Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar vs Golden Corral
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Golden Corral are full-service restaurants franchises. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar requires an investment of $2.4M – $7.1M while Golden Corral requires $4.9M – $8.5M. In terms of revenue, Golden Corral reports higher average unit revenue at $4.9M. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. Golden Corral has SBA lending data on file with a 12.8% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar A (Strongest tier) and Golden Corral A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar | Golden Corral |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $2.4M – $7.1M | $4.9M – $8.5M |
| Franchise Fee | $35K | $50K |
| Royalty Rate | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $2.8M | $4.9MOutlet subset |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | N/A | 12.8% (225 loans) |
| Total Units | 1,545 | 348 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 2014 | 1986 |
| FDD Year | 2024 | 2026 |
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar
AStrongest tierStrongest tier
Golden Corral
AStrongest tierStrongest tier
Investment Range
$2.4M – $7.1M
$4.9M – $8.5M
Franchise Fee
$35K
$50K
Royalty Rate
4.0%
4.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$2.8M
$4.9MOutlet subset
SBA Charge-Off Rate
N/A
12.8% (225 loans)
Total Units
1,545
348
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
2014
1986
FDD Year
2024
2026