America’s Dog & Burger Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
America's Dog & Burger is a quick-service franchise serving Chicago-style gourmet hot dogs and burgers. Franchisees run the restaurants, managing food prep, staffing, and counter service.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER franchise requires a total initial investment of $290K – $694K, including a $30K franchise fee and an ongoing 5.0% royalty[2]. The 2024 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: D (Below average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2024 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $290K – $694K
- 48th pct Service Resta…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Outlet subset
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- 11th pct Service Resta…
- Units
- 3
- 15th pct Service Resta…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Quick-Service Restaurants · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Quick-Service Restaurants avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $290K – $694K including a $30K franchise fee, 5.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSFY2023 total revenues of $23,238 comprise franchise and license fee revenue of $13,239 and royalty revenue of $9,999. Net loss for the year was $24,253; the franchisor has a members' deficit of $(118,508). Financial statements are unaudited interim (5/31/2024) plus audited statements for years ended 12/31/2023, 2022, 2021.
- RISKVerdict D (Below average), verdict score 36/100 (higher is better).
- FLAGAuditor disclosed a going-concern note, which flagged doubt about the franchisor's ability to continue operations. Verify against the latest FDD.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- America's Dog Franchise Systems, LLC
- Parent company
- None
- Ultimate parent
- America's Dog Franchise, LLC (owns intellectual property)
- CEO title
- Manager and President
- Manolis Alpogianis
- CEO experience
- 2015 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- IL
- HQ
- 700 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 121, Chicago, Illinois 60611
- Auditor
- A&G, LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $23K
- vs $1K prior year
- ⚠ Going-concern note
- Disclosed in FDD 2024
- Status as of 2024; may have been resolved in a later filing we don't yet have.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Manolis Alpogianis
- Headquarters
- IL
- Founded
- 2015
- FDD year
- 2024
- States available
- 1
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 25% below the typical quick-service restaurants franchise.
Source: FDD 2024 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown16 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $30K | $30K | |
| Lease Deposit and rent for 3 months | $12K | $25K | |
| Blue prints, plans, and permits | $10K | $20K | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $113K | $390K | |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and equipment | $55K | $100K | |
| Signage and graphics (interior and exterior) | $3K | $15K | |
| Office Equipment and Supplies | $2K | $4K | |
| Travel and related expenses while training | $20K | $25K | |
| Initial marketing campaign | $5K | $10K | |
| POS Software and Hardware (including one year maintenance/support contract) | $8K | $13K | |
| Initial Inventory/Supplies | $4K | $7K | |
| Professional Services | $2K | $4K | |
| Insurance | $8K | $12K | |
| Government permits and licenses | $300 | $750 | |
| Additional Funds | $20K | $40K | |
| Development Feenot refundable | $70K | $70K | |
| Total initial investment | $360K | $764K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $290K – $694K
- Middle of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $20K – $40K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $30K – $30K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 5.0%
- tiered · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 7.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $0 |
| Training fee | $500 |
| Transfer fee | $18K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Inventory (initial) | $4K – $7K |
| Total fee load | 7.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2024 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
22%
Below the 30–60% attractive-franchise band
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2024 FDD
Financial Performance
FY2023 total revenues of $23,238 comprise franchise and license fee revenue of $13,239 and royalty revenue of $9,999. Net loss for the year was $24,253; the franchisor has a members' deficit of $(118,508). Financial statements are unaudited interim (5/31/2024) plus audited statements for years ended 12/31/2023, 2022, 2021.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 7.0% (near the Quick-Service Restaurants average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Quick-Service Restaurants averages
How America’s Dog & Burger Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2024 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 3
- Opened
- 1
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 2
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 33%
- vs corporate-owned
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 1
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Projected new
- 0
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 1 state reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
1
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
The auditor flagged going-concern doubt (Item 21) — the single biggest risk here.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Early-stage micro-franchise with unproven unit economics, no earnings disclosure, zero territorial protection, and minimal system scale—unsuitable for risk-averse investors seeking established franchise stability.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation required to be disclosed in Item 3.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · A&G, LLP⚠ Going-concern note flagged
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 36 / 100 verdict
- 01MINOROnly 3 units in system with unknown/likely stagnant growth trajectory raises sustainability concerns
- 02MEDNet income not disclosed in FDD Item 19 prevents accurate ROI validation and profitability assessment
- 03MINORNo territorial protection allows franchisor or competitors to saturate franchisee's market
- 04MINORWide investment range ($289K-$694K) suggests inconsistent unit economics or undefined buildout standards
- 05MEDMicro-system size (3 units) indicates limited operational track record and high execution risk
- 06MINORUnproven franchise model with minimal comparable unit performance data available
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 7.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2024 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | none |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 1 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Chicago, IL (AAA offices in city where franchisor maintains principal place of business) |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | IL |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed in Item 3.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 16 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 132 hrs
- Training location
- Chicago, IL
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Site selection
- franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Silverware POS
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Silverware POS
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
2 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER · FDD (2024) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER franchise?
The total investment to open a AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER franchise ranges from $290K – $694K, with an initial franchise fee of $30K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER franchise owners earn?
AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER has 3 total units in the United States, including 1 franchised units and 2 company-owned units. 1 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates AMERICA’S DOG & BURGER as a D-grade franchise with a verdict score of 36 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.