The Sawmill vs Famous Dave's Franchise Comparison

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

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


Business Experience Requirements
  The Sawmill Famous Dave'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.

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

Training & Support
  The Sawmill Famous Dave's
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
  The Sawmill Famous Dave's
US Expansion 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 Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington,
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
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Franchise Fee
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Royalty Fee
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's 5%
Advertising Fee
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's 1%Nat'l + 1.5% local
Year Founded
The Sawmill 1976
Famous Dave's 1995
Year Franchised
The Sawmill 2004
Famous Dave's 1998
Term Of Agreement
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's 20 years
Renewal Fee
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's 50% of then-current fee


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
The Sawmill
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.

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Start-up Costs
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Equipment
The Sawmill}
Famous Dave's
Inventory
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Receivables
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's
Payroll
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's

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

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
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
Famous Dave's Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington,
Canada Expansion
The Sawmill Nationwide, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory
Famous Dave's
International Expansion
The Sawmill
Famous Dave's