Famous Dave's vs The Sawmill Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Famous Dave's The Sawmill
Investment 481750 - 4495750 1000000 - 999999
Franchise Fee 0
Royalty Fee 5%
Advertising Fee 1%Nat'l + 1.5% local
Year Founded 1995 1976
Year Franchised 1998 2004
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Famous Dave's The Sawmill
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.

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

Training & Support
  Famous Dave's The Sawmill
Training
Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing 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)

Expansion Plans
  Famous Dave's The Sawmill
US Expansion Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
International Expansion

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Famous Dave's
The Sawmill
Franchise Fee
Famous Dave's
The Sawmill
Royalty Fee
Famous Dave's 5%
The Sawmill
Advertising Fee
Famous Dave's 1%Nat'l + 1.5% local
The Sawmill
Year Founded
Famous Dave's 1995
The Sawmill 1976
Year Franchised
Famous Dave's 1998
The Sawmill 2004
Term Of Agreement
Famous Dave's 20 years
The Sawmill
Renewal Fee
Famous Dave's 50% of then-current fee
The Sawmill


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.
The Sawmill

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

Training & Support
Training
Famous Dave's
The Sawmill
Support
Famous Dave's Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
The Sawmill
Marketing
Famous Dave's Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
The Sawmill
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)
The Sawmill

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,
The Sawmill Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
Famous Dave's
The Sawmill Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
International Expansion
Famous Dave's
The Sawmill