Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Chili's Grill & Bar vs Applebee's
Commercial comparison of unit economics, FTC Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Item 19 average unit volume (AUV), startup capital requirements, and store tech stacks.
Contender 1Rank #15
Chili's Grill & Bar
Sports Bar & Grills
Craft Drafts, Wings & Live Sports
Parent Holding:Brinker International
Contender 2Rank #30
Applebee's
Neighborhood Grill & Bar
Eatin' Good in the Neighborhood
Parent Holding:Dine Brands Global
Unit Economics & Financial Benchmarks
Verified against FTC FDD Item 19 and SEC Form 10-K regulatory disclosures.
| Metric | Chili's Grill & Bar | Applebee's | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.87M | $4.88M | Applebee's (+0%) |
| Active Store Locations | 1,206 | 1,472 | Applebee's (Larger Fleet) |
| Initial Investment Range | $2.20M – $4.80M | $2.20M – $4.80M | Varies by site format |
| Min Liquid Capital Required | $750k | $750k | FDD Item 7 Requirement |
| Royalty Fee % | 4.5% | 4.5% | Equal |
| National Ad Fund % | 3.0% | 3.0% | Marketing Contribution |
| Annual Systemwide Sales | $5.90B | $7.20B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Chili's Grill & Bar:Toast Restaurant POS
Applebee's:Oracle MICROS Simphony / Toast
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Chili's Grill & Bar:Toast KDS
Applebee's:QSR Automations
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Chili's Grill & Bar:0% (0 stores)
Applebee's:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Chili's Grill & Bar:0% (0 stores)
Applebee's:0% (0 stores)
Need deeper store-level datasets?
Explore individual geocoded address lists, multi-unit franchisee portfolios, and full FDD Item 19 exhibits.