Friendly’s vs Buffalo’s Cafe
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Friendly’s and Buffalo’s Cafe are full-service restaurants franchises. Friendly’s requires an investment of $1.1M – $2.7M while Buffalo’s Cafe requires $857K – $2.9M. Buffalo’s Cafe discloses average revenue of $2.4M; no Item 19 revenue figure is on file for Friendly’s. Note: Reported as net sales, not gross sales. Friendly’s has SBA lending data on file with a 6.5% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Friendly’s B (Above average) and Buffalo’s Cafe B (Above average).
| Metric | Friendly’s | Buffalo’s Cafe |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove average | BAbove average |
| Investment Range | $1.1M – $2.7M | $857K – $2.9M |
| Franchise Fee | $30K | $50K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | 6.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/A | $2.4M |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 6.5% (37 loans) | N/A |
| Total Units | 95 | 12 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | +8 units | -1 units |
| Year Began Franchising | 1986 | 1989 |
| FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$1.1M – $2.7M
$857K – $2.9M
Franchise Fee
$30K
$50K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
6.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/A
$2.4M
SBA Charge-Off Rate
6.5% (37 loans)
N/A
Total Units
95
12
Unit Growth (YoY)
+8 units
-1 units
Year Began Franchising
1986
1989
FDD Year
2025
2025