Established
1969
Franchise Units
90
Minimum Investment
$1,865,000
Franchise Fee
$35,000
Total Investment Range
$4,115,000
Home Based
No
Description
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews stands as a powerhouse in the casual dining segment, built on a legacy of gourmet burgers, Bottomless Steak Fries®, and family-friendly hospitality. Marketed toward multi-unit operators and seasoned restaurant investors, Red Robin balances high-volume dining with strong brand recognition across North America. The concept combines craft burgers, an expansive beverage program, and an energetic environment to capture dynamic lunch, dinner, and late-night guest traffic.
Why Invest in this Franchise?
Established Brand Equity: Decades of national advertising and market presence ensure immediate customer awareness.
Signature Menu Anchors: Proprietary recipes and signature offerings like Bottomless Steak Fries® build customer loyalty and drive repeat visits.
Diversified Revenue Streams: Strong performance across dine-in, curbside pickup, takeout, delivery, and corporate catering channels.
Robust Loyalty Program: Over 10 million active Red Royalty® members feed steady customer engagement and targeted marketing efforts.
Dedicated Support Ecosystem: Modern point-of-sale systems, streamlined kitchen display technologies, and site-selection analytics help multi-unit operators scale efficiently.
Background
- Established Year: Founded in 1969 in Seattle, Washington.
Franchising Debut: Launched franchise expansion in 1979.
Active Units: Approximately 475 total locations across North America (including 385 corporate stores and ~90 franchised units).
Founders: Originally opened by Sam Ortiz as "Sam's Red Robin," later acquired and expanded into a national franchise network by Gerry Kingen.
Corporate Ownership: Publicly traded on NASDAQ under Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (RRGB), headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
Industry Category: Casual Dining Restaurant / Gourmet Burger & Craft Beverage.
Support Training
- Pre-Launch Site Selection & Design: Hands-on assistance from corporate real estate teams with demographic analysis, lease negotiation guidance, and prototypical floor plans.
Comprehensive Academy Training: Management and owner-operator education via the Red Robin School of Management, covering food safety, operational flow, inventory management, and labor scheduling.
On-Site Launch Team: Dedicated corporate trainers deployed to train local kitchen staff, servers, and management during soft launches and initial weeks of operation.
Marketing & Local PR Support: Access to national marketing campaigns, regional media strategies, digital marketing materials, and Red Royalty® integration.
Ongoing Operational Support: Assigned Business Consultants conduct field audits, offer cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) optimizations, and assist with ongoing staff development.
Ideal Candidate
- Experienced Restaurant Operators: Candidates with proven success operating multi-unit casual dining, fast-casual, or QSR concepts.
Capital Capability: Financial standing to secure multi-unit development agreements in target growth territories.
Local Market Knowledge: Deep roots in desired expansion markets to leverage community partnerships, youth sports sponsorships, and local fundraising events.
Leadership Focus: Hands-on management capabilities to recruit, mentor, and retain high-performing restaurant managers and kitchen staff.
Preferred Locations: Freestanding pads, suburban retail centers, high-density trade zones, or regional shopping hubs with high traffic visibility.
Financial Detail
| Expense / Metric | Estimated Amount / Requirement |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $35,000 per location |
| Total Estimated Initial Investment | $1,865,000 – $4,115,000 |
| Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $500,000+ |
| Minimum Net Worth Required | $1,000,000 – $3,000,000+ |
| Infrastructure & Construction Costs | $800,000 – $1,500,000 |
| Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment (FF&E) | $550,000 – $950,000 |
| Pre-Opening Expenses & Supplies | $190,000 – $300,000 |
| Working Capital (Additional Funds) | $100,000 – $200,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 4% of Gross Sales |
| Marketing / Brand Fund Contribution | 1% – 5% of Gross Sales |
| Expected Break-Even & ROI | Varies by location, sales volume, and labor efficiency; financial disclosures are detailed in Item 19 of the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). |
| Primary Revenue Streams | Dine-In Food & Craft Alcohol Sales, Takeout, Curbside Pickup, Delivery Apps, and Catering. |