Is Black Bear Diner or Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay cheaper to open?

Black Bear Diner costs $1,495,700–$2,238,600 and Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay costs $559,300–$3,167,800 to open (FDD Item 7). Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay has the lower entry cost.

Which is the better franchise, Black Bear Diner or Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay?

FranchiseVerdict grades Black Bear Diner A and Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay D, from FDD Items 5–7, 19–21 and SBA loan performance. See the full side-by-side above.

Black Bear Diner vs Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay

Franchise Comparison 2026

Both Black Bear Diner and Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay are full-service restaurants franchises. Black Bear Diner requires an investment of $1.5M – $2.2M while Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay requires $559K – $3.2M. Black Bear Diner discloses average revenue of $2.8M; Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay does not report Item 19 data. Black Bear Diner has SBA lending data on file with a 0.0% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Black Bear Diner A (Strongest tier) and Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay D (Below average).

Metric	Black Bear Diner	Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay
Verdict Grade	AStrongest tierStrongest tier	DBelow averageBelow average
Investment Range	$1.5M – $2.2M	$559K – $3.2M
Franchise Fee	$24K	$40K
Royalty Rate	4.5%	6.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)	$2.8M	N/A
SBA Charge-Off Rate	0.0% (29 loans)	N/A
Total Units	169	3
Unit Growth (YoY)	N/A	N/A
Year Began Franchising	2002	2022
FDD Year	2026	2025