Friendly’s is a casual-dining franchise offering ice cream, burgers, breakfasts and family meals, serving families and casual diners, and known for nostalgic American fare, classic ice-cream sundaes and broad national recognition.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
94
+
96%
96%
Franchise fee
?
$30,000
Investment
?
$1,111,000 - $2,682,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$1,081,000
+
n.a.
n.a.
Upgrade
Friendly’s is a longtime American restaurant brand known for its family-friendly atmosphere and classic comfort food. The concept traces its roots back to 1935, when brothers S. Prestley Blake and Curtis Blake opened their first ice-cream shop in Springfield, Massachusetts. Their original store became popular during the Great Depression by serving affordable nickel cones and creating a warm, inviting space for local families.
Today, the company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, under the ownership of Brix Holdings LLC, which purchased the brand in 2021.
The menu highlights American staples such as burgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, and its well-loved ice-cream sundaes. Friendly’s is recognized for its nostalgic feel, approachable service, and dessert-focused experience that appeals to guests of all ages. The brand places emphasis on creating enjoyable, memorable dining moments for families.
Friendly’s began offering franchise opportunities in 1996 and has since introduced its “Friendly’s 2.0” model. This updated restaurant format improves operational flow while showcasing a modern look that still reflects the brand’s longstanding identity.
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a Friendly's franchise is $1,111,000 - $2,682,000. That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$30,000
Site Selection Fee
$3,500
Project Management Fee
$3,500
Lease, Deposits & Rent
$25,000 to $50,000
Architect, Engineer, Drawings
$16,000 to $30,000
Construction of Restaurant (excluding malls)
$400,000 to $1,567,500
Furniture, Equipment, Signs and Computers
$327,500 to $460,000
Grand Opening Campaign
$10,000
Miscellaneous Pre-Opening Expenses
$13,420 to $36,960
Insurance (3 months)
$6,000 to $7,500
Inventory of Food, Supplies, Small-wares and Uniforms
$39,000 to $65,000
Transportation and Living Expenses for Management Training
$10,010 to $33,825
Opening Team Expenses
$24,750 to $78,650
Professional Fees
$2,000 to $6,000
Additional Funds for 3 Months of Operation
$200,000 to $300,000
Total (excluding land, royalties and marketing fees)
$1,110,680 to $2,682,435
Create a free account to access this table and more. For more information see our plans here.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$30,000
Site Selection Fee
$3,500
Project Management Fee
$3,500
Lease, Deposits & Rent
$25,000 to $50,000
Architect, Engineer, Drawings
$16,000 to $30,000
Construction of Restaurant (excluding malls)
$400,000 to $1,567,500
Furniture, Equipment, Signs and Computers
$327,500 to $460,000
Grand Opening Campaign
$10,000
Miscellaneous Pre-Opening Expenses
$13,420 to $36,960
Insurance (3 months)
$6,000 to $7,500
Inventory of Food, Supplies, Small-wares and Uniforms
$39,000 to $65,000
Transportation and Living Expenses for Management Training
$10,010 to $33,825
Opening Team Expenses
$24,750 to $78,650
Professional Fees
$2,000 to $6,000
Additional Funds for 3 Months of Operation
$200,000 to $300,000
Total (excluding land, royalties and marketing fees)
$1,110,680 to $2,682,435
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is Friendly's's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
Friendly's had 95 total units in 2025, of which 94 were franchised-owned and 1 company-owned.
Friendly’s Restaurants Franchising Co, LLC provides structured training and support programs for its franchisees. The programs aim to ensure consistency in operations and prepare the franchisee’s team for opening and running the restaurant efficiently. These training offerings vary based on whether it is the first or second location being opened by the franchisee.
Initial Training for First Location: For the first Friendly’s Restaurant, the franchisor provides free admission to its mandatory training programs for up to five individuals. This ensures key team members are equipped with the operational knowledge needed to run the franchise successfully.
Initial Training for Second Location: For a franchisee’s second Friendly’s Restaurant, up to three individuals can attend the training programs at no additional charge. This scaled-down approach still offers essential support while assuming prior exposure to the brand's operations.
Opening Support for First Location: The franchisor supplies a team of 9 to 14 qualified trainers to assist with the pre-opening, opening, and initial operation phase. This on-site support helps implement brand standards from the start.
Opening Support for Second Location: For the second location, the franchisor provides a slightly smaller opening team of up to nine trainers. This reflects an expectation that the franchisee has gained operational experience.
Territory Protection
Friendly’s Restaurants Franchising Co, LLC provide a form of territorial protection known as the “Protected Area” for its franchisees. This area is typically defined as a one-mile radius from the front entrance of the franchisee's restaurant or a geographic area mapped in the agreement.
Within this area, Friendly’s agrees not to open or permit another Friendly’s Restaurant, except in “Non-Traditional Venues” such as airports, schools, or malls, which are expressly excluded from the Protected Area.
However, this protection is not absolute. The franchisor, its affiliates, and third-party services retain certain reserved rights. For example, third-party delivery services may operate in overlapping areas, and Friendly’s does not consider such overlaps a breach of the territory rights.
Additionally, Friendly’s may sell branded products in retail channels within the Protected Area or license other systems that do not fall under the franchise agreement.
.png)
