America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
Perkins has been serving breakfast since 1958, and the brand’s advantage is that it never stops. All-day breakfast carries most of the sales, and breakfast items cost less to produce than dinner entrees. The bakery is the second business inside the first — pies and pastries sold to go, now through the app and delivery platforms. Two formats are offered, including a smaller end-cap model developed to fit tighter real estate.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $200,000 for Griddle & Go, $400,000 for Mainline (readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets — not from borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income)
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator or multi-unit investor
- Location Type: Freestanding, endcap, or travel center
- Time Commitment: Full-time
- Experience Required: None; restaurant experience helpful
About Perkins
Perkins opened as a pancake house in 1958 and began franchising in 1960. Sixty-five years later the system runs 165 franchised restaurants held by 51 owners, plus 81 corporate locations, with 59 more franchise units in development across the United States and Canada.
The menu spans breakfast served all day, lunch and dinner classics like country fried steak and grilled salmon, and an in-house bakery turning out fresh pies daily. Perkins was an original partner of Give Kids the World, which helps children with terminal illnesses visit the Orlando parks.
Why Own a Perkins Franchise?
- Four dayparts — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bakery — keep traffic steady from open to close rather than concentrating sales in one window.
- The in-house bakery is a separate profit center, generating retail dessert, catering, and take-home sales alongside the dining room.
- Two formats fit different budgets and markets, plus freestanding, endcap, and travel center builds, with virtual kitchens extending revenue on minimal added overhead.
- Item 19 reports a 2024 average annual unit volume of $1,987,625 across all 247 restaurants; the top 10% averaged $3,269,289 and the bottom 10% averaged $1,053,731.
- Recent honors include Entrepreneur’s 2026 Restaurant 500, Yelp’s 50 Most Loved Brands, and FSR’s Top 30 Full Service Restaurants.
- The Perkins Patriot Program cuts the initial franchise fee 25% for qualified veterans on single-unit Mainline development agreements.
Why This Opportunity, Why Now
ABF Market Analysis —
Full-service dining is in a cautious recovery, with U.S. sales projected at $522 billion in 2026 against high costs and selective consumers. Traffic growth is expected to stay under 1%, so brands are fighting for share rather than riding a rising market. That environment favors value positioning and daypart diversity — exactly where Perkins sits. The $285 billion breakfast category has been the industry’s steadiest segment, and the $17.1 billion bakery category gives Perkins a second market few family dining brands compete in.
ABF Timing Insight —
Griddle & Go is the reason to look now. Smaller footprints and lower labor are where the industry is heading, and Perkins built a fast-casual prototype to meet it — kitchen and counter starting at 900 square feet, seating from 1,500. No locations are open yet, so early owners are building the format. Perkins is registered in every state except Alaska and Hawaii and is on the SBA Registry. Availability varies by market.
Training & Support
- Training begins roughly 11 weeks before opening at an approved training restaurant, covering the owner, a designated manager, and two assistant managers over 25 days.
- Manager training runs 31 hours of classroom instruction plus 250 hours on the job, so the management team is operating the model before the doors open.
- New Restaurant Opening training happens on site with the rest of your staff — 24 classroom hours and 100 on-the-job hours for Mainline, 18 and 87 for Griddle & Go.
- Technology includes the Toast POS system with handheld ordering for servers, self-ordering kiosks in Griddle & Go, and the Thanx loyalty platform.
- Ongoing support covers site selection, vendor and supply chain relationships, marketing, menu innovation, and continued on-site field visits.
Who Are We Looking For
- Experienced multi-unit restaurant operators
- Investors with strong leadership and business skills
- Owners who can hire and manage a full restaurant team
- Candidates comfortable with commercial real estate and build-out
- Veterans, who qualify for the Patriot Program discount
Who Is Not A Good Fit
- Candidates who cannot meet the liquid capital requirement without borrowing
- Anyone seeking a passive or absentee investment
- Owners unwilling to manage a large hourly staff
- People who want a fast launch rather than a year or more of development
- Candidates looking for a home-based or mobile business
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Mainline and Griddle & Go?
A: Mainline is the full-service restaurant at 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. Griddle & Go is a fast-casual prototype at 1,500 to 2,500 square feet with self-ordering kiosks and lower staffing, at roughly half the investment.
Q: Are there Griddle & Go locations operating today?
A: Not yet. The format is new, and no Griddle & Go restaurants are open in the U.S. as of the current disclosure.
Q: Do I need restaurant experience?
A: Foodservice experience helps but is not required. Perkins also works with entrepreneurs and multi-unit investors who bring leadership and business skills, and the training program is built for that.
Q: Can I buy a single Griddle & Go?
A: Currently Griddle & Go requires a three-unit development schedule, with a reduced franchise fee per unit under that commitment.
Q: How important is the leadership team when choosing a franchise?
A: Very important. A proven model matters, but the people leading the brand matter too. During due diligence, spend time with leadership and operations—not just franchise development—and ask how they prioritize franchisee profitability, support, and long-term brand health.
Next Steps
If you are drawn to a 65-year-old brand with revenue across four dayparts, a bakery business running alongside the restaurant, two formats at different investment levels, and a new fast-casual prototype in its earliest markets, Perkins is worth a direct conversation. Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for Perkins.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.