Red Robin vs Golden Corral
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Red Robin and Golden Corral are full-service restaurants franchises. Red Robin requires an investment of $2.7M – $5.8M while Golden Corral requires $2.2M – $6.2M. Golden Corral discloses average revenue of $4.9M; Red Robin does not report Item 19 data. Golden Corral has SBA lending data on file with a 12.8% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Red Robin A (Strongest tier) and Golden Corral A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Red Robin | Golden Corral |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | AStrongest tierStrongest tier | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $2.7M – $5.8M | $2.2M – $6.2M |
| Franchise Fee | $35K | $15K |
| Royalty Rate | 5.0% | 4.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/A | $4.9M |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | Limited data | 12.8% (225 loans) |
| Total Units | 498 | 348 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1979 | 1986 |
| FDD Year | 2025 | 2024 |
Investment Range
$2.7M – $5.8M
$2.2M – $6.2M
Franchise Fee
$35K
$15K
Royalty Rate
5.0%
4.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/A
$4.9M
SBA Charge-Off Rate
Limited data
12.8% (225 loans)
Total Units
498
348
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1979
1986
FDD Year
2025
2024