Hawaiian Bros Island Grill^®

Food & Beverage • Year: 2024

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What Is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a quick-service concept offering traditional Hawaiian plate lunch and island comfort food in a modern Hawaiian-themed atmosphere. Restaurants operate as dine-in and carry-out establishments and may include drive-thru service. Primary revenue derives from food and beverage sales, with additional sales of branded apparel/merchandise and a gift card program. Locations are primarily in metropolitan areas, typically in re-purposed free-standing permanent buildings or shopping center spaces.

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchisor offers exceptionally strong operator support-a Training and Support Score of 100 and 396 initial training hours- but the cost is steep, with Item 7 totals ranging from $1,539,160 to $4,818,991 and reserves up to $277,000 that raise required startup capital well above industry peers.

Pros

Training and Support Score of 100 (well above typical for all systems) signals unusually strong system support and resources to get new operators up to speed.

396 total initial training hours (well above typical for Food & Beverage, top 10%) indicates a deep, hands-on preparation program before you open.

Zero disclosed lawsuits and zero government penalties (both well below typical for Food & Beverage) reflect a clean legal and regulatory record you can rely on.

Cons

Initial franchise fee of $50,000 is well above typical for Food & Beverage (top quarter), increasing the upfront cash required to buy into the system.

Item 7 Total Max of $4,818,991 and Item 7 Total Min of $1,539,160 are both well above typical (top 5%), and high asset and reserve requirements (Item 7 Assets Max $1,241,119; Reserves Min $114,000; Reserves Max $277,000) mean your total startup capital and cash‑on‑hand needs will be significantly higher than industry peers.

24 company‑owned units is well above typical (top 10%), which suggests the franchisor has a large corporate footprint and warrants further investigation into its growth strategy and commitment to expanding the franchise base.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

43/100

NORMAL

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill grants a protected Territory-generally a three-mile radius except in dense metropolitan areas-for a fixed-location Restaurant, excluding non-traditional venues. Territory rights are contingent on meeting performance quotas; the franchisor retains rights to develop additional units nearby, sell via e-commerce and alternative channels, and use other trademarks.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides a comprehensive 396-hour training curriculum designed to prepare franchise personnel, with no trainees included in the initial franchise fee. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness, with franchisees responsible for travel and lodging and liable for any additional fees associated with on-site support; specific pre- and post-launch on-site day counts were not specified in the provided materials.

Unit Growth Analysis

this franchise doubled units from 21 in 2022 to 42 in 2024, showing strong expansion, but growth is decelerating: year‑over‑year growth fell from 52.4% (2022→2023) to 31.2% (2023→2024). For investors this signals a healthy, scalable concept with substantial recent additions, though the ~21.2 percentage‑point (≈40% relative) drop in growth rate suggests expansion is normalizing and warrants monitoring of franchisee pipeline and market capacity.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise?

Opening a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise requires a total initial investment of $1,539,160 to $4,818,991, according to the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$1,539,160

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$4,818,991

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$25,000

Real Estate$667,000

Equipment & Assets$600,700

Reserves$114,000

Training$29,000

Other$103,460

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$50,000

Real Estate$3,065,572

Equipment & Assets$1,241,119

Reserves$277,000

Training$60,000

Other$125,300

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do Hawaiian Bros Island Grill Franchise Owners Make?

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise locations reported average gross sales of $3,094,855 and median gross sales of $2,888,845 in 2024, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$3,094,855

Median Gross Sales:

$2,888,845

High Gross Sales:

$5,937,467

Low Gross Sales:

$1,712,137

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

34.4%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The FDD does not provide a franchised-only performance table; the presented averages are for a combined sample of company and franchise restaurants, so differences between franchisee and affiliate performance cannot be isolated from these figures.

Performance Variability Analysis: Gross sales vary substantially across the sample, with the highest restaurant at 5,937,467 and the lowest at 1,712,137, indicating meaningful dispersion in unit performance within the 32-restaurant sample.

Data Scope and Limitations: Data cover a single 12-month period ending 12/31/2023 and include restaurants that changed ownership during the period; there is no audited statement or expense-level P&L data provided, limiting detailed profitability analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill a good franchise to own?

Whether Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2024 FDD: Hawaiian Bros Island Grill operates 42 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 100/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $1,539,160 to $4,818,991. Hawaiian Bros Island Grill disclosed average gross sales of $3,094,855 in 2024. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchise?

Break-even timelines for Hawaiian Bros Island Grill franchises are not disclosed in the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Hawaiian Bros Island Grill a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2024 FDD, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill operates 18 franchised locations and 24 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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