Dave’s Hot Chicken vs Denny's
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Dave’s Hot Chicken and Denny's are full-service restaurants franchises. Dave’s Hot Chicken requires an investment of $617K – $4.1M while Denny's requires $1.6M – $3.1M. Denny's discloses average revenue of $1.9M; Dave’s Hot Chicken does not report Item 19 data. Denny's has SBA lending data on file with a 7.5% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Dave’s Hot Chicken A (Strongest tier) and Denny's A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Dave’s Hot Chicken | Denny's |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $617K – $4.1M | $1.6M – $3.1M |
| Franchise Fee | $20K | $10K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 4.5% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/A | $1.9M |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | Limited data | 7.5% (283 loans) |
| Total Units | 358 | 1,274 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 2019 | 1994 |
| FDD Year | 2024 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$617K – $4.1M
$1.6M – $3.1M
Franchise Fee
$20K
$10K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
4.5%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/A
$1.9M
SBA Charge-Off Rate
Limited data
7.5% (283 loans)
Total Units
358
1,274
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
2019
1994
FDD Year
2024
2025