Head-to-Head Franchise Intelligence
Red Robin 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 #50
Red Robin
Gourmet Burgers & Brews
Red Robin... YUMMM!
Parent Holding:Red Robin Corporation
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 | Red Robin | Applebee's | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median AUV (Annual Sales) | $4.75M | $4.88M | Applebee's (+3%) |
| Active Store Locations | 475 | 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 | $2.30B | $7.20B | System Scale |
In-Store Tech Stack
Point-of-Sale Hardware/Software
Red Robin:NCR Aloha / Toast
Applebee's:Oracle MICROS Simphony / Toast
Kitchen Display System (KDS)
Red Robin:Aloha Kitchen
Applebee's:QSR Automations
Delivery Multi-Homing
DoorDash Marketplace Penetration
Red Robin:0% (0 stores)
Applebee's:0% (0 stores)
Uber Eats Marketplace Penetration
Red Robin: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.