023 and 2024. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Huddle House based?
Huddle House, Inc is based in Sandy Springs, Georgia and the brand has sold franchises since 1966; the first location opened in 1964.