Famous Dave's vs Damon's Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Famous Dave's vs Damon's including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Famous Dave's Damon's
Investment 481750 - 4495750 1200000 - 3200000
Franchise Fee 0 0
Royalty Fee 5% 4%
Advertising Fee 1%Nat'l + 1.5% local
Year Founded 1995 1979
Year Franchised 1998 1982
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Famous Dave's Damon's
Experience * Prefer Ownership/management experience in full service, casual dining restaurants, in or near the desired territories. * Multi unit experience is a big plus. * Single units will be considered depending on market conditions, demographics and other criteria. * If Area Development Agreement is chosen, minimum of three units required to be developed. * Minimum LIQUID net worth of $750,000. * Minimum per unit development costs could range from approx $900,000 to $4,000,000. * Proven commitment to customer service and quality food. Industry experience

Financing Options
  Famous Dave's Damon's
 
Franchise Fees No No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  Famous Dave's Damon's
Training
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 84% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 65 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators) Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 90% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 80 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
  Famous Dave's Damon's
US Expansion Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming,
Canada Expansion
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Franchise Fee
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Royalty Fee
Famous Dave's 5%
Damon's 4%
Advertising Fee
Famous Dave's 1%Nat'l + 1.5% local
Damon's
Year Founded
Famous Dave's 1995
Damon's 1979
Year Franchised
Famous Dave's 1998
Damon's 1982
Term Of Agreement
Famous Dave's 20 years
Damon's 10 years
Renewal Fee
Famous Dave's 50% of then-current fee
Damon's


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Famous Dave's * Prefer Ownership/management experience in full service, casual dining restaurants, in or near the desired territories. * Multi unit experience is a big plus. * Single units will be considered depending on market conditions, demographics and other criteria. * If Area Development Agreement is chosen, minimum of three units required to be developed. * Minimum LIQUID net worth of $750,000. * Minimum per unit development costs could range from approx $900,000 to $4,000,000. * Proven commitment to customer service and quality food.
Damon's Industry experience

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Famous Dave's No
Damon's No
Start-up Costs
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Equipment
Famous Dave's}
Damon's
Inventory
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Receivables
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Payroll
Famous Dave's
Damon's

Training & Support
Training
Famous Dave's
Damon's
Support
Famous Dave's Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Damon's Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing
Famous Dave's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Damon's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Operations
Famous Dave's Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 84% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 65 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Damon's Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 90% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 80 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Famous Dave's Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington,
Damon's Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming,
Canada Expansion
Famous Dave's
Damon's
International Expansion
Famous Dave's
Damon's